The songs we know and love are often a reflection of our favorite artists personalities. And while some musicians segregate to express themselves with a series of ramified chords, some do it with just two!
Personally, I finger that when the soundscape is dominated by just 2 chords, the listener invariably ends up paying a lot increasingly sustentation to the lyrics, the songwriting, and the overall sentiment the versifier wants to convey.
So today, lets squint at 45 songs spanning genres and time periods with one thing in common; the 2 chords holding them together! From campfire favorites to grunge, weve got something for everyone.
But, if youre a beginner, youre unseat to love this list plane increasingly considering its full of easy 2 chord guitar songs that require minimum effort but are still unseat to impress!
Here is a List of 2 Chord Songs
1. Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | B and E |
| Tabs | See Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen tabs here |
The Boss 1984 archetype hit Born in the U.S.A is most peoples gateway song into the institution that is Bruce Springsteen. With that powerful snare keeping time, the whole song revolves virtually the chords B and E major. If youre having a nonflexible time playing the barred version of the B chord, there are multiple variations that you can use, right from the B power chord to simpler fingering patterns.
If youre still finding this hard, use a capo on the second fret and play the song using the chords A and D. If you have wangle to a few pedals or digital effects, start out with wipe guitar, then dial in a bit of distortion when the song kicks in fully. For the faster parts of the song, a fuller strumming of the chords sounds a lot largest than simply letting them ring. A song that follows the same rhythm pattern till it dissolves into a cymbal-heavy outro – this is a unconfined song to practice your vocal chops as the melody is fairly standard throughout.
2. Something In The Way by Nirvana
| Tuning | Half step lanugo with Drop D |
| Chords | F#m and D |
| Tabs | See Something In The Way by Nirvana tabs here |
You may recognize this song from the trailer to the latest Batman film. While the version you heard in 2021 is an elevated, cinematic piece, the original song written by Kurt Cobain features a raw sensory guitar strumming the F#m and D chords throughout the song. Amongst the lesser-known Nirvana songs, the reason Something In The Way has a haunting recreate to it is considering of its tuning. The unshortened guitar is tuned half a step-down, and the top E string is dropped lanugo to a D, substantially tuned to the C# note. This is a worldwide tuning amongst waddle musicians, as this makes the guitar sound darker compared to the standard E tuning.
Also, if you pay tropical attention, the strumming of this song swings and isnt exactly on time adds to the ethereal recreate of the song plane more. One thing Id like to point out is that Kurt lets go of his typical style of singing and chooses a vocal style thats slow and sad, which perfectly compliments his guitar work throughout the song.
3. You Never Can Tell by Chuck Berry
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | C and G |
| Tabs | See You Never Can Tell by Chuck Berry tabs here |
If theres anyone who can turn just 2 chords into a timeless hit, its none other than the father of Waddle n Roll – Chuck Berry himself! If youve watched Pulp Fiction, youd remember this as the song from the legendary scene where John Travolta and Uma Thurman flit as if no one’s watching!
You Never Can Tell is a witty, tricky track that conveys something quite deep in a light-hearted manner that life is unpredictable, and you never know what will happen next. The song has gone on to wilt synonymous with the Waddle n Roll genre and has been covered by several artists, including Bruce Springsteen.
Essentially, you just need to know how to play the C major and the G major chords to play the whole song. though, once you grasp the gist of the song, you can moreover throw in the G7 every time the line goes Cest la vie say the old folks… to add a little something uneaten to the song. The strumming pattern is not too tough to decode either – youll be playing each chord for a total of two bars, with quarter note strumming.
4. Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | A and E |
| Tabs | See Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus tabs here |
Miley Cyrus dad gave us this earworm in his tome Some Gave All way when in 1992. Scrutinizingly thirty years later, this song is still doing the rounds at flit parties, with everyone getting their jive on as soon as the guitar lick in the intro hits. The reason why this song makes it to this list is that its rhythm is built on just two chords – A and E. Wideness the verses, chorus, ad plane the solo, its just these two chords that hold the unshortened song together.
Most waddle and country songs can be boiled lanugo to just 2 simple chords, so practicing these transitions is a useful hack to expand your library. If A and E isnt your favorite key to sing in, try it in any other key, starting the song with the major chord and pursuit it up with its respective fifth. Go on and try it with G and C, D and G, or whichever key you fancy considering one thing is certain, this song is unseat to get people on the flit floor.
5. Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | G and D |
| Tabs | See Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke tabs here |
This 2013 song made the headlines for many, many reasons right from its racy video featuring Emily Ratajkowski to the legal wrestle which ended without Thick and Pharell Williams (co-creator of the song) had to pay scrutinizingly $5 million to Marvin Gaye, from whom this song was tangibly borrowed. But its third on our list considering you can whip out your guitar and strum through this ditty using just 2 chords D and G.
The strumming pattern is pretty straightforward, and a few listens into the song, figuring out where to add a few mutes is going to come naturally to you. When youve mastered the chords, step two is throwing in a walking line on the 5th string right without the D chord with the notes 0 3 2 0. A party starter for sure; youre guaranteed to get people to join you in the hey hey hey section of the song, if not the whole thing.
