25 Sad Guitar Songs (With Tabs + Videos)
Music is one of the best ways to express how we’re feeling. It can help us process emotions and healthily deal with them.
Sad music, in particular, can feel comforting, freeing, and downright cathartic. Some new studies suggest that playing sad music can lift a person’s mood.
Looking for which melancholic tracks to play? Here’s a list of 25 sad guitar songs you can learn for those gloomy days.
We included songs with varying genres and difficulties so you can find the perfect one to learn and play. We hope these songs can comfort you and the people you play them to!
“Hurt” by Johnny Cash (Originally by Nine Inch Nails)
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/johnny-cash/hurt-tabs-47818 |
“Hurt” was originally written by Nine Inch Nails and Trent Reznor. Still, Johnny Cash’s rendition in 2002 added a new layer of meaning to the song, which is why it’s commonly linked to him.
While the song talks about feeling alone and in pain, the story behind Johnny Cash’s cover makes it melancholic. He recorded this song and a music video for it a few months before he passed away.
The music video showed snippets of his life, home, and wife—who also passed away in 2003, shortly after Johnny Cash.
This song is beginner-friendly and sounds amazing on the acoustic guitar.
“Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton
| Genre | Soft Rock |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/eric-clapton/tears-in-heaven-tabs-16131 |
“Tears in Heaven” is deemed one of the saddest songs in Eric Clapton’s repertoire. This track is about his four-year-old son, Conor Clapton, who died after an accidental fall from a New York apartment building.
Eric Clapton wrote this masterpiece after the long hiatus that followed this tragic event. However, on a slightly brighter note, the song also touches on finding peace and staying strong through difficult times.
This piece involves simple cords paired with easy plucking patterns—perfect for intermediate players who want to add this soulful song to their performance.
“Black” by Pearl Jam
| Genre | Classic Rock |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic, Electric |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/pearl-jam/black-tabs-53791 |
According to Eddie Vedder, the lead vocalist of Pearl Jam, “Black” is about unrequited love, first relationships, and learning to let go of that first love when you’re not meant to be.
He spoke about the song in Pearl Jam Twenty, a documentary about the band’s history. The lyrics speak about looking back, yearning for the past, and accepting the relationship’s fate.
It’s a fairly easy classic rock song that beginners can play on the acoustic and electric guitar.
“Mad World” by Gary Jules (Originally by Tears for Fears)
| Genre | Pop |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/gary-jules/mad-world-chords-1087918 |
“Mad World” touched on themes of existence, death, and the world’s emptiness.
It’s a coming-of-age song about that moment when a person realizes that the real world is more gloomy and mundane. The real world is quite far from how children see it.
This track was originally made for the acoustic guitar, so it’s a perfect sad song to learn if you’re an intermediate acoustic guitar player.
“Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M.
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/r-e-m-/everybody-hurts-tabs-90215 |
R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” appeared on their 1992 album, Automatic For The People. Coincidentally, this song truly is for the people.
It was written with the primary purpose of bringing comfort to troubled and suicidal teenagers at that time. For many people, it was a song that saved their life.
This is an easy acoustic song for beginners. When you learn to play it, you can also share R.E.M.’s positive message that you’re never alone and everybody goes through the lows of life.
“The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel
| Genre | Folk Rock |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/simon-garfunkel/the-sound-of-silence-chords-863732 |
“The Sound of Silence” is about someone finding solace in the silence and darkness because they’re unable to communicate their loneliness to anyone else. The first line refers to darkness as an old friend to whom the narrator tells his visions and dreams.
The song’s melancholic sound and solemn lyrics are the main reasons we added this track to the list.
This track follows a soothing rhythm perfect for beginner acoustic guitar players. Get lost in “The Sound of Silence’s” artfully gloomy flow.
“Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor (Originally by Prince)
| Genre | Pop |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/78737 |
“Nothing Compares 2 U” was originally written by Prince. However, Sinead O’Connor’s vocal performance made it one of the loveliest power ballads during that time.
This song made this list because of its lyrics on loneliness and loss. Sinead O’Connor’s emotion in her rendition makes it even more sorrowful.
You can find several acoustic versions of this song, but they’re all generally set at an intermediate level.
“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd
| Genre | Progressive Rock |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/pink-floyd/wish-you-were-here-tabs-984061 |
“Wish You Were Here” is a song by Pink Floyd from their ninth album of the same name. The album is full of tracks centered on the themes of absence and longing.
This particular song talks about dissociating from reality. It’s about feeling detached from the world that we live in.
The track likely pulled inspiration from Syd Barret’s own battle with mental illness.
There’s a relatively easy plucking pattern for the intro, followed by simple cords for the verse and chorus.
