23 Easy Kids Guitar Songs (2023 with Chords, Tabs and Videos)

Every day I see more and more kids around me picking up the guitar as their instrument of choice, and I love that! It’s great to know that the future of guitar playing is safe and well in their creative hands. And even if these bright young minds have only recently started out on their guitar journey, that doesn’t mean they need to wait for years to play their favorite songs on the guitar. Don’t worry, there’s already plenty of amazing and easy guitar songs that young guitar beginners can play by knowing just the basics.

That’s exactly why I’ve put together this list of 23 easy guitar songs for kids! All of these songs have simple chord progressions and easy strumming patterns, making them easy to grasp quickly. I’ll even start out with some that can be played with single notes on one string. It’s a cool mix of songs that youngsters across all age groups will enjoy playing! Whether you love Disney songs, classic rock tracks, or some solid pop vibes, there’s sure to be something in here for every young guitarist.

Here is a List of Easy Guitar Songs for Kids

1. Let It Go (Frozen)

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	Em, C, D, Am, A, G
Tabs	See tabs for Let It Go

Kids tend to learn a song much faster if they are already familiar with it. On that note, we kick off this list with one of Disney’s most iconic songs- “Let it Go” from the 2013 record-shattering animated movie Frozen.

Powered by Idina Menzel’s voice, “Let it Go” is a beautiful composition that circles letting go of fears and apprehensions and just being yourself. It didn’t take long for the song to become an international success, garnering billions of views on Youtube, millions of record sales, and winning coveted accolades like Academy Award and Grammy to boot.

2. Old MacDonald Had A Farm

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	A, D, E, E7
Tabs	See tabs for Old Mcdonald Had A Farm

We all heard this one growing up, and Old MacDonald remains a classic nursery rhyme for kids even today! And with its simple chords and strumming, young guitarists can play it themselves as well. The song is on standard tuning and uses just A, D, E, and E7 chords for every verse, throughout the song. E7 sounds tricky but isn’t at all – it’s just a modified E chord where you lift the ring finger from the 2nd fret on the 4th string and play it open – check out the tabs to see how to play it and beginners will grasp it in no time.

3. Happy Birthday To You

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	A, E, A7, D
Tabs	See tabs for Happy Birthday To You

You can’t go wrong with this one – learn to play happy birthday on the guitar and you can brighten up any birthday celebration with your rendition! And this timeless song is as simple to play as it is popular. Kids only need to know the basic open chords for it – A, E, D, and A7 (a really simple version of A chord). The tabs will show you a super simple strumming pattern for ti as well consisting mostly of downstrokes.

Six beginner-friendly chords- Em, C, D, Am, A, and G, in a straightforward strum pattern makes this song perfect for our little ones. The chord switches are also super easy and don’t happen very quickly. Don’t forget to place a capo on the first fret before you get going.

4. Mama Mia by ABBA – One String Version

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	A, D, C, G
Tabs	See tabs for Mama Mia

This evergreen hit by pop icons ABBA is one that continues to be loved by people of all age groups, including kids! The song itself has easy chords, you can play its chorus’s iconic melody “Mama Mia…here I go again..” on just one string! Here are the tabs on how to do that. You will only need to play the melody on the D string (4th string). The number mentioned on the D string is the frets that you’ll have to press. If you also want to play chords for the remaining song, you will only need to know A, D, C, and G and you’re all set!

5. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	C, F, G
Tabs	See tabs for Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Our fascination with the starry night sky starts quite young, and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is a lovely musical reminder of our lifelong curiosity to unravel the mysteries of the stars above. This nursery rhyme is loved by children all across the world and it’s incredibly easy to play too! Keep a standard tuning and just play C, F, and G throughout. The tabs mentioned a G7 variation, but it can be replaced by G major, which is a simpler and more familiar chord to play for youngsters.

6. Sunshine Of Your Love by Cream – One String Version

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	D, C, A, G, F
Tabs	See tabs for Sunshine Of Your Love

Want to play a legendary opening riff that needs you to play only one string? Look no further! The opening riff to Sunshine Of Your Love by Cream is as iconic as it gets, and it is really easy to play as well. The entire riff can be played on the D string (4th string). The only thing you’ll need to be careful about is the timing between the notes, but if you’ve heard the song well that shouldn’t be a problem. Once you’re done playing the one-string version of the opening riff, you can even move onto the chords that are pretty simple too. The whole song revolves around 5 open chords – D, C, A, G, and F.

