by Roger Quinn

Created on: June 25, 2010

Learning to play an instrument is a daunting task.  Often it is much easier to learn when you are playing songs you like.  Here are some songs, bands, and ideas for beginning guitar players.

First off, familiarize yourself with the basic chords A, B, C, D, E, F, and G and the power chord version of each.  Once you have these chords down buy yourself a capo.  It does not have to be an expensive one, just so it works.  Having a capo opens a whole range of songs to you.

With the seven basic chords you can play entire libraries of many bands.  Almost every beginning guitarist starts with some AC/DC.  If you are a fan of rock then grab a copy of their Back In Black album.  With the chords you have learned you will be able to play almost any songs on it, including the title track, Shoot to Thrill, Hells Bells, and You Shook Me All Night Long.  AC/DC relies heavily on hard hitting power chords, so most of their other material should be simple enough to play as well (just not the solos).  Some other bands with AC/DC's love for simple chord progressions are Green Day, Whitesnake, Boston and almost any 80's rock band.  If rock is not your thing, try Johnny Cash or Taylor Swift (if you have a capo) as both feature the same basic chords.

But not all songs just have big overwhelming chords in them.  Most have at least a small riff and a few main licks in them.  There are many well known songs of this type that beginners can play as well.  Aerosmith's Sweet Emotion comes to mind, as does Motley Crue's version of Smokin' in the Boys Rooms as well as Girls, Girls, Girls.  Queen gave beginners a great jamming song with Tie Your Mother Down and The Scorpions contributed with Rock You Like a Hurricane.  ZZ Top's Tush is a good beginner song that also allows you to experiment with some filling licks, and Bob Dylan's All Along the Watchtower is another good beginners song that introduces minor chords; and as you get better you can move up to the Hendrix version.  Speaking of Hendrix, Purple Haze and Foxey Lady are good starter songs, just know that you can not get his exact sound without some rather expensive equipment so just get as close as you can.  Once you can play all of these songs with ease and your fingers start to get a bit faster I have one word for you: Metallica!

So in review,

Bands: AC/DC, Green Day, Boston, Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift, any 80's hair metal band.  

Songs: Girls, Girls, Girls, Smokin in the Boys Room, Rock You Like A Hurricane, Tush, All ALong the Watchtower, Purple Haze, Foxey Lady, Tie Your Mother Down, Sweet Emotion

Bonus Songs: Led Zeppelin's Black Dog, Whole Lotta Love, Stairway to Heaven (don't play it too much though!), Metallica's Enter Sandman, Steppenwolf's Magic Carpet Ride, and Blues Traveler's Run-Around.

Alright that's a pretty good list of songs.  Start playing, master them, then go onto some harder stuff.  Good Luck!

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