Just starting out on guitar can honestly suck sometimes. Between developing your calluses and hitting sour notes left and right, learning music on the six-string can be less than inspiring.
In one of the first instruction books I ever used, the first transcription was a one-string version of “Mary Had A Little Lamb.” I appreciated the author’s effort to start his readers off with a song that essentially everyone knew, but nothing was more humiliating than plugging in my red Squire Stratocaster and wailing on—okay, butchering—a children’s song. Other songbooks’ suggestions were no good either; you’re only admitting your own amateur status by practicing “Smoke on the Water,” and who wants to hear “Sweet Home Alabama” more than once in a day?
If you’ve got a handle on basic chords and have been practicing your scales, but you’re dreading learning the songs in your antiquated instruction book, fret no more. We’ve hand-picked eight simple songs to make this fun again for beginners.
1. Arcade Fire – “Wake Up”
Chords
Who knew it would be so easy to play one of the decade’s most triumphant anthems? If you’ve mastered your basic major/minor barre chords, this one should be a breeze. For those who are still trying to sing and play along, here’s a good place to start. After all, the only word you need to remember half of the time is “Woah.”
2. Bon Iver – “Skinny Love”
Chords
Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago probably made a lot of heartaching dudes in their mid-20s imagine what they could accomplish with a lone acoustic guitar, so it’s fitting that one of the album’s rawest, most personal cuts would be easy for many to pick up. With simple chords all the way through, this is an early lesson that you don’t need a whole lot to make a bold statement. For what it’s worth, it probably sounds better on this guitar, too.
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