7. How Far I’ll Go by Moana

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	C, G, Am, F
Tabs	See tabs for How Far I’ll Go

If you are a Disney fan, there’s a slim chance you wouldn’t already be familiar with this hugely popular track from the 2016 animated movie Moana. We can sense you nodding your heads excitedly! Well, good news for you, this awe-inspiring anthem about Moana’s dilemma to follow her itch to explore the world or stay close to her home makes for a breezy playing experience.

All you need is to slap on a capo on the 4th fret and play a combination of four chords to nail down the entire song – nothing else needed. If you know C, G, Am, and F, then it won’t take you very long to play it through.

8. I’m a Believer by The Monkees

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	G, C, D, F
Tabs	See tabs for I’m a Believer

This one is an ageless classic that our young players will most likely recognize as from the hilarious animated flick Shrek than 1966 original by The Monkees. “I’m a Believer” is a catchy, foot-tapping ride with a chorus you simply cannot help singing along to.

You can get through most of the track with just three chords- G, C, D. The only place where beginners can get stuck is while playing the F chord. Luckily it only shows up a couple of times and will become easier with practice. If you still find it a bit hard, try using Fmaj7 which should be easier to play. There are some cool licks and a great solo that you’ll really enjoy learning once you get the hang of the basic song structure.

9. I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	G, C, Em
Tabs	See tabs for I Gotta Feeling

Who knew the dance-pop mega-hit “I Gotta Feeling” could be played with just three chords! The song won the hugely popular Black Eyed Peas a Grammy and was the longest-running number-one single of 2009. It won hearts around the world for its quirky yet warm and feel-good vibe. Even today, it’s impossible to sit still whenever this song plays. It’s that awesome!

The song is perfect for young learners, and why not. You only need to know three basic chords, G-C-Em, to play the entire piece, and each chord is to be held for eight beats. Furthermore, it’s a great number to practice chord changing. If you still find yourself struggling with the chords, you can try the ‘stepping-stone’ chords instead. For G-C-Em, the stepping stone chords are- G6, Cmaj7, and Em7.

10. Hey Ya! by Outkast

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	G, C, D, and E
Tabs	See tabs for Hey Ya!

Here’s another enjoyable and popular song for kids to add to their arsenal. “Hey Ya” by American duo Outkast, with its wonderful combination of electro, folk, funk, hip-hop, and soul, promises to be a sonic delight for the audience.

This 2003 mega-hit has been covered by several notable musicians, giving you a wide range of renditions to choose from. The original utilizes a fairly common strum pattern and is perfect for brushing up or getting familiar with tied strumming patterns at a fast pace. Four chords of G, C, D, and E are all that you need to play the song.

11. Hey Soul Sister by Train

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	C, G, Am, F
Tabs	See tabs for Hey Soul Sister

Next up is a fun song by the American roots rock band Train, which is an ideal pick for young starters thanks to its infectious, pleasing vibe and easy playability. A campfire favorite, “Hey Soul Sister,” made its way into the world in 2009 to a somewhat polarizing reaction. Some adored the track, while others found it overhyped and annoying. Love it, or hate it, you simply cannot deny its sunny, feel-good vibe.

The hit single sold a staggering 6 million digital copies in the US and also became the most downloaded tune on iTunes in 2010. You can play the entire track using combinations of C, G, Am, and F chords in simple progressions.

12. A Thousand Years (Twilight)

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	G, Em, C, D, Am
Tabs	See tabs for A Thousand Years

Whether it’s the novels or the movies themselves, the Twilight series was an absolute phenomenon among youngsters! And that’s how they all discovered the song ‘A Thousand Year’ by Christina Perri. Even if you’re not a fan of the movie, you’ve gotta admit that the song itself is actually pretty well-written, well sung, and melodious, and young fans of the movie would love to know how to play this one.

