10 Easy to Play Beatles Songs on Guitar
The Beatles changed the face of music and were arguably the most famous rock band in the world for most of the 1960s. Their music is simple, fun, and ever-popular. For those who want to learn some easy Beatles songs on guitar, here are some you can pick up quickly.
"Yellow Submarine" by The Beatles
Song year: 1966
"Yellow Submarine" is one of the most beloved songs The Beatles ever performed. Kids and adults love its airy stanzas and catchy, fun rhythm. Originally planned as a children's song, the lyrics are simple as is the music. That has made it popular with children and adults, and it has served each well since its 1966 introduction.
The mass appeal and simplicity are what made the public adore it, but it is also very easy to learn. Even though there are five chords to play, the tempo, rhythm, and strumming repetitiveness blunt the learning curve. The song sounds like a song even when practiced, as opposed to a sequence of notes, which also explains some of its appeal to novice guitar players.
The best thing about "Yellow Submarine" is that the song is more than just an easily learned piece. Few songs on the planet are as recognizable, and virtually no other chorus has been sung by as many people. The question for the average guitar player is not whether they can learn to play this song but how quickly they can master it.
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"Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles
Song year: 1969
This song was a stepping stone for The Beatles and introduced the band's musical and singing skills in folk-pop as well as a quieter version of rock music. That is significant because, after the release of "Here Comes the Sun," most of the music The Beatles made possessed a hint of folk.
Some have said the song reflected a change in the dynamic of songwriting for the group, loosening the grip Paul McCartney had on the process. Penned by George Harrison, it remains one of the most popular Beatles songs. It is another song that is easy to learn and master with ample opportunity to expand in just about any direction.
Considered to be one of Harrison's most diverse compositions, the music provides the beginner with strumming opportunities, develops finger skills with the intro, and has a few opportunities for the guitarist to work out a solo. Once learned, it is a song that just about everyone appreciates.
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"Eight Days a Week" by The Beatles
Song year: 1964
While most of The Beatles' songs have held up well, "Eight Days a Week" remains a classic: Classic music, classic rock, classic Beatles. It is a testimony to innovation, utilizing the fade-in technique for the first time. Additionally, it employs just about every form of rock and roll and pop music at some point in the song.
All that equals a song that was immensely popular worldwide and is still a favorite today. While some of that popularity is due to the fact the song is remarkably musically appealing, much of it can be attributed to the fact that just about anyone can sing or hum the song anywhere they want. In fact, while loved, the song is one of those that can stick in your head all day.
Beginners will have to practice the song a lot to successfully master the high register of notes in the intro. After that, virtually all that is required is fretting the major chords of D, E, G, and A, plus a B minor chord. The song is fast-paced but will not tire the player.
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"All You Need is Love" by The Beatles, A Simple Guitar Song To Learn
Song year: 1967
"All You Need is Love" personifies the carefree, live and let live attitude of much of the 1960s. It also marked a change to a more sophisticated type of music for The Beatles when it was released in 1967. Even today, the song grabs the listener by lyric and music as well as by rhythm and technique.
Technically, a beginner will have to practice the arpeggio in the intro, but as a playing challenge, it is more bark than bite. The key to learning to play arpeggios is to control the tempo. Start slow and work up to a speed that more closely resembles the catchy rhythm of the Beatles version.
After the intro, the song breezes through, involving mostly strumming. "All You Need is Love" is popular because it is simple and catchy. It will challenge beginners, but a novice can quickly master it if they learn the intro separately from the rest of the song. Once they have the arpeggio down with the rest of the song, they can merge the two.
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"Don't Let Me Down" by The Beatles, Great For Beginners
Song year: 1969
"Don't Let Me Down" exudes a blues and soul feel that helped it cross genres. Relaying a desperate quality along with a sense of profound love and hope, the song was destined to be a classic. John Lennon wrote it about Yoko Ono and laid it all out there, saying, according to Paul McCartney (paraphrased) "I'm out on a limb on this. Please don't let me down."
