25 Best Guitar Songs of All Time (With Tabs + Videos)
In the search for the best guitar songs of all time, one has to ask what makes a guitar song great. Is it the tune, the solo, the core riffs, or a combination of everything?
While people may disagree with one another about this matter, some guitar songs have gathered more positive opinions than others.
Whether you’re a beginner wanting to learn a new guitar song or a professional looking for a challenge, the following list is for you. This article discusses 25 of the best guitar songs ever and how difficult some of them can be to play on a guitar. So, take a look.
1. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
This song may be one of the best guitar songs of all time. Playing it, you can showcase your ability to go from a slow-tempo low acoustic tune to the up-tempo hard rock part.
Although the introduction and the final power chord riffs are somewhat easy to perform, some parts in the middle can be a little challenging. Yet, with a bit of singing and tons of enthusiasm, you can get through the solo part one way or another.
| Genre | Progressive Rock, Folk Rock, Hard Rock |
| Difficulty | Beginner, Advanced Beginner |
| Chords | Am, Eaug/G#, C/G, D/F#, F, G/B, C, D, G, Dsus4 |
| Type of Guitar | Electric & Acoustic |
| Tabs | Stairway to Heaven Tabs |
2. “Hotel California” by Eagles
The haunting acoustics at the beginning of this song make one of the most iconic guitar intros. Though it needs a bit of practice to master the finger-picking technique, this specific song intro usually appeals to most beginners.
As for the dual guitar solo at the end of the song, music fans rate it as one of the greatest song conclusions anybody gets to hear. So, they’re best left for the more intermediate players to explore.
| Genre | Pop Rock, Country Rock, Soft Rock |
| Difficulty | Beginner, Advanced Beginner |
| Chords | Am, E, G, D, F, C, Dm |
| Type of Guitar | Electric & Acoustic |
| Tabs | Hotel California Tabs |
3. “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos
Not only is the song “Layla” great for its strong lyrics, but it also contains captivating guitar riffs. Clapton fans fell in love with this song when he played it alongside the band just as equally as when he played it alone later on.
No matter what version you’re listening to, both electric and acoustic riffs sound amazing.
As for the slide guitar solo performed by Duane Allman, it reached an advanced ranking in many lists stating the greatest guitar solo of all time.
| Genre | Rock, Rock Blues |
| Difficulty | Advanced Beginner, Intermediate |
| Chords | G#m7, D#m, G, A, B, C#m, F#, E |
| Type of Guitar | Electric (Original Version) |
| Tabs | Layla Tabs |
4. “Blackbird” by the Beatles
Blackbird is one of the favorite songs for beginners to learn due to its charming fingerpicking patterns. Some parts take time and practice to master more than others, but in the end, it’s an enjoyable piece to play.
As great as the songwriting skill of the Beatles was, it somehow overshadowed their extraordinary musical skills. However, this song is a tremendous example of Paul McCartney’s amazing talent playing the acoustic guitar.
No doubt “Blackbird” is one of the most covered guitar songs out there. In fact, it was covered by many musicians, including Jesse McCartney, Elliott Smith, and Eddie Vedder.
| Genre | Folk |
| Difficulty | Advanced Beginner, Intermediate |
| Chords | A, C, D, F, G, Dm, Em, Am |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Blackbird Tabs |
5. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
Bohemian Rhapsody has all the elements that make a song great. Yet, it’s the guitar solo that matters the most to music enthusiasts.
Allegedly, the solo played by Brian May in this song is the best guitar solo in music history. Even after 40 years, the song remains as legendary as ever.
Although most of the song isn’t hard to master, the rock section can be challenging for some.
| Genre | Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, Progressive Pop, Art Rock |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | A, Adim, G#, G#dim, G#m, B, A#, A#6, A#7, A#11, A#, Baug, A#m, Bm, C7, C7b9, C, Cm, Cm7, C#dim, D, C#, E, D#, D#o, F, F7, Fm, Fm7, F#dim, G, G7, F#, F#7, Gm, Gm7 |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Bohemian Rhapsody Tabs |
6. “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix
In this song, Jimi Hendrix perfected the guitar solo and presented some distinctive riffs as well. Some music fans even claim that “Purple Haze” is Hendirx’s best guitar track utilizing his signature Hendrix chord.
The song can be a bit of a challenge to perform on the electric guitar. That’s because of how quickly the song’s melody changes and how intricate keeping up with it might be. Yet, aside from some tricky chords, the song is actually quite fun to play.
| Genre | Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock |
| Difficulty | Advanced Beginner |
| Chords | Bb, E7#9, G, A, E, B |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Purple Haze Tabs |
7. “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry
When you think of Chuck Berry, you can’t help but hear the distinctive guitar intro of his song “Johnny B. Goode” inside your head.
Many people don’t realize this song was originally copied from Louis Jordan’s song “Ain’t That Just Like a Woman” released in 1946.
However, Johnny B. Goode was the song that opened the way for the evolution of modern rock and roll. That’s especially with the remarkable added touches of Chuck Berry.
