50 Easy Guitar Songs You can Learn in 30 Minutes
The guitar is a popular choice for anyone who wants to play a musical instrument. So why do people choose to learn guitar? For one, it’s small and portable, unlike the piano. It’s also a great instrument for playing while you sing along. And you can learn your favorite pop and rock songs easily on guitar.
It’s also good for you to learn guitar. According to neuroscientist Daniel Levitin in the New York Times, learning the guitar is a forward-looking process which helps to regulate stable mood chemicals. It can actually make you feel better.
It’s easy to get started learning this fun instrument. You can even teach yourself guitar without having to shell out for expensive lessons. Once you know how to hold your guitar and where to put your fingers, it’s time to learn some easy guitar songs.
What makes an easy guitar song?
When learning guitar for pop and rock music, you’ll spend a lot of time learning chords. These are the basis of guitar songs and put simply, fewer chords make an easier guitar song to learn. With just three chords, you can already play some songs. Most pop and rock music is repetitive so you’ll be changing between the same chords over and over again.
Aside from chords, a slow tempo can make a song easier to learn. Solfeg.io has a function where you can slow the song down using the minus button at the top of the player. This makes it so much easier to learn songs on guitar.
You’ll find it easier to learn a song with a sing-along chorus, rather than an obscure song with nothing memorable. That’s why we’ve included lots of catchy tunes in this list. Spend thirty minutes learning one of these songs now and you’ll be singing it for the rest of the day!
Most of the songs in this list use only a few chords for the whole song. We have listed the beginner chords you’ll need beneath each song. We have also given each song a score out of ten, where 1 is the easiest and 10 is the most difficult out of this selection.
Whether you want to get everyone on their feet dancing or feel your heart melt as you sing, you’ll find the perfect easy guitar song to learn in thirty minutes here.
50 Easy Guitar Songs for beginners
1. Bad Liar - Selena Gomez
If you are just getting started with the guitar and want a song you can play in thirty minutes, Bad Liar is a great one to start with. Sung by Selena Gomez you’ll be rocking out before you know it. You’ll only need two chords for this great beginner song which you can learn on Solfeg.io.
Chords: G, C
Difficulty: 2
2. The Git Up - Blanco Brown
Learn a quick guitar song that gets anyone who’s listening up and dancing! The Git Up combines country music and dance moves with hip hop. You can learn some of the moves by watching the video on YouTube. Get grooving and have your very own hoedown at home!
Chords: E, A
Difficulty: 2
3. Changes - XXXTentacion
A ballad by a rapper might sound unlikely, but Changes is a heart-felt guitar song. The singer describes feeling uncomfortable with the changes in his relationship. With only three chords and a nice slow tempo, this is a touching song. It’s available on Solfeg.io so you can learn it step by step.
Chords: F, Dm, Am
Difficulty: 3
4. Sunday Best - Surfaces
Sunday Best by Surfaces will cheer you up no matter how glum you’re feeling. It’s a colorful pick-me-up tonic with a hilarious video that you can see on YouTube. This song only has three chords but is slightly more challenging. You’ll need to dust off your plectrum and get strumming to the upbeat tempo.
Chords: Am, Dm, Gm
Difficulty: 7
5. Wildest Dreams - Taylor Swift
Although Wildest Dreams has five chords, they are all very easy. If you’ve played some guitar already, it’s likely you know all five of these chords. For the verses practice changing through C, Em, and D chords. And then for the choruses practice the sequence G, D, Am, C. The medium tempo makes this an easy guitar song to learn.
Chords: C, Em, D, G, Am
Difficulty: 8
6. Sunflower - Post Malone, Swae Lee
This song is from the soundtrack to Spider-Man: Into The Spiderverse. We recommend watching the video as it splices scenes from the movie with the song lyrics in an awesome comic book style. If you loved Into The Spiderverse you’ll love playing this song. With only three simple chords, it’s one of our favorite super easy guitar songs for beginners to learn.
Chords: D, G, Em
Difficulty: 4
7. Bellyache - Billie Eilish
Can you believe it? Billie Eilish was only fifteen when she wrote this song! Bellyache is a relaxing song to strum along with. You’ll find yourself stamping your foot in time. The guitar part for this song is central to holding the song together and the chord changes are not too fast. This makes it great for beginners.
Chords: C, Am, Em
Difficulty: 3
8. Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye & Kimbra
This is a great song for improving the muscle memory in your fingers by getting used to changing between two chords. For the verses, you’ll get to practice alternating between Am and G. Then in the choruses, F is added as well. Thirty minutes spent practicing this song will be great for your guitar playing.
