Taylor Swift should definitely perform this nostalgic cut at her show in Philadelphia; it stands out amongst her more known pop and country compositions for its rock sensibilities.
It offers an easy chord progression and strumming pattern that make this song accessible to beginners, without needing a capo – all chords being open-positioned chords.
1. ‘Speak Now’
Taylor Swift released Speak Now as her third studio album in 2010, following her mainstream breakthrough with 2008’s Fearless. Speak Now was Swift’s first million-selling LP and debuted at #1 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Fans noticed something odd when Swift’s Eras Tour concerts turned purple at the end of last weekend’s shows; representing her album. On Friday she confirmed a re-recording of Speak Now would be released on July 7.
2. ‘Fearless’
Fearless was Taylor Swift’s second consecutive album to debut at number one and marked a significant step in her musical evolution. She wrote seven tracks alone for Fearless without co-writers or production help, producing for herself for the first time as well. Fearless produced five singles that ultimately became 2009’s top selling record.
Rerecorded versions of her songs feel more polished; she sings with breathless phrasing and deliberate touches of vibrato; you can hear more wisdom in the lyrics too.
3. ‘Love Story’
Swift made history when her re-recorded version of ‘Love Story’ topped country charts in February 2021 – the first artist since Dolly Parton who achieved the same feat with “I Will Always Love You” between 1974 and 1982.
This song offers a fresh take on Shakespearean classic Romeo and Juliet with its charming summer love vibe provided by an acoustic guitar.
4. ‘Bad Blood’
Folklore was released in 2020. One track from that release was this track which marked her return to more country influences; critics were particularly complimentary in its traditional composition and arrangements.
It features some intricate chord voicing and strumming patterns to really amp up its upbeat vibe, and can easily be performed on either an acoustic or electric guitar.
5. ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’
Taylor released her debut album and has become one of the highest-charting singles ever since its release with “All I Wanna Do,” an anthem about breakups penned with Max Martin and Shellback as co-songwriters.
Although recorded using electronic instruments, its chord progression still works perfectly on an acoustic guitar; just make sure that a capo is placed at fifth fret! The song itself dealt with heartbreak that took too long to heal.
6. ‘Folklore’
Folklore was Taylor Swift’s inaugural foray into post-pop, an offbeat style of music with rough edges, downtrodden sounds, and spacey vibes. For longtime Swifties who relied on familiar themes for identification purposes when listening to her songs, Folklore can be quite an unexpected change of pace.
But this move was also beneficial to her; perhaps it’s a signal that she has grown weary of the Tumblr-folk aesthetic of cute crushin’ mixtapes.
7. ‘Blank Space’
This Grammy Award winning song highlights Taylor Swift’s humorous take on her seemingly overactive dating life, chronicling every ex-partner from this synth-pop anthem that dethroned 1989’s Shake It Off as the top single on Billboard charts.
Swift’s music video puts her narcissist fantasies front and center: she humiliates her Ken-doll boyfriend by sexually assaulting him, cutting down his tree and damaging his expensive car.
8. ‘Bad Blood’
Taylor Swift’s hit track from 1989 has become one of her signature tracks, and in a 2014 interview she hinted that it may have to do with an ongoing dispute within the music industry.
This acoustic song is great fun to play acoustically! Using 4 easy elementary chords and a traditional strumming pattern, plus adding a capo for more accurate tone control, this tune provides plenty of musical enjoyment!
9. ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’
One of Taylor Swift’s most beloved tracks, this track tells a touching tale about how certain relationships remain close even after they end. With an easy chord progression and strumming pattern this song makes an excellent introduction for beginning guitarists!
This song offers a more subdued piece that mixes country and soft rock sounds using basic open chords. With just some practice you’ll soon be playing this piece flawlessly!
10. ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’
One of her biggest hits, this song mixes elements of pop and country with rock for an infectiously catchy tune. Additionally, its melodies lend itself well to acoustic guitar renditions on YouTube; many can be found online.
This song speaks to almost everyone’s experiences of life and it’s this relatability which endears Swift to her fans. It features a great rhythm as well as some interesting chord voicings for an appealing experience.