25 Easy Spanish Guitar Songs (With Tabs + Videos)
When it comes to evocative and heartwarming guitar pieces, none can contest the beauty of Spanish guitar songs. From class folk to tango to bolero, you’re spoiled for choice as a beginner guitarist.
This article lists some of my favorite easy Spanish guitar songs to impress the audience. Most of these songs feature no more than five chords and utilize a range of techniques, from strumming to fingerpicking.
Let’s get right into it!
“Besame Mucho” by Consuelo Velázquez
| Genre | Bolero |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Am, E7, Dm, G, C |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Besame Mucho Tabs |
Written in 1941 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velasquez, Besame Mucho (“Kiss Me a Lot”) is one of of the most recorded and covered Spanish songs of all time.
Besame Mucho follows a repetitive Am, E7, Dm, G, and C chord progression that is repeated throughout the song. It features a moderately-paced diatonic melody, using G sharp as the leading note. It’s fairly easy to play, but it needs a bit of extra practice to perfect.
“La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens
| Genre | Folk |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | C, F, G |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | La Bamba Tabs |
La Bamba is an 18th-century folk song that originates from the region of Veracruz. It’s often performed at weddings, with the bride and groom dancing to the song as they tie a ribbon together with their toes.
La Bamba uses the chords C, F, and G—three of the easiest guitar chords for beginners. Once you’ve mastered the tune, you can break out of basic shapes and into more advanced finger positions by swapping the major chords for major seventh chords.
“Guantanamera” by Joseíto Fernández
| Genre | Folk |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | C, F, G7 |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Guantanamera Tabs |
Guantanamera (“from Guantánamo”) is a song that symbolizes the unity between Americans and Cubans. It appeared on the radio in 1929 and gained global popularity shortly after, quickly becoming a musical symbol of Cuba.
There are several ways to play Guantanamera, but the easiest method is to strum C, F, and G7. It has a catchy rhythm and a straightforward chord progression, making it an excellent song to learn by both beginners and intermediate players.
“Cielito Lindo” by Quirino Mendoza y Cortés
| Genre | Folk |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | D, A7 |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Cielito Lindo Tabs |
Popularized in 1882 by Mexican author Quirino Mendoza y Cortés, Cielito Lindo (“Lovely Sweet One”) is a song played during moments of celebration and events—birthday parties, weddings, soccer matches, Mexican Independence Day parties, and the like.
Though written more than a century ago, the song continues to inspire people of all ages and cultures. It has a romantic yet upbeat vibe that elevates the mood and makes you want to look forward to better days. It feels nice to play and only uses chords D and A7 at its most basic.
“Bamboleo” by Gipsy Kings
| Genre | Flamenco. Pop, New Age |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | G, Am, C, D |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Bamboleo Tabs |
Bamboleo is one of the most defining genre entries of its era. The song features flamenco motifs to reflect the roots of Spanish-Romani families that have emigrated to France in the midst of the Spanish Civil War.
Bamboleo is played with a capo on the second fret. The chords switch rapidly so it can be a bit challenging for a beginner to master. Still, it’s a wonderful song to learn if you want to master fingerpicking. .
“Entre Dos Aguas” by Paco de Lucía
| Genre | Flamenco rumba |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Am, G, Dm, E |
| Type of Guitar | Classic |
| Tabs | Entre Dos Aguas Tabs |
Searching for a song that’ll strike the audience through the heart? Entre Dos Aguas (“Between Two Waters”) might just be the song you’re looking for.
Written by one of the world’s most talented flamenco guitarists, Entre Dos Aguas revolutionized the flamenco genre. It’s traditional yet modern, fast-paced yet romantic.
Entre Dos Aguas uses a moderate tempo rumba rhythm that lifts the spirit. To master this piece, you’ll need to focus on chord progression. If you get the progression right, you’re halfway there.
“Volare” by Gipsy Kings
| Genre | Pop |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Am, E7, Dm, G, C |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Volare Tabs |
Volare bursts into a harmonic rhythm that urges the audience to move their hips. It features one of the most commonly-used harmonic sequences in flamenco: Am, E7, Dm, G, and C.
