47 Easy Rock Songs on Guitar For Beginners (With Tabs)

You are currently viewing 47 Easy Rock Songs on Guitar For Beginners (With Tabs)

Last Updated on November 25, 2022 by Teemu Suomala

When starting out with the guitar, it’s super important to find easy songs to learn from your favorite genre. And clearly, you are into rock like so many of us.

The rhythm, scales, and chords vary between these songs, but in general, all of these are pretty easy to play. Of course, some of these songs include some harder parts(solos), but in general, these are easy to play.

Let’s first quickly look at how to use this post and then you can start learning some amazing rock songs.

Who crafted this post:

photo reveals owner of guitaristnextdoor.com

Author: Teemu Suomala

I first grabbed the guitar in 2009. I started this website in January 2020 because I couldn’t do window installation anymore due to my health problems. I also noticed that most guitar websites don’t do a really good job, so I decided to just go for it! I got lucky and managed to get awesome people to help me with my website. I also got lucky because I have you visiting my website right now. Thank you. I do all this for you guys. If you have any recommendations, tips, or feedback, just leave a comment, I would love to chat with you. I have been fortunate to produce content for several large guitar websites, such as Songsterr, Musicnotes, GuitarGuitar, and Ultimate Guitar. I spend my spare time exercising and hanging out with my wife and crazy dog(I guess that went the right way…).


How to Use This Post

Scroll down and select your favorites.

If you click:

  • the video image, you can listen the song. 
  • the”interactive tab”, you will be directed to Songsterr where you can learn the song using interactive tab(this is my favorite way of learning new songs)
  • the ’’tab’’, you will find tabs for that songs (if you don’t know how to read tabs, check this guide).
  • the ‘’chords’’, you will be directed to the page where you can learn chords for that songs. 

Most of the chords and tabs are provided through trusted ”Songsterr” or ”ultimate-guitar.com”.

In the info boxes you can see:

  • Rating for ”how easy are the riffs?”
  • Rating for ”how easy are the solos?”
  • Rating for how easy the song is overall when we look at the both riffs and solos

Without further to do, here are the songs:

47 Easy Rock Songs on Guitar For Beginners (With Tabs)

The 1960s

YouTube video

House of the Rising Sun – The Animals (1964)    

How Easy Are The Riffs?

Summary

A song that is worth a learn for everyone. This especially teaches you the use of smooth picking patterns.

4

YouTube video

You Really Got Me – The Kinks (1964)   

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

This Kinks classic consists of crunchy riffs and a spanky solo full of bends. And all this is easy to play.

4.3

YouTube video

(I can’t get no) Satisfaction – Rolling Stones (1965)   

How Easy Are The Riffs?

Summary

Really easy Rolling Stones classic. Awesome piece of rock history.

5

YouTube video

Wild Things – The Troggs (1966)

How Easy Are The Riffs?

Summary

A simple riff that’s aged very well. Easy to master.

5

YouTube video

Sunshine of Your Love – Cream (1967)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

One of the most well-known riffs of all time. Worth a learn and it probably won’t take you long.

4.8

YouTube video

All Along The Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix (1968)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

You must have been living under a rock if you haven’t heard this song. The best time to learn its catchy intro lick was yesterday, and the second-best time is today…

4.3

YouTube video

Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

Really an American-sounding rock classic…and this is a good thing in my opinion. Plus it’s easy to learn!

4.3

YouTube video

Whole Lotta Love – Led Zeppelin (1969)     

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

One of the Zeppelin’s most popular songs gives you an iconic rock riff and short, but energy-flowing solo.

4.3

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The 1970s

YouTube video

Have You Ever Seen The Rain – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)    

How Easy Are The Riffs?

Summary

One of my favorite chorus and underrated riffs. This Have You Ever Seen The Rain.

4.5

YouTube video

Mississippi Queen – Mountain (1970)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

If you feel like learning amazing rock solos, I would start with this masterpiece.

4.3

YouTube video

Horse With No Name – America (1971)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

I first heard this song on Friends, when Joey went to Las Vegas to shootings of new film…and I have loved this song since. Especially if looking for an acoustic rock song, this is a great pick!

4.5

YouTube video

Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple (1973)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

A song that is in every ”easy guitar songs list”. But I recommend that you dive a little deeper than just the main riff. Then and only then do you begin to understand how great this song really is. PS. I love the solo!

4.3

YouTube video

La Grange – ZZ Top (1973) 

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

These long-bearded fellows have been guilty of producing one of the catchiest rock riffs of all time. And almost all of these riffs are easy to learn!

4.3

YouTube video

TNT – AC/DC (1975)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

One amazing thing about AC/DC is the fact that their songs are easy to learn. And TNT is no exception. Start learning only if you are not fearing the explosion.

4

YouTube video

Blitzkrieg Bop – Ramones (1976)

How Easy Are The Riffs?

Summary

Really simple song and must learn in my opinion…why? Because it teaches you fast shifts with barre-chords.

4

YouTube video

Detroit Rock City – Kiss (1976) – Has one of the best solos for beginners to learn!

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

Kiss demoted Detroit from Steel city to Rock city. And the manifestation of this demotion is easy to play. A couple of catchy riffs and a simple solo.

4.8

YouTube video

Highway To Hell – AC/DC (1979)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

Overall, one of the easiest songs to learn from AC/DC. All from main riff to solos are almost easy as it gets!

4.8

The 1980s

YouTube video

Eye of the Tiger – Survivors (1982)

How Easy Are The Riffs?

Summary

Rocky-approved song, that just scremas ’80s and ”play me”! Learn couple simple but awesome riffs, and ta’daa, you have mastered the Eye of The Tiger.

