57 Popular & Easy Slow Guitar Songs (2024 With Tabs)

Whether you’re a beginner guitar player or you’re just looking for some relaxing songs to play, slow guitar songs can be some of the most enjoyable to play.

If you are just learning to play guitar, you might also like our articles on easy acoustic guitar songs and easy electric guitar songs. Many of them are slow as well and super fun to play.

List of Slow Songs to Play on Guitar

1. Stand By Me by Ben E. King

Release Date	April 1961
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Stand By Me

The song “Stand By Me” takes us back to the early 1960s. Recorded by Ben E. King, it was also co-written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and, to this day, remains one of the crucial R&B evergreen classics. And while it’s not a predominantly guitar-focused song, it’s one of the most common picks for beginners since it has a very simple form and can easily be learned on guitar. It Features Al Caiola and Charles McCracken on guitars.

The song revolves around the four basic chords. These are A major, F-sharp minor, D major, and E major which is practically I-vi-IV-V. This is played at a tempo of about 120 BPM, but the groove makes it feel like it’s half of that, making the song feel pretty slow and laidback.

2. Don’t Let Me Down by The Beatles

Release Date	April 1969
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Don’t Let Me Down

Released in 1969, “Don’t Let Me Down” is one of the final songs by The Beatles. Released on their 12th and final record, “Let It Be,” the piece was conceived as John Lennon’s love song for Yoko Ono.

It’s a fairly straightforward piece in the key of E major. The lead-up to the chorus has a 5/4 time signature, but it’s not at all difficult to follow through. What’s great about this song is that you’ll also learn a few other non-standard chords, and you can also sort out the few short riffs that appear in the song.

3. Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen

Release Date	June 1984
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Hallelujah

Written and originally recorded by Leonard Cohen, “Hallelujah” later became known as Jeff Buckley’s song. But although Jeff’s cover version is more popular, Leonard Cohen’s original version might be just a bit more beginner-friendly.

The piece is in the key of C major. And the best part is that you can easily play it in the open position. When you sort out the chord progression, you can also try and play the fingerpicking pattern or just strum along to the lyrics.

4. Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers

Release Date	July 1971
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Ain’t No Sunshine

Released back in 1971, “Ain’t No Sunshine” still feels as fresh as ever. What’s more, the song marks one of the best rags-to-riches stories. He was in his 30s and trying to make a breakthrough as a musician while doing his day job. After the song’s success, his status was cemented as one of the best R&B and soul musicians of all time. No matter the genre of music that you’re into, you just need to have this song in your repertoire.

5. Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton

Release Date	March 1978
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Wonderful Tonight

What’s awesome about “Wonderful Tonight” is that you can play it just by strumming the chords or doing it as the original, and it will sound great either way. This is just one proof of Eric Clapton’s simple yet innovative approach to songwriting.

There are a few ways people prefer to play it. But it has a very basic structure, and you can sort it out with G major, D major, C major, and E minor chords.

6. Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty

Release Date	October 1989
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Free Fallin’

With his very down-to-earth yet incredibly innovative writing approach, Tom Petty came up with “Free Fallin'” and co-wrote the whole piece with Jeff Lynn. This turned out to be one of his biggest hits of all time.

And all that basically with only three basic chord shapes. Tom Petty always used to play it with the capo on the first fret. But you’ll often find a few other variants. And don’t get fooled by the song; although it’s simple if you really want to play it like the original, there are some nuances to figure out.

7. You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere by Bob Dylan

Release Date	November 1971
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere

If you’re looking for a simple yet enjoyable slow guitar song, Bob Dylan is always a safe choice. One of many examples is his 1971 tune “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere.” The chord progression is pretty simple. All you have to do is play G major, A minor, C major, and back to G. The whole trick of making the song sound like the original is handling the strumming pattern and getting a hold of its groove.

8. Time by Pink Floyd

Release Date	February 1974
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Time

Despite the song’s overall simple structure, Pink Floyd’s “Time” has a few things you don’t realize at first listen. However, if you want to learn it, following the chords and singing along shouldn’t be difficult. You could also handle a few licks from the solo.

The verses are in the key of F# minor, and you have F# minor, A major, and E major chords. The chorus is a bit different, with alternating D major 7 and A major 7 chords. Then it goes to D major 7, C# minor 7, B minor 7, and E major. It’s one of those songs that could be played the simple way, and it would still feel a bit like the original.

9. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan

Release Date	July 1973
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

Once again, Bob Dylan proves to have some of the best beginner-friendly songs that are still incredibly catchy and engaging. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” is a classic, and it features a simple chord progression. It goes from G major, D major, to A minor, and then to G major, D major, C major. This is also one of the best songs for beginners to start learning more about improvisation and jamming. If you’re looking for slow acoustic guitar songs, this is a great one.

10. I’m Yours by Jason Mraz

Release Date	February 2008
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for I’m Yours

Now off to something closer to the present day, “I’m Yours” is an incredibly popular song for beginner to intermediate players. There are a few standard ways that people play it. But quite often, they go with the capo on the 4th fret. And then, we use G, D, E minor, and C chord shapes.

The song has this great reggae feel, which means that you accentuate the second instead of the first beat. This could work as a great exercise for rhythm and strumming.

11. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

Release Date	September 1975
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Wish You Were Here

This emotional acoustic-based song by Pink Floyd is often considered to be a tribute to Syd Barrett, although the story is a bit different. Either way, “Wish You Were Here” can be applied to any strained relationship.

To sort out the song, you’ll also need to learn some of the simple fills in between the chords. They’re not complicated but are crucial if you want to make it sound right. Other than that, you can handle it with a few basic chords. And once you get a hold of that, you can start learning the solo as well.

12. All of Me by John Legend

Release Date	August 2013
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for All of Me

Although, originally, the song isn’t guitar-based, John Legend’s “All of Me” has become popular among guitar players as well. This is because the song is very accessible and easily covered on other instruments.

There are two ways to approach this song. The simpler one involves using the basic chords E minor, C, G, D, and A minor. Nonetheless, you could still capture the song’s original feel with the right strumming pattern. But if you really want to nail it, there are a few other extended chords to sort out.

13. Welcome to the Machine by Pink Floyd

Release Date	September 1975
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Welcome to the Machine

Here’s another one from Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” album from 1975. There are only a few chords that you’ll need to know for this one. Of course, you’ll need a lot of patience for “Welcome to the Machine.” And not because it’s complicated but because it takes time for the song to develop. And although it might not seem important for a beginner, never underestimate such a song, as there’s a lot of subtle play in the dynamics. And in order to fully get it, you need to listen to and feel the song.

14. Wicked Game by Chris Isaak

Release Date	July 1989
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Wicked Game

Chris Isaak’s classic “Wicked Game” is one of the songs that has so many layers to it. It’s a great choice for beginners as its structure is not that complex, and you could play it on an acoustic guitar. However, to perform it properly as guitarist James Calvin Wilsey did, you need a lot of practice. For now, you can stick to the basic chord progression and handle some of the basic licks.

15. Heart of Gold by Neil Young

Release Date	January 1972
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Heart of Gold

One of the most famous singer-songwriters, Neil Young, always had a great approach to creating new music. Just take “Heart of Gold” as an example. It’s not a complicated piece, yet it sends its message effectively. And all you’ll need to know to learn it is E minor 7, E minor, D, C, and G chords.

16. Riptide by Vance Joy

Release Date	May 2013
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Riptide

“Riptide” is one of those simple songs that you just need to know how to play, no matter the kind of music you’re into. Most importantly, if you’re beefing up your repertoire, this is an incredibly simple one to learn. At the same time, it’s also an incredibly fun piece.

For “Riptide,” all you’ll need to know are four basic chords. These are A minor, G major, C major, and F major 7. If you think that F major 7 is too difficult for you, just play the regular F major chord. Sort out the strumming pattern, and you’re good to go!

17. Turn the Page by Bob Seger

Release Date	January 1973
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Turn the Page

One of the most emotionally-charged songs on the list, “Turn the Page,” tells the story of the darker side of being a touring musician. Although a very simple one to learn, it’s a great way for you to learn how to feel the tune and execute the dynamics aspect properly.

As for its structure, we have only four chords which are E minor, D major, A major, and C major. The strumming pattern should also not be difficult to pull off. But just make sure that you’re not strumming too fast over the strings and that you’re getting the song’s overall feel.

18. One of Us by Joan Osbourne

Release Date	November 1995
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for One of Us

If you were around in the 1990s, “One of Us” is a song that immediately takes you back to that decade. What’s more, the song is incredibly simple, even if you want to play it with the melody on top along with the chords at the same time. It just shows how simple it is to make a great song and not make it overly complicated.

There’s a total of five chords for this song, and one could be just a little tricky. However, for its original key, you’ll need to use a capo on the second fret while playing in the standard tuning.

