When I start teaching a total beginner how to play guitar, I am always thankful that we have tabs to make things easier.
Guitar tablature (tabs) makes learning songs so much faster and simpler than having to read standard notation.
Do you doubt me?
Let's prove it! Here are the tabs to 20 acoustic songs which are super popular, yet easy to learn and play on guitar.
Contents
Reading guitar tablature
If you don't use tabs yet to learn songs, you're really missing out. You can find the tablature to basically any song ever written. Some good sites to get tabs are:
At first, tabs may look like a bunch of numbers on lines. Well, technically they are.
But after you learn how to read guitar tabs, you'll realize how logical it all is. Here is an amazing video on deciphering tablature:
Now it's time to get to the real meat of this post, the song tablature.
As promised, here are the beginner acoustic guitar tabs to 20 popular songs.
Sunshine of Your Love tabs
Guitarists of all levels will find this song fun to play, since it’s not that difficult. The intro riff is played on the minor pentatonic blues scale in the key of D.
[Intro] e --------------------------------------------------------- B --------------------------------------------------------- G ----------------------------------------10-10------------ x2 D --12-12-10-12-------------------12-----------------12---- A ---------------------12-11-10---------------------------- E --------------------------------------------------------- e -------------------------------------------------------- B --------------------------------------------------------- G ---------------------------------------10~--------------- D -12-12-10-12------------------12--------------12--------- x4 A -12-12-10-12----12-11-10--------------------------------- E -10-10--8-10--------------------------------------------- e --------------------------------------------------------- B --------------------------------------------------------- G -----------------------------3~-------------------------- x2 D -5-5-3-5--------------5------------5--------------------- A -5-5-3-5----5-4-3---------------------------------------- E -3-3-1-3------------------------------------------------- e --------------------------------------------------------- B --------------------------------------------------------- G ---------------------------------------10~--------------- D -12-12-10-12------------------12----------------12------- x2 A -12-12-10-12----12-11-10--------------------------------- E -10-10--8-10---------------------------------------------
Love Yourself tabs
This song was released by Justin Bieber and co written by Ed Sheeran. Love Yourself is very easy song to learn on guitar, even if you just started playing guitar recently. The song is played in the key of E major, so you'll be using chords from this key.
[Intro] e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-9-9---7-7---5-5---10-10---9-9---7-7-------------------------------------| G|-----x-----x-----x-------x-----x-----x---------repeat-a-lot--------------| D|-----x-----x-----x-------x-----x-----x-----------------------------------| A|-7-----6-----4-----9-------7-----6---------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| [Bridge] e|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------| B|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------| G|-6-6-x-2-x-1-1-x-1-x-|----6-6-x-2-x-1-1-x-4-x-6-6-x-2-x-4-4-4-4-4-x------| D|-6-6-x-2-x-2-2-x-2-x-|x2--6-6-x-2-x-2-2-x-4-x-6-6-x-2-x-4-4-4-4-4-x------| A|-4-4-x-0-x-2-2-x-2-x-|----4-4-x-0-x-2-2-x-2-x-4-4-x-0-x-2-2-2-2-2-x------| E|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------| [Chorus] e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|---x-4-x-6-x-2-x-1-x-2-x-1-x---------------------------------------------| D|-2-x-4-x-6-x-2-x-2-x-2-x-2-x---------------------------------------------| A|-2-x-2-x-4-x-0-x-2-x-0-x-2-x---------------------------------------------| E|-0---------------0-------0-----------------------------------------------|
Redemption Song tabs
This song by Bob Marley is a solo acoustic song in the key of G without accompaniment. He played this song using his thumb, not a guitar pick.
[Intro] e|----------------------|-------------------| B|----------------------|-------------------| G|----------------------|-------------------| D|--------------1/2-0---|-------0-----------| A|----0-2---2/3-------2-|----0-2---2-3-2-0--| E|-3------3-------------|-3----------------3| e|----------------------|-------------------| B|----------------------|-------------------| G|----------------------|-------------------| D|--------------1/2-0---|-------0-----------| A|----0-2---2/3-------2-|----0-2-----3-2-0--| E|-3------3-------------|-3----------------3|
After this, you'll be strumming the chords to the song.
