Don't Know Any Chords (or Songs) Yet?
Let's fix that.
First - choose your instrument.
Guitar Chords
G was my first chord on the guitar. But a lot of beginners start with D or A first. All 3 options are down below. Choose whichever starting chord is easiest to play.
If starting on G....
Click the first image below for 1-chord songs with G. When you're ready, move onto 2-chord and 3-chord songs.
1-Chord Songs with G Major
Click any song below to play along with the video.
- Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley - 1955
- My Jack Don't Drink No Water - Shortstuff Macon - 1964
- Dance to the Music - Sly & the Family Stone - 1968
- Everyday People - Sly & the Family Stone - 1969 - (Slightly out of tune.)
- It's a Rainy Day Sunshine Girl - Faust - 1972
- Low Rider - War - 1975
- Bad to The Bone - George Thorogood - 1982
- One Chord Song - Keith Urban - 2000
- U.S. 41 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - 2010
- Pretty Polly - Traditional - NA
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat - Traditional - NA
- The Farmer in the Dell - Traditional - NA
- Make New Friends - Traditional - NA
- Frère Jacques - Traditional - NA
To see chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele, mandolin, or banjo, click here.
2-Chord Songs with G & C
Click any title to see the chords and notation.
Click any artist for a video.
- The Bum Song - Harry "MAC" McClintock - 1928 - I don't have music notation yet.
- Jambalaya (On The Bayou) - Hank Williams - 1952
- Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley - 1955
- Paperback Writer - The Beatles - 1966
- Every Day People - Sly & the Family Stone - 1969 - The studio recording is slightly out of tune.
- Look So Fine, Feel So Low - Paul Kelly - 1985
- Molly's Lips - Nirvana - 1989
- Unknown Legend - Neil Young - 1992
- Anyone Else but You - Moldy Peaches - 2001 - Calls for Cmaj7 - but playable with C major.
There are also lots of folk tunes & nursery rhymes with these 2 chords.
To see chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele, mandolin, or banjo, click here.
Once you can play 3+ chords, you’re ready to use the Search Songs by Chord tool.
If starting on D....
Click the first image below for 1-chord songs with D. When you're ready, move onto 2-chord and 3-chord songs.
1-Chord Songs with D Major
Click any song below to play along with the video.
- Church of Anthrax - John Cale & Terry Riley - 1971
- Jump Into The Fire - Harry Nilsson - 1971
- Loser - Beck - 1993
- The National Anthem - Radiohead - 2000
- One Chord Song - Stoney LaRue - 2005
- Pretty Polly - Traditional - NA
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat - Traditional - NA
- The Farmer in the Dell - Traditional - NA
- Make New Friends - Traditional - NA
- Frère Jacques - Traditional - NA
To see chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele, mandolin, or banjo, click here.
2-Chord Songs with D & G
Click any title to see the chords and notation.
Click any artist for a video.
- Take Me Back To Tulsa - Bob Wills - 1940
- How Much Is That Doggie in the Window - Patti Page - 1952 - This song modulates.
- Hot Corn, Cold Corn - Flatt and Scruggs - 1962
- Lively Up Yourself - Bob Marley - 1971
- Feel Like Making Love - Bad Company - 1975 - Not sure if this counts or not. There's an extra C in the notation.
- Waymore Blues - Waylon Jennings - 1975
- Copperhead Road - Steve Earle - 1988 - The G5 in the notation is optional.
- Snowstorm - Galaxie 500 - 1989
- The Cowboy Song - Joe vs. the Volcano - 1990
- Sweet Potato - Cracker - 1993
- Stop Whispering - Radiohead - 1993
- Three Is a Magic Number - Blind Melon - 1996
- What I Got - Sublime - 1996
- Gimme That Girl - Joe Nichols - 2009
- Best Day of My Life - American Authors - 2013 - The notation includes a Bm, but this song still works with D & G.
- Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke - 2013
There are also lots of folk tunes & nursery rhymes with these 2 chords.
To see chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele, mandolin, or banjo, click here.
Once you can play 3+ chords, you’re ready to use the Search Songs by Chord tool.
If starting on A....
Click the first image below for 1-chord songs with A. When you're ready, move onto 2-chord and 3-chord songs.