With this song, you’ll not only exercise your fingers but also sharpen your note-listening abilities. It might be tricky to play at first, but once you’ve mastered Volare, you’ll have mastered half of the flamenco songs in existence.
“El Mariachi” by Antonio Banderas
| Genre | Pop, Rock |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Am, G, F, E |
| Type of Guitar | Classic, Classical |
| Tabs | El Mariachi Tabs |
Featured in the 1995 American action film Desperado by Robert Rodriguez, El Mariachi, also known as Canción del Mariachi, is the quintessential Mexican folk ensemble. Its rhythm is so iconic that even those outside Mexican spaces have heard of this song.
El Mariachi is best played using a combination of fingerpicking and strumming, but beginners can stick to strumming until they master the beat. It’s extremely fast-paced, so take it slow and allow your fingers to acclimate to the different movements of the song.
“La Cucaracha”
| Genre | Folk |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | C, G7, F |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | La Cucaracha Tabs |
If you grew up watching cartoons by Warner Bros., Disney, and Pixar, you’ve surely heard of La Cucaracha (“The Cockroach”).
La Cucaracha is a traditional Mexican song that narrates the story of a cockroach that could no longer walk. The song’s origins are still up for debate but we do know that it dates back to the 1910s during the Mexican Revolution.
La Cucaracha is a fun and exciting song to learn. The rapid strumming makes it seem difficult, but it’s actually pretty simple. Once you’ve mastered the basics of arpeggio, it’ll be a cakewalk to play.
“Malagueña” by Ernesto Lecuona
| Genre | Tango |
| Difficulty | Difficult |
| Chords | Am, G, F, E7 |
| Type of Guitar | Classic |
| Tabs | Malagueña Tabs |
When you look up Malagueña, you’ll be greeted with two completely different versions: one as a semi-classical instrumental for piano and another as a folkloric son huasteco with vocals and guitars. Though written nearly two decades apart, both versions are equally famous.
Malagueña isn’t the easiest to play nor master, and will certainly test the limits of your fingerstyle. But that’s what makes this song so great: while challenging, it’s not impossible for a complete beginner to learn. You’ll just have to be patient and methodical in your approach to learning the song.
“Sway” by Dean Martin
| Genre | Dance, Bolero |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Dm, G7, C, A7 |
| Type of Guitar | Classic |
| Tabs | Sway Tabs |
Sway, formerly known as ¿Quién será?, is a bolero-mambo song written by Mexican composers Pablo Beltrán Ruiz and Luis Demetrio in 1953. It was popularized in the United States by American singer Dean Martin a year later and has since become a standard in the pop repertoire.
One of the most famous covers of Sway was performed by Canadian singer Michael Bublé. It’s featured in countless movies, including The Big Tease (1999), Hotel de Love (1997), Thank You For Coming (2013), and House (Episode “The Down Low” 2010).
Sway uses both fingerpicking and strumming, making it an excellent song to play if you want to impress your friends and family. If you’re a beginner, you can skip the complex fingerpicking and strum the chords throughout the song.
“Quizás, Quizás, Quizás” by Osvaldo Farrés
| Genre | Popular |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Dm, G, A7, D |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Quizás, Quizás, Quizás Tabs |
Quizás, Quizás, Quizás (“Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps”) is an unforgettable piece written by Osvaldo Farrés and later popularized in the US by Doris Day.
The song not only appeals to older listeners but to the younger audience, as well. It has been covered by countless artists including Bing Crosby, Ben King, Andrea Bocelli, and The Pussycat Dolls. Moreover, it was recently featured in the 2021 Disney live-action film Cruella.
If you struggle with fingerpicking, Quizás, Quizás, Quizás is a good beginner’s pick. It follows a basic but impactful and addictive melody. You’ll learn how to switch from high to low and try out various guitar-playing techniques that’ll sharpen your skills.
“Granada” by Agustín Lara
| Genre | Folk, World, Country |
| Difficulty | Difficult |
| Chords | Am, E7, Dm, G, C |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Granada Tabs |
Granada is a 1932 Mexican song about Granada, a city in southern Spain’s Andalusia region.