19. You Are My Sunshine by Johnny Cash

Release Date	1989
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for You Are My Sunshine

“You Are My Sunshine” is a song that got its first commercial release in 1940. Recorded by Jimmie Davis. It’s still not completely certain who wrote it. Nonetheless, it wasn’t until 1989, when Johnny Cash did his version, that gave the song a whole new life.

To this day, Cash’s version is, in a way, treated like the “original.” You could play it with just A, D, and E chords. But to make it sound more like Cash, you’ll also need A/D and A/C# chords.

20. No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley and the Wailers

Release Date	October 1975
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for No Woman, No Cry

Bob Marley was another great musician who managed to create awesome yet incredibly simple songs. His classic “No Woman, No Cry” should find its way into your repertoire.

Although a reggae piece, you can play it without strictly sticking to the genre’s groove and accentuating every second beat. All you need are C, G, A minor, F, and G chords.

21. I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Release Date	April 1989
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for I Won’t Back Down

Another Tom Petty song on the list, “I Won’t Back Down,” is a great way to practice your rhythm playing on an electric guitar. Of course, it could also be played on an acoustic. But it’s all about handling the palm muting and working with your picking dynamics.

The chords for this song are E minor, D, G, and C. For the most part, they’re played as power chords, but you can also play around with the full major and minor chords.

22. Tennessee Whiskey by David Allan Coe

Release Date	1981
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Tennessee Whiskey

Although the version by Chris Stapleton is more popular now, “Tennessee Whiskey” was originally written and recorded by David Allan Coe. Nonetheless, they both keep the same feel. And most importantly, it’s a pretty easy song to learn. There’s also one simple riff to get ahold of, along with four basic chords. After that, all you need to do is handle the song’s somber feel.

23. Love Me Do by The Beatles

Release Date	October 1962
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Love Me Do

Going back to the early 1960s, “Love Me Do” is officially the debut single by The Beatles. This is the song that started everything for them and changed the history of modern music. What’s awesome is that you only need three chords to play it, and the strumming pattern is also incredibly simple. So this makes it one of the easiest to learn.

24. A Horse With No Name by America

Release Date	November 1971
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for A Horse With No Name

Speaking of which, “A Horse With No Name” by America is also an incredibly easy one to learn. But on top of that, you’ll also be able to learn more about those attractive-sounding extended chords.

In its essence, it’s a two-chord song, so you’ll be able to play the simplest possible version pretty easily. However, it’s also one of those songs that, if you want to get it 100 percent right, there are so many little additions and even chord substitutions to apply here. It’s actually a pretty odd one.

25. Last Kiss by Pearl Jam

Release Date	June 1999
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Last Kiss

The “Last Kiss” was originally written and recorded by Wayne Cochran back in 1961. Pearl Jam covered it in 1999 and it kind of became their song. They also completely changed the song’s feel, although you can clearly notice that it’s the same piece.

The song follows the usual old-school chord progression. We have G, E minor, C, and D. This is the I-vi-IV-V chord progression that we’ve heard in many other songs. It’s not only easy to learn, but you’ll also be able to figure out other old-school songs.

26. Hotel California by Eagles

Release Date	December 1976
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Hotel California

“Hotel California” has so many layers to it. What’s great here is that it could be turned into more beginner-friendly arrangements while still making it feel pretty close to the original. There are about seven chords to know so that you can play it, and you might take some time sorting out the progressions. But once you do, you can always go back to the song and try new things with it and tweak it to sound closer to the original.

27. Chateau Lobby #4 (In C For Two Virgins) by Father John Misty

Release Date	December 2014
Tuning	C G C E A C
Tabs	View Tabs for Chateau Lobby #4 (In C For Two Virgins)

“Chateau Lobby #4 (In C For Two Virgins)” sounds like it’s straight from the 1970s. But that’s not unusual for Josh Tillman, also known as Father John Misty. What’s really fun about this one is that you’ll get the chance to learn to use other than standard tunings. This one is with a somewhat unusual C6 tuning or C-G-C-E-A-C. But there are also ways to play it in the standard tuning, although it will sound much better with the intended C6 one.

28. Have You Ever Seen the Rain? by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Release Date	December 1970
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

Creedence Clearwater Revival, led by John Fogerty, has made some of the crucial guitar songs of the 20th century. Although “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” is a pretty simple one, it’s what even the most experienced guitar virtuosos need to have in their repertoire. It’s easy to learn, and you’ll also get the chance to learn more about handling dynamics between the instrumental and vocal parts. Also, it’s incredibly engaging, so you’ll really have fun learning this one.

