25 Easy Beginner Guitar Songs for Kids
Learning the guitar at an early age offers your kids a step ahead in the learning curve. By the time they enter their teens, they’ll be able to riff off some head-banging solos.
Getting started with the basics, such as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “Mary Had a Little Lamb” will provide a necessary foundation in chord and strum learning.
Stick around to learn more about the best beginner guitar songs for kids. These songs work exceptionally well whether you’re teaching them or using them for entertainment and engagement.
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” (C, G, F)
Easy Guitar For Beginners – Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Nursery Rhyme (BEGINNER LEVEL)
We all know the classic nursery rhyme from our childhoods. You can easily teach this song to youngsters, especially if they haven’t mastered strumming since it only involves playing notes.
These repetitive notes begin with the chord patterns C-F-C and F-C-G7-C. The rest of the starry night lullaby continues with similar chord progressions. If the G7 is too challenging to play, swap it for a G major instead.
Overall, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is an ideal song to start your guitar training. It’s slow and rhythmic.
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic and Electric |
| Tabs | Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Tabs |
“Row, Row, Row Your Boat” (C, G, F)
Row Row Row Your Boat | Beginner Guitar Lesson
Another memorable and simple tune to sing and play guitar to is “Row, Row, Row, Your Boat.” It’s short and only requires you to remember five chords.
In all the verses, you’ll play G-Em-C-G, G-Em-D, G-D-G-C, and D7-G-G. Once you’ve nailed each line, you’ll be on your way to learning more advanced progressions.
As an adult, you might be wondering about the origins of this famed nursery rhyme. “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” is a folk song by Eliphalet Oram Lyte, an English author and teacher.
The song, published in 1852, accumulated multiple lyrical variations. Some were dark, while others were light-hearted, such as,
“Row, row, row your boat, gently down the creek” “If your boat fills with water, then you’ve got a leak.”
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Row, Row, Row Your Boat Tabs |
“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” (C, G, F)
Old McDonald Had A Farm | Beginner Guitar Lesson | How To Play
“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” is ideal for practicing notes and playing chords A, D, and E. You can learn this song by following its repetitive verses.
At the song’s end, there’s an E7 chord, but don’t fret. It’s exactly like an E major, but you’ll need to remove your ring finger from the middle string.
The melody can also help your kids practice their strumming technique since it uses a beginner-friendly version.
Additionally, the song is lyrically versatile, like several other nursery rhymes. You can change the lyrics to align with your kids’ lesson plans to make them catchier.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Old MacDonald Had a Farm Tabs |
“The Wheels on the Bus” (C, G, F)
The Wheels On The Bus | Beginner Guitar Lesson | How To Play
Verna Hill originally wrote “The Wheels on the Bus.” Nevertheless, instead of “on the bus,” the lyrics went, “of the bus.”
Besides that, the song is perfect for youngsters since it only involves two prime chords, A and D. Once the kids are confident in these chords, allow them to play the song in an 87 bpm strumming beat.
They’ll only need three fingers to play the song. The alternating chords will ease the children into more advanced patterns.
Fortunately, “The Wheels on the Bus” spans multiple languages. In turn, familiarity with the rhythm will help children grasp it.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | The Wheels on the Bus Tabs |
“Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” (C, G, F)
Guitar Lesson 4H: Baa Baa Black Sheep
“Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” has a similar tune to other nursery rhymes like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” It’s just as easy to play, requiring only three chords.
Nonetheless, you’ll have to play it relatively faster than other songs, which needs some practice.
That said, the chords include G, D, and C. The last two verses hold the same chord order, but the second one is more stretched.
Meanwhile, the first verse has a different chord, going with G-D-C-G and C-G-D-C. When it comes to the song’s origins, it’s likely one of the oldest in this list, dating back to 1744.
Despite the multiple controversies shrouding the song, you can enjoy it with your children as an easy song to learn the guitar from.