The song is a bit fast and hard to play at first, but once you pick up the pace, it shouldn’t be difficult to master.
| Genre | Rock and Roll |
| Difficulty | Advanced Beginner, Intermediate |
| Chords | A, Asus4, D, E, E7, |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Johnny B. Goode Tabs |
8. “Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix
Being recognized as Jimi Hendrix’s most soulful guitar song, “Little Wing” is quite special. In fact, no better song can demonstrate Hendrix’s guitar skills than this one. The melodies are dreamy, with mesmerizing guitar riffs that take you to another dimension.
As easy flowing as the music may seem, this song can be hard to master. Not only because of the finger-strumming acts but also due to the intricate techniques and quick chord changes.
| Genre | Rock, Psychedelic Soul |
| Difficulty | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Chords | Em, G, Am, C, F, D, Bm |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Little Wing Tabs |
9. “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd
The playability and memorability of this song’s guitar riffs have contributed to its popularity among guitar players. The intro is fantastic, and the whole song is incredibly fun to perform for your friends.
Despite being a bit tricky towards the beginning because of its rhythm, many advanced beginners tend to learn it. So, if you’re a beginner, it may be easier for you to start by practicing the chorus part.
| Genre | Progressive Rock, Pop |
| Difficulty | Advanced Beginner, Intermediate |
| Chords | C, D, Am, G, Em, A |
| Type of Guitar | Electric & Acoustic |
| Tabs | Wish You Were Here Tabs |
10. “Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Not only is this song an amazing guitar track, but it’s also an incredible song that made a huge success for the band. Probably, the most iconic part of this song is the guitar lick that became the most popular riff after releasing the song.
That said, it can be challenging to master the smoothness of the song while playing it on the guitar. That’s because of some fast-paced sections and complicated chords that can be hard even for experienced musicians.
| Genre | Alternative Rock, Rock |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Chords | E/B, B, C#m, G#m, A, E7M, F#m, B, Am, G, F |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Under the Bridge Tabs |
11. “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits
The most distinguishable thing about the song “Sultans of Swing” at the time of its release was the guitar riffs.
Aside from the powerful lyrics telling the band’s story, the guitar solos in the middle catch everyone’s attention. Although the guitar riffs aren’t that hard to master, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy to play the song as amazingly as Mark Knopfler does.
He has a unique playing style that may take an advanced guitar player quite some time to imitate.
| Genre | Pub Rock, Roots Rock, Blues Rock |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Chords | Dm, C, A#, A, F |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Sultans of Swing Tabs |
12. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses
As one of Guns N’ Roses most popular songs, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” combines vulnerable love lyrics with incredible rock music. The song was a massive hit back in 1988 and still is a favorite to play by many guitarists.
Aside from some tricky parts, the song isn’t that challenging to play. After all, the more effort and technique you put into the performance, the closer to the original song you get.
| Genre | Hard Rock, Rock, Glam Metal |
| Difficulty | Advanced Beginner |
| Chords | D, Cadd9, G, A, C |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Sweet Child O’ Mine Tabs |
13. “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd
In this song, you can feel how emotionally expressive the guitar is. It starts with a slow tempo at the beginning focusing on the sedated theme. Then, the energy builds up, adding more high notes with multiple solo climaxes.
Nailing this particular song on the guitar mainly depends on how good your timing is. Thus, “Comfortably Numb” isn’t the easiest option for beginners to play.
| Genre | Progressive Rock, Pop |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Bm, A, G, D, C, Em, Asus4 |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Comfortably Numb Tabs |
14. “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” by Jimi Hendrix
This is another Jimi Hendrix song that played a huge part in the change of rock music. Jimi improvised this track on the spot as another take on the original song “Voodoo Chile,” and it’s taken the rock world by storm.
This song may not be as easy to play for beginners as other tracks. On the other hand, for intermediate guitarists used to playing blues solos, “Voodoo Child” shouldn’t pose much of a challenge.
| Genre | Psychedelic Rock, Blues Rock, Hard Rock |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Bm/D, Aadd4/C#, E, G, A, C7, D7 |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Voodoo Child (Slight Return) Tabs |
15. “Black Dog” by Led Zeppelin
Though the song itself has nothing to do with its given title, it’s one of the greatest guitar songs. “Black Dog” contains some unpredictable rhythms making it quite hard to play for some guitarists.
Rumor has it that the band deliberately made the song complicated so that no other band is able to play a cover of it.
| Genre | Hard Rock, Blues Rock |
| Difficulty | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Chords | A5, C5, A/G, G/E, D, D7, Dsus4, A |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Black Dog Tabs |
16. “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
The original iconic guitar solo played by Allen Collins in “Free Bird” is something else. With the evolving band lineup, it transformed into a fantastic dual solo ending with the help of Steve Gaines.
Starting with a few mellow guitar riffs, “Free Bird” shouldn’t be challenging to play. Even when the song progresses near the end, the only major concern is how long the guitar solo is.
| Genre | Southern Rock, Hard Rock, Arena Rock |
| Difficulty | Advanced Beginner |
| Chords | G, D, Em, F, C |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Free Bird Tabs |
17. “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple
Almost all musicians agree that no guitar riff in music history is more recognizable than the one featured in “Smoke on the Water.”