While the original version of the song needs one to play chords like Cadd9 and Em7, these can be easily replaced with C and Em chords without the essence of the song changing in any form. So you’re left with super easy chords such as G, Em, C, D, and Am – all open chord positions that most young guitarists would know.

13. Zombie by The Cranberries

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	Em, C, G, and D
Tabs	See tabs for Zombie

This powerful ballad about the futility of wars and violence never fails to move the listeners. “Zombie” by alternative rock giants the Cranberries is a smart pick for a group of slightly older children looking to impress the audience with some electric riffs and easy-to-master cool techniques.

A simplified but nonetheless impactful version of “Zombie” can be played using just four chords! That’s right! If you know Em, C, G, and D chords, you are sorted. You’ll be playing them in open positions first before moving on to the distorted power chords. For older, more skilled players or those who are looking to play this in a band, there is plenty of fantastic stuff to showcase, like syncopated strumming, pull-offs, and hammer-ons.

14. Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	G, C, D, F
Tabs	See tabs for Sweet Home Alabama

Lynrd Skynrd’s ubiquitous southern rock hit “Sweet Home Alabama” is typically one of the first few songs every guitarist wants to get under their belt. It’s a timeless classic that can be perfected with some practice and patience.

The song featured in the band’s 1974 album, Second Helping, becoming an instant hit and boosting Lynrd Skynrd’s popularity to a whole new level. Fun fact- even though the song goes on and on about Alabama and the band’s wonderful impression of the place, none of the members ever lived there. The lyrics praising Alabama were simply about reinforcing and reminding people about the Southern pride.

Just three beginner-friendly chords- G, C, D in a repetitive strum pattern and D-C-G progression is all that’s needed to play an easier acoustic version of the song. There’s one part where the much-dreaded F chord shows up, but as we mentioned earlier, you can always use the stepping stone Fmaj7 chord to get past it. More proficient players should explore the original electric version teeming with fantastic techniques and impressive solos.

15. Mary Had a Little Lamb

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	A, E
Tabs	See tabs for Mary Had A Little Lamb

We did say this will be a list of guitar songs that kids would love to play, so how can we forget our youngest beginners! For our small wonders, here’s a centuries-old rhyme that they’ll love to play and sing along to!

“Mary Had a Little Lamb’s” charming tune can be strummed on a guitar with great ease. Only two chords – A and E can get you through the entire song. Strumming-wise, you can get as innovative as you like. Teach the little ones different ways to play it. They can start with only down strums and add in more technique and flair along the way.

16. Marry You by Bruno Mars

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	D, Em, G
Tabs	See tabs for Marry You

A beautiful tune with a mix of pop, doo-wop, and soul elements, powered by Bruno Mars’s superb vocals, makes “Marry You” a sonic delight! This song is not just amazing to hear; it’s also incredibly easy to play. To our highschool going guitarists- add this lovely composition to your repertoire for laid-back campfire sessions. You won’t be disappointed!

This 2010 love song gained worldwide popularity for its woo-worthy vibe and inspired many viral flash-mob proposals. It charted remarkably well across the globe, cracking the top ten in many countries.

The easier and simplified version of the song requires a capo on the third fret and D, Em, and G chords. The way Bruno Mars plays demands a bit more proficiency and familiarity with barre chords.

17. Jingle Bells

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	G, C, D
Tabs	See tabs for Jingle Bells

Here’s another awesome song our young guitarists would enjoy playing and singing along to! There are so many different versions of “Jingle Bells” to learn from. You can pick the super-easy single-string renditions to simple fingerstyle arrangement or straightforward strumming one, whichever you think your child or student would be most comfortable with.

Check out this fabulous tutorial that takes you through a breezy three-chord strum version of the song. Teach it to the little ones before the holiday season begins so they can go around playing it, wooing family and friends with this marvelous addition to their song bank!

18. Happy (Pharell Williams / Despicable Me 2)

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	E, G, A, B, Cmaj7, Bm
Tabs	See tabs for Happy

You simply cannot put together a song list for kids without having Pharell Williams’ feel-good 2013 chart-topper “Happy” on it. True to its name, the song is upbeat, infectious, and oh so vibrant!

