25 Easy Punk Songs on Guitar for Beginners
It’s no secret that some genres are easier to learn on the guitar than others. Punk, for example, isn’t as hard to learn as genres like progressive rock and metal.
While there are many complex punk songs and techniques, there are also many tracks that are easy enough for any beginner to play them.
Lucky for you, in today’s article, we have a list of 25 easy punk songs on guitar that are perfect for beginners. We also tell you all you need to know about each song and why it made it to our list.
Let’s dive into the details right away.
“Blitzkrieg Bop” by Ramones (A, D, E)
Blitzkrieg Bop by Ramones is one of the earliest punk classics. Some would argue that it’s the first punk single in history!
It’s a never-dying punk classic that’s easy to play on a guitar. The song was released back in February 1976, and it was a big hit.
The Ramones are one of the greatest punk bands of all time. They made a huge impact on the music scene and influenced many bands. Their influence reached different genres like rock, metal, and even country music.
The three-chord song is just over 2 minutes, but it’s packed with adrenaline and headbanging. “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!” is perhaps one of the most iconic lines in punk history.
Initially, Tommy Ramone came up with that line as a way to make fun of Mick Jagger’s “High low, tippy-toe.”
He then picked up Joey Ramone’s guitar, which was a two-string guitar with A and E strings tuned to a fifth. It didn’t take him long until he came up with the chords.
| Genre | Punk rock, pop |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Chords | (A, D, E) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Blitzkrieg Bop” by Ramones tabs |
“Basket Case” by Green Day (E, B, C#m, A, G#)
“Basket Case” is Green Day’s most popular song of all time, with over 800 million plays on Spotify. It’s the third single from their album, “Dookie.”
The song had every element that it needed to become an all-time hit, from its deep lyrics and unforgettable chords to its asylum-themed video.
“Basket Case” made it to the Top 10 list in the UK. Not only that but it was also nominated for the Best Rock Vocal Performance By a Duo or Group Grammy Award.
Additionally, Time magazine named “Dookie” as the best rock album of 1994. Further, the guitar chords of the track are simple, which makes the song beginner-friendly.
| Genre | Punk rock, pop punk, alternative rock |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Chords | (E, B, C#m, A, G#) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Basket Case” by Green Day tabs |
“All the Small Things” by Blink-182 (C, G, F, Am)
Are you looking for a punk love song to play for your significant other? Well, you need to check out this punk classic.
“All the Small Things” is a single from Blink-182’s album, “Enema of the State.” The track was a big success, and it reached spot number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
Tom DeLonge wrote this track for his then-girlfriend and later wife. What makes this song special is that it’s extremely simple and easy to learn, yet it’s very catchy.
On top of that, it’s fun to play it! “All the Small Things” is highly energetic. More importantly, any beginner can learn this song in no time.
| Genre | Pop punk, alternative rock |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Chords | (C, G, F, Am) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “All the Small Things” by Blink-182 tabs |
“I Wanna Be Sedated” by Ramones (E, A, B)
“I Wanna Be Sedated” by Ramones is an all-time favorite song for many punk enthusiasts. Despite its simple lyrics and even simpler melody, this song is extremely catchy.
The Ramones released the track back in 1978, 4 years after the band’s formation. The song talks about the touring journeys of the band.
The touring was intense, and they had to be on the road most days of the year. That’s why many consider it a “road song.”
It uses classical harmony by alternating the three main chords in the key E major. You can hear the alternation of the tonic E chord and the subdominant A chord in the verses.
| Genre | Punk rock |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Chords | (E, A, B) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “I Wanna Be Sedated” by Ramones tabs |
“London Calling” by The Clash (E, A, D, G)
The Clash released “London Calling” as a single from their 1979 album of the same name. The song is apocalyptic and talks about the ways the world could end.
The title is in reference to the BBC World Service’s popular line “This Is London calling.” It was broadcasted to occupied countries during World War II.
The music starts heavy, with the drums and guitars opening in a hammering groove. Don’t fret! London Calling is easy to play.
The four-chord track uses some of the most basic shapes on the guitar, which makes it perfect for any beginner. It uses a technique called “string stopped” or “muting.”
| Genre | Punk rock |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Chords | (E, A, D, G) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “London Calling” by The Clash tabs |
“American Idiot” by Green Day (G, D, A, Em, C)
Green Day released “American Idiot” in 2004. It was politically charged, and all the fans loved it. Even after years of its release, the track is still relevant.