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Baa, Baa, Black Sheep Tabs |
“You Are My Sunshine” (C, G, F)
Learn #WithMe – You Are My Sunshine Guitar Lesson + Tutorial – America
“You Are My Sunshine” is a soulful and rhythmic song, perfect for older kids. The song involves five chords, A, D, E, A/D, and A/C#.
Charles Mitchell and Jimmie Davis originally wrote the song in 1939. It rose to fame and accumulated multiple covers. None were as successful as Johnny Cash’s riveting version.
You can divide the song into an intro, two verses, two choruses, and an instrumental part. The intro and instrumental follow the same chord order.
The verse and chorus also have similar sequences but at different intervals to match the lyrics.
“You Are My Sunshine” has a slow tempo, making it easier to catch up to for most ages.
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | You Are My Sunshine Tabs |
“This Land Is Your Land” (C, G, F)
This Land Is Your Land by Woody Guthrie | Easy 3-Chord Guitar Lesson
“This Land Is Your Land” holds a strong meaning and easy-to-remember rhythm your kids will love. Woody Guthrie wrote the influential tune in response to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.”
Guthrie believed the song was ignorant towards land wealth distribution and wanted to address that in his iconic “This Land Is Your Land.”
History aside, the song is simple to play on the guitar. You’ll want to learn the chords A, D, G, D7, and A7. It’ll only need three fingers to play.
The choruses and verses strum the same chord sequence. The difference lies in the timing based on the lyrics.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | This Land Is Your Land Tabs |
“Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley (A, D, E)
Bob Marley – 3 Little Birds – How to Play on Acoustic Guitar – Easy songs for acoustic
“Three Little Birds” is a light and breezy song to play and listen to. It only uses three chords, A, D, and E.
It has a slow tempo with catchy lyrics, making it easy to follow for youngsters. With these notes, you’ll be able to nail the song down within a day.
The song’s success is evident. It reached number 17 in the UK’s top charts in 1980. Marley’s hit didn’t go unnoticed by other celebrities. The hit band Maroon 5 covered the song using a unique flair of optics.
Maroon 5 – Three Little Birds (Official Music Video)
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic and Electric |
| Tabs | Three Little Birds Tabs |
“Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” by Hank Williams (C, G)
Jambalaya Guitar Lesson | Hank Williams – Easy 2-Chord Song 😉
Hank Williams’ “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” reached number one on Country Charts for over 14 weeks, non-consecutively. It’s a country song dedicated to Cajun cuisine and culture.
Several big names covered the song, such as Elvis Presley, John Fogerty, and George Jones. Learning the song on your guitar won’t take much time since you’re only dealing with two chords, C and G7.
The song alternates between these two chords by using classic country-style slides.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic and Electric |
| Tabs | Jambalaya (On the Bayou) Tabs |
“Yellow Submarine” by The Beatles (C, G, D)
Learn Yellow Submarine by The Beatles to MASTER all Beginner Chords!
Despite several speculations of “Yellow Submarine” being about drugs, The Beatles band member, Paul McCartney, said otherwise.
The song’s video depicts a story of a man named Fred. He’s a sea captain living in Pepperland, which becomes invaded by Blue Meanies, or creatures that detest music.
To put an end to them, he takes a yellow submarine to Liverpool and asks The Beatles to flood Pepperland with music once more.
The imagination-inducing story is suitable for kids of all ages. You can teach the song using five chords, G, D, C, Em, and Am.
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Yellow Submarine Tabs |
“Happy Birthday” (C, G, F)
Happy Birthday Guitar Tutorial | Easy Guitar Lessons For Beginners – Single String Song Tabs Lesson
Learning this song can come in handy for birthday occasions. It’ll offer a more sentimental meaning. Plus, the chords are easy to grasp.
You’ll need to learn C, G7, and F. The order goes as follows: C-G7, G7-C, C-F, and C-G7-C. You can use various strumming patterns for this song, such as a downstroke.
