25 Modern Acoustic Guitar Songs (With Tabs + Videos)
By design, modern acoustic guitar songs are easy to remember and play. With catchy, compelling beats and hard-hitting melodies, they make a crowd stop and listen for more.
Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or experienced player, we’ve got the song for you. In this article, I’ve listed some of the best modern acoustic guitar songs to develop your guitar-playing skills while having fun.
Let’s get right into it!
“Shallow” by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
| Genre | Rock, Country Music, Folk-Pop |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Em, D, G, C, Am |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Let’s start this list off strong with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s Shallow, one of the biggest-selling hits of 2018. With over 30 awards under its belt—including a Grammy and a Golden Globe—the song resonated with millions across the world, praised for its strong vocals, enchanting instrumentals, and deeply emotional lyrics.
Shallow treads the line between challenging and easy. While it’s nothing a beginner can’t tackle, there’s quite a bit to memorize if you want to play the song note for note. Once you memorize the progression and at least one variation for each fingerstyle pattern, you’ll be able to wing your way through it.
“Riptide” by Vance Joy
| Genre | Alternative/Indie, Folk |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | Am, G, C |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Written and performed by Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy, Riptide—an indie-folk song released in 2013—holds the record for the most weeks in the Top 100 ARIA Singles Chart, appearing in the list for 120 consecutive weeks. The song has received numerous awards, including Best Independent Single, Best Independent Artist, and Best Independent Album.
Lyric-wise, Riptide is often described as a coming-of-age love story. It narrates the singer’s love for his significant other through metaphors and pop culture references. It’s upbeat and catchy, but simultaneously soft and passionate.
Riptide is an excellent song for beginners to learn. It’s simple and satisfying to play, with chords that go around in a circle. It uses the chords Am, G, and C in the Verse and Chorus, and Am, G, C, and F in the bridge.
“Let Her Go” by Passenger
| Genre | Folk Rock |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | G, D, Em, C, Am |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Let Her Go is deeply poetic and melancholic, a song associated with grief, regret, and heartbreak. It ponders the age-old dilemma of love: if you love someone, let them go. If they come back, you’re meant to be.
Passenger has an arsenal of hard-hitting songs, but Let Her Go easily makes it at the top of the list. It was nominated for British Single of the Year at the Brit Awards and won the Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work at the British Academy.
Let Her Go is a beginner’s favorite. Once you get the progression right, you’ll have no issues mastering the song. It consists of five main chords: G, D, Em, C, and Am.
The original version plays the song with bar chords, but you can play it with normal open chords and get the same result.
“Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi
| Genre | Pop, Alternative/Indie |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | C, G, Am, F |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Someone You Loved charms audiences young and old with its beautiful, intimate arrangement and its powerful vocals. The song explores the difficulty of losing hope in the face of family bereavement or the end of a relationship.
This Lewis Capaldi song was a worldwide hit upon release, quickly making its way to several movies and TV shows including The Voice, Love Island, Legacies, and America’s Got Talent. It also topped the music charts in the UK, the US, and multiple other countries.
Though originally played on the piano, the song transcribes well on the guitar. It uses four simple chords throughout most of the song, allowing even complete beginners to try a hand at mastering it.
“Ho Hey” by The Lumineers
| Genre | Pop |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | C, G, Am, F |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Ho Hey is an indie-folk song that talks about the struggles of unrequited love. Wesley Schultz, The Lumineers’ frontman, sang the song with a unique combination of strength and vulnerability. “We wanted [Ho Hey] to get under people’s skin,” Schultz explained in a 2012 interview with American Songwriter. Mission accomplished, I’d say!
Ho Hey uses the chords C, F, Am, and G throughout the song, with a repetitive C, F, C, F, C in the verse and a combination of Am, G, C, and F in the chorus and bridge. It’s relatively easy to play and sounds fantastic on the guitar.
“I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons
| Genre | Folk Rock, Indie Folk |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Am, G, C, F |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
I Will Wait is one of Mumford & Sons’ most popular songs, and it’s easy to see why. Released in 2012, the song addresses the narrator’s journey of humility, surrender, and patience in the face of life’s challenges. The narrator asks for the Lord’s guidance, asking God to free him from the desires of his flesh and the lies of the world.
On the guitar, I Will Wait is easier than it looks. The solos can be a little tough with its combination of notes and chords in quick succession, but if you’re looking to push your beginner skills to the limit, this is an excellent song to try out.
“Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur
| Genre | Indie, Pop |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | G, D, Em, C |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Say You Won’t Let Go revolves around the sentiment of undying love. The narrator talks about the love he has for his significant other, excited to grow “old and gray” with them so long as they “won’t let go.”