The song deals with themes of xenophobia and fear. It accuses the mass media of creating paranoia and hysteria among the people.
You can feel the anger in the lyrics. Billie Joe Armstrong, the band’s vocalist, was angry about the political situation in the country at the time.
The music starts with a sharp chord progression. The drums and the bass provide an amazing rhythmic complement. All in all, “American Idiot” isn’t hard to play.
| Genre | Punk rock |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Chords | (G, D, A, Em, C) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “American Idiot” by Green Day tabs |
“Ruby Soho” by Rancid (G, C, D, Em)
Rancid is an American punk band that started in California in 1991. “Ruby Soho” was the third single from their album “And Out Come the Wolves.”
It was a big hit, and it made it to number 13 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks. Rancid used a sample of “Give Me Power” by the Stingers in the intro of the song.
Many artists across the years covered “Ruby Soho.” That includes The Dollyrots, Rie Tanaka, Vampire Weekend, and Phish.
The song is about a punk rocker who heads out on the road again, leaving his girl behind. However, they both know that it’s not going to last.
If you’re a fan of WWE, you’d be surprised to know that Ruby Riott took her name from this song. In fact, in 2021, she started using “Ruby Soho” as her ring name.
| Genre | Punk, alternative rock |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Chords | (G, C, D, Em) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Ruby Soho” by Rancid tabs |
“In Too Deep” by Sum 41 (C, G, F, Am)
“In Too Deep” is a popular song by the Canadian punk rock band, Sum 41. The song is the seventh track on their debut album, “All Killer No Filler.”
Originally, “In Too Deep” was meant to be a reggae song released by Treble Charger, Greig Nori’s band
Back when Deryck Whibley was 18, he and Dave Baksh, his guitarist friend, started playing around the guitar and wrote the track.
At first, they came up with a unique riff, and then, they improvised verses and the chorus.
The track is about a boy who’s in love with a girl, but they face some issues along the way. However, it doesn’t take the story too seriously, as it has a fun, feel-good vibe.
That’s why many guitarists enjoy playing this song. The best thing is that it’s fairly easy to play.
| Genre | Pop punk |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Chords | (C, G, F, Am) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “In Too Deep” by Sum 41 tabs |
“Holiday” by Green Day (F, C, Bb, Dm)
“Holiday” is one of the most popular protest songs by Green Day. It’s the third single from their “American Idiot” album.
The song has a rebellious vibe with heavy guitar riffs that make it catchy. The guitar riffs along with the drum beats create a sense of power, energy, and unrest.
Don’t let the name fool you, as “Holiday” is about the government and society during the war in Iraq.
The track revolves around the thousands of lost souls in the war. It also shines a spot on the corruption in the rebuilding phase.
| Genre | Pop punk |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Chords | (F, C, Bb, Dm) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Holiday” by Green Day tabs |
“Last Resort” by Papa Roach (C, F, Bb)
“Last Resort” is perhaps the most popular Papa Roach song, with over 900 million plays on Spotify. It’s a unique song that became a staple in the band’s live set.
Tobin initially wrote the track on piano. It first sounded like a piece of classical music, but once the guitar riffs were added, it became a heavy masterpiece.
It’s safe to say that “Last Resort” influenced an entire generation of guitar players. Many people wanted to learn guitar just to play it.
“Last Resort” is still relevant, and the best part is that it’s not that hard to learn.
| Genre | Alternative metal, rap metal, punk |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Chords | (C, F, Bb) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Last Resort” by Papa Roach tabs |
“Pretty Vacant” by Sex Pistols (C, F, G)
“Pretty Vacant” is a song by the punk rock band Sex Pistols, one of Britain’s most controversial bands. It was released on 2 July 1977, and it was the first track from the band that wasn’t banned in the U.K.
The song was the band’s third single, which was later part of their only album “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols.”
“SOS” by ABBA was a huge inspiration for the riffs of “Pretty Vacant.” Glen Matlock, the bass guitarist of the band who wrote the song, drew inspiration from Richard Hell and the Voidoids’ 1976 punk rock “Blank Generation.”
After its release, “Pretty Vacant” reached number 6 on the UK Singles Chart. In other words, it was a huge hit.
| Genre | Punk rock |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Chords | (C, F, G) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Pretty Vacant” by Sex Pistols tabs |
“Sk8er Boi” by Avril Lavigne (D, A, E, G)
“Sk8er Boi” is an all-time favorite for many people. It was one of the biggest hits in the 2000s, and it’s a main part of Avril Lavigne’s success.
