What are some good beginner songs to learn on guitar?

“MIchael, Row the Boat Ashore”
“Puff, the Magic Dragon”
“Big Rock Candy Mountain”
“Clementine”
“On Top of Old Smokey”

Anything you can play with C, G and F chords.

A lot of traditional songs have simple melodies and chord structures—songs such as “Down in the Valley,” “Darling Clementine,” and “Oh, Susanna.” They’re easy to learn and fun to sing, too, even if they’re not top-40.

@gailcalled, you need some minor chords for those first ones, and for “Puff” you need D7 and G7 (assuming you’re playing in C) to make it sound right.

Some surf music is really fun. Try “Pipeline” “Wipeout” or “Miserlou”. I’m not sure of your skill level, though.

King of the Road
Kumbaya
About a Girl

Mel Bay’s Guitar Method books are indispensable to the beginning guitarist.

Look at some simple Tom Petty. It’s fun, and easy at the same time.
A Face in the Crowd, for example.

the easiest song I know how to play is “the reaping” by Coheed and Cambria
the first 2 songs I learned were smells like teen spirit and killing in the name
you can also try smoke on the water or iron man

@lefteh is right about the Petty.

Learning to Fly by Tom Petty is a very simple three chord song.

@applesaucemanny: Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave only work on effects laden electric guitars for me.

Won’t Back Down is also an easy one by Tom Petty. Easy solo too.

good riddance(time of your life) – green day

Semicharmed Life

Dixieland Delight

Intro to Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down

Simple Man by Lynard Skynard

Sherry Fraser by Marcy Playground
also
Vampires Of New York by Marcy Playground

well. row row row your boat isn’t really going to get you girls/guys… which, is why everyone learns the guitar ;). So try “glycerine” by Bush. It’s easy to play, and easy to sing, but it sounds good.

This Land Is Your Land is a good, easy song to play on the guitar. It only has three simple chords: G, D, and A7.

Try “In the Aeroplane over the Sea” by Neutral Milk Hotel. It goes G-Em-C-D, and it’s a great song (the first I learned to play). “Holland, 1945” from the same album is a bit tougher, but lots of fun to play.

Here’s a good site for some tabs.

@ABoyNamedBoobs03 : “Row, Row, Row your Boat” is a different song (nursery round) than MIchael, Row the Boat Ashore. Hallelujah.

@Jeruba. I am sure that you are right. I will try to noodle the chords on the piano later. Thanks for picking up on my glibness (again.)

Jack Johnson is good for learning barre chords; eventually you will have to do this.

Led Zeppelin is good for learning riffs.

Pink Floyd is good for learning strumming techniques.

@gailcalled haha oh, my bad.

also, “Learning the Game” by Buddy Holly.

how about “buddy holly” by weezer?

just kidding weezer is really bad

"Wonderwall" by Oasis was my first song. :] It’s very easy. Only 4 chords.