The song’s powerful lyrics resonated with millions of people, garnering over a billion streams on Spotify, YouTube Music, and other music platforms. It quickly became Arthur’s first RIAA Diamond Single with a record of over 10 million certified units.
The chords are quite easy to learn—G, D, Em, and C—which cycle throughout the song. Its playability is easily within a beginner’s reach, aided by its straightforward strumming pattern.
“Home” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
| Genre | Alternative/Indie |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | G, D, Em, C |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Home is an alternative/indie song by American folk rock band Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. Though it’s only the band’s second single, it consistently ranks in the Top 100 Hottest Songs of the past two decades.
If you’re a complete beginner with little to no experience with the acoustic guitar, Home can be an excellent first-song choice. It follows a straightforward chord progression and an equally straightforward strumming pattern. It’s short and concise, yet impactful to a fault.
“I Don’t Know My Name” by Grace VanderWaal
| Genre | Pop, Folk |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | G, C, Em, D |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
I Don’t Know My Name is about identity and individuality. It’s about the many phases and difficulties a person goes through to discover their real self.
On the guitar, I Don’t Know My Name is raw and packed with emotion. It features four chords: G, C, Em, and D. Even if you’ve never played the guitar, you’ll be able to play the song and wow your audience with a bit of practice.
“Hold Back the River” by James Bay
| Genre | Indie Rock, Folk Rock |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | C, G, F, Am |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Hold Back the River hits close to home with its poignant lyrics and emotion-filled instrumentals.
James Bay wrote the song as a way to express his fear of losing touch with his friends and family as he went on tours. With the song, he sent his loved ones a message: I may not always be around, but I’m never gone.
Hold Back the River is an excellent song for developing guitarists. It follows an interesting progression with contrasting parts that are neither too easy nor too difficult.
“Lost on You” by LP
| Genre | Indie Rock, Folk Rock |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Em, D, C, G |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Lost On You is one of my personal favorites on this list. I highly recommend you check it out if you haven’t already. It’s dynamic and beautifully heartbreaking, an addicting combination of indie rock and folk rock.
Lost On You is a great song for intermediate players. It’s a high-energy song that’ll have you strumming chords pretty much non-stop, so it’s sure to give your right arm a good workout.
“The One That Got Away” by Jake Owen
| Genre | Country |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | G, D, Em, C |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
The One That Got Away reminisces of a former love during the singer’s teenage years. It has a Tom Petty-ish vibe to it, full of emotion and sincerely mixed with a bit of humor.
This song uses chords that don’t require a lot of finger movement, making it a great beginner’s song. If you want to play it as it was originally intended, you’ll need to put a capo on the 7th fret and use the chords below.
“Budapest” by George Ezra
| Genre | Alternative/Indie, Country, Pop |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | G, D, Em, C |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Budapest uses the first four chords singer-songwriter George Ezra learned on the guitar: G, D, Em, and A. Despite the song’s simplicity, it became a sleeper hit in the United States. It debuted at number 81 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and peaked at 32.
If you’re learning how to strum, Budapest is a good song to start off with. There’s nothing complex with the song and uses all chords in their regular open positions, with no capo required.
“Youth” by Daughter
| Genre | Alternative/Indie |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | C, Em, Am, F |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Youth is a melancholic acoustic song that chapters the harsh realities that surround us as we grow. Accompanied by Torna’s strong and hauntingly powerful voice, the song opens our eyes to the complicated yet exciting journey we experience while growing up.
Whether you choose to strum or fingerpick, Youth sounds excellent on both. The capo on the fifth fret is necessary if you want to play along with the original, but the song will still sound good without one.
“Banana Pancakes” by Jack Johnson
| Genre | Pop |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Am, G, D, F |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Banana Pancakes is an upbeat love song, one that you’d sing along to on an early Sunday morning while making breakfast. The song is better suited for intermediate and experienced guitar players because it utilizes bar chords throughout the song. If you’re a beginner who’s yet to learn these chords, you’ll find your fretting hand tired quickly.
“I Took a Pill in Ibiza” by Mike Posner
| Genre | Tropical House, Pop, Folk Pop |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Am, F, C, G |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Looking for an upbeat, infectious song to play in front of a rowdy audience? I Took a Pill in Ibiza by Mike Posner should be on your list. With only four chords and a basic strum pattern, I Took a Pill in Ibiza is an easy song to play. If you’re an experienced guitarist, you can add little picking inflections to spice up the progression.
