4 Easy Guitar Songs for Beginners

by Joe Walker

Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

You have to be able to play only four simple, open chords to perform this song.

Most of the song repeats the progression:
  G - C - G - D
The chorus is a little different:
 C - D - G - Em
C - D - G - D
G G major guitar chord
C C major guitar chord
D D major guitar chord
Em E minor guitar chord - Em

Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves

This is a classic I IV V IV vehicle. The original chords are: Bb, Eb, F, Eb, but you can move it down to A or use a capo at the first fret to eliminate barre chords.

This makes the progression A - D - E - D.

The chorus uses chords: F and Eb  in the original key.
Use E - D chords in the easier to play key of A.

The new chords used in this song are:

A A major guitar chord
and
E E major guitar chord

Undone (The Sweater Song) - Weezer

Originally recorded in the key of F#, tuned down a half step. You can move it up to G or tune down to match.

The whole song (until the solo) cycles through four chords: G - C - D - C, usually power chords.

The intro, which reappears several times in the song, uses some strange voicings, which require the open B string.

e|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|
G|-----3-------3---|-----5-------3---|
D|---2-------2-----|---4-------2-----|
A|---------3-------|-5-------3-------|
E|-3---------------|-----------------|
	
	

The diagrams for these power chords:

G5 G power chord - G5
C5 C power chord - C5
D5 D power chord - D5

TiK ToK - Ke$ha

The entire song repeats this progression:

Bb - / - C  - Dm | x3
Bb - / - Dm - C  |
	

Usually, the B flat major chord (Bb) is a barre chord. Here I have included both simplified version of this chord that do not require a barre, along with an original diagram.

Bb (simplified) B flat major guitar chord without barre
Bb B flat major guitar chord - Bb
Dm D minor guitar chord - Dm

About the author:

Joe Walker teaches guitar lessons in Seattle to students of all ages and abilities. He specializes in rock, pop, folk, blues, and jazz.

Click here for more easy to play guitar songs for beginners

Return to Home Page

This article was last updated on January 18, 2024