What are some of the easier, well-known songs to learn on guitar?

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blurredvision

blurredvision

Lifer
Oct 19, 2000
17,860
4
81
As my wife and I are learning guitar, we've decided that every other day we will dedicate to learning chords and working on our fret/finger movement, with the opposite days dedicated to learning some of the easier songs that all beginners learn when they start out. This way, it will be much more fun for both of us, as we had great fun yesterday looking through youtube videos and learning the intro to Smoke on the Water.

So, what songs are out there that are really easy to learn the intros to? I'm talking easy, like Smoke on the Water is. I've also dabbled on learning the intro to Stairway to Heaven and Nothing Else Matters, but those are a bit tougher, and I'd rather keep it simpler for the wife. The wife loves country, I'm more of a rock kinda guy.

So, is there anything like that out there that are pretty easy for us to mess around with and have fun learning?
 
clamum

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,252
403
126
Nirvana - Polly. Whole song is easy, just power chords, five of them in total.
 
P

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
actually Nothing Else Matters requires no fretting. i don't know how you get any easier than that.
 
M

Manuwell

Senior member
Jan 19, 2006
900
0
71
(Capo 1) -- Though it still sounds okay w/o the capo.

Intro

FM7-G-Em-Am

Verse

FM7 G
We're no strangers to love

FM7 G
You know the rules and so do I

FM7 G
A full commitment's what I'm thinking of

FM7 G
You wouldn't get this from any other guy

Prechorus

F G
I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling

F G
Gotta make you understand

Chorus

FM7 G
Never gonna give you up

Em Am
Never gonna let you down

FM7 G Em Am
Never gonna run around and desert you

FM7 G
Never gonna make you cry

Em Am
Never gonna say goodbye

FM7 G Em Am
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Verse 2

We've know each other for so long
Your heart's been aching
But you're too shy to say it
Inside we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it

Prechorus

And if you ask me how I'm feeling
Don't tell me you're too blind to see

Chorus x2

Bridge

FM7 G G G
(Ooohh give you up)

FM7 G G G
(Ooohh give you up)

FM7
Never gonna give

FM7 G G G
Never gonna give, (give you up)

FM7
Never gonna give

FM7 G G G
Never gonna give, (give you up)

Verse 2

Prechorus

Chorus x3 (Third time fade out)
 
H

hiromizu

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2007
3,405
1
0
RE: Dragon Force

I've tried playing it. My picking hand nearly melted on the first few bars. I'm telling you... those guys aren't playing that for real.
 
FallenHero

FallenHero

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2006
5,659
0
0
Originally posted by: hiromizu
RE: Dragon Force

I've tried playing it. My picking hand nearly melted on the first few bars. I'm telling you... those guys aren't playing that for real.
Click to expand...

I've seen them live. They are.
 
Analog

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
12,755
3
0
Originally posted by: blurredvision
As my wife and I are learning guitar, we've decided that every other day we will dedicate to learning chords and working on our fret/finger movement, with the opposite days dedicated to learning some of the easier songs that all beginners learn when they start out. This way, it will be much more fun for both of us, as we had great fun yesterday looking through youtube videos and learning the intro to Smoke on the Water.

So, what songs are out there that are really easy to learn the intros to? I'm talking easy, like Smoke on the Water is. I've also dabbled on learning the intro to Stairway to Heaven and Nothing Else Matters, but those are a bit tougher, and I'd rather keep it simpler for the wife. The wife loves country, I'm more of a rock kinda guy.

So, is there anything like that out there that are pretty easy for us to mess around with and have fun learning?
Click to expand...

I have been in the same boat from a year ago. The basic songs that I've learned are:

1. Horse with no name - America (really easy - got the video lesson from next level guitar, downloaded before they were banned)

2. One - U2 (look up this video on youtube, by Justin guitar)

3. Heart of Gold intro - Neil Young (again on youtube)

4. Give a Little bit - Supertramp

If you have others, let me know. Thanks.
 
blurredvision

blurredvision

Lifer
Oct 19, 2000
17,860
4
81
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
actually Nothing Else Matters requires no fretting. i don't know how you get any easier than that.
Click to expand...

Well, it requires no fretting if you just want to play E, G, B, E, B, G, etc etc etc over and over :). That's quite boring.