“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen (also known for the Buckler version)
| Genre | Folk Rock |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/leonard-cohen/hallelujah-chords-629185 |
“Hallelujah” is a song about hope, sadness, and love. It has touches of gospel music, pulling from biblical references now and then.
What makes it a sad song is how it touches on the darkness that’s also there with love. Love is a powerful emotion, but darkness is also ever-looming.
An easy chord progression throughout the song makes it perfect for beginners picking up the acoustic guitar.
“I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie
| Genre | Alternative/Indie |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/death-cab-for-cutie/i-will-follow-you-into-the-dark-chords-335735 |
Death Cab for Cutie’s ”I Will Follow You Into the Dark” is a musical testament that love can be stronger than even death itself. It deals with themes of love and loss in a comforting way.
At its core, this track is a beautiful love song that tells listeners about the inherent strength of love and how it goes beyond the grave.
“I Will Follow You Into the Dark” focuses more on the intermediate difficulty, but we believe it’s a heartwarming song worth learning.
“Last Kiss” by Pearl Jam (Originally by Wayne Cochran)
| Genre | Pop |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/pearl-jam/last-kiss-chords-38269 |
“Last Kiss” was based on a true story, which is a big part of what makes this song a tragic narration. It was inspired by the passing of Jeanette Clark and JL Hancock, two teenagers who lost their lives in a car crash in 1962.
Pearl Jam recorded the song in 1998 and donated all earnings from the single to a charity for refugees.
This pop track is great for beginners as it involves some of the simplest chords and strumming patterns.
“Creep” by Radiohead
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic, Electric |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/radiohead/creep-tabs-4119 |
Radiohead’s “Creep” talks about feelings of self-doubt and isolation. The chorus literally goes on about how they feel like they don’t belong; they’re a weirdo and a creep.
This song tells the audience about how society can make us feel alienated when we’re different. It’s a disheartening realization that touches on not being enough, not having the perfect body and soul, and not being special.
The lyrics are quite solemn, but you’ll notice that the drums and lead guitar melodies aren’t as quiet as you’d expect!
This song isn’t an easy track to play on the acoustic guitar, but learning how to play it is definitely worth it. There are a lot of interesting percussive sounds from the plucking patterns.
“Something in the Way” by Nirvana
| Genre | Acoustic Rock/Alternative Rock |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/nirvana/something-in-the-way-chords-1721385 |
What makes Nirvana’s “Something in the Way” so melancholic is the combination of the emotional turmoil we hear in Kurt Cobain’s voice and the simple, low-spirited melody of the song. Some speculations interpret this song as a retelling of the singer’s own experience when he was kicked out of his home.
The short verses illustrate someone who’s fending for themselves, just trying to survive. That “something” in the way could be the singer’s feelings of self-doubt, and the circumstances they’re in.
This is an acoustic rock staple that’s great for beginners. The chords and strumming patterns are fairly simple—perfect for those who want a solemn piece to add to their repertoire.
“Nutshell” by Alice in Chains
| Genre | Acoustic Rock/Alternative Rock |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/alice-in-chains/nutshell-tabs-18734 |
Most interpretations paint the band Alice in Chains’ “Nutshell” as a story revealing what lead vocalist Layne Staley went through. During the creation of this track, the singer was going through a difficult fight against heroin addiction.
He sings about feeling alone and coming home to no one. Those going through similar battles know how gut-wrenching and heart-piercing these lyrics are.
The track has interesting plucking patterns that intermediate acoustic guitar players might find both challenging and rewarding.
“Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division
| Genre | Rock/Post-punk |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/joy-division/love-will-tear-us-apart-chords-72612 |
We included Joy Division’s “Love Wil Tear Us Apart” in this list because of how the song tackles the feelings in the midst of a failing relationship. It’s about growing apart and taking different paths in life.
There are several variations of how this song can be played on the acoustic guitar, but they’re all relatively easy for intermediate players. The chords are a bit more advanced for beginners, but you’re more than welcome to try and take the challenge.
“No Surprises” by Radiohead
| Genre | Dream pop |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/radiohead/no-surprises-chords-183884 |
Another Radiohead song on this list is “No Surprises.” The band is known for writing deeply emotional songs that talk about the reality of life and how sadness is often a part of it that we have to embrace sometimes.
“No Surprises” is about someone who’s unhappy about their life and the society they live in. It’s about feeling worn out and weary.
Despite the sorrowful lyrics, you might find this song quite fun to play! It’s beginner-friendly and has a unique, hopeful melody.
“The Scientist” by Coldplay
| Genre | Rock/Pop |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/coldplay/the-scientist-chords-180849 |
There are many interpretations that surround Coldplay’s “The Scientist.” However, they all pretty much agree that this song is a sad one.
