Probably a stupid question but, what song to learn?

Mallowpuff

New member
Not sure if this is the right section.

I need some help.

I'm still a beginner so take that into account. ;)

I like Classic rock, some country and some folk. Mostly rock. :)

My family is upset with me having more than 2 guitars(Have 4 with a 5th on the way. Can't stop buying. :( ) until I can play song that comes on the radio or really sounds "awesome".. Of course I'm learning the fretboard currently, but to get me started I'd love to be able to play something..

Mostly I just need an easy enough song(If possible, no barre cards as I can't play them to save my life. Yet. ) that will really "WOW" my family. I know it sounds stupid.. but I need one.. :help:

Thanks for any input. And if possible, could you link the video to the song you recommend? I don't really want to learn a song completely to find out the video was wrong. ;)
 
Re: Probably a stupid question but, what song to learn?

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising, Who'll stop the rain, Proud Mary. All those use Major chords (at least enough to fake your way through it convincingly).

The Animals - House Of The Rising Sun - Arpeggiated Major chords

AC/DC - Dirty Deeds - All Major chords will get you through it

Set up one guitar for standard tuning and 3 others for 3 different open tunings and learn Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love, When The Levee Breaks, In My Time Of Dying, and ZZ Top's La Grange and Tush, though you'll want a slide for those as well.

Definitely curb your guitar-buying until you've learned a few songs. Many low-quality guitars do not equal one good quality guitar. While it's nice to say "I want the different tones", the reality is that it's not necessary to get a Strat tone or Les Paul tone or Flying V tone by having one of each. It does help, but you're not at that stage yet.
What's more, those guitars you're lusting after aren't going to disappear from the market anytime soon, and will most likely continue to reduce in price over time.

I'll see if I can cook up some easy-to-follow play-along videos of some of those this weekend.
 
Re: Probably a stupid question but, what song to learn?

Love me tender should be easy, recognizable and popular enough.
 
Re: Probably a stupid question but, what song to learn?

Please do the world a favor and ignore Elvis. Like disco, he's dead, and should forever remain that way.
 
Re: Probably a stupid question but, what song to learn?

Some GreenDay songs such as "Time of Your Life", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (which actually sounds really awesome when played along with "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons...trust me on this one), "Oh Love", "When I Come Around", "Holiday"...etc are super easy to learn.

"Wonderwall" is pretty cliche to me but so many people ask me if I can play it so I will throw it out there...its easy. lol

Goo Goo Dolls is another favorite of mine–"Slide" is tricky on the timing (to me at least) but sounds cool, too many good songs of theres to list (kinda like GreenDay)

A song that girls love even more than "Wonderwall" and that even men will appreciate is "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman–some good videos on how YouTube on how do it it...pretty simple enough (basic C, G, Em, D progression just some unique stuff up the neck but watch a YouTube vid for that and you'll be golden)

Hope this helps!
 
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Re: Probably a stupid question but, what song to learn?

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising, Who'll stop the rain, Proud Mary. All those use Major chords (at least enough to fake your way through it convincingly).

The Animals - House Of The Rising Sun - Arpeggiated Major chords

AC/DC - Dirty Deeds - All Major chords will get you through it

Set up one guitar for standard tuning and 3 others for 3 different open tunings and learn Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love, When The Levee Breaks, In My Time Of Dying, and ZZ Top's La Grange and Tush, though you'll want a slide for those as well.

Definitely curb your guitar-buying until you've learned a few songs. Many low-quality guitars do not equal one good quality guitar. While it's nice to say "I want the different tones", the reality is that it's not necessary to get a Strat tone or Les Paul tone or Flying V tone by having one of each. It does help, but you're not at that stage yet.
What's more, those guitars you're lusting after aren't going to disappear from the market anytime soon, and will most likely continue to reduce in price over time.

I'll see if I can cook up some easy-to-follow play-along videos of some of those this weekend.

Awesome!!!! Thanks!!! I'll look at all of these! I'd love it for some videos this weekend!!! :fingersx:

For everyone, I didn't actually buy all of these guitars. :) 2 of them were gifts from my uncle, and both of them need to be set up before I can play them as they were completely taken apart by us and refinished.

Love me tender should be easy, recognizable and popular enough.

I'll look it up. ;)

Please do the world a favor and ignore Elvis. Like disco, he's dead, and should forever remain that way.

Got it! :)

Some GreenDay songs such as "Time of Your Life", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (which actually sounds really awesome when played along with "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons...trust me on this one), "Oh Love", "When I Come Around", "Holiday"...etc are super easy to learn.

"Wonderwall" is pretty cliche to me but so many people ask me if I can play it so I will through it out there...its easy. lol

Goo Goo Dolls is another favorite of mine–"Slide" is tricky on the timing (to me at least) but sounds cool, too many good songs of theres to list (kinda like GreenDay)

A song that girls love even more than "Wonderwall" and that even men will appreciate is "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman–some good videos on how YouTube on how do it it...pretty simple enough (basic C, G, Em, D progression just some unique stuff up the neck but watch a YouTube vid for that and you'll be golden)

Hope this helps!

Thanks!! I'll look these up! ;)
 
Re: Probably a stupid question but, what song to learn?

You are sixteen years old. Most parents would be relieved that you are spending your disposable income on music kit rather than alcohol, tobacco, controlled substances and condoms.
 
Re: Probably a stupid question but, what song to learn?

Some GreenDay songs such as "Time of Your Life", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (which actually sounds really awesome when played along with "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons...trust me on this one), "Oh Love", "When I Come Around", "Holiday"...etc are super easy to learn.

"Wonderwall" is pretty cliche to me but so many people ask me if I can play it so I will through it out there...its easy. lol

Goo Goo Dolls is another favorite of mine–"Slide" is tricky on the timing (to me at least) but sounds cool, too many good songs of theres to list (kinda like GreenDay)

A song that girls love even more than "Wonderwall" and that even men will appreciate is "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman–some good videos on how YouTube on how do it it...pretty simple enough (basic C, G, Em, D progression just some unique stuff up the neck but watch a YouTube vid for that and you'll be golden)

Hope this helps!

Alright, I've looked over some of them. I think it's time for me to get a capo. :)
 
Re: Probably a stupid question but, what song to learn?

Smoke on the Water-----Deep Purple
I found that one to be really easy when I started out
 
Re: Probably a stupid question but, what song to learn?

The INTRO to Enter Sandman?

That whole song shouldn't be too difficult. Smoke on the Water, Sunshine of your Love, and that song were the first I learned, in that order.

Basically any AC/DC will make you feel cool while you play it. Iron Man is a good one too.
 
Re: Probably a stupid question but, what song to learn?

So that's what I was supposed to be doing last weekend :lol:

Sorry, I'll get started on those ASAP. Got the time and the privacy to make some noise, and set up the camera, so should have something this week.


Learning progressions and theory is fine, and definitely more useful than learning a few songs, but applying theory to figuring out how a song is constructed and then reconstructing that song takes far more time than learning the song itself, from which you can also learn progressions and basic theory.
 
Re: Probably a stupid question but, what song to learn?

It is not a song you need to learn it is a progression. If you learn a I-IV-V progression and become good at playing it in all keys you will be able to play thousands of songs. Once you learn it in one key modulating to other keys is simple. We are talking about learning 3 chords.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chord_progression

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_containing_the_I–V–vi–IV_progression

One of those Axis of Awesome type of things lol

 
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