The song passed the time test, as it’s still a part of today’s cultural conversation. Although it’s a simple song about an outcast skater boy and a ballet girl, it’s extremely catchy.
“Sk8er Boi” has been in countless movies and shows across the years.
The track was the second single from Avril’s debut album, Let Go. The track combines punk with rock, power pop, and alt-pop styles.
Don’t worry! It’s not that complicated to learn.
| Genre | Pop punk, rock |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Chords | (D, A, E, G) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Sk8er Boi” by Avril Lavigne tabs |
“What’s My Age Again?” by Blink-182 (C, G, F, Am)
“What’s My Age Again?” by Blink-182 was released in April 1999. It was part of Blink’s third studio album, “Enema of the State.”
The mid-tempo pop punk is popular for its distinctive guitar riff in the intro. It mainly talks about the onset of maturity and how hard it is to implement changes in one’s behavior.
The original title of the track was “Peter Pan Complex.” The song received a good amount of airplay, and the music video was a staple on MTV’s rotation and other popular channels.
The track was a big hit, as it reached number two on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks for 10 weeks. It also holds number 117 on NME’s “150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years” in 2012
| Genre | Alternative, punk |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Chords | (C, G, F, Am) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “What’s My Age Again?” by Blink-182 tabs |
“Self Esteem” by The Offspring (C, G, F, Am)
“Self Esteem” is the eighth track from The Offspring’s album, “Smash.” The song was a worldwide hit, reaching first place in many countries, including Sweden and Iceland.
The track is about a man and his toxic relationship with his girlfriend. He stayed in the relationship, even though he didn’t like it.
However, don’t let the subject matter fool you, as the track isn’t as dark as you think. The music is mostly light, but it also contains soaring guitar riffs and positive-sounding bass.
Overall, “Self Esteem” is easy for any guitar player to learn.
| Genre | Pop punk |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Chords | (C, G, F, Am) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Self Esteem” by The Offspring tabs |
“White Riot” by The Clash (A, D, E)
The Clash’s first single, “White Riot” was released in March 1977. The song was a big success for the band.
“White Riot” is mainly about race and class economics. Paul Simonon and Joe Strummer wrote this song after their experience in the Notting Hill Carnival riots in 1976.
It arguably has one of the greatest punk guitar riffs of all time. It inspired many people to start playing guitar or fall in love with punk music.
Q magazine placed the song at number 34 on its “100 Greatest Guitar Tracks” in March 2005. “White Riot” is complex, but it’s not the hardest to learn.
| Genre | Pop punk |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Chords | (A, D, E) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “White Riot” by The Clash tabs |
“The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World (D, G, A, Em)
Are you looking for a unique, emotional song? “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World is about being yourself and fitting in.
The song inspired many young people struggling to find themselves. It was also the breakout hit for Jimmy.
“The Middle” made it to number one on the 2001 Modern Rock chart. Although it’s very simple, and many consider it “not punk enough,” It’s an all-time masterpiece.
In fact, it was one of Taylor Swift’s favorite songs growing up, and it inspired her to make music. Many believe that it’s a perfect song for a bad time.
All in all, we’re sure you’ll enjoy playing this track.
| Genre | Pop punk, alternative rock |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Chords | (D, G, A, Em) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World tabs |
“Anarchy in the U.K.” by Sex Pistols (E, D, A, B)
“Anarchy in the U.K.” is an anti-establishment song by The Sex Pistols. However, the song doesn’t advocate anarchy.
The track was the band’s first single, and it caused controversy. Overall, the track is classic punk, and it’s extremely fun to play on guitar.
The power chords of the tracks are energetic and will help you work on your guitar skills. The song is a perfect way for you to practice power chords. It’s a must-play track for any punk lover.
| Genre | Punk rock |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Chords | (E, D, A, B) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Anarchy in the U.K.” by Sex Pistols tabs |
“The Kids Aren’t Alright” by The Offspring (D, A, E, G, Bm)
“The Kids Aren’t Alright” by The Offspring is the fifth track from the album “Americana.” You might’ve heard it in the end credits of Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage.
It was also used in the opening of The Faulty and was part of the soundtrack album.
The song tells the stories of people in a town and all the issues they faced growing up.