Thanks to everyone for suggestions so far, I really appreciate it.
 
ktehmok

ktehmok

Diamond Member
Aug 4, 2001
4,326
0
76
Originally posted by: Manuwell
(Capo 1) -- Though it still sounds okay w/o the capo.

Intro

FM7-G-Em-Am

Verse

FM7 G
We're no strangers to love

FM7 G
You know the rules and so do I

FM7 G
A full commitment's what I'm thinking of

FM7 G
You wouldn't get this from any other guy

Prechorus

F G
I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling

F G
Gotta make you understand

Chorus

FM7 G
Never gonna give you up

Em Am
Never gonna let you down

FM7 G Em Am
Never gonna run around and desert you

FM7 G
Never gonna make you cry

Em Am
Never gonna say goodbye

FM7 G Em Am
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Verse 2

We've know each other for so long
Your heart's been aching
But you're too shy to say it
Inside we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it

Prechorus

And if you ask me how I'm feeling
Don't tell me you're too blind to see

Chorus x2

Bridge

FM7 G G G
(Ooohh give you up)

FM7 G G G
(Ooohh give you up)

FM7
Never gonna give

FM7 G G G
Never gonna give, (give you up)

FM7
Never gonna give

FM7 G G G
Never gonna give, (give you up)

Verse 2

Prechorus

Chorus x3 (Third time fade out)
Click to expand...

Now that is Rick-Rolling with style.
 
T

Trogdor91

Senior member
Sep 22, 2004
905
0
0
The riff to "Sunshine of Your Love" is easy and cool.
"Paint it Black" is one of my favorites to play.
Or the riff from "Sweet Dreams" by Marilyn Manson
I'm just learning how to play as well so trust me these are easy songs.
Now I'm learning "Simple Man" by Skynyrd, not terribly hard and its an amazing song.
Also, go here http://www.myguitarsolo.com/Licks/Licks.htm and look around. There are some short cool sounding licks.
 
Fenixgoon

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
32,399
11,425
136
Originally posted by: ktehmok
Originally posted by: Manuwell
(Capo 1) -- Though it still sounds okay w/o the capo.

Intro

FM7-G-Em-Am

Verse

FM7 G
We're no strangers to love

FM7 G
You know the rules and so do I

FM7 G
A full commitment's what I'm thinking of

FM7 G
You wouldn't get this from any other guy

Prechorus

F G
I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling

F G
Gotta make you understand

Chorus

FM7 G
Never gonna give you up

Em Am
Never gonna let you down

FM7 G Em Am
Never gonna run around and desert you

FM7 G
Never gonna make you cry

Em Am
Never gonna say goodbye

FM7 G Em Am
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Verse 2

We've know each other for so long
Your heart's been aching
But you're too shy to say it
Inside we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it

Prechorus

And if you ask me how I'm feeling
Don't tell me you're too blind to see

Chorus x2

Bridge

FM7 G G G
(Ooohh give you up)

FM7 G G G
(Ooohh give you up)

FM7
Never gonna give

FM7 G G G
Never gonna give, (give you up)

FM7
Never gonna give

FM7 G G G
Never gonna give, (give you up)

Verse 2

Prechorus

Chorus x3 (Third time fade out)
Click to expand...

Now that is Rick-Rolling with style.
Click to expand...

qft!
 
Platypus

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
Who - Baba O'Reily is pretty straight forward
AC/DC - Hells Bells, Back In Black, Touch Too Much (all AC/DC stuff is pretty easy to learn)
Clapton - Cocaine

All pretty basic and easy to play along to.

OP, learn the pentatonic scale backwards and forwards.. practice it every day and you can nail about 90% of rock solos out there. It's a pretty basic scale but it's great to start with.
 
Cdubneeddeal

Cdubneeddeal

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2003
7,473
3
81
I don't play guitar but have picked it up on occasion. What my friend taught me was Silent Lucidity by Queensryche. Remember them? :D

Text
 
N

neegotiator

Golden Member
Jan 19, 2006
1,117
1
0
Led Zeppelin - Thank You
Johnny Cash - Hurt
Chris Cornell - Like A Stone (acoustic version)
Alice In Chains - No Excuses
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
 
clamum

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,252
403
126
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here isn't too bad either. The chords aren't hard, just gotta get the strumming pattern down. If you wanted to learn the intro too it's not too hard either, I had it down pretty well in a couple hours or so of practice.

EDIT: Foo Fighters - Times Like These also.
 
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