That said, playing the song will brighten any birthday boy or girl’s day and won’t require too much effort.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic and Electric |
| Tabs | Happy Birthday Tabs |
“Hokey Pokey” (C, G, F)
Hokey Pokey: Simple Guitar Play-Along
If you’re trying to get the kids on their feet, learn the “Hokey Pokey.” It’ll take a few minutes to master since you’re only using the G and C chords for the most part.
Try to quicken your strumming pace to follow the children’s movements. Besides that, the “Hokey Pokey” has a startlingly long history. You’ll likely find several accounts of people appropriating its origins.
Nevertheless, the oldest one comes from England in 1857 by two sisters. Although their version was slower, it had similar lyrics to today’s versions.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Hokey Pokey Tabs |
“London Bridge Is Falling Down” (C, G, F)
London Bridge Is Falling Down Guitar Lesson Melody Tab Tutorial Guitar Lessons for Beginners
“London Bridge Is Falling Down” is a popular song beloved by kids all over the world. You can teach this simple tune with two chords, G and C.
Despite the song’s dark origins, learning it is an ideal way to practice the two chords. Plus, it’s a catchy song, making it easier to follow.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | London Bridge Is Falling Down Tabs |
“Skip to My Lou” (C, G, F)
Guitar lesson – Skip to My Lou – Easy Guitar melody tutorial + TAB
Although “Skip to My Lou” isn’t as popular of a nursing rhyme as “Old MacDonald,” it still features a stuck-in-your-head beat.
You’ll likely hear the song in a square-dancing setting. It was a “partner-stealing” song back in the 1840s.
You can learn this song on the guitar by practicing the C, G, and F chords. The chorus’ sequence goes like F-G-C-C.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Skip to My Lou Tabs |
“If You’re Happy and You Know It” (C, G, F)
If You’re Happy And You Know It (Nursery Rhyme) | Beginner Guitar Lesson
If you’ve had a childhood with old-school cartoons, then chances are, you’re highly familiar with the famous, “If You’re Happy and You Know It” song.
The tune only uses three chords, C, F, and G. The order goes as follows: C-G, G-C, F, C, and G-C.
The song is a wonderful way to uplift your children’s mood. Teaching them it on the guitar will be a breeze as well thanks to the short and simple chords.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | If You’re Happy and You Know It Tabs |
“She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain” (C, G, F)
She’ll be Coming Around the Mountain – Beginner Guitar Lesson
“She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain” is a catchy and easy song to learn. Each lyric line has a designated chord.
There are three chords, G7, G, and C. You’ll play the G in the first three lines before switching to D7. After another G, play the C chord.
The song only requires three fingers and won’t take time to learn. Your kids will love singing to it. The American classic nursery rhyme first debuted in the 1927 American Songbook.
Before that, “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain” had more religious ties, linking the coming to Jesus’ return.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain Tabs |
“Frère Jacques” (C, G, F)
Easy Guitar Tutorial – Frere Jacques (Are You Sleeping?) – LEARN THE CHORDS
“Frère Jacques” is a well-known tune sung by multiple cultures. The lyrics talk about a French friar or monk that overslept and didn’t ring the bells.
That said, the song only uses four chords, G, D, C, and D7. Nonetheless, if you’re teaching it to a younger child, use the C chord alone since it’s the easiest variation of the song.
The first part of the song goes G-D-G twice, then G-C-D twice again. Next, you play D7-G and C-D-G for the last lines.
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Frère Jacques Tabs |
“Mary Had a Little Lamb” (C, G, F)
How to play beginner guitar Mary Had a Little Lamb
Even though “Mary Had a Little Lamb” is a long song, it has a repetitive chord pattern. You can use two chords as a beginner player. Alternate between A and E during each line.
On the other hand, you can add more to the song’s difficulty by incorporating the three chords, C, G, and F. “Mary Had a Little Lamb” is a fun song to strum to. You can make the kids start with a downstroke and let them add their touch later on.
