free guitar tabs

Here are some free songs and tabs for you to practice some of the chords and techniques shown in the lessons. These songs and tabs are provided for your own private study and development. They are not necessarily in order of difficulty and some have been slightly simplified for novice students. All the chords can be found on the Chords page. If there is anything else you do not understand, check the Essential Basics page.

Some songs are written in 'chord chart' form, see reading chord charts. Some in tab form, see reading tab and rhythm, depending on what each song/tune requires. If you can, it is recommended that you print the free PDF first, in order to study along with the video. If you are a total beginner, I recommend you learn some single line melodies and theme tunes first. This will give you a repertoire of tunes, and work your fingers, before moving onto chords.

cool theme tunes and single line melodies

Guitar Boogie Arthur Smith
James Bond Theme Monty Norman
Mission Impossible Laylo Shifrin
Tequila Cool Groove
The Bare Necessities Disney
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Ennio Morricone
The Simpsons Danny Elfman
Walk Don't Run The Ventures
Wipeout The Surfaris

classical and finger-style tunes

Espanoleta Gaspar Sanz
Raining In My Heart Buddy Holly
Romance (anonymous)

blues tunes

Hey Joe Jimi Hendrix
Scuttle Buttin Stevie Ray Vaughan
Sweet Home Chicago Robert Johnson

songs with basic major and minor chords

Blowin' In The Wind Bob Dylan
Brand New Start Paul Weller
Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison
Chasing Cars Snow Patrol
Children Of The Revolution T-Rex
Dance The Night Away The Mavericks
Every Breath You Take Sting
Hey Ya! Outkast
Knockin’ On Heavens Door Bob Dylan
Redemption Song Bob Marley
Stand By Me Ben E King
Substitute The Who
Sweet Child O Mine Guns N Roses
Take It Easy The Eagles
Three Little Birds Bob Marley
Wild Thing The Troggs

songs using open chords

American Pie Don McLean
Bad Moon Rising Credence Clearwater
Californication Red Hot Chili Peppers
Don’t Stop Fleetwood Mac
Everybody Hurts REM
Good Riddance Time of Your Life Green Day
Midnight Hour Wilson Pickett
Mrs Robinson Simon & Garfunkel
Sweet Home Alabama Lynyard Skynyard
Whiskey In The Jar Thin Lizzy

songs using power chords

All The Small Things Blink 182
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams Green Day
Brain Stew Green Day
Smoke On The Water Deep Purple
Teenage Kicks The Undertones
What's My Age Again Blink 182

songs using some barre chords

A Town Called Malice Paul Weller
Bring It On Home To Me Sam Cooke
Eight Days A Week The Bealtles
Everybody Needs Somebody The Blues Brothers
Free Bird Lynyard Skynyard
Golden Brown The Stranglers
Half The World Away Oasis
Hallelujah Leonard Cohen
I Feel Fine The Beatles
Song Title Bruce Springsteen
Lay Lady Lay Bob Dylan
Let It Be The Beatles
Peaceful Easy Feeling The Eagles
Rebel Rebel David Bowie
Wake Me Up When September Ends Green Day
With Or Without You U2
Ziggy Stardust David Bowie

songs using barre chords

Creep Radiohead
Song Title Bruce Springsteen
Knock On Wood Eddie Floyd & Steve Cropper
Song Title U2
That's Entertainment The Jam
Whistle For The Choir The Fratellis

songs using 7th barre chords

Day Tripper The Beatles
Valerie The Zutons

Also check out the article I wrote for the RGT tutor magazine; entitled 'Playing Songs', it includes a list of songs and the chords they use. Try working out the chord progressions yourself.

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