What is the easiest song to play on guitar?

Ode to Joy with C and G, or Frère Jacques with C and G7. Both are slow, well known and use only two chords.

How long until I can play an easy song?

Most beginners play a slow two-chord song within one to two weeks of short daily practice. Smooth chord changes take a little longer.

Can I play these on an electric guitar?

Yes. The chords and fingers are identical on acoustic, classical and electric guitars.

Guide

Easy songs to play on guitar

The easiest songs to play on guitar use two or three chords and a slow, steady beat. Ode to Joy and Frère Jacques need only C and G. Every song below plays right in your browser, so you can hear it, slow it down and play along.

The easiest songs, in order

Song	Chords	Beats per bar
Ode to Joy	C, G	4
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star	C, F, G7	4
Happy Birthday to You	C, G7, F	3
Frère Jacques	C, G7	4
Row, Row, Row Your Boat	C, G7	3
Jingle Bells	C, F, G7	4
When the Saints Go Marching In	C, C7, F, G7	4
Oh! Susanna	C, G7	4

Easiest first. "Beats per bar" is how you count: 4 means one-two-three-four, 3 means one-two-three.

The only chords you need

These four chords play every song in the table. Tap a chord to open its page.

In words: C major is x 3 2 0 1 0. G major is 3 2 0 0 0 3. G seven is 3 2 0 0 0 1. F major is 1 3 3 2 1 1 (finger 1 flat across fret 1). Numbers are frets, thick string to thin, and x means do not play that string.

Tip

F is the hard one

The full F chord needs one finger across several strings. Start with the songs that use only C and G or G7, and add F once those feel easy.

What makes a song easy on guitar

Few chords, and they change slowly, about once a bar.
Open chords, which use open strings so fewer fingers press down.
A steady strum with no sudden stops.
A tune you already know, so you hear straight away when something is off.

How to learn a new song

1
Learn the chord shapes alone
Make each shape until every string rings. No song yet.
2
Practise the change
Switch between two chords, slowly, ten times. The change is the hard part, not the shape.
3
Play along at 50 to 70 percent
Use the speed control. Only strum on the first beat of each bar.
4
Fill in the strum, then speed up
Add the full strum pattern, then raise the speed a step at a time.

When you want more

Once those feel easy, move to songs in 3/4 time and songs with a minor chord. Silent Night uses G, D7 and C. Greensleeves brings in A minor and E. Each song on this site also has a Melody and a Fingerstyle version for later.

Play your first song now

Try it now

Ode to Joy, chords mode

Ode to Joy in Chords mode: just C and G. Set the speed to 60 percent and strum once per bar.

Open the song

Questions people ask

What is the easiest song to play on guitar?: Ode to Joy with C and G, or Frère Jacques with C and G7. Both are slow, well known and use only two chords.
How long until I can play an easy song?: Most beginners play a slow two-chord song within one to two weeks of short daily practice. Smooth chord changes take a little longer.
Can I play these on an electric guitar?: Yes. The chords and fingers are identical on acoustic, classical and electric guitars.