So you're ready to shred? Learning guitar is a rewarding journey, and finding the right songs is crucial to staying motivated and improving your skills. That's why we've compiled this ultimate list of the best songs for guitar tabs, carefully selected to cater to all skill levels, from beginner strums to advanced shredding. Whether you're looking for classic rock anthems, soulful blues riffs, or catchy pop melodies, we've got you covered. Finding easily accessible tabs is a game-changer for learning, unlocking a world of musical possibilities without the frustration of figuring out complex chord progressions yourself. This isn't just a list of songs; it's a roadmap to unlocking your guitar hero potential, packed with diverse options that will challenge and inspire you to take your playing to the next level. Get ready to discover your next favorite song to master!
| Song | Artist | Album | Listens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Thinking out Loud | Ed Sheeran | x (Deluxe Edition) | 4B+ |
| 2. Someone Like You | Adele | 21 | 2B+ |
| 3. Sweet Child O' Mine | Guns N' Roses | Appetite For Destruction | 2B+ |
| 4. Zombie | The Cranberries | No Need To Argue (The Complete Sessions 1994-1995) | 2B+ |
| 5. Photograph | Ed Sheeran | x (Deluxe Edition) | 1B+ |
| 6. Nothing Else Matters | Metallica | Metallica | 1B+ |
| 7. Yellow | Coldplay | Parachutes | 1B+ |
1. Thinking out Loud
Easy Chords: "Thinking Out Loud" features a relatively simple chord progression, making it accessible for guitarists of various skill levels.
Memorable Melody: The song's instantly recognizable melody is both beautiful and easy to learn, ensuring a satisfying playing experience.
Emotional Depth: The heartfelt lyrics and gentle rhythm create an emotional resonance that translates well to an acoustic guitar performance, enhancing its impact.
2. Someone Like You
Chords and Structure: Adele's "Someone Like You" features a relatively simple yet effective chord progression, making it highly accessible for guitarists of varying skill levels. The song's structure is straightforward, allowing for easy memorization and performance.
Vocal Melody: The vocal melody is both emotionally resonant and technically manageable, offering a satisfying challenge for aspiring guitarists looking to replicate Adele's powerful delivery. Its range is comfortable but allows for expression.
Emotional Impact: The raw emotion conveyed in the song translates well to a guitar rendition, allowing players to tap into their own expressive capabilities and truly connect with the music. The simplicity of the arrangement accentuates this emotional depth.
3. Sweet Child O' Mine (Guns N' Roses)
Iconic Guitar Riff: Sweet Child o' Mine boasts one of the most recognizable and instantly playable guitar riffs in rock history, making it a perfect starting point for aspiring guitarists.
Relatively Easy Structure: While the solo is challenging, the main riff and chord progression are surprisingly accessible, allowing players of various skill levels to enjoy learning and performing the song.
Satisfying Rhythm: The song's driving rhythm and powerful beat provide a great framework for practicing timing and coordination, fundamental skills for any guitarist.
4. Zombie - No Need To Argue (The Complete Sessions 1994-1995)
Guitar Riff: Zombie features a memorable and iconic guitar riff, instantly recognizable and relatively straightforward to learn, making it a great choice for intermediate guitarists.
Tempo and Rhythm: The song's driving rhythm provides a solid foundation for practicing timing and strumming patterns, enhancing your rhythmic skills.
Structure: Its relatively simple verse-chorus structure is easy to follow and allows for focusing on mastering the main riff and vocal melody.
5. Photograph (Ed Sheeran - 2025)
Simple Chords: Photograph boasts a deceptively simple chord progression, making it easily accessible for beginner guitarists.
Emotional Depth: The song's melancholic yet hopeful melody provides ample opportunity for expressive playing, allowing guitarists to convey a wide range of emotions.
Strumming Patterns: Experiment with different strumming patterns to personalize the song and explore its rhythmic potential; a gentle fingerpicking style also works beautifully.
6. Nothing Else Matters (Metallica - 1991)
Guitar Solo: Metallica's iconic "Nothing Else Matters" features a soaring, emotionally resonant guitar solo that's both technically challenging and incredibly rewarding to learn.