As a musical piece, it can be challenging, particularly with the melodies, but it also has the characteristic tendency to simplify once learned. There are only two chords, F and E major, which makes it easy to pick up. With practice, even a beginner can master it quickly.
Once that is learned, it is a strumming song with a few minor challenges along the way. For anyone beyond the beginner stage, "Don't Let Me Down" is easy to learn. For beginners, once the tempo is mastered, the rest of the song becomes easy. The key, though, is to spend a little time focused on the tempo in order to learn it backwards and forwards.
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"I Saw Her Standing There" by The Beatles
Song year: 1963
"I Saw Her Standing There" is a classic early Beatles song that is fast-paced and fun but no pushover. It has been voted Rolling Stone Magazine's 139th all-time greatest song. An amalgam of original meets cover, it is a take on the English folk song "Seventeen Come Sunday," with a healthy dose of inspiration from Chuck Berry's thunderous bass style.
That combination created an eclectic but friendly feel. When listening to the song or playing it, one gets a sense that it is alternatively simplistic, but also, incredibly deep. Few songs before or since capture both and that is partly why "I Saw Her Standing There" is so popular, even after almost six decades have passed since its release.
Technically, learning how to play the song is a breeze. It is mostly easy to learn, repetitive strumming, and not very challenging, even for a beginner guitar player. It is, though, a crowd favorite and a great party song because it is fast-paced and uplifting. "I Saw Her Standing There" also lends itself to experimentation with tempo, flourishes, etc.
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"A Hard Day's Night" by The Beatles
Song year: 1964
"A Hard Day's Night" is one of the most beloved Beatles songs and has remained popular since its release in 1964. 1964 is significant as it was the band at its musical, rockstar, and cultural apex. With seven chart-toppers, 1964 was a magical year for The Beatles. From a rock and roll perspective, the success The Beatles achieved has never been replicated.
The song has so much packed into it that a beginner or expert learning to play "A Hard Day's Night" will leave the player with a sense of accomplishment. The opening riff sets the stage, and it is elevated by McCartney's bass and Harrison's arpeggios. Just learning the arpeggios can help the beginner to learn more complex music.
The song is played in 18 different chords, although there is a 6-chord version to help beginners learn the basics of the song. As they learn each chord progression, they build a sense of confidence before the 18 chords. Learning that way also encourages beginners to build their skills rather than try and learn them all at once.
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"I Wanna Be Your Man" by The Beatles
Song year: 1964
If you are into music history, "I Wanna Be Your Man" is one of the first songs that had Ringo Starr adding to the vocals. Originally, The Beatles had given the song to The Rolling Stones and only recorded it as a filler song later. The song is upbeat, easy to learn and master. It will give you an opportunity to play a favorite song well and show off your skills.
The song uses just one chord: E7. That makes learning easy. It does, though, give you some opportunities to practice string bending to alter pitch and sliding your fingers into position to create a blues feel and sound. While the song sounds more sophisticated than it is, one downside is that it is difficult to top; so play it last.
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"Love Me Do" by The Beatles
Song year: 1964
"Love Me Do" is one of the most upbeat and engaging Beatles songs. It captures the essence of music in the early 60s: not too heavy, fun, and apolitical. As a bonus, it is challenging to play but well within the skill set of the average guitarist.
For beginners, there is a D Major chord bridge addition that makes the song easy to learn. No matter the setting, "Love Me Do" creates a warm vibe that is catchy.
For folks that are a little more confident in their strumming skills than their fingerstyle, "Love Me Do" offers the ability to pick and choose what direction one wants to go. It also is highly versatile and allows musicians to improvise, including, as John Lennon did, adding a harmonica to attain an authentic blues sound and feel.
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"All Together Now" by The Beatles
Song year: 1972
"All Together Now" is one of the most versatile Beatles songs ever. It is fun, easy to learn, catchy, well known, and, if played correctly, can engage an audience. Just about anyone can sing it, and most can sing it well. Try it at a company get-together, and once hesitancy about singing in public is overcome, almost everyone has fun singing the simple but entertaining lyrics.
