Do you love rock music? Are you a beginner guitar player? Then you’re in the right place. We have compiled a list of 100 of the best easy guitar rock songs for beginners that can be played by on electric guitar.
Guitar is an instrument that has been around since the early 1900s. It was originally designed to accompany singers and musicians, but today, it’s also played solo.
The guitar really revolutionized the music industry in the early 1950s when rock and roll emerged from blues music.
Guitar is a versatile instrument that can be played in various styles.
Rock music is a very broad genre in itself, and there are so many subgenres such as hard rock, progressive rock, heavy metal, blues rock, psychedelic rock, and so much more.
With all these sub-genres to sample from, it can be confusing to know the easy guitar rock songs for beginners. Plus, many songs in the genre also serves a challenge on their own.
If you do not have the basic skills, you will have a more difficult time playing even the easiest rock songs.
Before you start playing any of our recommended songs, ensure you already know the easy strumming patterns and basic chords.
Our list of the top 100 easy guitar rock songs are perfect for beginners who want to get started playing.
These songs will help you develop your skills and learn how to play guitar. Many of them you might find very challenging, but every one of them is fun to play.
The list includes artists like Aerosmith, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Def Leppard, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Journey, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Metallica, Motley Crue, Rage Against the Machine, Queen, Van Halen, Velvet Revolver, ZZ Top, and many more!
In this article, we’ve tried to bring together songs from a wide spectrum to give you the best chance possible of finding something within the rock genre.
Let’s start…
100 Easy Guitar Rock Songs For Beginners
1. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
2. “Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses
3. “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath
4. “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC
5. “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine
6. “My Sharona” by The Knack
7. “I Fought the Law” by Johnny Cash
8. “Rocky Mountain Way” by Joe Walsh
9. “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne
10. “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister
11. “Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou Reed
12. “Gene Genie” by David Bowie
13. “Black Dog” by Led Zeppelin
14. “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC
15. “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones
16. “Ace Of Spades” by Thin Lizzy
17. “Whole Lotta Rosie” by AC/CD
18. “Tears In Heaven” by Eric Clapton
19. “Back In Black” by AC/ CD
20. “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
21. “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix
22. “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
23. “Wanted Dead Or Alive” by Bon Jovi
24. “We Will Rock You” by Queen
25. “I Want To Know What Love Is” by Foreigner
26. “Shoot Out The Lights” by Kiss
27. “Bark at the Moon” by Ozzy Osbourne
28. “Walk This Way” by Run DMC & Aerosmith
29. “All Right Now” by Free
30. “Johnny B Goode” by Chuck Berry
31. “Lightning Strikes (Twice)” by Iron Maiden
32. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
33. “Hotel California” by Eagles
34. “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Öyster Cult
35. “Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones
36. “Runnin’ with the Devil” by Van Halen
37. “Just Got Paid” by ZZ Top
38. “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You” by Van Halen
39. “Rocking in the Free World” by Neil Young
40. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day
41. “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones
42. “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones
43. “Killing Floor” by Howlin’ Wolf
44. “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood & The Destroyers
45. “Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream
46. “Under Pressure” by Queen
47. “The Final Countdown” by Europe
48. “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath
49. “Welcome To Paradise” by Green Day
50. “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” by U2
51. “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
52. “Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones
53. “Paralyzer” by Finger Eleven
54. “Lithium” by Nirvana
55. “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash
56. “I Wanna Be Sedated” by The Ramones
57. “The Boys Are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzie
58. “Somebody Told Me” by The Killers
59. “Love Hurts” by The Everly Brothers
60. “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers
61. “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple
62. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
63. “No Surrender” by Bruce Springsteen
64. “Still Into You” by Paramore
65. “Blackbird” by The Beatles
66. “Daytripper” by The Beatles
67. “Rock ‘n Roll Star” by Oasis
68. “Creep” by Radiohead
69. “Baba O’Riley” by The Who
70. “Do I Wanna Know?” by Arctic Monkeys
71. “In Bloom” by Nirvana
72. “Hey Jude” by The Beatles
73. “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes
74. “Every Breath You Take” by The Police
75. “Dreaming” by Blondie
76. “God Save The Queen” by The Sex Pistols
77. “If I Had A Rocket Launcher” by Bruce Cockburn
78. “Radioactive” by Kings of Leon
79. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum
80. “Black Night” by Deep Purple
81. “Heartbreaker” by Led Zeppelin
82. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen
83. “Dancing With Myself” by Billy Idol
84. “Mama Weer All Crazee Now!” by Slade
85. “You Really Got Me” by The Kinks
86. “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC
87. “I Fought the Law” by The Clash
88. “Born In The USA” by Bruce Springsteen
89. “Tears Don’t Fall” by Bullet For My Valentine
90. “Sister Christian” by Night Ranger
91. “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon
92. “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who
93. “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
94. “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley
95. “Long Tall Sally” by Little Richard
96. “We Will Rock You” by Queen
97. “Slither” by Velvet Revolver
98. “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
99. “I Want Candy” by The Strangeloves
100. “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” by AC/DC
Conclusion
And that’s our list of 100 rock songs that are good for beginners to play on guitar! What do you think? Did we miss any important ones? Let us know in the comments below. What do you think about our list for easy guitar rock songs for beginners?