Wonderful Tonight tabs
This song is an all time hit by the great Eric Clapton. You will be able to learn it as an early beginner.
[Main riff] e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|--10b-8-10-------10b-8--------10b-8-10---------10b-8-10---10b-8----10b-8-10-12-13-17-15| G|-----------------------9----------------------------------------9----------------------| D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
After the main riff, you will be strumming or playing arpeggios on chords. This song is in the key of G as well, so you'll have the G, C, D chords mainly, as well as the Em a few times.
Amazing Grace tabs
This song is the most famous folk hymn. This version is played in the key of G, since it makes it all so simple.
[Intro] e|-------------------------------------------------| B|-----0---0---------------0---0---3---0-3--3-0----| G|---0---0---2-0---------0---0---2--------------0--| D|-0--------------2-0--0---------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------| e|--------------------------------| B|-------------------0---0--------| G|------0-0--------0---0---2-0----| D|--0-2-----2-0--0----------------| A|--------------------------------| E|--------------------------------|
Someone Like You tabs
Adele's massive hit from 2011 is another easy acoustic song perfect for early beginner guitarists. Someone Like You is played in the key of A, and you'll need to add a capo to the 2nd fret of your guitar.
[Intro chords] G - Bm - Em - C [Prechorus chords] D - Em - C [Chorus chords] G - D - Em - C
Mad World tabs
Gary Jules's version of Mad World is great for beginner players, since it's another easy to learn acoustic song.
[Intro and chorus chords] Em - A [Verse chords] Em - G - D - A
Super simple beginner open chords as promised.
Jingle Bells tabs
If you want to learn a simple Christmas song, look no further. Here is the acoustic tablature to Jingle bells.
e|-4--4--4----4--4--4----|-4--7--------4---------|-5--5--5---5-5--4--4--4-4-|-4--2--2--4--2----7----| B|-----------------------|-------5---7-----------|--------------------------|-----------------------| G|-----------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------| D|-----------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------| A|-----------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------| E|-----------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------| e|-4--4--4----4--4--4----|-4--7--------4---------|-5--5--5---5-5--4--4--4-4-|-7--7--5---------------| B|-----------------------|-------5---7-----------|--------------------------|----------7--5---------| G|-----------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------| D|-----------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------| A|-----------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------| E|-----------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|
Pink Panther tabs
This is a great song for beginner guitar players, not only because it’s pretty easy, but because it has several technical elements which will improve your guitar skills.
e|---------------| B|---------------| G|---------------| x2 D|---------------| A|-4/5-6/7-------| E|----------7--0-| e|--------------------------------------------------------| B|--------------------------------------------------------| G|-----------------------5\4------------------------------| D|----------4/5------4/5---------9\8~~~\7p5---------------| A|-4/5-6/7-------6/7--------7/10-----------7p5-7----------| E|--------------------------------------------------------| e|--------------------------------------------------------| B|--------------------------------------------------------| G|-----------------------5\4------9\8~--------------------| D|----------4/5------4/5------5/9-------------------------| A|-4/5-6/7-------6/7--------------------------------------| E|--------------------------------------------------------| e|--------------------------------------------------------| B|--------------------------------------------------------| G|-----------------------5\4------------------------------| D|----------4/5------4/5---------9\8~~~\7p5---------------| A|-4/5-6/7-------6/7--------7/10-----------7p5-7----------| E|--------------------------------------------------------| e|--------------------------------------------------------| B|--------------------------------------------------------| G|--------8g9p7-------------------------------------------| D|--------------8g9\7p5---8pb7-8pb7-8pb7-8pb7--5----------| A|-4/5-6/7--------------7------------------------7p5-7-7\-| E|--------------------------------------------------------|
Greensleeves tabs
You will love learning this beautiful song, as it has a great melody and is very fun to play. This is one of those songs that seems like it's hard, but is actually easy to play on guitar.
