Playing guitar is great, but nothing compares to playing and singing on the guitar at the same time. The trouble is that playing and singing simultaneously can be hard to learn.
Never fear! I’m coming at you with 15 songs that are easy to play and sing on the guitar. These are great songs for both the acoustic and electric guitar, and we’ll cover a bunch of artists and genres.
I’ve also included chords, tabs, and video lessons for each singing to make singing and playing as easy as possible.
One final note before we get started: don’t forget to tune your guitar! These songs won’t sound right if your guitar is out of tune… If you need a great tuner, here’s my favorite clip-on guitar tuner (on Amazon).
Also: you will need a capo to play some of these songs. If you don’t have a capo (or want to upgrade to a better one) here’s my favorite capo (on Amazon).
Now strap in and grab your guitar to get started on these 15 Easy Songs to Play and Sing on Guitar:
When I Come Around – Green Day
When I Come Around Video Guitar Lesson
When I Come Around is a Green Day classic, from the third album Dookie. It was the band’s most popular single in their early recording career, until Boulevard of Broken Dreams hit the airwaves.
The song remains an alternative rock classic and is pretty easy to sing and play on guitar at the same time.
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sweet Home Alabama Video Guitar Lesson
We all know Sweet Home Alabama, one of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s most popular tunes. But do you know how easy it is to play on the guitar? The song uses just 4-5 chords, making it an excellent choice for beginner singers or guitarists to learn.
Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show
Wagon Wheel Video Guitar Lesson
Wagon Wheel is one of the few bluegrass songs that have made it into the mainstream, bringing bluegrass to a much larger following. If you’re looking to get started playing bluegrass guitar, the song also has a simple chord structure that will make a nice foundation for later bluegrass guitar playing and singing.
Jumper – Third Eye Blind
This is my favorite third eye blind tune, and an easy one to learn since it uses just 5 chords.
This is a song everyone is sure to recognize regardless of their musical taste, so it’s a great all-around crowd pleaser to play and sing on the electric or acoustic guitar.
Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
Wish You Were Here Video Guitar Lesson
This is one of Pink Floyd’s easier songs and one that sounds great on both the acoustic guitar and electric guitar. Since it has a slower pace, it’s also a great one to practice your singing.
Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
Chasing Cars Video Guitar Lesson
Chasing Cars is a great song to whip out at a party to unleash some instant nostalgia. Luckily, the song is easy enough to learn on guitar that you’ll be able to remember it even at the height of the party 😉
Harvest Moon – Neil Young
Harvest Moon Video Guitar Lesson
From Neil Young’s album of the same name, Harvest Moon is one of the singer-songwriters better known tracks. Sound like one of the fathers of folk with this simple 5 chord song.
Better Together – Jack Johnson
Better Together Video Guitar Lesson
Everyone’s got a little Jack Johnson in them. Johnson’s songs are great for a lazy morning or an afternoon on the beach. Embrace his laid back feel with Better Together – one of his easier songs to play and sing on the acoustic guitar.
She Talks to Angels – The Black Crowes
She Talks to Angels Video Guitar Lesson
Bring back memories of the 90s with the Black Crowe’s classic She Talks to Angels. With just 3 simple chords (E, B, A) this is one of the easiest songs on this list.
Horse With No Name – America
Horse With No Name Video Guitar Lesson
Horse with No Name is one of America’s classic tracks – one that nearly everyone will recognize from the radio. It’s also a simple song to play, with just 4 chords on the guitar.
I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
I Won’t Back Down Video Guitar Lesson
Tom Petty has so many great songs that you need to learn at least one of them. One of my favorites, and one of the easiest to play and sing is I Won’t Back Down. With inspiring lyrics and an easy melody, this classic is a must-learn for any classic rock fan.
You Might Think – The Cars
You Might Think Video Guitar Lesson
The cars have some of the catchiest pop-rock hits in history, and You Might Think is one of their catchiest.
Learn this easy song by the Cars and your friends will never get it out of their heads!
If You Want to Sing Out – Cat Stevens
If You Want to Sing Out Chords
If You Want to Sing Out Video Guitar Lesson
Cat Stevens wrote and played some of the best acoustic music of the 70s. Many of his songs are relatively simple to play, built out of a foundation of C, G, and A minor chords. If You Want to Sing Out is a great “first learn” for any Cat Stevens connoisseur.
Big Me – Foo Fighters
One of the Foo Fighter’s best tracks in my opinion – Big Me is a great easy one to learn on the acoustic guitar.
I Walk The Line – Johnny Cash
I Walk the Line Video Guitar Lesson
And of course, we’ve gotta have some Johnny Cash on the list. While Cash’s deep baritone is intimidating and hard to recreate, the chord structure and melody of most of his songs are pretty straightforward. Give this one a shot.
Learn More Easy Songs on Guitar
Check out my other guides to some of the best easy songs to learn and sing on guitar:
- The 12 Best Grateful Dead Songs for Acoustic Guitar (with Chords + Tabs)
- The 10 Best Eagles Songs for Acoustic Guitar (with Chords & Tabs)
- The 10 Best Tony Rice Songs for Acoustic Guitar (with Chords & Tabs)
- The 10 Best James Taylor Songs for Acoustic Guitar (with Chords & Tabs)
- The 25 Best Rock Songs for Acoustic Guitar (With Chords & Tabs)
Ready to Get Better at Guitar, Faster?
Whenever you’re ready to take your guitar playing to the next level, check out a few of my favorite resources below:
The Best Acoustic Guitar Strings – A unique polymer coating makes these guitar strings last for months or even years at a time, making for an exceptional value. They provide the perfect mix of boom, range, twang, and brightness that acoustic music is known for. — CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
The Best Acoustic Guitar – Beloved by everyone from Paul Simon to Gordon Lightfoot, the Martin D-18 is one of Martin’s most legendary guitars ever… It’s an excellent, premier quality acoustic guitar for bluegrass, country, folk, rock and more. This is also what I play myself — CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Chords, Tabs & Video Lessons for 100 Epic Songs – This free guide that I created for fellow guitarists gives you chords, tabs, and video lessons for the 100 best songs to learn on guitar… I spent many hours putting this guide together to help you get better at guitar, faster. — CLICK HERE TO GET IT FREE
Fingerpicking vs Flatpicking Guitar – Learn which picking style is right for YOU by exploring examples, history, and popular players of each style. Discover essential techniques and pros and cons of each approach. — CLICK HERE TO GET IT FREE
