For beginners looking for something easier, the Horse With No Name by America could be an ideal starting point. Only 4 chords are used and its simple strum pattern make this song perfect.
Gerry Beckley’s tuning is used, which requires more finger flexibility for playing.
E Minor
This classic must be included on every guitarist’s repertoire. Its easy learning process and captivating guitar riff will get your playing motivation going and will keep your audience wanting more. Furthermore, it provides an ideal opportunity to practice chord progressions and strumming patterns!
The song features two straightforward chords for beginners to easily learn; E minor and D69/F# chords are both simple to play; additionally, its strumming pattern can easily be followed: just strum down each note for one bar of four beats!
This song’s chords are also relatively straightforward for beginners to play on bass guitar, with its simple riff between chords. Additionally, practicing chord muting will enable you to transition seamlessly from chord to chord without losing rhythm – something which will prove essential as you advance as a guitarist.
C Major
Beginner guitarists must practice songs that help develop their rhythm skills, and learning two chords at once is an excellent way for them to do this. The Horse With No Name song uses only two chords – an Em and what we will refer to as Dadd6add9. Both chords are relatively easy for beginning players, though each measure or four beats, they switch.
Practice strumming patterns of this song to ensure you can keep up with its strumming pattern, whether using a metronome or matching the rhythm of music playing in your head when singing the lyrics. Syncopated strumming can be difficult at first; with enough practice you will soon be singing and playing this tune flawlessly!
G Major
America’s “America” song is an ideal beginner tune, featuring only two basic chords and an easy strumming pattern. Additionally, its unique galloping rhythm will help develop both timing and rhythm skills.
G major is an ideal key for beginners learning guitar as its strumming pattern requires constant down-up strumming with occasional “phantom down strums”, where strings don’t hit, creating an unusual but compelling rhythmic pattern that may prove challenging at first; with practice however it becomes easier over time.
This song also employs open chords (also referred to as barre chords), which involve playing near the nut and allowing some strings to ring without pressing down any frets. These open chords may be difficult for beginner guitarists to master initially; however with practice and patience they can quickly be learned and implemented into songs like this.
D Major
Beginning guitarists should develop a repertoire of two chord songs as soon as possible to practice finger movements and muscle memory without needing to switch chords constantly, making learning guitar much faster than before as beginner guitarists become comfortable moving their fingers across the fretboard.
Horse With No Name is relatively straightforward in its chord progression; however, rhythm may present more of a challenge for some players. A metronome may come in handy here to ensure accurate timing.
This song’s chords are all based on D major, making them easy for beginners to play. There are, however, variations that exist for some chords in this song such as D major 9 (C, F#, G# and A) and 7 (C, F# A B and C F# F# G# A B). These latter variations tend to be found more in folk-rock music but can also be heard elsewhere like classic rock or blues music genres.