Interestingly, the old 1800s lullaby is based on true events. Mary Tyler came out in 1876 and revealed that she had a pet lamb. She recalled that her brother told her to take the lamb to school.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Mary Had a Little Lamb Tabs |
“Down by the Bay” (C, G, F)
DOWN BY THE BAY – Guitar Lesson
Another must-learn is the all-classic “Down by the Bay.” Besides being an easy tune to follow, it’s also a fun singing song for the kids.
It uses the chords G, D7, and C.
Other, more common, variations use the chords G7, C, and F instead. Both hold similar difficulty levels. It may require more patience to teach the youngsters a G7 or D7 chord.
Children’s music artist Raffi performed “Down by the Bay.” The lyrical origin of the song is not clear, but some believe it came from England.
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Down by the Bay Chords |
“I’m a Believer” by The Monkees (G, C, D)
How to play Im A Believer by The Monkees on guitar
Chances are, you’ve heard this song at some point in your childhood as a millennial and Gen Z kid. Yes, we’re talking about “I’m a Believer” from the hit movie franchise “Shrek.”
Originally, the song was written by a band called The Monkees. Since this isn’t your typical children’s lullaby, it might require more practice to get the full swing of it.
Other than that, it uses G, D, C, and F. Once you’ve taught these chords, you’ll have an easier time getting around the song.
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic and Electric |
| Tabs | I’m a Believer Tabs |
“Do Re Mi” from The Sound of Music (C, G, F, Dm)
Do Re Mi (The Sound of Music) Guitar Cover Lesson in G Major with Chords/Lyrics – Munson
In theme with music learning, you can teach your children “Do Re Mi” from the timeless classic The Sound of Music.
The song holds plenty of chords ranging from G7 and G to Am and Do. Consequently, it’s on the challenging side and better suited to older kids.
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Do Re Mi Tabs |
“Hush Little Baby” (C, G, F)
Hush, Little Baby (Kid Song) Guitar Cover Lesson in G Major with Chords/Lyrics – Munson
“Hush, Little Baby” was originally a poem made, as the lyrics suggest, to keep children from crying. The easiest variation holds only a couple of chords, D and A.
The strumming pattern is quick going at 100 bpm. You can teach the Mother Goose song or learn it to calm your child to sleep.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Hush Little Baby Tabs |
“It’s a Small World” (C, G, F)
It’s A Small World – Easy Fingerstyle Guitar Playthrough Tutorial Lesson With Tabs
The Sherman brothers created the time-enduring tune, “It’s a Small World” for Walt Disney’s opening attractions in 1964.
More specifically, it was written to play during one of the amusement park’s attractions that features a tour of the world’s cultures.
The song uses chords C, G7, C7, F, and Dm. The C7 chord might be difficult to grasp for younger kids, making the notes better suited for preteens and older ages.
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | It’s a Small World Tabs |
“Octopus’s Garden” by The Beatles (C, G, F, Am)
Octopus’s Garden Guitar Lesson (Full Song) – The Beatles
The Beatles’ “Octopus’s Garden” offers a rhythmic and upbeat harmony perfect for kids. Since the song has over six chords, we suggest teaching it to older kids.
While the song is likely meant for kids of all ages to enjoy, some speculate its underlying meaning. Critics believe that The Beatles were aware of Climate Change back then and wanted to shed environmental light on the issue with this song.
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic and Electric |
| Tabs | Octopus’s Garden Tabs |
“Oh! Susanna” (C, G, F)
Oh Susanna – Easy Guitar Tutorial
“Oh! Susanna” came out in 1847 in an ice cream parlor. Its chords are straightforward and have a couple of variations.
You can play the song with C, F, and G or A, E, and D chords. The country song was historically linked to Gold-seeking travelers hitting the road while tuning to its catchy beats.
Aside from that, the song held other meanings worth exploring, albeit most were dark.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Oh! Susanna Tabs |