Chords: Am, G, F
Difficulty: 6
9. Best Day of My Life - American Authors
Although you’ll hear ukulele rather than a guitar in the recording on Solfeg.io, Best Day of My Life also makes a fantastic guitar song. You’ll only need three chords to strum. The chorus is great for singing along as you play.
Chords: D, G, Bm
Difficulty: 4
10. Three Little Birds - Bob Marley
This is one of Bob Marley’s most well-known songs and one of the most famous reggae songs. You’re sure to recognize the iconic lyric “every little thing’s gonna be alright”. It has three simple chords and an infectious rhythm that you’ll be strumming along within no time.
Chords: A, D, E
Difficulty: 5
11. Breakfast At Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something
This is one of those songs that is perfect for guitar. Practice the three chords first and then practice changing between them. Once you’ve got to grip with those changes, switch on the track on Solfeg.io and play along. Then try singing along. The lyrics tell of a couple who realize the only thing they have in common is liking the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Chords: A, D, E
Difficulty: 4
12. I Love Rock'n'Roll - Joan Jett
Go retro with this awesome song that was originally released in 1981. There are only three chords in this easy guitar song to learn. Although you can play it on any guitar, it sounds amazing on electric. So crank up the volume and use Solfeg.io for the vocals and rhythm, while you rock out!
Chords: Em, Am, B
Difficulty: 6
13. Budapest - George Ezra
Budapest is a heart-felt song about falling in love. It sounds thoughtful and meandering with the finger-picked guitar part. But don’t be alarmed - you can start by strumming along before adding finger-picking in later. There are only three easy chords to master and the tempo is not too fast.
Chords: A, D, E
Difficulty: 2 with strumming, 8 with finger-picking
14. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
Don’t be put off by the complex structure of this song with its six verses. There are only four chords and you’ll be playing them in the same order for most of the song. Practice changing from D to A to F#m and E. Then try strumming along with the backing track on Solfeg.io. This is a great song with plenty of attitude that dates back to the 1980s but doesn’t seem old-fashioned at all.
Chords: D, A, F#m, E
Difficulty: 7
15. Crazy In Love - Beyoncé
Crazy in Love, one of Beyoncé’s first hits, has easy chords and nice slow chord changes. This makes it the perfect easy guitar song for you to master in under thirty minutes. Practice changing between G and Em, and moving to D. That’s all you need to play of the song.
Chords: G, Em, D, E
Difficulty: 4
16. Dance Monkey - Tones and I
Although the chords are played on the piano, Dance Monkey also works really well as a guitar song. You’ll need four easy chords which appear in the same sequence throughout the whole song. Once you’ve mastered these easy chord changes, why not try singing along as you play.
Chords: Em, C, D, Bm
Difficulty: 3
17. Riptide - Vance Joy
This is a great song with a cheerful rhythm that is perfect for strumming along. You’ll need to practice changing through chords Am, G, and C for most of the song.
Chords: Am, G, C, F
Difficulty: 6
18. Cool Kids - Echosmith
If you’re a beginner guitarist there might be some chords that are new to you in Cool Kids. Practice switching from Fm to Db to Ab first. Then add in the Eb chord afterward. This song is made for guitar and mastering these chords will put you well on the way to playing all your favorite easy guitar songs for beginners.
Chords: Fm, Db, Ab, Eb
Difficulty: 9
19. Ho Hey - The Lumineers
Ho Hey is a brilliant song for beginners with just four easy chords. Large sections of the song use only one chord, so you can leave your left hand alone and really focus on perfecting that strumming pattern. Practice with Solfeg.io so you can stop and rewind until you’ve got it down. If possible get another person to join you - one of you sings the main vocals and the other calls out the Ho and Hey shouts.
Chords: Am, C, F, G
Difficulty: 6
20. Stitches - Shawn Mendes
This is an intimate and heart-felt song about a painful relationship breakup. Despite this, the song has an upbeat tempo and you’ll want to practice the chord changes first so you can keep up.
Chords: Am, G, C, F
Difficulty: 6
21. Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis
Even though you won’t hear a guitar on the recording of this song, it would make a great guitar song with its catchy sing-along chorus. You only need four chords and the slow tempo makes it easy to strum along.
Chords: Bb, C, Dm, F
Difficulty: 7
22. Look At Her Now - Selena Gomez
This funky song will get you singing along with the “mm-mm-mm” parts of the chorus. It has four basic chords. You’ll find the changes nice and easy too with one chord for each bar.
Chords: Am, G, Em, F
Difficulty: 4
23. Attention - Charlie Puth
This is a great song if you’ve got thirty minutes and already know these four chords. Begin by strumming along to practice the chord changes. Then use the mute feature on Solfeg.io to take a closer look at the guitar part. See if you can imitate the strumming pattern yourself. Then unmute the other instruments and play along.