Originally written as a song children could sing to, "All Together Now" incorporates three simple chords: G Major, D Major, and C Major. That guarantees lively finger action and simple strumming throughout the song. If you play it live, getting the audience involved is a great way to create an engaging and memorable activity.
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"Get Back" by The Beatles
Song year: 1969
If there is one song that announces The Beatles, whether you hear it at a party, on the radio, or any other venue, it is "Get Back." Just about everyone has heard it somewhere. The song is lively, rhythmic, and catchy. It has become an anthem for certain political causes, but the average person will not know that. The song is just too catchy to ignore.
As far as learning how to play it, you have to have the basics down, but it is pretty simple. The most challenging part of "Get Back" is mastering the rhythm. In fact, many music instructors use the song to teach chord progression.
It flows at 126 beats per minute, which means even if you struggle to get it down, you will get a workout. Once you have the rhythm down, though, the rest of the song is pretty simple.
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"Twist and Shout" by The Beatles
Song year: 1961
The Beatles' version of "Twist and Shout" was a cover of the 1961 version by the Top Notes. Since then, several bands have covered it, but this rendition is the most famous, and many consider it the most well done. It was so popular it got to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is also easy to learn, and with practice, to master.
There are only three chords and simple strumming and chord progression. The rhythm also possesses a natural flow, making the song seem to roll out in a natural, fun progression. In addition to being very lively, "Twist and Shout" are easy to pick up and quickly master, which is why there are so many cover versions.
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"Norwegian Wood" by The Beatles
Song year: 1965
On its merits, "Norwegian Wood" was a trailblazer. It was the first rock and roll song to use a sitar. That opened the door to using nontraditional instruments in other mainstream rock songs. Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, all have used exotic instruments in their music, and much of the zeal to do so originated with the popularity of The Beatles using the sitar.
The song is also one of The Beatles' most critically acclaimed songs. It served as a benchmark to the group branching out in new musical directions.
The song uses six chords and requires some additional finger-styling in the strumming technique. Other than that, the music is easy to learn quickly. Plus, the fingerstyle flair will set you apart and impress, making it well worth the required stretching to master the technique.
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"You Won't See Me" by The Beatles
Song year: 1965
Paul McCartney wrote this as a love song for his then-girlfriend Jane Asher. It remains one of the most heartfelt songs penned by McCartney and one of the sweetest sounding songs The Beatles ever produced. It is also easy to learn to play, but every beginner player will have to practice significantly.
The song is in A key and employs multiple chords, which can seem intimidating for beginner guitarists. Once the new player gets into it, however, it reveals itself to be easy. Another challenge is the chord progression, which also requires dedication to learn, but once it is down, the song is a lot of fun to play.
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"Let It Be" by The Beatles, Another Easy Song For Beginners
Song year: 1970
"Let It Be" is a legacy song for The Beatles. It was vaguely symbolic of the state of mind the band was in when they cut the song. In one of the last songs they recorded together, the aggressiveness of the guitar and the inclusion of an orchestra adds a unique sound, unlike most other Beatles songs.
Written in a C Key, a newbie can also play it in G if it is easier to pull off. The rhythm is almost soothing, which makes it easier to learn because it is very repetitive. Additionally, the chord progression is simple and natural.
The really cool thing about "Let It Be," though, is that it is one of those songs The Beatles were known for that if you were determined and practiced enough, you could learn it. While the sound is sophisticated, the technique needed to play the son is not. The most challenging part is mastering the 3-chord mix at the end of each verse.
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"Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles
Song year: 1966
When "Eleanor Rigby" was initially cut, none of The Beatles played a musical instrument. John Lennon and George Harrison provided harmony, but violins, cellos, and violas performed the rest. That said, the song can be adapted for a guitar, which makes it perfect for a beginner guitarist looking to play a classic Beatles' song.
A guitar can replace each of those instruments easily. It only has two chords: C Major and E Minor. The song requires a lot of strumming but not much else. One skill that is required, however, is "palm muting." Learning palm muting with "Eleanor Rigby" will be a benefit for use in other songs.
