The 10 best guitar songs for beginners to learn first

Start your guitar journey with these 10 beginner-friendly songs. Chosen for their easy chords and iconic sounds, these tracks will keep you motivated.

The biggest mistake new guitarists make isn't buying the wrong guitar—it's picking the wrong first song.

If you try to learn a complex fingerstyle piece or a lightning-fast metal solo in week one, you’re going to get frustrated and leave the guitar to gather dust. The secret to staying motivated is the "Quick Win." You need songs that use 2 or 3 simple chord shapes, have a recognizable rhythm, and sound "right" even if you're playing them slowly.

Here are my top 10 recommendations for songs that are pedagogically sound and, more importantly, a blast to play.

How I Choose Beginner Guitar Songs After 30+ Years Teaching

After more than 30 years of teaching guitar, I've noticed that the songs beginners enjoy most are rarely the ones with the fewest chords. The best first songs are the ones that create a feeling of progress quickly.

When I choose songs for my students, I look for three things:

1. They sound good early

A beginner should be able to pick up a guitar and recognise the song within their first few practice sessions. That early feeling of "I can actually play this!" is incredibly important.

2. They teach transferable skills

The best beginner songs aren't just isolated pieces of music. They introduce techniques that appear in thousands of other songs:

• changing between common chord shapes
• developing a steady rhythm
• learning to listen and play along
• understanding song structure
• building confidence with the instrument

3. They keep you motivated

The biggest reason people stop playing guitar isn't lack of ability — it's losing momentum. A song you love will always beat an exercise you feel you "should" practise.

In my Sydney guitar studio, I often find that students progress fastest when lessons combine technique with songs they genuinely enjoy. The goal isn't just to learn a chord shape; it's to use that chord shape to make music.

1. Horse With No Name – America

2. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan / Guns N' Roses

3. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley

4. Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes

5. Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd

6. Love Me Do – The Beatles

7. Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival

8. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen / Jeff Buckley

9. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac

10. Riptide – Vance Joy

Why These Beginner Guitar Songs Work

When I work with students in my Sydney studio, I don't just hand them a sheet of chords. We look at why these songs work.

We focus on the "anchors" — the fingers that stay still while other fingers move — and the small technical improvements that make songs feel easier.

Choosing the right songs is about more than personal taste. It's about building a foundation of technique.

If you learn these ten songs, you aren't just learning ten tracks — you're learning the building blocks behind thousands of other songs.

Why These Beginner Guitar Songs Work

When I work with students in my Sydney studio, I don't just hand them a sheet of lyrics and chords. We look at why these songs work. We analyze the "anchors"—the fingers that stay still while other fingers move.

Choosing the right songs is about more than just personal taste; it's about building a foundation of technique. If you learn these ten songs, you aren't just learning ten tracks—you’re learning the fundamental DNA of thousands of other songs.

Struggling with a specific chord change in these songs? Sometimes all you need is a 5-minute tweak to your hand position. Book a session with me, and let's polish your repertoire.

Before choosing your first songs, it helps to understand why learning guitar is such a rewarding journey. I've written about 32 benefits of playing guitar here...