It was released as a part of the popular animated comedy “Despicable Me 2”, becoming phenomenally successful in the US, UK, and several countries world-over. This groovy record-setting single also has many prestigious accolades under its belt, including a Grammy. “Happy” also made it to the nomination list for Academy Award for Best Original Song but lost to “Let It Got” from Disney’s Frozen (the first one on our list).

You can place a capo on the first fret to play along to the original, but even if you decide to skip it, it’ll still sound pretty great. The fantastic tutorial above beautifully breaks down the song places it to bring it well within the reach of young beginner-level guitarists – with simple chords and strumming style.

19. Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	G, C, D, Em, D7
Tabs	See tabs for Brown Eyed Girl

Even though this song was released by classic rock icon Van Morrison in 1967, this song is pretty much immortal at this point! Covered by hundreds of artists over the decades, Brown Eyed Girl’s super amazing opening riff, upbeat tempo, and peppy melody make you want to break into dance wherever you are. The song has won the hearts of youngsters even today, and the best part is that it is incredibly easy to play as well.

You’ll just need to know the open chord staples – G, C, D, Em, and D7 – to be able to play the entire song. The strumming pattern is also a straightforward alternating upstroke and downstroke.

20. Budapest by George Ezra

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	G, C, D
Tabs	See tabs for Budapest

Young singer-songwriter George Ezra’s iconic hit ‘Budapest’ topped the charts in several countries across the world, and the track became especially popular among kids and teenagers – I remember my teen niece being straight up obsessed with the song when it was released and singing it every time I visited her! It’s also pretty amazing how Ezra’s deep vocals and songwriting style are way beyond his years.

With its simple chords on standard tuning, this song is pretty easy for youngsters to learn on the guitar too. The entire song just needs you to play F, Bb, and C – a pretty straightforward chord progression that continues throughout the song. Plus, the strumming pattern is simple enough for beginners to learn too.

21. Stand by Me by Ben E. King

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	C, Am, F, G
Tabs	See tabs for Stand by Me

Whether you’re young or old, stand by me is a lovely song about friendship, trust, and support that everyone loves. Some songs are just timeless, they never go out of style! This Ben E. King classic was first released in 1961, and has since gone on to become a legendary track loved by all and covered by several noted artists such as John Lennon, Tracy Chapman, Florence and the Machine, and even the iconic boxer Muhammad Ali!

Aside from being an evergreen hit for all ages, Stand by Me is a really easy song to play on the guitar too! The entire song is all about four simple open chords – C, Am, F, G – making it really simple for young guitarists to play. The strumming pattern is also simple enough to grasp.

22. I see the light (Tangled)

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	C, F, G, Am, Em, Dm
Tabs	See tabs for I See the Light

A modern twist on the fairytale of Rapunzel, Tangled was a gorgeous movie that was loved by kids all over the world. And the song ‘I See The Light’, sung by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi was so popular that it even got its own Oscar nomination for the best original song!

Now the original song has a key change in the middle of the song, but if you’re willing to let that go and stick to the same key throughout the song, then it’s a pretty simple song to learn. The song uses all chords from the C family – C, F/C, G, Am, Em, and Dm. Here’s an easy guitar tutorial video that will take you through all the chords needed as well as the strumming pattern for the song.

Popular Related Article: The Best Guitars for Kids

23. Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	E, G, A F, C, G#, D
Tabs	See tabs for Smoke On The Water

Many guitar enthusiasts start their journeys by learning to play this 1972 rocker by Deep Purple. “Smoke on the Water” is tailor-made for beginners and kids who are looking to pick up something that’s easy to play and somewhat of an attention grabber. And mastering that famous electric riff which has been ranked as one of the greatest guitar riffs ever, is sure to win you quite a few praises.

The track’s slow tempo and simple melody make it easy to play along with. You don’t need to know a lot of techniques to play its simplified version, just the third and the fourth strings. It gets a whole lot easier for kids if they use only the sixth and the thickest E string instead. Learn the one-string version before you move on to how it’s actually played by the band.

24. Can You Feel the Love Tonight (The Lion King)

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	F, C, G, Am, D, A, Bm
Tabs	See tabs for Can You Feel The Love Tonight

For those of you who grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, this magical piano-driven gem is capable of triggering some serious nostalgia! And if your kids or students haven’t already heard it, play it for them and see them swoon to this amazing piece of music!