6. Dreams by Fleetwood Mac
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | F and G |
| Tabs | See Dreams by Fleetwood Mac tabs here |
If you dont know this song by name, youll recognize it from the trend that took over Tik Tok and reels last year. Dreams by Fleetwood Mac made an unexpected comeback considering people started using it heavily as the preliminaries score for them skateboarding and sipping on juice. Released way when in 1977, this song kicks off with a tight toned line which is the skeleton of the song. The song doesnt full-length any guitar strumming, but you can take the chords F and G and hold the whole song together, just like the toned line does. Yes, it features the F chord, something that every beginner has a love-hate relationship with.
Once you master this with regular chords, try the barred version considering they have the same fingering and just move wideness two frets. A unconfined song to strengthen your fingers and master barre chords, which add a fuller sound to your chord playing and requite you full tenancy of all strings, depending on how you use your strumming hand in conjunction with your left.
7. Horse With No Name by America
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | Em and D6 |
| Tabs | See Horse With No Name by America tabs here |
Were kicking this list off with 70s archetype Horse With No Name by America, a favorite among guitar beginners. A fairly simple song, the whole song is built using an E minor and a D6 chord. Dont let the D6 chord intimidate you – you can play it with just two fingers placed on the E and G string on the second fret!
Alternatively, you could moreover try the second fret on the G and upper E strings (Avoid playing the Low E and A strings when you try this fingering.) Thats the unshortened song for you right there but what makes it really interesting is its muted strumming which adds a percussive layer. I personally suggest starting off with just the chords and when youre well-appointed with the transitions, introduce the mutes slowly. The strumming of this song is a unconfined exercise to learn how to add percussion to your rhythm.
8. 505 by Arctic Monkeys
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | Am and B |
| Tabs | See 505 by Arctic Monkeys tabs here |
Be it some of their all-out ragers like Brianstorm or the staple “Do I Wanna Know,” the Brit Indie rockers have a specific savor thats instantly recognizable! Released in 2007, 505 is no different, and plane if you havent heard this song before, a minute or two into the song and you unmistakably know it belongs to the Arctic Monkeys.
While the song starts out on a reverb-y EP and builds to a heavy verse that ends on a tricky guitar hook, the whole song can be played with just the A minor and B chords. Many say that this could possibly be the easiest Arctic Monkeys to play considering of the number of chords it uses. An spanking-new song to perfect your barre chord transition, this song could get a little tricky while switching between chords, but its well worth the effort. Try some delay, throw in some reverb or simply strum nonflexible through the song to create a banging sensory rendition of 505 that would make Alex Turner proud.
9. Break On Through by The Doors
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | Em and D |
| Tabs | See Break On Through by The Doors tabs here |
If youre a Doors fan, theres no way this song doesnt full-length in your top five. Whether it is the songs laid-back bossa nova rhythm or its energetic sondscape, everyone loves the first single to overly be released by The Doors for their reasons. To do true justice to this song, youll have to learn the iconic guitar riff, which kickstarts the song and stays through it, but you can recreate the rhythm with the Em and D chords.
Start with a vital strumming pattern that fits the bossa pulsate groove and build it up as you progress through the song. I highly suggest you dont stop here and progress to breaking lanugo the riffs of the verse and chorus part by part. A pro tip here would be to start as slow as possible and play with a metronome, so you perfect your timing withal with your notes. Once youre through with that, you can speed the whole thing up to the original tempo. While this does seem like a lot of work, youll learn how to alimony time with riffs, which is a level whilom keeping time with simple strumming. This is one of my personal favorite easy 2 chord guitar songs of all time.
10. Paperback Writer by The Beatles
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | G7 and C |
| Tabs | See Paperback Writer by The Beatles tabs here |
This 1966 archetype is drizzled with surf waddle elements withal with iconic harmonies, tricky guitar riffs, and a jumpy rhythm to match. Considering its rhythm revolves virtually 2 chords, this makes it an incredibly easy song to start your Beatles journey with.
Written primarily by Paul McCartney, this song uses just G7 and C throughout the song. If youre not familiar with seventh chords, this is a unconfined song to see how the seventh chord adds a layer of unexpected splendor to major chords. Try learning the seventh chords to all the major chords and slip them in occasionally to highlight your rhythm playing. Theres no standard rule to how seventh chords are used to vocalizing major chords – the only way to do it is to play them, familiarise yourself with their sounds, and let them spritz naturally.
11. Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | D and E |
| Tabs | See Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin tabs here |
I think “Whole Lotta Love,” and instantly, the loose blues-rock riff played by guitarist Jimmy Page on his Gibson Les Paul starts ringing in my head. While replicating that overdriven wail of the guitar is something well save for flipside lesson, today well talk well-nigh how you can play this Led Zep archetype with two power chords (the root and the fifth) the D and the E.
