30 Great Songs for Absolute Beginner Guitarists (+ Video Lessons)

30 Great Songs for Absolute Beginner Guitarists (+ Video Lessons)

Here are 30 songs that you can tackle as a beginner. They sequence up from very simple to slightly more complicated. They cover a variety of genres and styles. Most importantly, you'll be playing real music within a very short period of time.

And I have to come clean: I didn't come up with this list off the top of my head. Fortunately, there's a bit more rigor behind it.

Fender Musical Instrument Corp. has recently invested heavily in a digital education platform - Fender PLAY.

The platform is well-conceived and well-executed. They offer a sequence of exercises, theory lessons, and song demos so that you learn guitar correctly, step-by-step. They do this by grouping lessons into something called "Paths" - a combination of short video lessons, customized for acoustic or electric, and for a variety of styles. For acoustic guitar, you can choose 1 of 5 different paths:

  • Rock
  • Blues
  • Folk
  • Country
  • Pop

For a more in-depth preview of Fender PLAY, watch the video at the bottom of this article.

In the meantime, here are the first songs of each "Path" in Fender PLAY that will move you from absolute beginner to playing real songs. (Note: This just Level 1 of each Path. There are 5 Levels for each Path, so there's a lot more to learn...)


Acoustic Guitar: Rock Path

1. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Rolling Stones

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

2. Waiting In Vain
Bob Marley & The Wailers

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

3. Plush
Stone Temple Pilots

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

4. Tush
ZZ Top

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

5. Heart Full of Soul
The Yardbirds

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

6. Wonderful
Everclear

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>


Acoustic Guitar: Blues Path

7. Boom Boom
John Lee Hooker

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

8. Something to Talk About
Bonnie Raitt

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

9. Train Kept a Rollin'
Johnny Burnette

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

10. Rock Me Baby
B.B. King

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

11. Boogie Chillin'
John Lee Hooker

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

12. I Can't Quit You Baby
Willie Dixon

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>


Acoustic Guitar: Folk Path

13. Down By The Riverside
Traditional

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

14. Waiting In Vain
Bob Marley

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

15. Spoonful
Howlin' Wolf

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

16. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Traditional

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

17. Scarborough Fair
Traditional

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

18. Down By The Water
The Decemberists

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>


Acoustic Guitar: Country Path

19. Oh! Susanna
Traditional

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

20. Pay Me My Money Down
Traditional

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

21. Buckaroo
Bucky Owens

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

22. Jambalaya
Hank Williams

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

23. Tennessee Whiskey
Chris Stapleton

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

24. Ring of Fire
Johnny Cash

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>


Acoustic Guitar: Pop Path

25. Say Something
A Great Big World

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

26. Waiting In Vain
Bob Marley & The Wailers

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

27. With or Without You
U2

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

28. My Best Friend's Girl
The Cars

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

29. Sleep On The Floor
The Lumineers

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>

30. The Middle
Jimmy Eat World

Link to Video Lesson >>

Link to Tablature >>


Watch the Full Demo of Fender PLAY


Further Reading:

The 10 Best Easy Fingerpicking Songs for Beginners

Follow the Playlist on Spotify: