Have you just started taking guitar lessons or are learning how to play guitar by yourself?
If you’re done with the basics, you’re ready to dive into some easy pop guitar songs.
To give you some ideas, we made a list of the best popular songs for guitar beginners.
You can learn these easy pop songs on guitar within hours!
1. “All Of Me” by John Legend
John Legend released “All Of Me” in 2013, and the song became a universal hit.
Although it’s originally performed on a piano, the song sounds great on guitar too.
In some way, it sounds even more romantic on acoustic guitar.
Also, playing “All Of Me” on guitar requires simple chords, a beginner-friendly strumming pattern, and an easy chord progression.
If you have basic guitar skills, you can learn it in less than an hour.
2. “Royals” by Lorde
“Royals” by Lorde is also one of the popular songs that is easy to play on guitar.
It includes playing C, D, and G chords, and a simple strumming pattern.
As you progress, you can try a more challenging strumming pattern.
But if you’re just starting out, learning with this easy “Royals” tutorial would be a great start.
3. “Photograph” by Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph” is another great guitar song for beginners.
It’s an acoustic folk song released on Sheeran’s second studio album “x” in 2014.
It’s easy to play because it’s not too fast, and it has a simple 4-chord structure.
The strumming pattern is also standard.
All in all, you shouldn’t have any problems with learning “Photograph”, even if you’re a beginner guitar player.
4. “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor
If you’re searching for easy modern songs on guitar, you can add “All About That Bass” to your repertoire.
It’s a relatively easy tune to learn because it doesn’t have too many chords.
It’s also incredibly fun, especially when you grasp the basics.
You can start with the chorus first, and then learn the intro and the rest of the song.
As you progress, you can also add nuances to your playing.
5. “Kids” by MGMT
“Kids” by MGMT is definitely one of the coolest easy pop guitar songs.
It’s an uplifting indie pop gem from 2007.
It sounds great on acoustic guitar too, especially if you also add some singing.
And with this easy guitar tutorial, you’ll be able to master the chords in no time.
6. “I Have A Dream” by ABBA
If you’re a fan of ABBA (and who isn’t?), this one’s for you.
“I Have A Dream” has a relatively slow and steady rhythm, so it’s great for beginners.
The song has only three chords, and the strumming pattern is very straightforward.
That being said, you’ll master this timeless hit without hassle.
7. “Hey, Soul Sister” by Train
“Hey, Soul Sister” is one of the biggest hits of the 2000s.
It’s a Grammy award-winning song with a lively, catchy melody.
And you can learn how to play it on guitar in a quick and easy way.
The only chord from “Hey, Soul Sister” that can be tricky for beginners is the F chord.
But apart from that, the song is very simple.
And if you plan to do some singing along too, even better!
8. “Love On The Weekend” by John Mayer
John Mayer’s “Love On The Weekend” is such a nice throwback.
And you might be happy to hear that it’s also one of the pop songs with easy guitar chords.
To be more precise, the song has very basic guitar chords: G, C, and D.
Plus, it has a simple strumming pattern.
That being said, you can easily add this heartwarming tune to your repertoire.
9. “With Or Without You” by U2
“With Or Without You” is widely regarded as one of the best rock ballads of all time.
Well, it’s definitely one of U2’s most beautiful tracks.
And needless to say, it sounds great on acoustic guitar.
The song has four chords including two barre chords.
So once you master these barre chords, you’ll be able to play it smoothly.
10. “Just The Way You Are” by Bruno Mars
“Just The Way You Are” remains one of Bruno Mars’ best songs.
It’s sweet and romantic, and it sounds great on guitar.
This is also a nice way to practice fingerpicking and fingerstyle.
And if you like singing, this popular song will give you material for a great performance.
11. “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift
Another song that will help you improve your guitar skills is “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift.
The song has basic guitar chords (D, A, Em, G), so you won’t have any problems with that part.
But the original song has a faster tempo than some of the other songs on this list.
Nevertheless, it’s nothing you can’t handle, especially if you take it slowly first.
12. “Apologize” by OneRepublic
“Apologize” by OneRepublic was a huge hit when it came out in 2007.
The song topped the charts in 16 countries and earned the band a Grammy award.
This popular pop song is also easy to play on guitar.
It features four chords and a slow, steady rhythm.
13. “Diamonds” by Rihanna
Rihanna released “Diamonds” on her iconic album “Unapologetic” in 2012.
And while you wait for her Superbowl performance, why not learn how to play “Diamonds” on guitar?
It’s one of the easy popular songs for guitar beginners.
You can start practicing with a basic downstrum and progress towards more advanced strumming patterns.
Either way, the process of learning this song will undeniably be fun.
14. “I Love It” by Icona Pop
Another popular song you can easily learn on guitar is “I Love It” by Icona Pop.
This club banger was released in 2012, but it still sounds fresh.
And it might seem like an unusual choice for a guitar, but it actually works really well.
The song features easy guitar chords (G, C, Am, B) and simple strumming.
You might not get that uplifting electro sound with your acoustic guitar, but you’ll certainly surprise your audience with this rendition.
15. “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt
If you’re looking for slow pop rock songs to play on guitar, look no further.
“You’re Beautiful” is one of the popular hits everyone knows.
And it’s popular for a good reason – the song is genuine and emotional yet very catchy.
If you want to play it on guitar, you’ll have to learn some unusual chords including Cadd9 and Dsus4.
But if you take it step-by-step, that shouldn’t be a problem, even if you’re a beginner.
16. “Rolling In The Deep” by Adele
“Rolling In The Deep” is one of Adele’s signature songs.
It’s also one of the songs that catapulted her into stardom.
Although she’s known for writing heart-wrenching piano-driven ballads, “Rolling In The Deep” has a slightly different vibe.
And that’s why it’s a great pop song to play on guitar.
It has relatively easy chords and a straightforward strumming pattern.
17. “Memories” by Maroon 5
Many Maroon 5 songs are great pop songs to play on guitar.
But “Memories” is one of the best guitar songs for beginners.
The song is easy to memorize, but it will also allow you to work on your skills.
Playing “Memories” requires the combination of fingerpicking and strumming.
Therefore, you can actively work on your technique while enjoying playing this beautiful tune.
18. “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles
If you want to play Harry Styles’ music on guitar, “Watermelon Sugar” is probably the best place to start.
It’s a fun and incredibly catchy pop-funk tune released in 2020.
The song quickly became a universal hit, and it earned Harry a Grammy award for Best Pop Solo Performance.
If you want to make your own cover version of the song, you’ll have to combine four chords: Dm7, Am7, C, and G.
You’ll also have to use some barre chords and the 16th strumming pattern.
19. “Shape Of You” by Ed Sheeran
“Shape Of You” is also one of the easy popular guitar songs.
Ed Sheeran released it in 2017, and it became an instant hit.
It topped the charts in over 30 countries.
And you can easily play it on guitar – it can sound great even on an acoustic guitar, without all those tropical and dancehall elements.
You’ll need four chords to play it, and although the song has a faster tempo, you’ll probably learn it within hours.
20. “Ocean Eyes” by Billie Eilish
“Ocean Eyes” was Billie Eilish breakout hit.
She was only 14 when she recorded the song.
It’s a dreamy pop ballad about longing, and playing it on guitar will add new layers to the song.
You can choose from fingerstyle and strumming patterns to play “Ocean Eyes.”
Either way, you won’t have to combine many chords.
21. “Havana” by Camila Cabello
“Havana” is probably one of Camila Cabello’s best-known songs.
It’s a salsa-inspired mid-tempo song with smooth melodies and a catchy beat.
So although it combines different instruments, the song also sounds good on guitar.
It’s also very easy to learn, as it features a repetitive pattern.
You’ll only have to master three essential guitar chords: Em, C, and B7.
22. “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift released “Blank Space” on her album “1989” in 2014.
Taylor said that the song is a satirical self-referential nod to the media perception of her image as an unpredictable flirtatious girl.
Musically, the song is upbeat and catchy, and it’s somewhat repetitive.
That being said, it’s one of the beginner guitar pop songs.
It has 5 chords, but they’re not complicated, and the strumming pattern is quite simple.
23. “Firework” by Katy Perry
“Firework” was a huge hit when it came out in 2014.
It’s uplifting and energetic, and it simply makes you want to jump around and dance.
Of course, the song sounds a bit different on guitar, but it works really well.
Plus, it’s rather easy to learn – it features a simple chord progression and steady rhythm.
24. “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson
If you’re looking for easy popular songs to play on electric guitar, this one’s for you.
“Uptown Funk” quickly became a universal hit in 2014, and it still sounds amazing.
And since you probably know it by heart, you won’t have any problems learning it on guitar.
The catchy riff is actually very simple to memorize and play.
25. “Can’t Stop The Feeling” by Justin Timberlake
Speaking of catchy popular songs, “Can’t Stop The Feeling” is one of the best.
The song was used in the animated film ‘Trolls’, but became a global radio hit.
It’s also a good guitar song to add to your repertoire.
The chords are rather easy (besides the F chord maybe), and everything else is also manageable.
With enough practice, you’ll be able to play it effortlessly, even if you’re a beginner.
26. “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd
The Weeknd is known for making smashing pop hits.
And his 2019 song “Blinding Lights” is one of his best pieces of work so far.
It’s also the longest charting song by a solo artist of all time – it spent 90 weeks on the chart!
Therefore, you should definitely learn how to play it on guitar.
After all, it’s a simple guitar song, and it entails four familiar chords: Dm, Am, C, and G.
27. “Levitating” by Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa is one of the most famous pop singers in the world right now, and “Levitating” is one of her biggest hits.
It’s simple, catchy, and upbeat.
And it requires combining only three chords on guitar: Am, Em, and Dm.
You’ll master these minor chords in no time.
Rhythm shouldn’t be an issue either, especially if you’re familiar with the song.
28. “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
After being featured in a movie “A Star Is Born” , “Shallow” became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
The song also won multiple awards, including the Oscars, Golden Globe, and Grammy.
It seems like Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper managed to convey the emotion of the song perfectly.
If you want to learn how to play this popular guitar ballad, you can start with an easier beginner-friendly version and work your way up to the original version.
And this easy “Shallow” tutorial is a great place to start.
29. “Budapest” by George Ezra
“Budapest” is one of the easiest pop songs to play on guitar.
It features three simple chords: C, G, and D.
The rhythm is pretty straightforward too.
And if you decide to sing along as well, you’re ready for a great performance.
After all, it’s a sweet, familiar song that everyone loves.
30. “Let It Be” by The Beatles
“Let It Be” is regarded as one of the best Beatles songs.
However, the legendary group had officially broken up a month after its release in 1970.
Nevertheless, “Let It Be” remains a beloved Beatles classic.
It’s also one of the easiest Beatles songs to play on guitar.
You’ll have to learn four chords, and as a beginner, you can start with this simple version and progress towards a more nuanced performance including the guitar solo.
Easy Pop Songs On Guitar – Final Thoughts
We hope our list of the best guitar pop songs for beginners provided you with some great ideas.
All of the songs we mentioned today are familiar, catchy, and fairly easy to learn.
They will allow you to expand your repertoire, improve your playing technique, and have fun along the way.
Want an easier way to learn guitar songs? Check out our complete list and reviews of online guitar lessons that work.
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