Accentuated with multiple mutes and fast strumming, you can use these 2 chords to replicate the rhythm of this unforgettable waddle riff. Start with the A and the D notes of the D power chord followed by fast strums on the E power chord, and slowly you can progress to subtracting in those iconic Jimmy Page slides and fills. To get the hang of this song, youll have to thoughtfully listen to the rhythm pattern, but once you get it, its really, really nonflexible to stop playing it.
12. Feelin Alright by Joe Cocker
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | F7 and C7 |
| Tabs | See Feelin Alright by Joe Cocker tabs here |
If I could describe soul music with just one word my nomination would be SMOOTH! Originally performed by Dave Mason from the English waddle wreath Traffic, this song was popularised by Joe Cocker and has all the makings of a unconfined soul song. A tight pulsate and toned groove, archetype piano, Joes nonchalant husky voice, and a valuables voices you do justice to all of this with an sensory guitar and the chords A and D with a capo on the third fret.
But I suggest trying this song out in the key of F, with the chords F7 and C7, which are a little unconventional but pinpoint soul music. The finger positions and transitions can finger a bit wayfarer at the beginning, but with a one-chord per bar pattern, the chord structure is pretty standard. A unconfined example of doing increasingly with less, this song is the perfect preliminaries for your pianist friends to jump into impromptu solos that can alimony going on forever.
13. One World (Not Three) by The Police
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | F and G |
| Tabs | See One World (Not Three) by The Police tabs here |
When the song One World starts, youre suddenly left wondering if youre listening to The Police or a professional reggae band. The song follows the archetype reggae structure and pattern, well-constructed with the sharp snare and the groovy toned line that keeps you engaged. And like most reggae songs, you can play this one with just two chords. One World uses the chords F and G. I highly suggest using barre chords to execute this song, but if youre not there yet, no worries, you can use the regular shapes too.
The strumming of this song is quite unconventional, and while playing it, youll notice that if you switch to upstrokes instead of the typical downstrokes, it gets easier to create that reggae feel. Start by playing very slowly to get used to the offbeat strumming and build speed as you alimony getting increasingly comfortable. The motion will seem quite weird at first, as youre going versus the strings but with a little bit of practice, youll be playing this in no time.
14. Jambalaya by Hank Williams
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords/strong> | G and C |
| Tabs | See Jambalaya by Hank Williams tabs here |
Jambalaya (On The Bayou) was first released in 1952 and since then has spawned myriad covers wideness genres, making this Williams most covered song. A feel-good, happy song, this song swings from its first note to its last between the G and C chords. A perfect song for campsites, strum your way through this eight-bar progression with 2 bars on G, 4 bars on C, and ending with 2 bars of G.
What you can do to spice things up and do justice to the country finger of this song is to pick the toned notes of each chord on the E and A strings for G and C chords, respectively. A little challenging at the beginning, such small tweaks can add loads of pizazz to your rhythm playing. On days when youre feeling down, strumming withal to this song is going to act as an instant pick-me-up.
15. Alicia Keys by Fallin’
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | Am and Em |
| Tabs | See Alicia Keys by Fallin’ tabs here |
Alicia Keys has a voice, that if suddenly all the instrumentation overdue her were to disappear, the song would still sound complete! Fallin is no exception to this rule. Structured in a way to make her voice takes part-way stage, you can play the whole song with the chords Am and Em. While strumming this song, pay special sustentation to your hand and try making the rhythm swing. Youll hear the massive difference it makes to the song if you strum it on simply versus when you play this waltz tune with some attitude.
Also, this song follows the count of 3 rather than the standard 4, so play the top half of the strings on the one write-up and try muting the 2 and 3 hits while strumming the chords. I will unchangingly maintain that it is the way you play the chords and how these chords fit into the song structure rather than the chords themselves. Fallin is flipside such example, where the song absorbs you considering of its arrangement, not just considering of how many chords it uses.
16. Everyday People by Sly & The Family Stone
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | C and G |
| Tabs | See Everyday People by Sly & The Family Stone tabs here |
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this song made the term scooby doo famous, plane inspiring the name of our favorite turned-on Unconfined Dane. Sly and the Family Stone, who released this song in 1968, were a supergroup that brought a tuft of styles ranging from funk to waddle to country to their music. Everyone from Pearl Jam to Aretha Franklin to Joan Jett has covered Everyday People, and plane you can with just 2 chords. With C and G chords, you can groove your way through the song.
Feel self-ruling to pick a strumming that fits weightier with the song as you play withal with it. Ive realized that instead of learning the strumming to songs, play with the song and indulge yourself to mimic the song while inventing your strumming patterns. Youll see how everything right from the drums to the toned can inspire your strumming, permitting you to express yourself a lot increasingly than simply pursuit a robotic pattern, which ends up sounding monotonous without a while.
17. Banana Boat Song by Harry Belafonte
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | D and A |
| Tabs | See Banana Boat Song by Harry Belafonte tabs here |
Banana Boat Song or Day-O, performed by Harry Belafonte in the late fifties, is a song that will get you either grooving, singing “daylight come and we wan go home” for days or, in my case, both. This song is a unconfined example of calypso music, instantly reminding you of the waterfront surrounded by lush tropical forests. For a song thats scrutinizingly seventy years old, its still making the rounds, and youve definitely heard this song wideness pop culture.
A unconfined song for beginners, this song uses just D and A throughout the song. You can substitute the A with an A7 to requite this song a brighter soundscape. Remember to alimony your muting hand at the ready to requite this song the rhythm and vellicate that defines it. The cherry on top is if you could get a tuft of friends to help you out with the valuables vocals while you take it yonder with the vocals and the guitar. When in the day, songs were written to bring communities together and have a good time, a feeling which you can recreate with just two chords today.
18. Working Class Hero by John Lennon
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | Am and D |
| Tabs | See Working Class Hero by John Lennon tabs here |
To the older generation, this is one of John Lennons increasingly heartfelt tracks, and to the newer generation, an epic Green Day one. Irrespective of which version youre referring to, both of them full-length an easy 2 chord structure. Oscillating between A minor and D (with a G major thrown in during the chorus), the structure of this song compels you to listen to the lyrics and contemplate their meaning just like Lennon intended. If you pay tropical sustentation to the strumming style, Lennon starts with the toned notes of the chords and slides in a hammer-on, a pattern he keeps resulting throughout the song.
The song ends with the words “just follow me,” and thats the translating well leave you with too. Listen to the song over and over till youve memorized the pattern, and simply follow Lennon. To those referring to the Green Day version, the chords say the same, but the subtle hammer-on structure is replaced with big, unvigilant strums on the sensory – a style signature to the punk waddle band.
19. Requite Peace A Endangerment by John Lennon
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | C and G |
| Tabs | See Requite Peace A Endangerment by John Lennon tabs here |
Everybody’s talking well-nigh Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism, This-ism, That-ism this is the opening to John Lennons first hit yonder from The Beatles and it kinda sets the premise to what this song is all about. Lennon once told Rolling Stone magazine that he wrote this song to be sung during demonstrations such as The Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam. Recorded way when in 1969, the video of this song features Lennon sitting with Yoko Ono, guitar in hand, strumming yonder and singing to a small crowd.
Because of how easy the chords to this song are, you can have your personal Lennon moment if you can play the C and G chords smoothly. Youll find people using the D and A or A and E combinations, too, depending on their singing comfort). Lanugo strum through the unshortened song or play the original two lanugo strums followed by a down-up-down-up pattern till you get it lanugo pat. Finger self-ruling to substitute G with G7, like the original record. To do this, play the first fret of the E string instead of the third like you do on a G chord. All these years later, I am left wondering how you could unchangingly trust Lennon to come up with extremely simple chord patterns with lyrics so intense that the song becomes an instant earworm.
20. Lively Up Yourself by Bob Marley
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | D and G |
| Tabs | See Lively Up Yourself by Bob Marley tabs here |
The universally true thing well-nigh reggae is that it puts you in a good mood in a matter of minutes! Lively Up Yourself is flipside such track, and as soon as the bass-heavy intro kicks in, you find yourself grooving in a way you can only with reggae music. Released in the mid-seventies, this song bounces from start to end on just two chords D and G, two of the most worldwide and versatile chords used wideness a lot of genres of music. As a unstipulated rule, reggae music follows a similar pattern with minimal chords, so this genre is unconfined if youre a beginner.
For the strumming, I suggest you use your palm to mute the top strings to requite your strumming a percussive feel. Try mimicking the write-up of the bongos to create your rhythm patterns, and enjoy this song from start to end. While 2 chords are increasingly than unbearable to do justice, trammels out the tabs link to see how you can sneak in a few increasingly chords to make your playing fuller. Flipside thing you could do is squint up similar reggae songs that follow this pattern and swoop into a full-blown guitar medley when youre playing this for your friends.
21. What I Got by Sublime
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | D and G |
| Tabs | See What I Got by Sublime tabs here |
Whether you know how to flit like a human or not, theres no way you cant groove when What I Got plays! This is my go-to road trip song – its so catchy, infectious, and laid back. This track catapulted the American wreath Sublime to fame, and guess what? This 2-chord song has moreover made it to Rolling Stone magazines Top 100 Guitar Songs Of All Time! Increasingly proof that you dont need to jam a hundred variegated chords into a song to make it memorable or worthy of recognition and respect.
What I Got only has D major and G major chords that repeat all through the track – be it verse or chorus. These chords should be familiar to guitar beginners as well, ad theyre one of the first few chords taught to us while we start out on the instrument. The strumming hand may need a bit of run-through since the chords are played in a rather arpeggiated manner in the song (as you can hear in the intro), but nothing that a bit of practice cant solve.
The cherry on top is the guitar solo on the track, which is quite easy to play! Its a short and sweet solo thats not too fast, making it perfect for novices to learn. Trammels out this easy and quick guitar lesson to icon out how to get cracking on this one!
22. Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | C and Em |
| Tabs | See Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles tabs here |
I remember the first time I heard Eleanor Rigby, the song was stuck in my throne for days without just one listen! The harmonies, the strings section, Paul McCartneys unmistakable voice – this song was love at first listen. On this list, youll see Paperback Writer making an appearance, flipside Beatles track that uses the same two chords as Eleanor Rigby C and Em. Plane though both songs use the word-for-word same chords, it is the songwriting that makes them sound so vastly different.
My suggestion is that once you learn this song, play it with Paperback Writer when to when to see how you could perform a tuft of songs using the same chords without them having to sound the same. Both songs full-length one of my favorite chords – Em, which sounds melancholic yet intense, making it a favorite among waddle musicians. Plane wideness this list, youll see the Em chord featuring prominently on songs that vest to the waddle genre. A very versatile chord, Em fits beautifully with chords like C, D, G, A, and plane E major! Try it out for yourself.
23. Stop Whispering by Radiohead
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | D and G |
| Tabs | See Stop Whispering by Radiohead tabs here |
At first listen, till Thom Yorkes brilliantly weird voice doesnt kick in, one wouldnt instantly recognize this as a Radiohead song. Off their grunge-inspired tome Pablo Honey, Stop Whispering sounds happier (if I may) than most of their songs. With a steady snare groove holding the song from whence to end, this surprisingly upbeat song can be played with just D and G. Although you can play the song with vital strumming, the original playing includes some arpeggios between chords.
You can start with strumming and progress to the arpeggios as and when you finger comfortable. As is with all Radiohead songs, theres unchangingly that element of surprise and Jonny Greenwoods off-key notes during the solo, and the outro brings the song comfortably when to Radiohead territory. Not listed amongst the bands top ten songs, this song is a refreshing find for Radiohead fans who get to sample quite an unexpected side of the wreath from their early days.
24. Oye Como Va by Santana
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | Am7 and D7 |
| Tabs | See Oye Como Va by Santana tabs here |
Bring on some Latin Waddle considering were talking well-nigh Santana! Oye Como Va is an infectious track in the archetype Cuban cha-cha-cha rhythm pattern composite with influences from various styles of music. In true Santana style, the guitar god has kept the valuables rhythm simple, letting his tasteful and atmospheric guitars shine through.
While learning to play the lead guitars of the track might take a bit of practice and skill, the valuables rhythm is very easy to learn for novices too! All you need to learn is how to play the Am7 and D7 chords – dont get intimidated by the 7ths in these chords – theyre pretty straightforward to play, as youll see in the guitar tabs weve linked here. Am7 is nothing but the A minor chord with the 3rd string played open, while the D7 chord is the D major chord with the 1st fret held lanugo instead of the 3rd on the 2nd string. Pay tropical sustentation to the strumming pattern as its not your everyday sensory guitar strumming. But if you have listened to the song unbearable times, youll have no problem strumming along.
25. Tomorrow Never Knows by The Beatles
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | C and Bb |
| Tabs | See Tomorrow Never Knows by The Beatles tabs here |
You may not have heard of this track if youre not a hardcore Beatles fan – Tomorrow Never Comes is one of their lesser-known songs. But this is a unique one that unmistakably shows the influence Indian music had on the wreath – you can hear passages with the Indian stringed instrument Sitar and the Tanpura backing, creating a unique environment throughout the song. If youve only heard the popular Beatles tracks, then the vibe of Tomorrow Never Knows might come as a surprise – though a pleasant one, for sure. The only 2 chords stuff used wideness the song are C major and Bb chords – while C major is easy unbearable for most beginners to play, noninclusion the Bb might take a bit of practice.
This is an energetic track, and the fast-paced guitar strumming only adds to the upper energy! Make sure you understand the strumming pattern correctly since it could be a bit challenging to play unceasingly wideness the song. If you find the original pattern tricky to tackle, then you can play your own, easier version of the strumming and then build up to the increasingly well-judged version as you get increasingly and increasingly confident.
26. Tulsa Time by Eric Clapton
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | G and D |
| Tabs | See Tulsa Time by Eric Clapton tabs here |
Originally sung by Don Williams, a handful of artists have taken a shot at Tulsa Time, but Eric Claptons upbeat, blues waddle rendition is the one thats gone mainstream. Similar in structure and plane tune to Achy Breaky Heart which features whilom on this list, Tulsa Time is your standard blues-rock pattern come to life with the chords G and D (feel self-ruling to use any key thats to your liking).
The strumming of this song has multiple variations, so find one that fits weightier with the song. As weve mentioned earlier, this pattern and chord structure is a waddle and blues staple, so if youve mastered this, you can not only play this song but a tuft of others that are simply one Google search away. Without youre well-appointed with the chord transitions, two-chord songs like this one are weightier to practice your singing, as the muscle memory takes over with the guitar, and you can focus on hitting the right notes with your voice. This is flipside one of my favorite two chord guitar songs to play.
