Stay with me guitar notea how to#

If you have more guitars, then double the bass and chords. One guitar played a simple bass line, the other the reggae-style chords, and the other the melody (which falls nicely into the minor pentatonic box). I used this song for a guitar ensemble for beginners. Bm–F#m–G with a capo at the 2nd fret, Am–Em–F. We used this song for a group of beginning 8-year olds. I couldn’t believe how much fun this was to play in the jazz ensemble and with an acoustic guitar at a backyard party. This song is two chords: G#m–C#m and, with a capo at the 4th fret uses the Em–Am chords. However, it was for a student jazz ensemble. This three-chord classic is another crowd favorite that’s fun to play, sing, and solo (for you fretheads that love to solo). All of the chords are basic, first-position chords that sound great on an acoustic guitar.Īin’t No Sunshine YouTube Video 9. Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers)Ī great song for dinner parties and family gatherings. She performed it with only voice and guitar.Īll About That Bass YouTube Video 8. She was actually a pretty good guitar player and we created a bossa nova-version. I was surprised when a student asked me to teach her this song for a school talent show. Two beats each and your guitar-soloing buddy will love you.īreezin’ YouTube Video 7. Four chords, here are the basic versions of these chords: D–Bm–Em–A. This instrumental tune is actually very easy-for the rhythm guitar player, that is. They also tend to choose off-the-beaten-path tunes to endlessly solo over. We all have a friend that skates all over the fretboard. Also, if you use a capo at the 3rd fret the chords become: Em–Cmaj7–Am and the Cmaj7 is actually easier to play than an open-C chord. Verse: Gm–Ebmaj7–Cm (You can play an Eb chord for the Eb maj7).

Shout (Tears for Fears)Īnother classic 80s tune that uses the AB song form. Be careful when surfing the web for a chord chart as many of the charts state that the verse is A–G when it’s actually Am–G. A perfect example of the AB song structure and each section uses only two chords. The production was what made it: layers of synths with a very cool delay effect on the guitar. This 80s new wave hit is incredibly simple. The audience loves this.Ĭlosing Time YouTube Video 4. Find a comfortable strumming pattern and sing along using the lyrics and melody. Here’s a tip: Don’t try to imitate the recording exactly. Closing Time (Semisonic)Īnother four-chord progression (G–D–Am–C) that repeats. Sting is an absolute master of using simple songwriting techniques to achieve a sophisticated sound.Įnglishman in New York YouTube Video 3. But, the verse and chorus are only three chords (Em–A–Bm). Upon first listen, it sounds like there’s so much more going on. It also works great for practicing your funky strumming. This four-chord song is a crowd favorite that inspires others to do the singing for you. That being said, have fun and happy strumming. Some songs may need a capo to fit into the original key They can all be played using open-string chords a/k/a first-position chords Most of the songs are made up of three or four chords

These songs were all requested by former students at one time or another and were scribbled in my manuscript book. That leads us to the songs that follow and are in no particular order. The other challenge was trying to avoid a list of random blues and folk tunes while adding a little something for everyone. And, this list represents years of teaching simple songs that are fun and easy to play while also being recognizable to the average listener. These are the points that I wanted to address when I put together this list. There are also those that have been playing for a while but are struggling to find song ideas that are: And, sometimes the best way around the problem is attacking head on. The problem that most beginners have is strumming chords in time and then successfully switching from one chord to the next.

Stay with me guitar notea how to#

Yes, learning how to play guitar is challenging, but it can also be quite rewarding-and, as in my case, life changing. If this sounds familiar then this article is for you. The frustration sets in when friends and family ask you to play a song and you’re still struggling with finger exercises and short riffs. In most cases, there’s a song that inspires someone to think, “That would be fun to play on guitar!” Then, after said guitar is purchased, some sort of learning program begins: private lessons, YouTube videos, subscription sites, you name it. 50 Easy Guitar Songs For Beginners That Sound AmazingĮvery time that a guitar is picked up for the first time, chances are that there’s a story behind it.