This Taylor Swift hit is an ideal way for beginners to start exploring essential chords. Its ample spacing and chord consistency provide the ideal opportunity to gain practice playing more advanced yet fundamental progressions.
It provides a wonderful introduction to slash chords (chords that incorporate other notes than their roots in the bass position, indicated by a slash in their chord name), which may initially seem challenging but will become second nature with practice.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Sweet Home Alabama”
Sweet Home Alabama, one of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s iconic southern rock songs, remains an integral part of their live performances. Although its chord progression may appear simple – D major, Cadd9, G major – the lyrics and musical riffs give this track much more character than simply being an uninteresting set of chords.
Neil Young’s 1970 song, “Southern Man,” which condemned racism in the South, serves as an influence. However, Ronnie Van Zant goes further by exploring what it’s like to feel proud of your home country despite any past misdeeds that might lie within.
The opening guitar riff of this song is legendary and simple to learn; simply place your ring finger and pinky finger on the bottom string for a C major chord or try something more unique like D minor for added flavor.
Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Green River”
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Green River, composed by John Fogerty in 1969 and released for public performance by Creedence Clearwater Revival as one of their signature songs, is one of Fogerty’s most creative and imaginative compositions. Referencing a river that ran through his hometown of California where he lived at that time, this guitar lesson covers both its lead part and an easier strung acoustic version that’s ideal for beginners. You’ll receive two lesson videos along with performance play thru video plus full tabs & lyrics! In total you’ll learn 13 classic rock favorites from CCR that you know and love all along this way including Bad Moon Rising Born On Bayou Down on Corner Proud Mary + more!
Bob Dylan – “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
Bob Dylan’s music always connects with its listeners, and this song by Bob Dylan is no exception. With its easy chord progression and lyrics that make for easy reading, this piece serves as an ideal beginner guitar song to begin learning with and also allows beginners to practice switching open position chords.
Eb and Bb chords should be saved for later when you have more experience playing guitar, just as Dylan did. His masterful use of words and emotions makes him an outstanding poet and songwriter.
This song provides a fun way to practice strumming patterns and adding dynamics to your songs. Additionally, it’s an ideal song to introduce when trying to pique someone else’s interest in learning guitar. Enjoy! And please consider making a donation so we can continue producing free acoustic guitar lessons – thank you!
Van Morrison – “Brown Eyed Girl”
Van Morrison is an iconic Northern Irish singer-guitarist best known for writing the song Brown Eyed Girl in 1967, which became one of his signature tunes and helped launch his solo career following his departure from Them.
This song begins with a four bar phrase featuring G, C and D chords before transitioning to an eight bar chorus which repeats twice before returning back into verse form with an extended D7 chord connecting both passages.
This song’s chords and strumming pattern should be easy for new guitar players to pick up quickly; especially those switching between C chord and G chord might find the transition challenging at first; therefore it may be worthwhile practicing this transition several times prior to moving on with the song.