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Guitar may take a lifetime to master–but unlike the harpsichord and trombone, beginning guitar players can start making beautiful and awesome music RIGHT AWAY.
In fact, with only two chords, D Major and G Major, you can already start playing lots of amazing songs.
But as a beginner, it can be hard to figure out songs which are simple enough to play along with. That’s why, in this blog post, I’m giving you a list of songs which can be played with only two chords–D and G. D and G are super beginner friendly…plus they are the very first two chords we teach in the NYC Guitar School Guitar for Absolute Beginner Class–meaning that this extremely handy blog post is also companion resources to NYCGS Beginner Class!
Here’s a quick flow chart for what to do next.
If you DON’T know D and G yet: Fear not, immediately either click this link for FREE and easy online tutorials on how to play those chords or sign up for a lesson or class right away at NYC Guitar School.
If you DO know D and G: That is awesome. Grab your guitar!
Because one of the very best ways to practice guitar is by playing along with songs! It combines the advantages of paying along with a metronome (because the recorded song will be in solid rhythm) with the fun and joy of accompanying recognizable awesome music. And you can even learn to play the song by heart, and add it to your set list.
In order to maximize song options, I not only listed songs which are played with the D and G chords in the original recordings…I also listed songs which can be transposed to D and G using the simple and powerful tool known as a capo. Capos are so great! Let’s say a song is played using the E flat and A flat chords…so inconvenient for a beginner who doesn’t know barre chords yet! However, using the miraculous properties of a capo, a beginner can play that song using the beginner friendly D and G chords, simply by placing the capo on the first fret. (If you need a capo, you can MAKE YOUR OWN with a PENCIL AND A RUBBER BAND, see our video!) or you can buy one–here’s one we like.
(And then, as you learn new chords, you’ll get the pleasure of revisiting these songs without the capo!)
So, let’s get started! Here’s a list of songs, along with where to place your capo (if applicable) plus links to the song, tutorials and charts. How convenient is that?
(And don’t forget: for broken-down step-by-step guitar skills, we invite you to join our friendly guitar community at NYCGuitarSchool.com. If you’re not in NYC you can still get the step by step goodness at guitarlessons.nyc.)
For super convenient playing along, grab your guitar, then check out our YouTube Beginners 1 playlist or our Spotify playlist.
***Every once in a while links break…please let us know if you notice a broken one!
Hold On – Alabama Shakes
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le-3MIBxQTw
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UuOjBu0rM0
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/alabama_shakes/hold_on_tabs_1131827 -transpose up 2
D – G (capo 10)
Americana/Rock (2012)
Easy
Anyone Else But You – Moldy Peaches
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N3BjVMWziE
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2uyCGIXVS0&list=RDG2uyCGIXVS0&start_radio=1
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/the_moldy_peaches/anyone_else_but_you_chords_630353 – transpose down 5
D – G (capo 5)
Folk/Indie (2001)
Medium
What I Got – Sublime
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izOl4rJLRII
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CAu9UfdhBI
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/sublime/what_i_got_chords_1756390
D – G (no capo)
Rock/Hip-Hop (1996)
Difficult
I’ll Take You There – Staple Singers
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY3vgBzgYn4
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CAu9UfdhBI
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/the-staple-singers/ill-take-you-there-chords-85266
G – D (no capo)
R&B
Easy
You Never Can Tell – Chuck Berry
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY3vgBzgYn4
TUTORIAL: https://youtu.be/HKgoAzhYzik
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/chuck-berry/you-never-can-tell-chords-623710 (transpose +10)
G – D (capo 5)
Rock n’ Roll (1964)
Easy
Give Peace a Chance – John Lennon
YOUTUBE:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKluHHFK5bk
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkrG6FQAqpE (it’s in D instead of G)
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/john_lennon/give_peace_a_chance_chords_48520 transpose down 5
G – D (capo 6)
Folk Rock (1969)
Easy
Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZD4ezDbbu4
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpmAAmxqBX0 (he does it in A instead of D)
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/bruce_springsteen/born_in_the_usa_chords_148158 (transpose down 9)
D – G (capo 9)
Rock (1984)
Easy
Feel Like Making Love – Bad Company
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEuKkcX1uKA
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_fWcsAZCBU
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/bad_company/feel_like_making_love_chords_1087258
D – G (no capo)
Copperhead Road – Steve Earle
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvaEJzoaYZk
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtWmJNEOjAQ
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/steve_earle/copperhead_road_chords_1861944
Line Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YzgjhDnuvA
D – G (no capo)
Paperback Writer – Beatles (Capo V)
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYvkICbTZIQ
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVL2q2rjrAU (he does it in G instead of D)
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/the_beatles/paperback_writer_chords_349641
transpose down 5
D – G (capo 5)
Everyday People – Sly And The Family Stone
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUUhDoCx8zc
TUTORIAL: https://youtu.be/4BvDal6BZaU
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/sly_the_family_stone/everyday_people_chords_423121 (transpose down 5)
D – G (capo 6)
Snowstorm – Galaxie 500
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VejZKCpNnrs
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x1QmYKxMfg
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/galaxie_500/snowstorm_chords_1127523
D – G (no capo)
Best Day of My Life – American Authors
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y66j_BUCBMY
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkraaIT3bgA
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/american_authors/best_day_of_my_life_chords_1250832
D- G (no capo)
Lively Up Yourself – Bob Marley
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyFmNPoDbDU
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfeTPBPKpqo
CHART: http://www.guitaretab.com/b/bob-marley/215045.html
D – G (no capo)
Achy Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byQIPdHMpjc
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9ZsvI9y3T0 (he does it in A)
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/billy_ray_cyrus/achy_breaky_heart_chords_177225
Transpose up 5
G – D (capo 2)
Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU
TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8Vnu-KJcE0
CHART: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/robin_thicke/blurred_lines_chords_1505303
G – D (no capo)