29. Cool Kids by Echosmith

Release Date	May 2013
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Cool Kids

Now going over to more modern times, “Cool Kids” is one of the catchiest songs that you’ll ever hear. The most important thing about this piece by indie pop band Echosmith is to understand its groove and feel. It’s nothing too complicated, but it really gives the song its intended vibe when you perform it close to the original. For this one, it’s recommended to use a capo on the first fret. But you’ll pretty much still use the regular basic guitar chord shapes. This is one of those slow guitar songs that are just so fun to play and easy to pick up on.

30. Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol

Release Date	June 2006
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Chasing Cars

Now, for “Chasing Cars,” we’d recommend that you have some experience. It isn’t necessarily a difficult song. However, some of the chord fingerings could get a bit tricky for an inexperienced fretting hand.

We’re looking at a laid-back 2000s alternative rock piece. While the song is slow, you need to pay attention to it slowly building up. Even if you play it with basic chords, you’ll have to follow through with the dynamics aspect.

31. Sober by Tool

Release Date	May 1993
Tuning	D A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Sober

Here we have something different. If you’re not all about the usual predominantly acoustic and strumming kind of songs, Tool’s “Sober” is a great one for electric guitar players. And not only that; this 1993 classic is a great introduction to proper string bending and basic progressive rock. Most of the song is slow, with only one up-tempo part.

There are also some ways to do an acoustic arrangement with chords. But whatever you choose, it’s a great way to learn new things.

32. The Boxer by Simon & Garfunkel

Release Date	March 1969
Tuning	Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb
Tabs	View Tabs for The Boxer

Simon & Garfunkel has an abundance of great acoustic pieces, most of them beginner-friendly. For this list, “The Boxer” fits pretty nicely. But once again, we have a song that could be adapted to many skill levels. You can just play along to the chords and sort of get the song’s main vibe. But if you really want to push it to the next level and upgrade your skills, strive to learn to play it as the original with all the proper fingerpicking.

33. Harvest Moon by Neil Young

Release Date	November 1992
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Harvest Moon

If there’s one musician who’s incredible at writing simple yet awesome songs, then it’s Neil Young. For this list, we bring another one of his classics, 1992’s “Harvest Moon” from the album of the same name. You might feel a bit discouraged if you see the full list of chords that you’ll need to know. However, Neil Young wrote it in such a way that it feels so organic and natural so you’ll learn it in no time.

34. Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix

Release Date	December 1966
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Hey Joe

The origins of “Hey Joe” is a bit complicated, and we have a few names floating around as potential authors. However, when Jimi Hendrix covered it in 1966, it became a rock standard. To this day, rock and blues rock bands have it in their repertoire. But they all keep Hendrix’s vibe to them, including the well-known intro lick. It’s not a difficult song to learn. However, if you want some advanced jamming, you’ll also need to learn how to use the notes and fills in between, as is the case with Hendrix’s version.

35. Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day

Release Date	September 2004
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Boulevard of Broken Dreams

Although we remember Green Day as one of the crucial pop-punk bands, their discography is more than just that. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” still keeps things catchy but in a softer way.

There are a couple of main ways to perform this song. If you’re still struggling with bar chords, you can use a capo on the first fret or just transpose it one semitone lower and play the same chord shapes in the open position. There will also be a few interesting chords that you’ll learn.

36. Just Like a Woman by Bob Dylan

Release Date	June 1966
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Just Like a Woman

Another one by Bob Dylan, “Just Like a Woman,” is a great song to start learning about playing arpeggiated chords. You can do this with a pick or with your picking hand fingers, which would be a simpler choice. The list of chords that you’ll need to know is slightly longer than usual for a Bob Dylan song, but it’s still not a difficult one to figure out. It’s also a great example to practice singing while playing guitar.

37. I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie

Release Date	August 2005
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for I Will Follow You Into the Dark

Written by the band’s leader Ben Gibbard, “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” is one of the best-known songs by Death Cab for a Cutie. This slow and mellow ballad is not that difficult to learn, but it will also teach you a few things about how chord progressions work. It’s particularly interesting how it uses a major chord and then a minor chord with the same root note after it. For this one, you’ll have to use a capo on the fifth fret.

38. American Tune by Paul Simon

Release Date	May 1973
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for American Tune

While it may sound a bit tricky at first, “American Tune” isn’t that difficult. Once you get ahold of the fingerpicking pattern, it’s pretty similar to Simon & Garfunkel’s usual material. However, the list of chords to learn this one is pretty long, and it takes some time to learn all of the progressions. So it’s probably best left for those who have just a bit more experience.

