Playing the guitar is a popular hobby that many people enjoy. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced guitarist, it’s always fun to learn a new song. However, some people may feel hesitant or intimidated when it comes to playing the guitar because they believe it’s a difficult skill to master. But the truth is, there are many easy songs that you can learn to play on the guitar, even if you’re just starting out. In this blog post, we’ll explore what makes a song easy to play on the acoustic guitar and recommend some great songs for beginners.
What Makes a Song Easy to Play?
Before we dive into our song recommendations, let’s first clarify what makes a song “easy to play” on the guitar. Generally, easy songs will have the following characteristics:
- A small number of chords
- Simple chord progressions
- Easy strumming patterns
- Clear and straightforward melody
Songs that meet these criteria are great for beginners because they offer a simple and achievable goal. When a beginner can successfully play a song, it not only builds confidence but also motivates them to continue learning.
Easy Songs to Play on the Acoustic Guitar
Now that we’ve discussed what makes a song easy to play, let’s take a look at some specific songs that are great for beginners. We’ve selected songs from various genres so that you can find something that suits your musical taste.
“I Wanna Be There” by Blessed Union of Souls
This song has just three simple and major chords: G, C, and D. These are probably the easiest chords to learn first on the guitar, and once you have them, you can already learn how to strum a song. The song has a slow and steady rhythm, making it easy to play along with. With its simple and relatable lyrics, this song is perfect for beginners who want to practice playing and singing simultaneously.
“Stand by Me” by Ben E. King
“Stand by Me” is a timeless classic that is perfect for beginners. The song uses just four beginner chords: A, F#m, D, and E. The chord progression is simple, and the song has a slow tempo, making it easy to keep up with. The strumming pattern is also simple and repetitive, making it easy to remember.
“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan
This classic song is a great one for beginners to learn. It uses just four chords: G, D, Am, and C. The chords are easy to learn, and the strumming pattern is simple and easy to remember. The song has a slow tempo and a clear melody, making it easy to sing along with.
“Love Me Do” by The Beatles
This Beatles classic is a great option for beginners. It’s a simple song using just four chords: G, C, D and E minor. The song has a slow tempo, and the strumming pattern is easy to keep up with.
“Wonderwall” by Oasis
“Wonderwall” is one of the most popular and well-known songs of the 90s. Despite its iconic status, it is quite an easy song to learn on the guitar. It uses just four chords: G, D, Am, and C. The strumming pattern is memorable and easy to keep up with, and the melody is straightforward.
Conclusion
Playing the guitar can be a fun and rewarding hobby. If you’re a beginner, learning simple songs is a great place to start. When a song is easy to play, it builds confidence and motivation that can help you progress further. The songs listed above are just a few examples of easy songs that you can practice on the acoustic guitar. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep strumming!
FAQ
What is the easiest guitar chord ever?
Learning how to play the guitar can be exciting and challenging at the same time, especially if you’re just starting. One of the significant keys to mastering guitar playing is to start with the basics, and learning the easiest guitar chord is where it all begins. The easiest guitar chords for beginners are the Em, C, G and D chord.
Among all the open chords, the Em chord is probably the easiest to master. It has only one finger placement, which is on the second fret, second string. You can strum the remaining open strings, and you have the simplest and most versatile chord ever. Em is also a popular chord used in different genres, such as pop, country, and rock.
Another easy guitar chord is the C major. It only has three finger placements on the guitar. The good news? The finger placements are all located on the first three frets on the guitar, making it easy to transition from one chord to another. Once you know how to play the C chord, you can use it in various songs, as it is one of the most commonly used chords in music.
The G chord is another basic guitar chord that every aspiring guitarist should learn. It has a little more difficulty level than the C and Em because it requires multiple finger placement, but with constant practice, you can easily master it. G chord usage is also widespread in different genres and is typically used in guitar playing.
Lastly, the D chord is also an easy and essential guitar chord for beginners. Like the C and G, it also has a simple fingering placement and is often used in different genres of music. With practice, the D chord becomes easier, and you can transition smoothly from one chord to another.
Learning the easiest guitar chord is a crucial first step for any aspiring guitarist. The Em, C, G, and D chords are some of the simplest and widely used chords that beginners can master with proper practice. With these four chords, you can start playing simple songs and gradually progress to more complex ones.
Is it easier to strum or finger pick?
The decision to start strumming or fingerpicking a guitar can be a great dilemma for many beginners. While both techniques are fundamentally different from one another, they both have their advantages and disadvantages. However, when it comes to which technique is easier, there are a few factors to consider.
Firstly, let’s take a look at strumming. Strumming involves sweeping or brushing your fingers or a pick across the strings to produce sound. It is often associated with strumming chords and is found in many genres of music, especially in pop, rock, and folk music. Strumming is easier for beginners because you don’t need to be precise with your fingers. The important part is keeping the rhythm solid and moving your hand in the right direction. Furthermore, with strumming, you can produce a loud sound that fills up space, which makes it excellent for playing with a band. Lastly, strumming patterns are easy to learn and can be incorporated into most beginner level songs.
On the other hand, fingerpicking a guitar involves plucking individual strings with your fingers instead of strumming. It is often used in classical, fingerstyle, and folk guitar playing and can give a song a beautiful, complex sound. Fingerpicking is technically harder than strumming as it requires having a great sense of timing and dexterity in your fingers. It involves using all the fingers of the hand, including the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers. As a result, it can take some time to develop fingerpicking techniques that sound good. The upside of this technique is that you can create a melody and pick out individual notes without clashing with the other chords. Moreover, compared to strumming, fingerpicking can easily convey emotion and nuance to a song.
So which technique is easier? It ultimately depends on what your musical goals are. If you’re just starting and want to learn how to play a song quickly, strumming would be the better option. It’s also better if you plan on playing in a band or learning popular songs for performances. Conversely, if you want to explore the depth of guitar music and plan on playing guitar for years, fingerpicking is worth considering. It can be harder to learn, but it’s worth it in the long run as it opens doors to many musical styles and techniques.
Why is it hard to strum?
Strumming is an essential guitar technique used to play chords and musical patterns. For beginners, strumming can be quite challenging and frustrating. Many factors can contribute to this difficulty, including a lack of coordination, incorrect positioning or posture, and inadequate knowledge of chord progressions.
One of the main causes of difficulty in strumming is tension. Much of the difficulty that comes with strumming a guitar comes from being too tight or tense. Tension can be caused by various factors such as fear of making mistakes or lack of confidence, resulting in a stiff arm, wrist, and fingers, which makes strumming difficult.
Another factor is timing. Strumming is all about accuracy in timing. Beginners may find it hard to keep a steady rhythm and may tend to speed up or slow down, making it challenging to play in sync. Slow and steady practice can help improve the timing and make strumming easier.
Positioning and posture play a vital role in strumming as well. Holding the guitar at the wrong angle, moving the arm or wrist incorrectly, or having a poor sitting or standing posture can create tension and discomfort, making it difficult to strum.
Lastly, it is crucial to have a good understanding of chord progressions. Knowing which chords to play and the order in which to play them helps in creating smooth and rhythmic strumming patterns. Beginners may find it hard to keep up with complex chord progressions and strumming patterns, which can lead to frustration and discouragement.
Strumming can be challenging, especially for beginners who are just starting with the guitar. Tension, timing, positioning and posture, and inadequate knowledge of chord progressions can all contribute to making strumming difficult. Regular practice and proper techniques, coupled with patience and determination, can help overcome these challenges and make strumming a more enjoyable and effortless experience.