Many beginner guitarists practice and play this riff over and over for hours. Even those who don’t own a guitar must’ve air-guitared it at least once in their lives.
Despite becoming a huge cliche song to play on a guitar, “Smoke on the Water” is catchy, simple to learn, and super easy to play.
| Genre | Hard Rock, Heavy Metal |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | E, G, A, F, G#, C, B |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Smoke on the Water Tabs |
18. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by the Beatles
As the title suggests, this song expresses how a guitar can reflect and convey someone’s emotions. Although George Harrison wrote this song, the memorable solo was played by his close friend Eric Clapton.
Originally, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” only contained acoustic guitars. However, after a few takes, the Beatles were able to create balance by incorporating some electric solos.
The song contains a lot of string bending, which is why it’s not a perfect track for beginners to try out.
| Genre | Hard Rock, Blues, Rock |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Chords | Am, Am/G, Am/F#, F7M, E7sus4, E7, G, D, C#m, F#m, Bm, A |
| Type of Guitar | Electric & Acoustic |
| Tabs | While My Guitar Gently Weeps Tabs |
19. “Back in Black” by AC/DC
Another song sitting at the top of the most catchy guitar riffs list is AC/DC’s “Back in Black.” It’s an icon of what hard rock is supposed to sound like.
Most AC/DC songs are easy for beginners to play on the guitar. Yet, for “Back in Black,” the solo requires more experience to learn and master.
| Genre | Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Arena Rock |
| Difficulty | Advanced Beginner, Intermediate |
| Chords | E, D, A, G#, A#, B, C, G |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Back in Black Tabs |
20. “All Along the Watchtower” by Jimi Hendrix (Originally by Bob Dylan)
There are only a few times in music history when the cover song bested the original version. Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower” is a representation of this case.
Listening to this song, you can definitely notice how Hendrix marvelously manipulated the rhythm. While the solo isn’t the most difficult to play, it requires some advanced techniques.
| Genre | Folk Rock, Classic Rock |
| Difficulty | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Chords | Cm, A#, G# |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | All Along the Watchtower Tabs |
21. “Pride and Joy” by Stevie Ray Vaughan
“Pride and Joy” is the perfect representation of Texas rock blues with an amazing guitar solo. It showcases how great of a guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan is. That’s why many people see it as Vaughan’s greatest track.
This song requires some time to master, as it contains some relatively hard muting techniques. However, it’s the best song for intermediate guitar players to sharpen their skills.
| Genre | Electric Blues, Blues Rock |
| Difficulty | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Chords | E, E7, A, B7, A7 |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Pride and Joy Tabs |
22. “Eruption” by Van Halen
“Eruption” has inspired hundreds of people to learn how to play the guitar. This song is a mesmerizing display of Van Halen’s extraordinary technical guitar playing. That’s why it’s an aspiration for electric guitar players to master.
Consequently, “Eruption” isn’t an easy song for beginners to play. Containing some difficult fingerings and chords, it takes a bit of practice to master the song from start to finish.
| Genre | Hard Rock, Heavy Metal |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Chords | C#m, AM, F#dim, BM, EM, CM, Em7, DM, Am, A#dim, G#dim, Gm, Fm, Em, F#m7 |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Eruption Tabs |
23. “Cliffs of Dover” by Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson’s instrumental composition of “Cliffs of Dover” is extraordinary. For those who played Guitar Hero, this song should be quite familiar.
You might think that such a song took years to write, but it only took Eric Johnson a few minutes to write. It came to him like magic, or as he puts it, “a gift from the universe.”
Despite that, the song isn’t easy to play for beginners at all. In fact, it’s one of the most challenging guitar songs to learn, featuring complex guitar chords. That’s why this song is a test for guitarists’ advanced skills.
| Genre | Hard Rock, Instrumental Rock, Progressive Rock |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Chords | G, C, D, Am, E7 |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Cliffs of Dover Tabs |
24. “More Than a Feeling” by Boston
Released in 1976, “More Than a Feeling” is one of the most memorable rock songs ever. Unlike the previous song, this one took years to write, and it’s a real masterpiece.
The good news is this song isn’t that difficult to play. It’s actually a great song to practice your strumming and picking techniques.
| Genre | Hard Rock, Classic Rock, Pop Rock |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Dsus4, D, C, G, Em, D#, E, A, B, Bm, F# |
| Type of Guitar | Electric & Acoustic |
| Tabs | More Than a Feeling Tabs |
25. “Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile)” by Carlos Santana
This instrumental song is one of Santana’s most memorable and recognizable compositions. Even though it contains no lyrics, “Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile)” is a mesmerizing track.
The song’s melody is catchy, which makes it a top choice for beginners.
| Genre | Classic Rock, Instrumental Rock |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | Bb7sus4, Bb7, Ebmaj7, A7b5, Abmaj7, G7sus4, G7, Cm7, Cmaj7, Fm7, Fm9/Bb |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile) Tabs |