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"Paperback Writer" by The Beatles
Song year: 1966
"Paperback Writer" was a first for The Beatles on many levels. It was a break from their standard love songs, contained a single static chord that served as backing to the melody, and employed a boosted bass by Paul McCartney. The song was a harbinger of yet another direction The Beatles would pursue in their musical genius.
From a technical standpoint, it only uses two chords: E Major and A Major. A capo on the guitar's 3rd fret makes playing the song much easier There is a lot of fingerstyle technique required in the intro. It is a great song to learn because it lets the beginner explore deviations of the music without negatively impacting the sound of the music.
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"She's a Woman" by The Beatles
Song year: 1964
This song is a great learning piece for newbies but is technical enough that even seasoned guitarists will have fun learning it. Many music critics have marveled at the unique blend of rock and roll, pop-rock, and rhythm and blues that form the song's backbone. It very closely follows the style of Little Richard, intentionally or not.
The strumming portion of the song is rhythmic and easy to learn. Beginners can use open chords if fretting near the body of the guitar is beyond their comfort level. Intermediate players can opt to use barre chords to produce harmonic aspects to the song. The George Harrison solo is a challenge for newbies.
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"Come Together" by The Beatles
Song year: 1969
Apart from being immensely interesting as a song, "Come Together" provides many "learning moments" for the aspiring guitarist. Most notably, a beginner can begin to learn hammer-ons. They also can start to experiment with and develop proficiency for the guitar slide and popular slide techniques.
"Come Together" has been covered by several artists. Part of this is because it is an iconic song. A contributing factor is also, though, that it is complex enough to require a degree of mastery to have it sound right. If anything is off, the music and lyrics take on a decidedly weird and almost creepy vibe.
Beginners should start with a more traditional strumming technique; it employs a consistent D-DU-U-DU pattern, which can help lay the basics for just about every strumming technique used. The song uses four chords, and the repetition is easy to pick up and master.
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"I Should Have Known Better" by The Beatles
Song year: 1964
"I Should Have Known Better" is an example of simplicity creating sophistication and complexity of sound. The song utilizes a simple rhythm and subtle musical backing that merges seamlessly with the singers' vocals. The result is a medley that is lively, entertaining, and leaves most listeners tapping their toes.
The musical pattern might be challenging for newbies, but it is worth learning because once the switching of chords is mastered, the rest of the song is easy. The 120-BPM tempo is also tough for some new guitarists, but again, once you have it down, it is just a matter of rinse and repeat.
If the 120 beat is too much, newbies can slow the tempo down until the playing rhythm becomes automatic. "I Should Have Known Better" is a great way to visualize how switching chords while maintaining strumming tempo is done. Once the beginner has the finger movements down, moving to the 120 BPM is easy.
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"Can't Buy Me Love" by The Beatles
Song year: 1964
"Can't Buy Me Love" is a mystery as well as a formative piece in the development of pop-rock. The mystery, for some, is whether it is about everyone's need to be loved, or how material possessions are not substitutes for love, or about hiring hookers. At the least, it employs a marketing hook with the refrain that almost anyone can sing at any time.
The intent of the lyrics might be subject to debate, but the technical side of the music is not. The tempo can be intimidating at 180 BPM, but by altering the tempo to a more manageable speed until it is second nature, newbies can learn a fun song to play that is both simple and sophisticated.
The transition between chords takes practice but is pretty simple, as is the basic strumming pattern. Once a newbie has the tempo down, the rest of the song technically is simple and easy to learn.
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Best Easy Beatles Songs to Play on Guitar Final Thoughts
Understanding the background of a band's music can help you master playing it. Each of these songs is a classic for The Beatles spanning the group's lifespan as one of the world's most popular bands of the 1960s. Most of the songs have some iconic value that made The Beatles both special for their era and one of the most innovative rock bands ever.
Simple and easy to learn, with practice, you can pick up and master each of these classic Beatles' songs.
P.S. Remember though, none of what you've learned will matter if you don't know how to get your music out there and earn from it. Want to learn how to do that? Then get our free '5 Steps To Profitable Youtube Music Career' ebook emailed directly to you!
Source: https://www.musicindustryhowto.com/easy-beatles-songs-guitar/
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