Songwriting is an intimately personal process and there are various approaches you can take when approaching it. From chord progressions to melodies or even words for your lyrics, each writer can find their own approach that works best.
Once you’ve constructed a strong chord progression, it’s important to add melody. A melody brings us closer to the music and gives it its identity.
John Denver – Banana Boat Song
This timeless classic first made famous in the early 80s when released as part of the movie Jamboree is still highly regarded today, ranking among Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Songs of All Time. Featuring three chords (G, C and D) along with an easy strumming pattern that makes this song accessible even for beginners.
This song provides a great example of incorporating slash chords (chords where one note is played in the top position and another note in the bass position) into your playing, and is an excellent introduction to using a capo.
An iconic folk song that will get everyone singing along! Utilizing simple A, E and D progressions with an intuitive strumming pattern that is easy for beginners to grasp.
The Plain White T’s – Mary Had a Little Lamb
This song for children features Mary and her adorable lamb, who follows her everywhere they go until one day it decides to strike out on its own and travel. However, after being unsuccessful at making friends on its journey it finally returns back home where it finds shelter and safety.
This song is easy to play on an acoustic guitar, using only chords D, Cadd9 and E arpeggiated on record – yet all can easily be strumming for strumming practice. Additionally, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice hammer ons and pull offs with minor pentatonic scale scale hammer ons/pul offs/hammer offs on minor pentatonic scale; making this an excellent song to introduce children to rhyming words as well as listening/listening/listening to others’ opinions when performing it live!
The Beatles – I Want You Back
After their January 1969 Get Back/Let It Be sessions at Trident Studios, The Beatles returned about three weeks later to officially record this song. John had already created its framework, while recording was required to help capture its full essence on tape with help from his bandmates.
George Martin and Glyn Johns edited together segments from Takes Nine, Twenty and 32 into an official master take of this song – it’s a prime example of John’s menacingly dark chords’ ability to convey all aspects of his love affair with Yoko Ono.
At the conclusion of the refrain introduction, one can hear a low rumbling sound originating from George’s Moog synthesizer, likely coming from George himself. This sound remains until Ringo begins playing drum fills while Paul adds tasteful jazzy bass lines – until then this low rumble may still be heard lingering behind until Ringo begins hissing through on cymbals and drum fills and Paul breaks out into tastefully unexpected bass solos!
The Red Hot Chili Peppers – Hot Sauce
Beginner guitarists may find this simple three chord song an ideal introduction. It features a classic blues progression with four bars of A, followed by two of D and back to A again – as well as an easy strumming pattern so even beginners can quickly pick up this tune.
This simple four chord song employs a capo on the third fret and should present no challenge to any guitarist. Strum all of your chords; although its tablature may look complex, chord names shouldn’t cause much difficulty for most players. Hammer-ons and pull-offs provide ample opportunity for experimentation here! For further insight into playing songs on guitar check out our free acoustic guitar lessons and video tabs!
Soul Asylum – Don’t Worry About Me
This song provides a great opportunity for beginners to become acquainted with slash chords – when another note other than the root is placed in the bass position – which are indicated by slashes in chord names and can initially feel intimidating, yet eventually become second nature.
This song contains several pauses and quick stops, so if you aren’t used to strumming 16th notes at the speed of chord changes it may prove challenging at first; once mastered though it will quickly become one of your go-to songs for playing!
This song utilizes both open chords and power chords for an easy learning experience that you can apply on both an acoustic and electric guitar.