39. Fluff by Black Sabbath

Release Date	November 1973
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Fluff

We may remember Black Sabbath as the originator of modern heavy metal. But a piece like “Fluff” shows a completely different side of the band and guitarist Tony Iommi. This is an instrumental acoustic guitar piece based predominantly on arpeggiated chords in the open position. The original piece was performed with overdubbed guitars. However, there are arrangements where you can make melodies and chords work at the same time. It may not be as well-known as other songs on the list, but it’s kind of a “deep cut” for your repertoire. If you like this song, check out our full beginner metal guitar songs guide.

40. Sandman by America

Release Date	December 1971
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Sandman

We’ve already mentioned America with “A Horse With No Name.” In a similar style, the band’s “Sandman” from the same self-titled album is another great choice for this list. Once again, it’s a really simple song that still sounds incredibly interesting when you put all the chords together. It’s also super fun to perform if you’re signing along to it with a few other people. But although simple, don’t underestimate it as you’ll need to hit every beat precisely to keep its original groove intact.

41. Three Little Birds by Bob Marley and the Wailers

Release Date	June 1977
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Three Little Birds

If you’re looking for simple, slow, and engaging songs for guitar, you can’t ever go wrong with Bob Marley. Another example that we have here is “Three Little Birds.” The song is just A major, D major, and E major chords. Of course, you’ll need to get a hang of the reggae groove and accentuate every second beat. But that shouldn’t be an issue and you’ll learn this tune pretty fast.

42. Days Like This by Van Morrison

Release Date	May 1995
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Days Like This

“Days Like This” is another example of a song that you can rearrange for different playing skills. You can just strum the chords and sing along to it and it will still have the feel of the original. However, you can also do it with two guitars, one that plays the electric guitar licks from the original version. Either way, this shouldn’t be a complicated one to figure out. There’s a total of five chords that you’ll need to know and these are F, C, A minor, G, and D minor.

43. Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Release Date	August 1973
Tuning	Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb
Tabs	View Tabs for Simple Man

It’s just odd how a simple 3-chord song can be so emotional. No matter how you decide to play it, be it like the original or just by playing the open-position chords, it just always sounds so good. Of course, in order to capture the original feel, you’ll need to do two things. Firstly, tune your guitar down by one semitone to the E-flat standard tuning. And secondly, learn all the fills and licks between the chords. You can also play around with them and this can be a great song to start learning improvisation in the minor pentatonic scale.

44. Perfect by Ed Sheeran

Release Date	March 2017
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Perfect

Now for something more contemporary, Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” is like any other evergreen classic. This slow-tempo piece is in a 6/8 time signature and, for the most part, is based on the I-vi-IV-V chord progression. Of course, a song like this one also requires you to know how to sing along to it. At the same time, your playing dynamics should not interfere with the vocals but just accompany them. And to make it sound like the original, you should use a capo on the first fret.

45. Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová

Release Date	April 2006
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Falling Slowly

“Falling Slowly” is one of those songs you’ve heard but you most likely don’t know the original performers. This folk-ish indie rock tune by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová became famous after appearing in the 2007 romantic film “Once.” It’s a tender fingerpicking ballad although you can also make it work with the conventional strumming patterns with some modifications.

Related Article: Easy Bass Guitar Songs to Play

46. Long as I Can See the Light by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Release Date	June 1970
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Long as I Can See the Light

Coming from CCR’s legendary “Cosmo’s Factory” album, “Long as I Can See the Light” is another great example of John Fogerty’s writing skills. Now, there might be a few bar chords that could be just a bit challenging for beginners. But overall, this is an incredibly easy song to learn, even if you want to do some interesting arrangements for solo guitar. While playing the tune, make sure to stay on course with the steady groove and its slow tempo.

47. Hero by Enrique Iglesias

Release Date	September 2001
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Hero

The early 2000s brought some great music that we’re listening to and playing even to this day. Even more than two decades after its release, Enrique Iglesias’ “Hero” still finds its way into our repertoires. Besides, it’s an incredibly catchy and easy song to learn.

For this one, it’s the same old I-vi-IV-V chord progression. In this case, it’s G major, E minor, C major, and D major. The chorus is pretty much I-IV-V or G, C, D.