4.5

YouTube video

Here I Go Again – Whitesnake (1982)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

Song that has a really sin-along-able chorus also includes pretty nice riffs, and amazing solo. Riffs are easy to master, but especially alternative picking part of the solo is a bit trickier.

4

YouTube video

The one I love – REM (1987)  

How Easy Are The Riffs?

Summary

If you want an really catchy and easy rock song to master, The One I Love is one of best choices in my opinion.

5

YouTube video

Knockin’ on heavens door – Bob Dylan (1987)  

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Are The Solos & Licks?

Summary

Frequently covered song, but this original has a calming mood that really separates it from the rest. Playing this is a pleasure.

4.3

YouTube video

Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Poison (1988)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Are The Solos & Licks?

Summary

Bret Michaels called his girlfriend via payphone and he heard a male voice in the background. He was devastated and went into the laundromat and wrote: “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”.

4.3

YouTube video

Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty (1989)

How Easy Are The Riffs?

Summary

A song full of Los Angeles references lacks a solo, but doesn’t lack in any other way. Plus everyone can master this song quickly.

5

The 1990s

YouTube video

Come As You Are – Nirvana (1991)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

According to Cobain himself, this song is about”people and what they’re expected to act like””. So perform it any way you want, but you are probably not going to have a hard time learning it.

5

YouTube video

The Fly – U2 (1991)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

The Fly has and surprisingly high energy to be a U2 sing, but it still works. Like a charm. And of course, you can learn this song easily.

4.8

YouTube video

Are You Gonna Go My Way – Lenny Kravitz (1993)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

The main riff is what steals the attention here, but it’s worth learning because it really teaches bending mid-riff like nothing else.

3.5

YouTube video

Cherub Rock – The Smashing Pumpkins (1993)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

Really powerful riffs and simple, but groovy solo. Beginners dream.

4.5

YouTube video

Song 2 – Blur (1997)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

A short song that has sunk into the brains of many of us. The riff of this classic is actually pretty good, and you guessed it, easy to learn.

4.5

YouTube video

Everlong  – Foo Fighters (1997)   

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

One of the most popular songs of Foo Fighters is also one of the easiest to play.

4.8

YouTube video

The Kids Aren’t Alright – The Offspring (1998)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

The first riff I ever learned with the guitar was the main riff of this song. I learned with no prior experience or knowledge about music theory. And you can absolutely do the same. PS. The solo is really underrated.

4.5

YouTube video

Californication – Red Hot Chili Peppers (1999)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

Super-easy, but super-amazing song. The first RHCO song that I ever learned from start to finish.

4.8

YouTube video

Otherside – Red Hot Chili Peppers (1999)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

In general, Red Hot Chili Peppers-songs are pretty beginner-friendly, and Otherside is definitely one of them. And it’s a great song overall too.

4.8

The 2000s

YouTube video

Kryptonite – 3 Doors Down (2000)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

You don’t have to Superman to learn this song. And even if you are, don’t fear the name, you can master this.

4.5

YouTube video

The Middle – Jimmy Eat World (2001)

How Easy Are The Riffs?

Summary

Breakthrough and savior hit of Jimmy Eat World teaches you easy palm muting patterns and simple chorus while being surprisingly fun to play.

4.5

YouTube video

In The End – Linkin Park (2002)

How Easy Are The Riffs?

Summary

This song is not known for its guitar riffs…but it teaches you pinch harmonics during verses and use of crunchy power chords during the chorus. You can probably learn this in under 30min!

5

YouTube video

Seven Nation Army – White Stripes (2003)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

Verses and solo of this song are really easy, but playing the chorus correctly, and especially doing the fast shifts correctly is a bit trickier. But at the same time, this teaches you so much…

4.8

YouTube video

Boulevard of Broken Dreams – Green Day (2004)    

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

One of the best and easiest songs of Green Day in my opinion. My favorite band when growing up.

5

YouTube video

Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day (2004) 

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Is The Solo?

Summary

First solo I ever learned was from this song. Really good song to get started with, plus sounds great with acoustic guitar too.

5

YouTube video

Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand (2004)

How Easy Are The Riffs?

Summary

This song sink into my brain during my waay to many hours spent playing NHL 2005(it was on the soundtrack). I eventually learned parts of this song when I started guitar playing at 2009.

4.5

YouTube video

System of a Down – Lonely Day (2005)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Are The Solos?

Summary

A great beginner song by System of a Down is “Lonely Day.” It’s a simple ballad that can also be performed on an acoustic guitar.

3.5

YouTube video

Knights of Cydonia – Muse (2006)

How Easy Are The Riffs?

Summary

This song has a nice variety of good-sounding riffs and licks. And all this is easy to learn. This was one of the songs that I learned to play during my first year with the guitar.

4

YouTube video

Still Counting – Volbeat (2008)  

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Are The Solos?

Summary

If you are into heavier rock, this piece from Volbeat is one the easiest to learn. HOT and HEAVY.

4.5

YouTube video

Far From Home – Five Finger Death Punch (2009)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Are The Solos?

Summary

A beautiful ballad that has everything. A clean intro that invites you to listen and play. Crunchy chorus riffs. And simple but awesome-sounding solo.

4.8

The 2010s

YouTube video

Say You’ll Haunt Me – Stone Sour (2010)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Are The Solos?

Summary

A heavy rock song that sounds good and is easy to play, moody solo too. Corey Taylor states that the lyrics are about his wife.

4.5

YouTube video

Country Song – Seether (2011)

How Easy Are The Riffs?
How Easy Are The Solos?

Summary

This song has really underrated riffs in it. Just listen. And maybe even learn some of them, it’s not going to be too hard.

4

YouTube video

Satellite – Rise Against (2011)

How Easy Are The Riffs?

Summary

This song has really underrated riffs in it. Just listen. And maybe even learn some of them, it’s not going to be hard.

4.5