“Slow Hands” by Niall Horan
| Genre | Alternative/Indie, Pop |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | C, G, F, Am |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan (yes, of the now-disbanded One Direction), Slow Hands is a unique combination of bass-heavy funk-pop, folk-pop, and modern pop. It’s one of Horan’s highest-charting singles, peaking at number seven on the UK Singles Chart of 2017 and 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Slow Hands transcribes beautifully on the guitar. The intro uses two chords (C and Am), the verse four (C, Am, F, and G), and the chorus also four (F, G, Am, and E). The strumming pattern is straightforward, only made difficult by its beat changes.
“Scars to Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara
| Genre | Pop |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Am, F, C, G |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Scars to Your Beautiful promotes a message of self-acceptance and love, challenging the strict and unrealistic beauty standards of today. It asks listeners to embrace themselves as they are. It’s a beautiful song with an equally beautiful melody.
This song uses four chords: Am, F, C, and G. Its strumming and switching patterns can be a bit difficult for a beginner, but nothing that a few days’ practice can’t overcome.
“Hey, There Delilah” by Plain White T’s
| Genre | Alternative/Indie |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | D, F#m, Bm, G, A |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
With how popular it is, who hasn’t heard of Hey, There Delilah? It’s been by countless artists and featured in hundreds of TV shows and movies. To say that it’s a generational classic is an understatement.
Hey, There Delilah is a beginner’s favorite because it mostly uses basic guitar chords and a simple 8th note rhythm throughout. It’s a forgiving song without a lot of quick changes, making it perfect for those learning fingerstyle for the first time.
“Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons
| Genre | Pop Rock |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | Am, C, G, D |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
With how often it’s played on the radio, it’s unsurprising that Radioactive is one of the best-selling singles of all time. It’s the longest-running song in the history of the Billboard chart, and it received two Grammy Award nominations for the Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance.
Radioactive uses four chords throughout the song: Am, C, G, and D. The chord sequence rarely changes, with the verse and pre-chorus following nearly the same pattern.
“Best Day of My Life” by American Authors
| Genre | Alternative/Indie |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | D, G, Bm, A, F |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Best Day of My Life is American Authors’ second single from their debut studio album Oh, What a Life. Upon its release in 2013, the song near-instantly saw commercial success. It became a crossover hit on Top 40 and Alternative Rock stations, peaking at No. 2, No. 4, and No. 18 on Hot Rock Songs, Mainstream Top 40, and Alternative Songs respectively.
Best Day of My Life would’ve been easy to play on the guitar if not for the dreaded F chord. The chord combo requires a fair bit of technique to hold and move around, but once you perfect the progression, you’ll have no problems mastering the song.
“Counting Stars” by OneRepublic
| Genre | Pop Rock, Folk, Dance |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | C, Am, G, F |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Combining elements of dance, pop, and folk, Counting Stars offers something for everyone. The song topped the Billboard charts in over 20 countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, Finland, Poland, and more. It’s OneRepublic’s biggest hit, garnering over a billion streams since its release in 2014.
Counting Stars requires you to use a capo on the 4th fret. Most of the song uses a fingerpicking technique, but it shouldn’t pose any issue for a beginner as it’s fairly easy to play. The song uses the chords C, Am, G, and F
“Skinny Love” by Bon Iver
| Genre | Folk, Alternative/Indie |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Am, C, G, F |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Released as part of the single For Emma, Forever Ago, Skinny Love tells the story of a failed relationship and the despair that comes with it. The relationship offers little love or emotional fulfillment, existing only as a means of affirmation and codependence.
Skinny Love uses an open C tuning to create a somewhat haunting melody. Experienced guitarists can play around the rhythm, switch out the chords, or add a little solo to spice things up. Since it’s so flexible, the song opens a lot of opportunities to experiment.
“Take Me to Church” by Hozier
| Genre | Indie Rock |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | Em, Am, G, D |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
Released in September 2013, Take Me to Church went through its fair share of controversy and backlash due to its romantic depiction between two men.
Even so, it had no shortage of awards. It consistently ranked in the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over 4 million copies within its ear of release. Nearly 10 years later, it’s still considered one of Hozier’s best and most impactful works.
Take Me to Church sounds gorgeous on the guitar; soft and harmonic, but just the right amount of edge. It follows a repetitive chord progression of Em, Am, G, and D and a boom-chicka strumming pattern.
“All of Me” by John Legend
| Genre | R&B/Soul |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | Am, C, G, D |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | Tabs |
All of Me talks about the undying, unconditional love a person has for another. It was dedicated to John Legend’s then-fiance, now wife, Chrissy Teigen, and has received 10 nominations and five awards. It’s one of John Legend’s most powerful songs, made even more romantic on the acoustic guitar.
Featuring a beginner-friendly strumming pattern, All of Me is simple and comfortable to play. The chords used in this song are Em, Am, G, and D.