Composed by the legendary Elton John for Disney’s hit classic “The Lion King,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” is as beautiful to hear as it is easy to play. The original is powered by the piano but sounds fantastic, even when you play it on a guitar.

To play this composition, make sure you know the following five chords- G, D, Em, C, and Am. Next, work on the driving pattern that you can check out in the video above.

25. Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	F#m, A, E, B, C, C7, C9
Tabs	See tabs for Immigrant Song

This 1973 classic rocker is an ideal starter to dive into the mind-blowing repertoire of one of the greatest bands in the history of rock, Led Zeppelin. The best part about “Immigrant Song” is that once you’ve mastered the main lick, you’ve pretty much nailed the entire song.

Any track that features the great Jimmy Page can’t be a smooth ride, and this one isn’t either but what makes it relatively easier to learn is that the main riff repeats through the length of the song. The way Page plays it, though, is by adding many variations, but let’s park that for now.

“Immigrant Song” might seem as old as the hills, but you’ll be surprised that many of the kids instantly recognize it from popular movies- Shrek 3, School of Rock, and Thor: Ragnarok.

26. You’ve Got a Friend in Me (Toy Story)

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	A7, Am, B, B7, C, C7, D7, Dm7, E7, Em, F, Fm, G7, Cmaj7
Tabs	See tabs for You’ve Got A Friend In Me

A Timeless Disney classic spun around the importance of friendship that even our little millennials would love! “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from one of the greatest animated flicks ever-Toy Story is a beautiful song to teach young guitarists. It is a challenging one, mind you, but promises to be a fun learning experience.

There’s plenty to love about this song! It has one of the catchiest tunes and a brilliant singalong chorus built around conveying a beautiful message. The song won a nomination for Best Original Song at both Academy Awards and Golden Globes but lost to “Colors of the Wind” from another Disney epic Pocahontas.

Like most Disney songs, this one has also been covered by countless musicians. We recommend you check out Michael Buble’s spell-binding rendition from his 2013 album, a real treat to the ears!

27. A Whole New World (Aladdin)

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	C, F, G, Dm, E7, Am, D7
Tabs	See tabs for A Whole New World

Aladdin is one of my timeless favorite Disney movies, and it was made even more memorable by its iconic song ‘A Whole New World’! There are plenty of boys and girls who would’ve imagined themselves riding the magic carpet when watching that song on the screen.

This one is slightly tricker than the rest of the songs on the list, but once you grasp the chord changes, it’s an absolute treat to play. It uses a few sevenths that absolute beginners may not know, so it may be better suited for guitar players that have been playing for a while. This easy play-along guitar tutorial video and the included tabs should help make it easier to grasp!

28. Beauty And The Beast

Tuning	E A D G B E
Chords	G, C, D, Em, Bm, F
Tabs	See tabs for Beauty and The Beast

Originally sung by ballad goddess Celine Dion for the original 1991 film, ‘Beauty and The Beast’ is a stunning song from the movie that’s loved by kids and grown-ups alike. The movie’s latest 2017 adaptation with Emma Watson saw the song being resung by Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, while the end credits of the movie also feature the same track being sung as a duet by none other than Ariana Grande and John Legend.

The song is a familiar bunch of open chords – G, C, D, Em, Bm, and F. The strumming pattern is also all downstrokes with just one upstroke at the end of each chord. Check out this simple guitar tutorial that teaches a beginner-friendly version of this lovely song.

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed this article with fun and easy guitar songs for kids – as I said, I’ve included something for every age group! As you would’ve noticed, each of these songs is fun to play and pretty easy to learn. Plus, the best way to get someone interested in an instrument is for them to learn their favorite tracks, which is what we hope to do with this article!

I think youngsters would enjoy starting out with such simple chord progressions played on a standard tuning and a straightforward strumming pattern. Once they get more and more comfortable, then they can progress to trickier chord changes and alternate tunings – the world is their oyster, really!

If you’re looking for other articles with easy guitar songs for beginners to learn, check out our articles on easy indie guitar songs, easy guitar songs to play, and easy country guitar songs. Happy learning!