The song has been covered multiple times in multiple genres and languages, including Spanish, English, German, and Italian. Countless genres of the song also exist, from pop and jazz to flamenco and rock. Popular versions include those by Big Crosby, Jorge Negrete, Mario Lanza, and Frank Sinatra.
Granada is one of the more difficult pieces on this list, especially for a beginner. It takes a lot of skill, emotion, and technique to play, so it’ll take longer than most to master.
“Solamente Una Vez” by Agustín Lara
| Genre | Bolero |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | G, D7, C, Am |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Solamente Una Vez Tabs |
Solamente Una Vez (“You Belong To My Heart”) first appeared in the 1941 film Melodías de América, an Argentina comedy film with a Panamerican theme. The movie has won countless awards and is widely recognized as one of the best Argentian musical films of all time.
Solamente Una Vez uses four easy chords: G, D7, C, and Am. It follows a basic strumming technique mixed with some fingerpicking.
“Historia de un Amor” by Carlos Eleta Almarán
| Genre | Bolero |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Gm, D7, G7, Cm |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Historia de un Amor Tabs |
Historia de un Amor (“The Story of a Love”) was written after the death of Carlos Eleta Almarán’s brother’s wife, and details the story of a man’s suffering. It’s poignant and impactful, a beautiful piece that sticks to the heart of the listener. To date, it holds the world record as the most popular song translated and sung across the world.
It might not seem the case at first glance, but Historia de un Amor is actually pretty easy to play once you’ve mastered the basics of fingerpicking. It’s an excellent choice for beginners and seasoned guitar players alike and a great lesson on how to use effects and chords creatively.
“Estrellita” by Manuel M. Ponce
| Genre | Folk |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | G, D7, C |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Estrellita Tabs |
Manuel M. Ponce is one of the most celebrated Mexican composers of the twentieth century, praised for his impressive works for the piano, guitar, and orchestra. Estrellita (“Little Star”) is his most memorable piece, noted for its ravishing leaps to low and high notes.
Estrellita tells the story of a woman that confides in her little star about the love she feels for an unnamed man—a love that she believes she’ll carry to her grave. It’s both tender and intense, a song that leaves the listener feeling nostalgic and, in some ways, hopeful.
Estrellita uses several guitar techniques that a beginner should know, like espressivo, tempo, muting, and harmonics.
“Oye Como Va” by Tito Puente
| Genre | Cha-cha-chá |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | Am, D7 |
| Type of Guitar | Classical, Electric |
| Tabs | Oye Como Va Tabs |
Written and recorded by Tito Puente in 1962, Oye Como Va (“Listen to How It Goes”) is a cha-cha-chá that achieved praise and worldwide fame. It placed number 13 on Billboard Hot 100 in 1971, was inducted into the Latin Grammy of Fame in 2001, and Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.
Oye Como Va represents the transnationalism, hybridity, and interconnectedness of the Latin genre in the US. Santana’s version introduced a never-heard-before variant of Latin rock, utilizing a Classical guitar, a rock drum kit, and a Hammond B-3 organ in the instrumentation.
In its most basic form, Oye Como Va uses only two chords—Am and D7—which are repeated throughout the song. It’s an easy piece for beginners and intermediate players searching for a relaxed, easy-to-play guitar song.
“Cuando Calienta el Sol” by Los Hermanos Rigual
| Genre | Latin |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | G, E7, Am, D7 |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Cuando Calienta el Sol Tabs |
Published in 1961 by Cuban-Mexican group Los Hermanos Rigual, Cuando Calienta el Sol (“When the Sun Warms Up”) is a melancholy guitar piece riddled with beautiful harmonies and melodies.
The opening riff and main body aren’t too difficult to play, as it follows the standard progression of G, E7, Am, and D7. It’s an excellent introduction to basic slides, trills, and bends, making it a great song for beginners to learn.
“Contigo en la Distancia” by César Portillo de la Luz
| Genre | Bolero |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | C, Am, Dm, G |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Contigo en la Distancia Tabs |
Contigo en la Distancia (With You In the Distance) is one of César Portillo de la Luz’s most notable pieces.
