Perhaps Robert Tepper said it best in his song for the film Rocky IV: “There’s no easy way out/There’s no short cut home” For guitar players, most of the time, this is most definitely true.
Perhaps you’ve just purchased your first guitar. Maybe you’re returning to the instrument from a long hiatus. It’s possible that you have been commissioned by misguided but well-intentioned friends to “play some songs” at a gathering. Whatever the case may be, who doesn’t love playing a couple of easily identifiable songs on their guitar, especially if they’re easy to learn?
We’ve focused on the chord changes for each of these songs and have provided links to some video tutorials, many of which have accompanying guitar tablature to go along with them. As with any list, this one is by no means exhaustive and there are so many songs I had to leave off of it for the sake of brevity.
Here is the first segment of “Easy-To-Play” songs that will satisfy the need of every beginner, camp-fire-guitarist-in-residence, or those of us that just love to play!

1. “Get Back” by The Beatles

Ah, “Get Back.” That chunky power chord almost gallops into the forefront of one of the Fab Four’s most recognizable songs. With a little palm muting you can go from an A, a G, and a D, and you can play along with John, Paul, George, and Ringo. In fact, the bulk of the verse has you chugging away on an A chord, then to a D. Repeat and once you have the rhythm part down, try getting a feel for the solo.

2. “Wild Horses” by The Rolling Stones

I’ve always been a sucker for songs that have minor chords to start them off. This favorite is certainly no different. If you can play a B minor, G, C, D, A minor, and an F chord (albeit not in that order), you can play this beautiful ballad penned by the Glimmer Twins. While it’s more than just about the chords being played in the right order – tone and rhythm accents rule the day here – working on those barred chords will serve as your foundation.

3. “Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix

Everyone wants to play a Hendrix song. This one is easy enough that it was the second song I learned how to play. The opening lick is relatively simple, and if you can strum a C, G, D, A, and an E chord, you can play along with Jimi. The solo is a pentatonic blues diddy and with a little practice you can get close to Hendrix’s phrasing, but it may take you a lot longer to nail his tone. Some of us have been chasing that dream for decades, so don’t despair! The Pickup Booster may help for your solo and/or to achieve some more single-coil Strat properties than your guitar offers.

4. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana

For better or for worse, this is a song that changed music history. It’s hard to believe that Nirvana is already “retro” to some, but in any case, a power chord driven grunge tune like this one is a good number to have in your repertoire. F5, B flat 5, F#5, C#5 gives you the all-too-familiar intro. Rinse and repeat. Remember to finish on that B5. Hitting two notes on the B and high E strings gets you through the verse and chorus in case you get bored with the power chords. The solo is a relatively easier one to play, so it’s perfect for beginners or for those of us that want to work on awesome stage moves like throwing and catching guitars. The Dirty Deed distortion pedal may help you achieve that nasty sound you’re after for this one.

5. “My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down” by The Ramones

Long before “School of Rock” hit movie theatres, this Ramones tune has had concert goers head-banging and fully engrossed in the genre that is punk rock. A political song with a catchy melody is easily replicated by playing F, C, and G chords for the verse, and A, G, and F for the bridge, and F, C, G for the chorus. Repeat until all neighbours have “called the law” or the fans have managed to tear down the chicken wire fence you’re playing behind. Dial in a dirty tone with the Dirty Deed pedal if you want more of that “raw” Ramones tone.

6. “Cherry Bomb” by The Runaways

Speaking of punk, what about a classic song from the pioneering Queens of Noise themselves, The Runaways? “Cherry Bomb” has seen a recent resurgence after finally achieving platinum status in the United States through the acclaimed Guardians of the Galaxy movie soundtrack. Together, Joan Jett and Seymour Duncan artist Lita Ford lay down a beefy rhythm with a B5 power chord to start the song, and Lita contributes a searing solo in the key of B that leaves you thinking “She was 16 when she played that?!?” Try not to let that discourage you. It’s a simple song to play once you’ve got the palm muting down and the B, D, F#, A, and E power fifths. The verse after the solo modulates to C# so that means you’ll have to play C#, E, G#, B, and F# power chords instead, but if you just remember to play every chord you played before the solo up two frets, you’ll be fine. Simple but thunderous. If you need a boost for the solo, the 805 Overdrive pedal or the Pickup Booster may help you out. If you want Lita’s vibrato, well, there’s no pedal for that! But you can get some extra sustain for solos using the Vise Grip compressor pedal. Rock on!

7. “I’m Eighteen” by Alice Cooper

I couldn’t have a list without an Alice Cooper song, I confess. While the duo of Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner don’t exactly fall into the “beginner” category, the chord progression for this song allows even beginners to strum along to the recording. E5, C5, D5 chords are all you need for the verses and chorus, and the end of the chorus sees you go from an A5, B5, and then C5 before returning to the D5, then you do it all over again. Add some 805 Overdrive pedal crunch/boost for the solo and you’ll have your friends singing along to this anthem of teenage angst in no time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXZcJojTucg
What are some of your “easy” go-to songs to play on your guitar? Comment below and share the chord progression so we can all add to our repertoires, and be sure to stay tuned for Part 2 in our series!