Rock is such a broad genre, and we have tried our best to include songs from many different bands and styles of rock music.
Some of the most significant rock songs ever written were written by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, and many others on our list.
These artists wrote some of the most famous songs in the world. We selected some of these songs as examples of songs that are important to the genre of rock music more broadly.
Many iconic rock songs use only 3 or 4 chords. Learn only a few basic chords, and there are hundreds, if not thousands of songs you could play.
The best way to practice your skills is by learning different songs and having fun. Once you master the basics, you can move on to more difficult ones.
Just remember to have fun playing the songs you love. Practice makes perfect!
So, here are a few tips to help you improve your playing: Practice every day.
If you want to be really good at something, you have to put in the time. It takes time to learn how to play guitar. Don’t expect instant results.
Play along with music. This will give you a sense of rhythm. Playing along helps you develop your ear and improve your timing.
Learn new techniques. There are many ways to play guitar. Experiment with them all. Also try different styles of guitar, such as acoustic guitar and classical guitars.
Learn to improvise. Improvising means creating music while you play. It’s not easy, but it’s worth practicing.
Keep practicing. Even though you may feel like you’ve mastered everything there is to know about guitar, there’s always room for improvement. The learning never ends with this pursuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s The Best Way To Learn These Songs?
Learning songs like this requires patience and practice. If your goal is to play guitar, then it will take time.
Listen closely to the songs, look up video tutorials or best guitar tab sites, or even sheet music if you know how to read music. Then try to play along to the song.
Which Song Should I Start With?
Start with a song that you already know or like. Playing songs that you enjoy will make you want to practice more, and you will improve more quickly.
What Is Easiest Song To Sing And Play On Guitar?
Learning to play the guitar alone is hard for a beginner. Adding another task in the mix, singing, can make the entire experience even more difficult. You must have a presence of mind where you are able to coordinate your voice and guitar playing seamlessly.
Fortunately, there are a lot of easy songs that allow you to enjoy both activities. If you are looking for the easiest song to sing and play on guitar, here are our top 10 recommendations;
- Do You Wanna Dance by The Beach Boys
- Knocking On Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan
- Let It Be by Beatles
- Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
- What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes
- Always On My Mind by Elvis Presley
- Budapest by George Ezra
- Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson
- Take It Easy by The Eagles
- Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
Is Learning To Play Guitar Hard?
No! Playing guitar is pretty simple. Although there are a lot of different types of guitars, they all work similarly.
Most people can pick up their guitar and play something within minutes. Of course, to get good, you have to put in the time.
My name is Howard Matthews and I have been playing the guitar since I was knee-high. My parents like to joke that I was pulling the strings even before I was born. In fact, one of my earliest memories is sitting on the couch with my dad’s guitar, wreaking havoc on the chords.
Now, 40 years later, I can attest that I play them much better than I did back then. I have followed in the footsteps of both my parents – much to their delight – and have been the main guitarist in my band for the best part of three decades.
Music has always been my passion, and until recently my life has been so consumed with it that I haven’t had a moment to have a breath (and I wouldn’t have it any other way)!