Rhythm Guitar: The rhythm section provides a strong foundation, with memorable chord progressions perfect for practicing palm-muting and clean strumming techniques.
Structure: The song's relatively simple structure makes it accessible for guitarists of various skill levels, while still offering opportunities for creative interpretation.
7. Yellow (Coldplay - 2025)
Chords and Structure: Yellow features a relatively simple yet effective chord progression, making it accessible for guitarists of varying skill levels. The song's structure is straightforward, allowing for easy memorization and improvisation.
Arpeggiated Rhythm: The prominent use of arpeggiated chords provides a distinctive and memorable rhythmic texture, particularly well-suited for fingerpicking techniques. This rhythmic element adds depth and interest to the song.
Vocal Melody: Chris Martin's vocal melody is both melodically appealing and comfortable to play along with, offering a satisfying vocal line for aspiring guitarists to emulate and build upon.
8. Creep (Radiohead - 1992)
Distinctive Guitar Riff: Creep's iconic, crawling bassline and heavily distorted guitar riff are instantly recognizable and provide a solid foundation for learning guitar.
Relatively Simple Chords: Despite its complexity, the song utilizes relatively straightforward chord progressions, making it accessible to intermediate guitarists.
Emotional Depth: The song's melancholic melody and Thom Yorke's distinctive vocals add emotional layers that translate well to guitar interpretations, allowing for expressive playing.
9. Viva La Vida (Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends)
Chords and Structure: Viva La Vida boasts a captivating chord progression, moving through minor and major keys to create a dynamic and emotionally resonant soundscape, perfect for intermediate players looking to challenge themselves.
Guitar Melody: The main guitar riff is instantly recognizable and relatively straightforward to learn, providing a solid foundation for building a complete arrangement. Its memorable melody makes it satisfying to master.
Picking and Strumming: Experiment with different picking patterns and strumming techniques to add your own unique interpretation to the song, allowing for varied skill levels to explore its intricacies.
10. Boulevard of Broken Dreams (2004)
Guitar Riff Complexity: Boulevard of Broken Dreams boasts a memorable and relatively challenging main guitar riff, perfect for intermediate players looking to improve their skills.
Emotional Depth: The song's melancholic melody and Billie Joe Armstrong's emotive vocals create a rich emotional landscape ideal for expressive guitar playing.
Versatility: This track offers opportunities for experimentation; you can explore different strumming patterns, fingerpicking techniques, and even add your own improvisational flourishes.
11Riptide
Vance Joy
2013
Dream Your Life Away (Special Edition)
12Take Me Home, Country Roads
John Denver
1971
Poems, Prayers and Promises
13Wonderwall
Oasis
1995
(What's The Story) Morning Glory? (Deluxe Remastered Edition)
14Hotel California
Eagles
1976
Hotel California (2013 Remaster)
15Hey Jude
The Beatles
1968
With The Beatles (Remastered)
16Imagine
John Lennon
1971
Imagine
17Don't Look Back in Anger
Oasis
1995
(What's The Story) Morning Glory? (Deluxe Remastered Edition)
18Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
1975
Wish You Were Here
19Hallelujah
Jeff Buckley
1994
Grace
20Fly Me To The Moon
Count Basie,Frank Sinatra
1964
Sinatra/Basie: The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings
21Let It Be
The Beatles
1970
Let It Be (Remastered)
22Stairway to Heaven
Led Zeppelin
1971
Led Zeppelin IV (Deluxe Edition)
23Tears in Heaven
Eric Clapton
1992
Rush (Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack)
24Blackbird
The Beatles
1968
The Beatles (Remastered)
25Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Bob Dylan
1973
Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (Soundtrack From The Motion Picture)
26Stand By Me
Ben E. King
1961
Don't Play That Song (Mono)
27Blowin' in the Wind
Bob Dylan
1963
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
28Layla
Derek and the Dominos
1970
29Smoke On The Water
Deep Purple
1972
Machine Head
30The House of the Rising Sun
The Animals
1964