Written in 1947 when Portillo de la Luz was only 24, Contigo en la Distancia perfectly showcased the stylistic, harmonic, and compositional point of view of Cuban boleros.
It’s been interpreted by hundreds of singers, with the most notable being Christina Aguilera, Pedro Infante, Belinda, and Joan Manuel Serrat, among others.
Contigo en la Distancia uses basic chords like C, Am, Dm, and G and a down-down-up-down pattern, making it an easy beginner’s piece.
“El Noa Noa” by Juan Gabriel
| Genre | Pop, Argentine Rock |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | G, C, D |
| Type of Guitar | Classical, Electrical |
| Tabs | El Noa Noa Tabs |
Written by Mexican singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel, El Noa Noa is an unforgettable blend of pop and Argentine rock. It’s one of Gabriel’s most popular and impactful pieces, having sold more than 5 million records worldwide.
El Noa Noa is a masterclass intro to challenging yet fun guitar techniques, like picking and strumming. The entire song can be played with as few as three basic chords: G, C, and D. The strumming isn’t too difficult and stays consistent throughout. It’s an enjoyable song to learn and play.
“Perfidia” by Alberto Domínguez
| Genre | Bolero |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Chords | Dm, G7, C, A7 |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Perfidia Tabs |
Perfidia transcends the beauty of bolero—at least according to critics. Written by Mexican composer and arranger Alberto Domínguez, this 1939 song changed how people viewed Mexican bolero. It has spawned countless renditions, from traditional folk to rock instrumentals.
The 1960 rock cover by The Ventures placed Perfidia in the Top 10 Hottest Songs of popular music stations, including KIMN Denver, KYA San Francisco, KDWB Minneapolis, and others.
“Piel Canela” by Bobby Capó
| Genre | Pop, World, Folk |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | D, A7, Bm, G |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Piel Canela Tabs |
Piel Canela “Brown Skin” is a 1952 ballad that combines Andalusian influences with Latin American folk music. It’s one of Bobby Capó’s most cherished and well-enduring songs and continues to inspire and resonate with people of all ages—artists and music lovers alike.
Piel Canela talks about how the beauty of the narrator’s love will never fade, even if the ocean loses its vastness and the stars lose their shine. It also speaks of the grief of separation, saying that if the narrator were to part with his lover, the world would be rendered meaningless.
“La Paloma” by Sebastián de Iradier
| Genre | Habaneras |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | G, C, D7 |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | La Paloma Tabs |
La Paloma (“The Love”) is a charming Spanish tango written by Spanish Basque composer Sebastián Iradier. It’s been reinterpreted in thousands of settings, cultures, recordings, and arrangements over the last century. It’s one of the most-recorded songs in the history of music, up there with Yesterday by The Beatles, and the most-recorded song in Spanish history.
“Adiós Muchachos” by Julio César Sanders
| Genre | Tango |
| Difficulty | Difficult |
| Chords | G, D7, C |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | Adiós Muchachos Tabs |
Recorded in 1927, Adiós Muchachos is an emotion-filled Argentine tango song that tells the story of a sick protagonist close to death. In the song, the protagonist says farewell to his friends while fondly looking back at his life.
Louis Armstrong’s rendition of Adiós Muchachos (which he titled “I Get Ideas”) became an instant hit in the United States.
From then, countless other versions spawned. The tango also appeared in numerous films and television classics, including Scent of a Woman (1992) and an episode of I Love Lucy.
“El Reloj” by Roberto Cantoral
| Genre | Bolero |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Chords | C, G7, F, Em |
| Type of Guitar | Classical |
| Tabs | El Reloj Tabs |
El Reloj (“The Clock”) is a bolero that made waves in the Spanish community. Roberto Cantoral composed the song at the end of a Los Tres Caballeros tour in the United States after a particularly memorable encounter with one of the women in the show.
The song premiered in 1957 and was an immediate success, receiving dozens of awards and being interpreted by countless artists in several languages, including Japanese.
This comes as no surprise as El Reloj was—and still is—a stunning piece, with a catchy melody, a heartwarming crescendo build-up, and a soft lead guitar line.