27. Drunken Sailor by The Irish Rovers
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | Em and D |
| Tabs | See Drunken Sailor by The Irish Rovers tabs here |
This traditional sea shanty from Ireland gives me goosebumps – every time I hear it, I can imagine weary, hard-working Irish sailors singing it together to alimony their spirits upper while stuff nonflexible at work virtually the ship and sailing through intimiating seas! This folk song is one of the most well-known sea shanties virtually the world – has been covered by several variegated artists wideness the world. But one of its most popular versions is by The Irish Rovers, who usually sealed their performances with this gem by involving the prod and getting them to sing withal – in true sea shanty style.
The song only uses the Em and D major chords through, both chords successive one without the other – this is the worldwide pattern in which such sea shanties were written. The strumming style is equally easy, with your regular downstrokes that imbricate all the strings. This is a sunny sing-along song whether youre playing solo for a small regulars or to a large crowd.
28. Jane Says by Janes Addiction
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | G and A |
| Tabs | See Jane Says by Janes Addiction tabs here |
Listening to Jane Says takes me when to the good ol days of volitional music. First released in 1987, this song has been virtually for a while and was used to commonly end Janes Addiction live concerts. For a song that has so much going for it, its stripped-down structure is built on just 2 chords G and A. Switching between these 2 chords isnt very nonflexible and shouldnt pose much of a challenge, plane if youre a beginner.
Even though its chord pattern stays pretty much the same throughout the song, lead vocalist Perry Farrells vocal lines take Jane Says through a series of ups and downs. With his voice doing the heavy lifting through the song, youll barely notice it is built on two very simple chords repeated from start to finish. The weightier part well-nigh tent this song is that you need nothing else but a no-frills sensory guitar and a right hand that can unhook that punchy strumming.
29. Heroin by The Velvet Underground
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | D and G |
| Tabs | See Heroin by The Velvet Underground tabs here |
Even though this song is built on just two chords, what makes it interesting is the pattern in which these chords are used. From the intro to the verse, the timing changes, and it doesnt just stop here. Midway through the verse, the tempo increases to create tension surpassing unexpectedly dropping when to what we started at the beginning. What stays resulting throughout the song is the lanugo strumming pattern.
The song basically consists of D and G major chords played as 8 down-strokes each. It is an extremely easy song to play and sing, but keeping time with the ever-changing groove can seem tricky at first. What is essential while playing the song is to maintain accents when strumming. You can do this by waffly the pressure of your strum to create some movement in your playing rather than alimony it standard from start to end.
Another unconfined example of not how many chords but how the chords are used. To really take this song to the next level, you can arpeggiate the chords, which is playing them one note per string. Listen to how the song switches between the arpeggio pattern and the strumming to create a wild melody that sounds energetic, disturbing, and fun, all at the same time.
30. Solitude by Black Sabbath
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | F and Gm |
| Tabs | See Solitude by Black Sabbath tabs here |
When you see Black Sabbath on the list, you instantly think of driving rhythms and power chords from start to end, but the English wreath that laid the foundation for many genres of metal took occasional departures from their typical sound to requite us peaceful ballads. Solitude is one such song that follows a lilting melody, accented with pan flutes, making you do a double-take the first time you hear it. But, its songs like these that are a well-spoken indicator of Black Sabbaths versatility.
Getting when to this song to play it, all you need are the G minor and F major barre chords. Strum through it or play it as arpeggios, you can interpret this song in many, many ways, but whichever style you pick, the transition between F and G minor instantly creates a melancholic feeling thats signature to this song. If youre playing this song on the electric guitar, add some wait and reverb when you arpeggiate the chords to add an atmospheric setting to your playing.
31. Elevation by U2
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | E, A |
| Tabs | See Elevation Tabs Here |
What are the chances of finding a U2 song that has only two chords? From the bands tenth studio album, Elevation is a playful song designed to inject a heavy shot of adrenaline into the listeners through its funkadelic rhythm and distortion-fuelled riffs.
This 2000 single was a chart-topping hit for the Irish waddle giants, winning them a Grammy for Weightier Waddle Performance. The beginner-friendly main riff uses only E and A chords. Its moreover a unconfined song to work on single-note electric guitar playing. Trammels out the tutorial whilom to add this super easy waddle riff to your arsenal.
32. Mollys Lips by Nirvana
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | G5, C5 |
| Tabs | See Mollys Lips Tabs Here |
Mollys Lips, my dakhorse favorite from Nirvanas Incesticide, goes at a breakneck, scrutinizingly incoherent speed and sounds increasingly punk than grunge. Although originally written and recorded by the Scottish wreath the Vaselines, Mollys lips reached the mainstream regulars only without stuff covered by Nirvana. Their rendition is guitar-driven, high-pitched harmonies, with Dave Grohls zesty drumroll taking over during the chorus.
Youll be playing power chords in this one. So, if youve yet to start power chord lessons, this is a perfect Nirvana song to learn. Watch the tutorial whilom to learn how to play Mollys Lips with a G5 and a C5 power chord in a straightforward, repetitive rhythm.
33. Shady Grove by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | Dm, C |
| Tabs | See Shady Grove Tabs Here |
This popular Appalachian tune has several versions by some of the most influential names in the bluegrass-folk scene – Tony Rice, Doc Watson, and Bill Monroe, to name a few. But the string face-off by famous mandolist David and the uncommonly talented vocalist-guitarist Jerry Garcia is an wool treat to the ears.
