Beginners new to guitar should begin by learning open chords – they are easy to pick up quickly while providing a full sound.
For this chord, strum strings five through one (ignoring the top two strings). Strum this chord slowly with a calypso rhythm.
1. ‘Romeo Is Bleeding’ by Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi fans should listen out for this bar-room romp from their Keep the Faith era; its swagger recalls Keep the Faith’s Keep the Faith album and features simple chord progression and fist-pumping drumming from Tico Torres for maximum effect. A must-listen song in Bon Jovi fans’ collections!
Written during the COVID-19 pandemic, this heartbreaking ballad addresses gun violence in America with powerful lyrics by Sambora that capture both its heartlessness and horror of dreams. Sambora’s roaring guitar captures their essence while leaving no room for doubt about their intent.
Though this hard rocking track may be confusing at first, its slower tempo reveals a softer side of the band which would eventually lead them down their ‘Crush’ path. Its emotive chorus reminds listeners that music doesn’t need to be loud to convey emotion – something this track certainly does!
2. ‘Slowhand’ by Slowhand
Aerosmith’s most beloved songs is ideal for showing your affection on Valentine’s day, with only 10 simple chords required to perform it! There are more challenging versions available through the link below should those wishing for a challenge feel inclined!
Extreme’s ballad “Life Is Better With Love” has quickly become one of their best-loved songs despite departing from their hard rock style. This beautiful love song provides a powerful message about why love makes life worth living; perfect for spreading Valentine’s day cheer!
This song contains some uncommon chord shapes you might not often come across, like the second chord in bar 3 which utilizes a shortened major barre chord, which gives your guitar sound more jazziness! This technique adds variety to rhythm playing while creating space for other instruments in the mix.
3. ‘As Long As You Love Me’ by Mark Twain
“As Long As You Love Me” is an ideal song to use to practice different chords and strumming patterns. The chord progression is straightforward and the shuffle feel makes playing it fun; its change in rhythm around 3/4 of the way through might prove challenging at first but with practice you should soon master this transition.
This song’s lyrics contain an oft-cited proverb: ‘It isn’t the size of the dog in a fight; rather it is how fiercely they fight.” Although often attributed to Mark Twain, there is no contemporary evidence supporting his use of it.
This song’s chords are straightforward – simply use your ring finger on strings five through one, and your middle finger on the second fret of the fifth string. Practice slowly when playing this tune; playing slowly can help your muscles memorize their shapes & sounds more efficiently.
4. ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin was an unforgettable 20th and 21st-century musical and cultural icon, her influence continuing to shape our world today. As one of Billboard’s Hot 100 list’s longest-serving female artists (until Nicki Minaj overtook her in 2017), Aretha wrote hundreds of songs throughout her career that continue to resonate today – be it Respect highlighting civil rights fights or her feminist anthem, Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves championing social change through her lyrics – music was her voice for change – both literally and metaphorically speaking of course.
Below we have assembled some of our favorites – we hope that you enjoy them as much as we do!