Am G Am E e|-----|--------0--1--0--|-----------------|-----------------|--------------| B|-----|--1--3-----------|--3--0--------0--|--1--------------|--0-----------| G|--2--|-----------------|--------0--2-----|-----2--2--1--2--|-----1-----2--| D|-----|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|--------2-----| A|-----|--0-----0--------|-----------------|--0-----0--------|--2-----------| E|-----|-----------------|--3-----3--------|-----------------|--------0-----| Am G Am E Am e|--------0--1--0--|-----------------|--------------------|-----------| B|--1--3-----------|--3--0--------0--|--1--0--------------|-----------| G|-----------------|--------0--2-----|--------2--1-----1--|--2--2--2--| D|-----------------|-----------------|--------------4-----|-----------| A|--0-----0--------|-----------------|--0-----0--2--------|--0-----0--| E|-----------------|--3-----3--------|--------------------|-----------| C G Am E e|--3--3--1--0--|-----------------|-----------------|-----------| B|--------------|--3--0--------0--|--1--------------|--0--------| G|--------------|--------0--2-----|-----2--2--1--2--|-----1-----| D|--------------|-----------------|-----------------|--------2--| A|--3--3--------|-----------------|--0-----0--------|--2--------| E|--------------|--3-----3--------|-----------------|--------0--| C G Am E Am e|--3--3--1--0--|-----------------|--------------------|--------| B|--------------|--3--0--------0--|--1--0--------------|--------| G|--------------|--------0--2-----|--------2--1-----1--|--2--2--| D|--------------|-----------------|--------------4-----|--------| A|--3--3--------|-----------------|--0-----0-----------|--0--0--| E|--------------|--3-----3--------|-----------0--------|--------|
La Bamba tabs
The main riff to La Bamba is easy to learn, and it offers a great chance for you to do some finger exercises.
e|----------------------|-----------------------| B|----------------------|-----------------------| G|-------------0---2-0--|--------------0---2-0--| D|-----------2---3------|-----03320---2--3------| A|----0-2-3-------------|--2--------3-----------| E|-3--------------------|3----------------------|
After the riff, you play the main chords to the song while they sing La La Bamba: C - G - F.
House of the Rising Sun tabs
If I had to point out a song which every beginner is taught early in the guitar journey, this would be it. The song was released by the Animals originally, and has been covered by many bands since then.
Am C D F
e|----------0---------------0---------------2-----------------1-----------|
B|--------1---1-----------1---1-----------3----3------------1---1---------|
G|------2-------2-------0-------0-------2--------2--------2-------2-------|
D|----2---------------2-------------0-0--------------3-3------------------|
A|--0---------------3-----------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Am E Am E
e|----------0-----------------0---------------0----------------0------------|
B|--------1---1-------------0---0-----------1---1------------0---0----------|
G|------2-------2---------1-------1-------2--------2-------1-------1--------|
D|----2-----------------2---------------2----------------2------------------|
A|--0---------------------------------0-------------------------------------|
E|------------------0----------------------------------0--------------------|
Twist and Shout tabs
The Beatles is one of the most popular songs in the world, and thankfully they recorded many songs that were very easy to play. Twist and Shout is one of them.
[Intro] e|------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------------| G|------------------------------------------| D|-----------0---0--------------------------| A|--0--2--4-----------------0---0--0--0--0--| E|-------------------3--3-------------------| [Verse chords] D - G - A
Wild Thing tabs
Would you believe that this song was released in 1966? Yes, it was. And it's still a great song to learn many decades later.
[Main chords] A - D - E - D [Chorus] A (G - A - G - A)
Ring of Fire tabs
This Johnny Cash classic uses a few basic chords that you should already know, as well as a simple I - IV - V strumming pattern. Nothing to it.