Dexter Holland drew inspiration from his hometown, Garden Grove, California, after visiting it.
The title of the track is a play on “The Kids Are Alright,” which was a 1965 song by The Who. It celebrated the youth culture of that era.
| Genre | Pop punk |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Chords | (D, A, E, G, Bm) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “The Kids Aren’t Alright” by The Offspring tabs |
“Dammit” by Blink-182 (C, G, F, Am)
“Dammit” is a signature song from Blink-182, which was released in 1997. Right from the start you can tell that the guitar riffs are catchy and fun to play.
Mark Hoppus, the bassist, wrote this song as he was concerned about growing older. It talks about a fictional breakup and how hard it is to see a former lover with someone else.
“Dammit” was the band’s first hit single, and it made it to number 11 on Billboard’s Hot Modern Rock Tracks.
The track is exceptionally fun to play, and any beginner will enjoy playing it.
| Genre | Punk rock |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Chords | (C, G, F, Am) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Dammit” by Blink-182 tabs |
“Fat Lip” by Sum 41 (E, B, A, C#m)
“Fat Lip” is about Deryck Whibley’s parents. While he wanted to do what he loved and avoid being another victim of conformity, they wanted him to be a “normal” person, as he says.
Overall, the Sum 41 song talks about upbringing and the issues you face as a teenager. “Fat Lip” inspired many people to do what they love and not care about what other people think.
The track shortly became the first hit for Sum 41, leading to a record deal and an EP called Half Hour of Power.
| Genre | Pop punk |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Chords | (E, B, A, C#m) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Fat Lip” by Sum 41 tabs |
“Time Bomb” by Rancid (G, C, D, Em)
“Time Bomb” is a one-of-a-kind song that Rancid released as a single from their album “And Out Come the Wolves.”
You might know the track from the 2005 movie, Fun with Dick and Jane. Generally, the track is loved by many guitarists around the world. It’s fun, energetic, and easy to play.
| Genre | Ska punk |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Chords | (G, C, D, Em) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Time Bomb” by Rancid tabs |
“My Friends Over You” by New Found Glory (G, D, C, Em)
“My Friends Over You” is a popular song from the American punk rock band, New Found Glory. The track was released in 2002 as a single from the band’s third studio album, Sticks and Stones.
The track charted in many countries, and it was a huge hit. All the band members contributed to this track. The track revolves around a relationship, in which one partner picks their close friends over romance.
You can easily learn “My Friends Over You” on a guitar, so give it a try! It’s highly energetic, and you’ll enjoy playing it.
| Genre | Pop punk |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Chords | (G, D, C, Em) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “My Friends Over You” by New Found Glory tabs |
“Welcome to Paradise” by Green Day (G, D, C, B)
“Welcome to Paradise” is a memorable song from Green Day. It was part of their second album, “Kerplunk,” and it was also re-released as a part of the band’s third album, “Dookie.”
The Dookie album version became more popular. Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt drew inspiration from a slum in Oakland, where they lived together as teenagers.
Surprisingly, the band’s drummer, Tre Cool, wrote the guitar riff, and Billie Joe Armstrong wrote the drums. You’ll have a fun time playing this one!
| Genre | Punk rock |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Chords | (G, D, C, B) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Welcome to Paradise” by Green Day tabs |
“God Save the Queen” by Sex Pistols (A, D, G, E, B)
“God Save the Queen” by Sex Pistols is a classic punk song that was released during Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.
The track made it to number one on the NME charts and number two on the official UK Singles Chart.
The title comes from the British national anthem, and you guessed it, it was highly controversial. Initially, the track title was “No Future.”
“God Save the Queen” is very catchy and enjoyable. More importantly, it’s not that hard to learn.
| Genre | Punk rock |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Chords | (A, D, G, E, B) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “God Save the Queen” by Sex Pistols tabs |
“Minor Threat” by Minor Threat (A, D, G, C)
Minor Threat was an American punk band, formed in 1980 in D.C. They released the self-titled song in 1981.
“Minor Threat” is an overall youth anthem. Many bands covered it, including Silverchair, Sublime, Title Fight, Pennywise, and Rise Against.
If you’re looking for a hardcore punk track, this one is for you. Luckily, it’s not the hardest to learn.
| Genre | Hardcore punk |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Chords | (A, D, G, C) |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | “Minor Threat” by Minor Threat tabs |
