10 Easy Guitar Songs for Older Beginners (Just 7 Chords)
The short answer: Start with Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash. It uses three easy chords: G, C and D.
All 10 songs below use just 7 open chords: G, C, D, Em, A, E and G7. No barre chords. No capo. They're listed in the order I'd learn them, so each song adds at most one new chord.
If you're picking up the guitar in your 50s or 60s, you're not alone. Most of the players in our Facebook group are over 45.
The hard part isn't your age. It's picking the right first songs. A song with a hard chord or a fast change can make you feel like you're failing. You're not.
So here are 10 songs you already know, that sound great with simple chords. I'm Marty McLean. I've taught guitar for years and reached more than 500,000 people online. This is the list I'd hand a friend.
In this post:
- What makes a song easy when you start later in life
- The 10 songs, in the order to learn them
- How to practice these songs
- Is it too late to learn guitar at 50 or 60?
- Questions older beginners ask
What makes a song easy when you start later in life
An easy song for an older beginner has four things going for it:
- Open chords only. These are shapes near the top of the neck where some strings ring open. They need less finger strength than barre chords.
- Three or four chords. Fewer chords means fewer changes to learn.
- A steady, easy pace. You have time to move your fingers before the next chord.
- A song you can hum. If you know how it goes, you'll hear when you're on track.
Every song on this list has all four.
The 10 songs, in the order to learn them
| # | Song | Chords | New chord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ring of Fire, Johnny Cash | G, C, D | G, C, D |
| 2 | Leaving on a Jet Plane, John Denver | G, C, D | None |
| 3 | Sweet Home Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd | D, C, G | None |
| 4 | Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison | G, C, D, Em | Em |
| 5 | Heart of Gold, Neil Young | Em, C, D, G | None |
| 6 | Take Me Home, Country Roads, John Denver | G, Em, D, C | None |
| 7 | Bad Moon Rising, Creedence Clearwater Revival | D, A, G | A |
| 8 | Twist and Shout, The Beatles | D, G, A | None |
| 9 | Three Little Birds, Bob Marley | A, D, E | E |
| 10 | Jambalaya (On the Bayou), Hank Williams | C, G7 | G7 |
1. Ring of Fire chords (Johnny Cash)
Chords: G, C, D. Capo: none.
This is a great first song. It uses the three most common chords on guitar. G is your home base, so let the open strings ring out.
See the chord shapes and a 5-minute plan for Ring of Fire in the free JamFast songbook.
2. Leaving on a Jet Plane chords (John Denver)
Chords: G, C, D. Capo: none.
It uses the same three chords as Ring of Fire, so you already know them. It's slow and gentle. It's a great song for practicing a smooth, even strum.
Open Leaving on a Jet Plane in the songbook.
3. Sweet Home Alabama chords (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Chords: D, C, G. Capo: none.
The same three chords again, just in a new order: D, then C, then G, over and over. You don't need the famous guitar lick. Strum the three chords and the whole song is there.
Open Sweet Home Alabama in the songbook.
4. Brown Eyed Girl chords (Van Morrison)
Chords: G, C, D, Em. Capo: none.
Here's your first new chord: E minor (Em). Good news, it's the easiest chord on the guitar. It takes just two fingers.
Open Brown Eyed Girl in the songbook.
5. Heart of Gold chords (Neil Young)
Chords: Em, C, D, G. Capo: none.
No new chords here. This one starts on Em, which gives it that thoughtful, easy feel. Take it slow. It sounds best that way.
Open Heart of Gold in the songbook.
6. Take Me Home, Country Roads chords (John Denver)
Chords: G, Em, D, C. Capo: none.
You know all four chords by now. This is the song people sing along to, so it's a great one to play for family. The chorus is where it all comes together.
Open Country Roads in the songbook.
7. Bad Moon Rising chords (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Chords: D, A, G. Capo: none.
New chord: A. Three fingers sit side by side on the second fret. This song moves faster, and the quick D to G change is the whole song. Practice that one change slowly first.
Open Bad Moon Rising in the songbook.
8. Twist and Shout chords (The Beatles)
Chords: D, G, A. Capo: none.
The same three chords loop the whole way through. That makes it great practice for your new A chord. It's a fun one, so don't be afraid to strum it hard.
Open Twist and Shout in the songbook.
9. Three Little Birds chords (Bob Marley)
Chords: A, D, E. Capo: none.
New chord: E. It sits close to A on the neck, so the change is short. This is a happy, laid-back song. Keep your strum light.
Open Three Little Birds in the songbook.
10. Jambalaya (On the Bayou) chords (Hank Williams)
Chords: C, G7. Capo: none.
Your last new chord is G7, and this song only has two chords. C is home, and the song stays there most of the time. G7 pulls you right back to C every time.
Open Jambalaya in the songbook.
How to practice these songs
Here's a simple plan. It takes about 10 minutes a day. (For a longer routine, see this simple daily guitar practice routine.)
- Build each chord on its own. Press just behind the metal fret. Strum slowly and check that every string rings.
- Practice the change, not the chord. Pick two chords and switch back and forth slowly. Find the finger that barely moves and keep it close to the string.
- Strum four down strums for each chord. Count out loud: 1, 2, 3, 4, then change. Speed comes later.
- Play along with the song. Once the changes feel smooth, put the record on and keep up the best you can.
Sore fingertips are normal for the first few weeks. Your fingers are building calluses, and that's a good sign. Here's more on how guitar calluses form and how to keep them. Short sessions every day work better than one long one on the weekend.
Want a plan that tells you what to practice each day? That's what the Jam Path in JamFast does. It takes you one small step at a time, a few minutes a day.
Is it too late to learn guitar at 50 or 60?
No. Your fingers can still learn chords at any age. They might take a little longer to toughen up, and that's okay. Here's my full answer to is it too late to learn guitar at 50 or 60.
"Look, at 57, I'm just starting my guitar journey that I've wanted to do my entire life."
ToddnRebecca Malcolm, verified Trustpilot review
You also have something a teenager doesn't. You know these songs by heart. When you know how a song should sound, you can tell when you're getting it right. When you're ready for more songs, here's a practice plan for learning your first songs.
Play these songs with a real band
Every song on this list is in the free JamFast songbook, along with over a thousand more. Each song page shows the key, the capo, the chord shapes and a short practice plan.
JamFast is like Duolingo for guitar. The Jam Path walks you from your first chord to playing whole songs, a few minutes a day. When you're ready, you can strum along with a band behind you.
Start for free today. No credit card needed.
Questions older beginners ask
What's the first chord I should learn?
Start with E minor (Em). It takes only two fingers, and every string rings. Then learn G, C and D. Those three chords play a huge number of songs.
Do I need a capo for these songs?
No. All 10 songs on this list are shown with no capo. A capo can make other songs easier later, but you don't need one to start.
What if my fingers hurt?
That's normal at first. Play for a few minutes, rest, then play again. Your fingertips toughen up with steady practice, and the soreness fades.
How do I get my chord changes faster?
Practice the change by itself, slowly, back and forth. Speed comes from doing a slow change many times, not from rushing it. Here are my steps for how to switch chords faster.
Marty McLean is a guitar teacher and the founder of JamFast. He has taught guitar for years and reached more than 500,000 people online.