[Intro and Verse chords] G - C - G - G - D - G [Chorus chords] D - C - G D - C - G C - G - D - G
Hurt tabs
This song was originally released by Nine Inch Nails, but Johnny Cash's cover became more famous. It is a great song that Johnny Cash's character makes even greater.
e|------0---------|-----0------2---|-----0---------| B|------1---------|-----1------3---|-----1---------| G|------2---------|-----0----2-----|-----2---------| D|----2-----------|---2----0-------|---2-----------| A|--0-------------|-3--------------|-0-------------| E|----------------|----------------|---------------| [Chorus] G - Am - Fmaj7 - C
Good Riddance tabs
This Green Day song is simple to learn on the guitar, and has a great melody. It starts off by arpeggiating a couple of basic guitar chords and later strumming them. It is played in the key of Em.
[Intro]
e|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|------3-------------3-------------3-------------3-------|
G|----0---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---0---0-----2---2---2-|
D|----------0-------------0-------------2----0--------0---|
A|-----------------------------3--------------------------|
E|-3-------------3----------------------------------------|
[Verse]
e|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|------3-------------3-------------3-------------3-------|
G|----0---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---0---0-----2---2---2-|
D|----------0-------------0-------------2----0--------0---|
A|-----------------------------3--------------------------|
E|-3-------------3----------------------------------------|
e|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|------3-------------3-------------3-------------3-------|
G|----0---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---0---0-----2---2---2-|
D|----------0-------------0-------------2----0--------0---|
A|-----------------------------3--------------------------|
E|-3-------------3----------------------------------------|
e|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|------0-------------3-------------3-------------3-------|
G|----0---0---0-----2---2---2-----0---0---0-----0---0---0-|
D|----------2----0--------0-------------2-------------0---|
A|-2---------------------------3--------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------3------------|
e|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|------0-------------3-------------3-------------3-------|
G|----0---0---0-----2---2---2-----0---0---0-----0---0---0-|
D|----------2----0--------0-------------2-------------0---|
A|-2---------------------------3--------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------3------------|
[Chorus]
e|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|------0-------------3-------------0-------------3-------|
G|----0---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---0---0-----0---0---0-|
D|----------2-------------0-------------2-------------0---|
A|-2---------------------------2--------------------------|
E|---------------3---------------------------3------------|
e|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|------0-------------3-------------3---------------------|
G|----0---0---0-----2---2---2-----0---0---0---------------|
D|----------2----0--------0-------------0-----------------|
A|-2------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------3--------------------------|
[Strumming]
G Cadd9 D G Cadd9 D
e|----3------3-----2-----3-----3-----2----|
B|----3------3-----3-----3-----3-----3----|
G|----0------0-----2-----0-----0-----2----|
D|----0------2-----0-----0-----2-----0----|
A|----2------3-----x-----2-----3-----x----|
E|----3------x-----x-----3-----x-----x----|
My Girl tabs
Who doesn't want to learn a great song and practice several important guitar skills at the same time, right? You'll get a chance to do just that with My Girl by The Temptations.
[Intro] e|-------------| B|-----------1-| G|-------0-2---| D|---0-2-------| A|-3-----------| E|-------------| [Verse] C - F - C - F [Chorus] C - Dm - F - G
Wipeout tabs
This is an energetic song that’s easy to learn, and it will give you a chance to practice alternate picking of adjacent strings.
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|---3-4-5-5-5-3-----3-4-5-5-5-3-----3-4-5-5-5-3-----3-4-5-5-5-3------------| D|-5-------------5-5-------------5-5-------------5-5-------------5----------| A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|---4-5-6-6-6-4-----4-5-6-6-6-4--------------------------------------------| G|-5-------------5-5-------------5---3-4-5-5-5-3-----3-4-5-5-5-3------------| D|---------------------------------5-------------5-5-------------5----------| A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|---6-7-8-8-8-6-----8-7-6-6-6-4--------------------------------------------| G|-7-------------7-7-------------5---3-4-5-5-5-3-----3-4-(3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3)--| D|---------------------------------5-------------5-5------------------------| A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Happy Birthday tabs
And last but not least, the most famous song in all or eternity. Here is a detailed breakdown of how to play Happy Birthday on guitar in several keys.