Needless to say, their interpretation isnt restricted to two chords, but you can play a simplified version with just the D minor and C major chords. If you havent heard this record, play it over a few times to familiarize yourself surpassing starting the lesson.
34. U.N.I by Ed Sheeran
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | E, A |
| Tabs | See U.N.I tabs here |
The third track on Ed Sheerans 2011 tome is an underrated piece well-nigh the end of a relationship when one heads to a university while the other decides to make a career in music. Its got all the archetype Sheeran elements that make his songs so tricky – mellow sensory tunes, relatable lyrics, heartwarming vocals – the works. Theres some mild, laid-back rapping going on as well.
What I loved the most well-nigh it is just how easy it is to play. All you need are two chords and a capo on the 2nd fret. If you ask me, a capo is a must-have for every aspiring guitarist as it allows you loads of songs with fewer chords by waffly the key. The tutorial whilom will show you how to play this song using just E major and A major chords. However, trammels out the tabs if you want to see the full chord version of exactly how Sheeran plays it.
35. Love Me Do by the Beatles
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | G, C |
| Tabs | See Love Me Do Tabs Here |
Here comes flipside Beatles earworm for you to add to your repertoire with two easy chords. Love Me Do often features in three-chord song lists, but most of this song can be played with just G major and C major, with the D major chord only seeming during the bridge.
This mannerly 1963 archetype was the result of the famous songwriting partnership of Paul McCartney and John Lennon. The duo often talked well-nigh how they would skip school to write their songs, many of which became monumental successes. With its cheesy yet fun lyrics, sweet harmonies, and Lennons melodic harmonica, Love Me Do wooed the mainstream regulars in the U.S. The Beatles officially became a global phenomenon, and the rest, as they say, is history.
36. Boys Round Here by Blake Shelton
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | A, D |
| Tabs | See Boys Round Here Tabs Here |
Boys Round Here is drenched in strong Southern vibes and might be one of the easiest tracks to add to your country setlist. Released in 2013 by singer-songwriter Blake Shelton, the single stands out in a big way.
The lyrics, sometimes funny, sometimes corny, may not go lanugo well with everyone. Buy hey! Its undoubtedly one of Sheltons best-selling records, clocking over 2.5 million in sales in the U.S. alone. Its got a super simple chord progression and a strumming pattern that you should be worldly-wise to master in no time.
37. When Love Comes to Town by U2 and B.B. King
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | E, A |
| Tabs | See When Love Comes to Town Tabs Here |
Most songs on this list arent technically two-chord wonders but have been simplified in a way that makes them super wieldy to plane wool beginners. However, this one is a straight-up two-chord track with no stray chord showing up in verses, bridge, or chorus.
When Love Comes to Town is a symbiotic collaboration between the influential U2 and the undisputed king of Blues, B.B. King. For the Irish waddle band, it was a endangerment to play with their idol while moreover introducing the phenomenal talent of B.B. King to a whole new generation. It is a powerful song well-nigh love and redemption with elements of blues, rock, and gospel. You wont find many waddle songs that use just two chords. This one right here, with just two easy E and A unshut chords minus capo, is a tailor-made rocker for beginner guitarists.
38. Therefore I Am by Billie Eilish
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | Dm and A |
| Tabs | See Therefore I Am Tabs Here |
This electropop banger from Billie Eilishs Happier than Overly has the English singer-songwriter in her confident element. Its existential, philosophical, and pretty unshut to interpretation. Delivered in archetype Eilish-style layered vocals, Therefore I Am is an uptempo song with hip-hop beats served with loads of swagger.
You can play it using two chords – Dm and A and a looper pedal. While beginners can learn a simple strumming version of the track with unshut chords, increasingly wide guitarists should use offbeat strumming and barre chords like the original. The tutorial whilom takes you through both versions.
39. Ill Take You There by the Staple Singers
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | F, C |
| Tabs | See Ill Take You There Tabs Here |
This song might only have two chords fueling it, but youll have to pour in a bit of effort to make it sound closer to the original. Nailing the fluidity while playing the rhythm will take your performance up several notches. Ill Take You There was released in 1972 by gospel singing group the Staple Singers and spent a whopping 15 weeks on the Billboard charts.
The feel-good, funk jam vibe and sultry vocals mask the gritty lyrics that insinuate to a place where all races are equal and no one is unhappy. Guitar-wise, youll need only two chords – F and C. The F chord is a tricky one but learning it will help you add plenty of beginner-level songs to your repertoire.
40. Flit the Night Yonder by the Mavericks
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | D, A7 |
| Tabs | See Flit the Night Yonder Tabs Here |
The single off the Mavericks fifth studio album, Trampoline, peaked at number 63 on the charts, but Dance the Night Away remains their most loved song. Interesting instruments such as horns lend the tricky track an exotic vibe. The country bands frontman and songwriter, Raul Malo, was going for a mix of rocknroll and country with a Latin influence – perfectly suiting their Miami origins and Nashville adventures.