Chords: Em, D, Bm, C
Difficulty: 8
24. With Or Without You - U2
This is a classic song by one of the world’s most famous bands. Learn it in under thirty minutes with Solfeg.io. Start by learning the four chords and practicing the changes. The tempo isn’t too fast so get crooning along!
Chords: D, A, Bm, G
Difficulty: 4
25. Harder - Jax Jones & Bebe Rexha
Harder is, true to its name, a little harder as a guitar song. It has some chords that might be unfamiliar. Solfeg.io can tell you the correct fingering for any chords that are new to you. This is a funky song that’ll have you dancing along.
Chords: Fm, Bb, Eb, Ab
Difficulty: 9
26. Good Riddance - Green Day
Get weepy with this heart-felt song by Green Day, arguably one of the world’s best guitar bands. This is fast becoming a classic must-learn for every budding guitarist. With an infectious melody over simple strummed chords, you can easily learn this in half an hour. It’s so catchy you’ll be singing it in your sleep for days!
Chords: G, C, D, Em
Difficulty: 4
27. Radioactive - Imagine Dragons
This rock song by Imagine Dragons is great for strumming while you sing along to the powerful chorus with its “radioactive” lyric. With only four easy chords this is easily manageable for a beginner.
Chords: Am, C, D, G
Difficulty: 4
28. We Don't Talk Anymore - Charlie Puth & Selena Gomez
This song has nice easy chords but to spice things up a bit, it has an interesting finger-picking pattern. Make sure you know the chords first. Then switch off the other instruments on Solfeg.io and listen closely to the guitar part. Practice the finger picking pattern on one chord first, and then with the changes. Then switch the other instruments back on and play along.
Chords: F, G, Am, Em
Difficulty: 6
29. Let Me Down Slowly - Alec Benjamin
This heart-felt song about a relationship ending is easy to play once you have mastered the four chords. The chord changes and rhythm remain the same for the whole song. The “let me down” lyrics make this a truly moving song.
Chords: Dm, C, Am, Bb
Difficulty: 5
30. Unsteady - X Ambassadors
This slow ballad with beautiful lyrics is perfect for learning in thirty minutes. The slow tempo makes the chord changes easy and there are only four simple chords in the whole song. Once you’ve got the chord changes under your thumb, try singing along for an extra challenge.
Chords: Bm, G, D, A
Difficulty: 3
31. Rescue Me - OneRepublic
Rescue Me, by pop-rock band OneRepublic only has four chords but is still a challenge. You’ll need to master quick chord changes and some finger-picking patterns. Then take it further by singing the fast vocal line over the top. If it’s all too much for you, slow the song down in Solfeg.io and practice at a slower tempo first.
Chords: Bm, A, D, G
Difficulty: 9
32. On My Mind - Ellie Goulding
Give your fingers a proper workout with the chord changes in this song. Practice changing from Bb to C to Dm, slowing down the song in Solfeg.io if needed. Once you’ve mastered this, the rest is easy. On My Mind is the perfect angst-ridden song for playing when you need to let off steam.
Chords: Bb, C, Dm, Gm
Difficulty: 8
33. Cake By The Ocean - DNCE
With its imaginative “I keep on hoping we’ll eat cake by the ocean” lyric, this is a hopeful, upbeat song. The strumming pattern is a key feature that you’ll want to learn. Practice the chord changes first, and then add in the strumming.
Chords: Em, Bm, Am, C
Difficulty: 8
34. For You - Rita Ora & Liam Payne
This song is a duet, so once you’ve mastered the guitar chords, find a friend to join you and sing it together. A catchy upbeat song, For You, will get you dancing. The four chords are some of the easiest chords for guitar so you probably already know them.
Chords: Am, C, Em, D
Difficulty: 4
35. Believer - Imagine Dragons
Feeling glum? This is the song for you. Believer is sure to improve your mood with its sing-along chorus and a positive message about growing through pain. There is also some nice finger-picking on simple chords and an easy-to-follow song structure.
Chords: Am, F, E, G
Difficulty: 5
36. Still Falling For You - Ellie Goulding
Four simple chords and slow chord changes make this one of our favorite easy guitar songs for beginners with 4 chords. It is a heart-felt song with a melodic vocal line which works as well on guitar as it does on piano.
Chords: C, Am, F, G
Difficulty: 4
37. Happier - Marshmello ft. Bastille
This is a catchy song with a tale to tell. Watch the music video to see the whole story unfold. Practice the four chords and changes first before you play along with the song on Solfeg.io. This is a challenging song for singing along as the lyrics are complex and fast-moving. You might find it easier to get a friend to sing while you play guitar.
