Being able to play the guitar is a skill that’s highly aspired by many to acquire. This is because the guitar is a low maintenance instrument, and it can be used on just about any song. Sure, a lot of people are able to learn to play the guitar on their own, but there are also those who actually take up guitar lessons in order to play properly and eventually, professionally.
Are you currently enrolled in a guitar school? If so, then for sure you are given pieces to play during class. You may also further your studies by supplementing the lessons with homebased guitar practice. Below are some of the top choices of guitar songs that are recommended for beginners:
- “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People
“Pumped Up Kicks” is a catchy indie song that suddenly skyrocketed into stardom back in 2011-2012, and it got everybody singing to its lyrics. If you’re not familiar with this song however, you may find it a bit complicated to follow thanks to its multi-instrumental accompaniments. The thing is, the song has surprisingly simple chords! You can easily follow its chord progression consisting of Dm-F-C-G in that order, and these are the only chords used throughout the whole song.
- “Lightning Crashes” by Live
One of the most popular alternative songs of the ‘90s, “Lightning Crashes” became an anthem by teenagers during the said era, alongside that of the hits of Nirvana and Pearl Jam. The original chords are arranged for a capo 2, so you may want to follow this arrangement if you want to copy the track. On the other hand, if you’re just after practice, then feel free to remove the capo and play the chord progression consisting of D-A-E.
- “Lost Stars” by Adam Levine
If you have seen the movie “Begin Again,” then for sure you are all too familiar with this song. “Lost Stars” is a soft guitar ballad, with two versions (Adam Levine’s and Keira Knightley’s). “Lost Stars” consists of the chords F-Em-G, while its intro can be started with a D instead of a G. This piece is also played mostly by strumming, making it much easier to follow by novice players.
- “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
Probably the anthem of the grunge era, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” has become the song that inspired just about every teenager across the globe to learn to play the guitar during the ‘90s. One of the reasons it has become a favorite practice piece is because it also has relatively few chords, i.e. F-Bb-G-C.
You may want to practice other Nirvana songs such as “Polly,” “Come as You Are,” and “Lithium.”
- “Passenger Seat” by Stephen Speaks
Lastly, if you intend to practice rather acoustic and soulful guitar playing, then you may want to practice the song “Passenger Seat” by Stephen Speaks. The song comes with a chord progression of E-A-D-G-B-E, and can be played by both strumming and plucking. This is also played by guitar only, so it wouldn’t be difficult for you to follow the song during practice.
A few more tips:
You may want to ask your music instructor if he or she has other recommended songs that you can use for practice. This way, you are able to apply your guitar lessons on different pieces and hone the versatility of your guitar playing skills along the way.