Alternating between two chords – D and A7 in a simple, repetitive pattern will get you through the whole song. Itll be a good idea to practice waffly between the two chords and make them fluid and smooth surpassing starting with the strumming pattern, which is moreover quite simple. Theres flipside way to play this song that involves E and B7 but waffly the chords in this one is increasingly intermediate-level guitar playing, in my opinion.
41. Youre Gorgeous by Babybird
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | Pop |
| Tabs | See Youre Gorgeous Tabs Here |
For a kid growing up in the 90s, Youre Gorgeous is like taking a trip lanugo memory lane! Its Stephen Jones headed Babybirds most recognizable and rememberable tune. If you find yourself thinking of it as a romantic song, youre not alone. But once you icon out whos singing to whom, it gets pretty unsettling.
I must admit, plane though the song features only two chords, its not the easiest pick on the list. Id recommend it for a guitarist with intermediate skills or an hostage beginner willing to pour in a good value of practice.
42. Copperhead Road by Steve Earle
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | D, G |
| Tabs | See Copperhead Road Tabs Here |
Heavy metal and bluegrass, now these are two words, or genres, that you dont hear together often. If you overly want to sample a tousle of these genres or power twang, you only have to tune into roots-rock trailblazer Steve Earles discography.
His 1988 archetype Copperhead Road chronicles the journey of a young soldier who, without returning from the Vietnam war, witnesses his bootlegging granddad navigate troubled waters. Since its release, this tune has dominated line dancing. The easiest way to play this song is by using two chords – D major and G major.
43. Silence is Easy by Starsailor
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | E, A |
| Tabs | See Silence is Easy Tabs Here |
The UK-based indie waddle group Starsailor tapped into the charts with passionate vocals and subtle melodies. Their soft sensory guitar and piano-driven melodic gems from Love is Here prompted the fans put them in the same league as Coldplay and Travis. However, Silence is Easy from the bands second tome of the same name is by far their most famous single.
Its tender and captivating with honest, heartfelt lyrics – something you can alimony listening to on a loop. If you want a two-chord soft rocker thatll have your regulars singing along, squint no further. Heres what youll be learning in this song – E and chords, waffly between them, and 8th note (all down) strumming.
44. Id Rather Go Blind by Etta James
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | A, Bm |
| Tabs | See Id Rather Go Blind Tabs Here |
Only a few songs can leave such a lasting impact on the listeners minds as Etta James Id Rather Go Blind. Listen to the lyrics closely, and youll be left with no doubt that James and her friend incarcerated friend Ellington Jordan used the song to waterworks their pain. The subtle instrument wattle comprising of tremolo picked electric, organ, and horn puts the spotlight on the intense vocal performance by James.
Although James 1967 original only made it to number 23 on the charts, it has since wilt an ageless archetype kept working in our memories through myriad covers by prominent names like Beyonce in the 2008 movie Cadillac Records. One of the two chords to play in this song is a barre chord, but you should be worldly-wise to learn it with a little bit of practice.
45. Fire on the Mountain by Grateful Dead
| Tuning | E A D G B E |
| Chords | A, B |
| Tabs | See Fire on the Mountain Tabs Here |
Its no midpoint feat to write a song with only two chords and still manage to make it ultra-catchy! This 1978 archetype from Grateful Deads Shakedown Street features a two-chord wattle with a B-A-B-A progression. Penned by Mickey Hart and Robert Hunter, Fire on the Mountain has a groovy reggae rhythm and short yet potent solos unleashed by none other than the iconic Jerry Garcia. Its a unconfined example of soloing over just two chords – A major and B major in this case.
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of the list of 2 chord guitar songs wideness a whole lot of genres. As you play these songs, irrespective of whether youre a beginner or not, without a point, youll see the musicality of the artists shine through. Like Ive repeated before, its not the number of chords that make a song. Theres a place for songs that are loaded with theory, sure, theres no denying that. But theres a lot you can do with just 2chords as well. As and when you progress to writing original music, youll be tempted to incorporate your unshortened library of chords, scales, and modes to build a song, but alimony coming when to this list to remind yourself that less can be increasingly too.
We hope you have a unconfined time interpreting these iconic songs in your own style, whether youre playing them for yourself in your bedroom or to an audience. Your progress with these songs becomes plane increasingly real when you master the vital strumming and start subtracting fills, arpeggios, and licks like the original records. While youll unchangingly find tabs handy, try listening to the songs, memorizing them, and figuring them out on your own. This may seem tedious at first, but it unchangingly helps in the long run considering these exercises help build your ears increasingly than your fingers. If youre looking for increasingly inspiration, dont forget to trammels out our other blogs, which include the weightier sing-along guitar songs, easy love songs on guitar, and a lot more. As always, I wish you hours and hours of happy playing!
The post 45 Easy 2 Chord Songs to Play on Guitar (With Videos, Tabs, and Tuning) appeared first on Guitar Lobby.