48. Where Did You Sleep Last Night by Nirvana

Release Date	1995
Tuning	Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb
Tabs	View Tabs for Where Did You Sleep Last Night

What we know as Nirvana’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” is actually a traditional song covered by various artists over the decades. It’s just that Kurt Cobain’s version felt so organic and natural that it eventually became so popular.

Kurt Cobain’s arrangement includes only four basic chords which are E, A, G, and B. The B major chord is just a little tricky for some beginners. But other than that, it shouldn’t be a difficult song to learn. However, there are a few tricky details in there if you want to make it sound like Nirvana’s legendary “MTV Unplugged” version.

49. Hurt by Johnny Cash

Release Date	March 2003
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Hurt

Originally, the song is by Trent Reznor and his band Nine Inch Nails. However, Johnny Cash covered “Hurt” in the early 2000s and gave the song a whole new meaning. To this day, it’s still one of the most popular acoustic guitar tunes.

What’s also great is that it’s incredibly simple to learn. And, for a beginner, this is a great way to go further than just your usual strumming and playing open chords. There are also a couple of notes that you play before the first chord in the progression so “Hurt” is also a great way for anyone to learn more about measures and to align the lyrics with chords.

50. I and Love and You by The Avett Brothers

Release Date	September 2009
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for I and Love and You

“I and Love and You” is one of those evergreen songs that could have been written in any decade and it will always sound fresh. The secret here is simplicity. Now, this is also a great exercise for anyone looking to sort out their fingerpicking skills, the usual coordination between your left and right hand.

For the most part, this is a piano-based piece. But you can easily play the piano parts on the guitar.

51. More Than Words by Extreme

Release Date	August 1990
Tuning	Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb
Tabs	View Tabs for More Than Words

Although a hard rock and heavy metal band, Extreme achieved massive success with their tender acoustic-based piece “More Than Words” back in the early 1990s. The song, however, requires some skill and is probably not the best choice for absolute beginners. Nonetheless, it’s far from an impossible one to learn.

What’s really good about the song is that you’ll get introduced to some of the non-standard chords, the so-called extended chords. Another important thing is the song’s rhythm and its “percussive” style of playing with the picking hand.

52. Soulshine by Warren Haynes

Release Date	March 1994
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Soulshine

The original version of “Soulshine” was done by The Allman Brothers band. However, it was fully written by Warren Haynes who later went on to perform it in different arrangements.

It’s a very specific song since you can also perform it as an all-acoustic solo piece. There are a few ways to approach it and you can just strum along and sing to it or you could play both the chords and the melodies at the same time. Either way, it shouldn’t be that challenging. You’ll just need to feel the song.

53. Wonderwall by Oasis

Release Date	October 1995
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Wonderwall

This is an absolute classic that all guitar players should have in their repertoire. Yes, at this point, it’s like a cliché but “Wonderwall” is still an incredible song. Of course, there are a few non-standard chords that add to the song’s feel. This is a great one to get introduced to the so-called suspended chords and to hear what kind of a mood they create.

54. House of the Rising Sun by The Animals

Release Date	June 1964
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for House of the Rising Sun

Although “House of the Rising Sun” is a traditional folk song, the version by The Animals from 1964 helped it spread across the world. The appeal mostly comes from the song’s simplicity.

Why this one is so great for beginners is that it can easily teach you not to just strum all of the strings but actually arpeggiate open chords. It’s also a good choice if you want to learn to play and sing at the same time.

55. Rajaz by Camel

Release Date	1999
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Rajaz

This one may not be the most commercial song on the list, it’s more of a deep cut. However, if you’re into slow guitar songs, Camel’s “Rajaz” is a masterpiece. And it’s not that difficult to learn either. You’ll also get the chance to hear how suspended chords work in action and add to the song’s melancholic feel.

56. Sunshine of Your Love by Cream

Release Date	November 1967
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Sunshine of Your Love

This is the blues rock classic that helped create early heavy metal. But even when you play the song’s main riff today, you still feel the true psychedelic rock vibes of the 1960s. It’s a mellow laid-back piece that’s incredibly fun to play. However, don’t ever underestimate it. Sure, it isn’t that difficult to learn, but there are so many details that you should pay attention to.

57. Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Release Date	September 1991
Tuning	E A D G B E
Tabs	View Tabs for Under the Bridge

One song that we can’t avoid on this list is Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge.” What’s great about this one is that it sounds equally awesome on acoustic and electric guitars. The song’s structure isn’t that difficult, and you could easily create a simpler arrangement to strum along to. What you should bear in mind, however, is that the song builds up and you need to pay attention to the dynamics. As you get closer to the end, the song gets slightly more intense.