Chords: Dm, F, Bb, C
Difficulty: 8
38. Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Falling Slowly is a sweet and gentle melodic duet. It is perfectly designed for guitar with four simple chords and a mix of strumming patterns and finger picking. Find a friend to sing it together as you play the guitar part.
Chords: C, F, Am, G
Difficulty: 6
39. Try Everything - Shakira
This upbeat song will be familiar if you have seen the movie Zootropolis. Watch the music video for a quick reminder. Shakira stars as a famous singer called Gazelle, a star in the city of Zootropolis. This is one of the best easy guitar songs to learn. It has four simple chords, an upbeat tempo, and a positive message about trying everything and never giving up.
Chords: C, F, G, Am
Difficulty: 5
40. Perfect - Ed Sheeran
Perfect is one of the most well-known pop songs of recent years. Learn this on guitar and your audience will recognize the song straight away. It is in 12/8 time so you’ll notice that the quarter notes are in groups of 3. This is a good easy guitar song to try when you are learning to play in this compound time signature.
Chords: G, Em, C, D
Difficulty: 7
41. Old Town Road - Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
Old Town Road combines country music and hip-hop rhythms. This is one of the only songs where you can justify rapping along to your guitar strumming! The tempo is nice and slow for guitar, making the chord changes easy.
Chords: A, C, G, D
Difficulty: 5
42. Feel It Still - Portugal. The Man
Practice the chords first and then the changes, because this song moves quickly. With a catchy sing-along chorus Feel It Still is a fun song to learn. It’s very repetitive so once you’ve mastered the chorus, you’ve already learned most of the song.
Chords: Dm, F, Gm, Bb
Difficulty: 7
43. Meant To Be - Florida Georgia Line & Bebe Rexha
There are some more difficult chords and speedy changes in this song. Practice the chords first. Then slow it down in Solfeg.io to play along while you get used to the changes. This is a beautiful song that is best sung as a duet.
Chords: Bb, Cm, Gm, Eb
Difficulty: 10
44. Stand By Me - Ben E. King
Stand By Me is a famous song that has been covered by many artists over the years. You may recognize the iconic bass riff as well as the vocals. It only has four simple chords so playing it on the guitar is super easy. It’s also fun to sing along while you play.
Chords: A, F#m, D, E
Difficulty: 4
45. Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Coldplay are one of the most well-known guitar bands of this century. Viva La Vida has four of the easiest guitar chords with regular chord changes and straightforward rhythms. The challenge will be singing along with the fast-moving vocal line.
Chords: C, D, G, Em
Difficulty: 5
46. Little Talks - Of Monsters And Men
Flying ships, tiny men, and plenty of monsters - the video for Little Talks is as creative as you would expect from this unique Icelandic band. The guitar part for this song is very easy, with four simple chords and a classic strumming pattern.
Chords: Am, F, C, G
Difficulty: 5
47. Treat You Better - Shawn Mendes
This is another song with the same four chords, making it a great choice for you if you know Am, G, F, and C chords. The guitar is an important instrument in this song. We suggest muting the other instruments on Solfeg.io and listening carefully to the strumming pattern before you start playing along.
Chords: Am, G, F, C
Difficulty: 6
48. Blame It On Me - George Ezra
This song has some tricky chords and a fast strumming pattern so it’s not ideal for beginners. If you have some guitar experience you should be able to nail this in thirty minutes with the help of Solfeg.io. Once you know the chords, practice the changes and then the strumming. Then put it all together.
Chords: Eb, Cm, Ab, Bb
Difficulty: 10
49. Creep - Radiohead
One for fans of 1990s music, Creep has become a classic and easy song to learn on guitar. With four chords, it works really well as a sing-along and is also a great introduction to barre chords. The lyrics will speak to you if you’re feeling a bit down and need to unleash your frustrations by playing guitar. There are lots of videos for learning and playing along with this song on YouTube.
Chords: G, B, C, Cm
Difficulty: 9
50. Échame La Culpa - Louis Fonsi & Demi Lovato
This song has simple chords but a complex strumming rhythm influenced by Latin music. Mute the other instruments on Solfeg.io and listen to the guitar alone to learn the rhythm. This is a duet, but if you’re not a Spanish speaker you’ll find it difficult to sing as some of the lyrics are in Spanish.
Chords: F, C, G, Am
Difficulty: 9
There are so many great super easy guitar songs to learn for beginners. Solfeg.io can help you learn to play guitar songs more easily. It has high-quality recordings to play along with and useful learning tools such as minus one and tempo change functions. It will even tell you how to play every chord in the song on your guitar. With only thirty minutes you can learn a whole song. It doesn't matter what kind of music you enjoy, all these 50 are easy songs to learn on guitar.