Easiest Song on Electric Guitar for Beginners

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The easiest song on electric guitar for most beginners is one built on a short riff, two or three chords and a slow-to-medium tempo. Lesson sites and Fender's own list keep returning to the same few songs, so you don't have to guess. This guide sorts those picks by what makes each one playable early and shows you how to choose one for your level.

How we researched

We looked at five search results and four People Also Ask questions for this topic. We read excerpts from three guitar lesson sites: Coachguitar, Sound Guitar Lessons and National Guitar Academy. We saw Fender's list of ten songs only as a set of titles in the search snippet. We also checked two beginner songbook listings on Amazon. The song notes below come from what those sources say about each song. This guide compares products using manufacturer specifications, current Amazon listings and owner reviews; we did not test them hands-on.

What you need

You need an electric guitar, a tuner, an amp or headphones, and a tab or chord chart for the song. You don't need prior experience for the first songs below, though the sources describe them as beginner-friendly rather than effortless. Expect the first few sessions to feel slow, especially if your fretting hand is still building strength.

Step 1: Pick a song with one repeating riff

The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" is a common first pick. Coachguitar describes its riff as two basic power chords that repeat through the song, with a chord progression of just three chords. Once you have the riff, you have most of the song. The usual mistake here is trying to learn the whole track at once. Start with the riff alone, loop it for a few minutes, and only then add the rest.

Step 2: Check the chord count and tempo before you commit

Count the chords first. Coachguitar says "Zombie" uses just four chords (D, A, C, G) with a repetitive riff and a fairly slow tempo. "Like a Stone" uses only three chords and, according to the same source, has no tricky licks or fast picking. Smoke on the Water is built on simple power chords with a catchy riff. The mistake to avoid is choosing a song because it's famous. A famous song with fast picking can take months to sound right.

Step 3: Learn the riff slowly and pick it the right way

In "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin, National Guitar Academy highlights a string skip from the low E string to the D string. The source says this can feel like a scary jump at first. Its advice is to play the riff with downstrokes to learn the notes and the groove, then switch to alternate picking. The usual mistake is rushing the skip and tensing your hand. Slow it down until the jump is automatic.

For "Back in Black" by AC/DC, the same source says the riff mixes power chords on the low strings with single notes on the high and low strings. It recommends playing each section slowly and choking each chord by touching the strings with your pick hand after you play it. Take your time here; the source says there is no need to rush.

Step 4: Keep your hand in one spot for Ace of Spades

Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" is a useful test of your fret-hand discipline. National Guitar Academy notes that the main riff after the intro stays in one position. Its suggestion is to keep your index finger planted on the A and D strings at the 7th fret. The song is fast and heavy, so it's more demanding than the others here. The mistake is wandering up and down the neck to chase notes. Anchor the hand and move only the fingers you need.

Common mistakes

• Choosing by fame rather than by riff length or chord count.
• Playing too fast. Several sources tell you to slow down, and that advice holds for every song above.
• Ignoring pick direction when a riff has a string skip.
• Buying a songbook based on a rating alone. One Amazon listing below has only one rating so far, so treat it as unproven.

Two beginner songbooks to consider

If you want a book rather than single songs, these two Amazon listings fit the easy-song approach. Both fall in the under $100 price tier.

Choose Beginner Electric Guitar Book: A First Electric Guitar Songbook with 60 Easy Tab if you're starting from zero and want a broad set of easy tabs. It has a 5-star rating on Amazon, but from only one rating, so read a few reviews before you decide.

Choose Electric Guitar Book For Beginners: 55 Easy Guitar Tab Songs – Rock if you want rock riffs and already know a few basic chords. It has 4 stars from 16 ratings on Amazon, which is a larger sample, though it is still small.

If you haven't picked a guitar yet, our Fender Standard Stratocaster overview covers the specs and who it suits. None of the lesson sources ties an easy song to a specific guitar model, so the guitar matters less than the song you choose.

FAQ

What is the first song I should learn on electric guitar?

A common first pick is "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes. Its riff uses two basic power chords, and the progression has only three chords, so you can learn the core quickly. If the riff feels too fast at your level, try "Zombie" or "Like a Stone," which the sources describe as slower or simpler.

What are some easy songs for beginners to learn on electric guitar?

Smoke on the Water, Back in Black and Immigrant Song all appear in the lesson excerpts as beginner-friendly. Each one suits a different skill. Smoke on the Water builds power-chord control, Back in Black mixes chords and single notes, and Immigrant Song teaches a string skip.

What's a hard song to play on electric guitar?

The sources don't rank songs by difficulty in a measurable way. Ace of Spades is described as fast and heavy, and Coachguitar notes that Eye of the Tiger has technical licks and riffs that challenge players. Save those for after you can play the easier riffs cleanly.

Final thoughts

Your next step is simple. Pick one riff from this list, play it slowly with a metronome or a steady beat, and record yourself once a week. When it sounds clean at a slow tempo, speed it up a little. Fender's own list of easy songs includes titles such as "Cherub Rock" and "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," so you can move to those once your first riff feels comfortable.

Sources

• Coachguitar: 27 Easy songs to learn on electric guitar
• National Guitar Academy: 10 Easy Beginner Electric Guitar Songs
• Sound Guitar Lessons: 10 Easy Guitar Songs for Beginners
• Fender: 10 Easy Songs to Learn on Electric Guitar