It’s about heartbreak and realizing someone’s worth just a little bit too late. It’s about the pain of having to let go and wishing there was a do-over.
Some interpretations also delve into how the titular scientist loves his work to the point that it destroys his personal relationship. He realizes this too late and wishes he could still find a way to fix it.
“Don’t Cry” by Guns N’ Roses
| Genre | Hard Rock |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Type of Guitar | Electric |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/guns-n-roses/dont-cry-tabs-12688 |
The famous story behind “Don’t Cry” by Guns N’ Roses is the alleged love triangle between a girl loved by lead vocalist Axl Rose and songwriter Izzy Stradlin. Much of the song was inspired by Roxy, the girl behind the song.
In a conversation between Roxy and Axl Rose, the heartbreak brought him to tears. She then told him, “Don’t cry.”
Since there are quite a bit of guitar riffs in this track, it may be challenging for beginners. More advanced electric guitar players, however, will find this song interesting to play and perform.
“Fade to Black” by Metallica
| Genre | Heavy metal |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic, Electric |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/metallica/fade-to-black-tabs-23218 |
Metallica’s “Fade to Black” definitely belongs to this list because it talks about the feeling of losing your will to live, looming emptiness, and being in a constant state of agony. It’s a dark and emotional song that illustrates what it feels like to want nothing but to escape the agony of living.
You could stay true to the song’s heavy metal roots and play this on the electric guitar, but you can also use an acoustic guitar. We recommend learning the song if you’re on the intermediate skill level since there are some challenging riffs on the tabs.
“Whiskey Lullaby” by Brad Paisley ft. Alison Krauss
| Genre | Country |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/brad-paisley/whiskey-lullaby-chords-142500 |
The “Whiskey Lullaby” duet tells the story of a tragic love story that takes a dark turn as both find themselves in a Romeo and Juliet double suicide situation. It explores feelings of guilt, love, and sadness.
According to the American Songwriter, this track was heavily inspired by a co-writer’s divorce and the domino effect of sad events that happened after. The songwriter found comfort in drinking alcohol—which we know isn’t the most healthy coping mechanism.
This is an easy acoustic song that anyone can pick up since it only involves four major chords throughout the song.
“Angie” by The Rolling Stones
| Genre | Soft Rock |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/the-rolling-stones/angie-chords-1091046 |
Keith Richards wrote most of “Angie” while he was in Switzerland trying to recover from heroin addiction. There’s a lot of speculation about the titular woman, from David Bowie’s wife to Keith Richards’ daughter, but The Rolling Stones band members cleared that it was Keith who chose the name.
The song is about letting go but remembering shared times and good moments. This is a classic soft rock great for intermediate players because of a more difficult chord progression.
“Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin
| Genre | Folk Rock |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/harry-chapin/cats-in-the-cradle-chords-407661 |
Harry Chapin writes about a father-son relationship in “Cats in the Cradle.” The song touches on how the father missed many milestones during his son’s life because he put his work first. Eventually, the son mirrors his father’s absence.
This 1974 narrative folk-rock tale has an interesting combination of basic and advanced chords for intermediate players.
“The Blower’s Daughter” by Damien Rice
| Genre | Alternative/Indie |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/damien-rice/the-blowers-daughter-chords-149330 |
Unlike most of the songs on this list, Damien Rice’s “The Blower’s Daughter” doesn’t have a straightforward meaning. The singer intentionally left a lot of space for the audience’s own interpretation, as he didn’t speak much about it.
Many speculate that it’s about Damien falling in love with his clarinet teacher’s daughter—thus, “blower’s daughter.” The song is about unrequited love and yearning.
The chord progression in this song is more on the difficult side, so we recommend intermediate-skill level players give it a go.
“Brick” by Ben Folds Five
| Genre | Alternative/Indie |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/ben-folds-five/brick-chords-336333 |
On Ben Folds’ live album, Ben Folds Live, the artist recalls how the song was written to express what he felt when he and his high school girlfriend had to get an abortion.
It was a difficult time, and the song perfectly painted that picture.
This track was originally written for the acoustic guitar. Intermediate players will find that it’s a welcome challenge, with interesting chord progressions throughout the song.
“Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman
| Genre | Folk |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Type of Guitar | Acoustic |
| Tabs | https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/tracy-chapman/fast-car-chords-1044807 |
“Fast Car,” according to Tracy Chapman, isn’t about fast cars at all. It’s a song about escaping, longing to move fast, and envisioning a different life. This track is a ballad about dreaming and trying to escape the cycle that life has originally set out for you.
It’s generally a sad song because there isn’t any certainty that this dream can be achieved. You play the cards dealt to you, and sometimes they may not go the way you want them to.
This is a great track to learn for beginners as it only involves five simple chords over the course of the whole song.