1-Chord Songs with A Major
Click any song below to play along with the video.
- Drifter's Escape - Bob Dylan - 1967 - (Playable with A - but sounds better with A and D major.)
- There Is a Mountain - Donovan - 1967 - (Has a F#m that appears at 1:18 in the song.)
- Helen Wheels - Paul McCartney & Wings - 1973
- Electric Avenue - Eddy Grant - 1983
- Locker - 35007 - 1996
- Joy - Lucinda Williams - 1998
- Stupidly Happy - XTC - 2000
- Pretty Polly - Traditional - NA
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat - Traditional - NA
- The Farmer in the Dell - Traditional - NA
- Make New Friends - Traditional - NA
- Frère Jacques - Traditional - NA
To see chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele, mandolin, or banjo, click here.
2-Chord Songs with A & D
Click any title to see the chords and notation.
Click any artist for a video.
- Pay Me My Money Down - The Weavers - 1955
- Willie Seton - Tom Paxton - 1962
- Season of the Witch - Donovan - 1966
- The Bottle Let Me Down - Merle Haggard - 1966
- TB Sheets - Van Morrison - 1967 - I don't have music notation yet.
- Drifter's Escape - Bob Dylan - 1967
- Okie from Muskogee - Merle Haggard - 1969 - This song modulates.
- Mendocino - The Sir Douglas Quintet - 1969
- Roadrunner - The Modern Lovers - 1972
- Crazy - Barenaked Ladies - 1991
- Countdown - The Black Keys - 2002 - I don't have music notation yet.
- Blowin' Smoke - Kasey Musgrave - 2013
- Boys 'Round Here - Blake Shelton - 2013
There are also lots of folk tunes & nursery rhymes with these 2 chords.
To see chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele, mandolin, or banjo, click here.
Once you can play 3+ chords, you’re ready to use the Search Songs by Chord tool.
Ukulele Chords
Click the first image below for 1-chord songs with C. Then try 2-chord songs with C & F. And then 3-chord songs.
1-Chord Songs with C major
Click any song below to play along with the video.
- Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles - 1966
- Coconut - Harry Nilsson - 1971
- Ever So Lonely - Monsoon - 1982
- American Woman - Lenny Kravitz - 1998 - (Sounds better with Cm but works with C. Also, this song modulates.)
- Pretty Polly - Traditional - NA
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat - Traditional - NA
- The Farmer in the Dell - Traditional - NA
- Make New Friends - Traditional - NA
- Frère Jacques - Traditional - NA
To see chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele, mandolin, or banjo, click here.
2-Chord Songs with C & F
Click any title to see the chords and notation.
Click any artist for a video.
- Pistol Packin' Mama - Al Dexter - 1943
- Singin' in the Rain - Gene Kelly - 1952
- Dream Baby - Roy Orbison - 1955
- Reuben’s Train - The Dillards - 1963
- Iko Iko - Dixie Cups - 1964
- The Name Game - Sherry Ellis - 1964
- Feelin' Alright - Joe Cocker - 1969
- Just My Imagination - The Temptations - 1971 - The entire song is C & F - except for a G7 at 2:50.
- Walk on the Wide Side - Lou Reed - 1972 - It sounds better with a Dm thrown in. But this song works with C & F.
- I’ll Take You There - The Staple Singers - 1972
- Reggae Got Soul - Toots & the Maytals - 1976
- Love Is a Stranger - Eurythmics - 1983
- Chewing Gum - Annie - 2004 - I don't have music notation yet.
- How Come? - Ray LaMontagne - 2004 - There's technically a Bb too. But it's optional.
- LDN - Lily Allen - 2006 - Playable with C or C7.
- Hey Lover - Blake Mills - 2010
- Hold On - Alabama Shakes - 2012
There are also lots of folk tunes & nursery rhymes with these 2 chords.
To see chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele, mandolin, or banjo, click here.
Once you can play 3+ chords, you’re ready to use the Search Songs by Chord tool.
Banjo Chords
Click the first image below for 1-chord songs with G. When you're ready, move onto 2-chord and 3-chord songs.
1-Chord Songs with G Major
Click any song below to play along with the video.
- Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley - 1955
- My Jack Don't Drink No Water - Shortstuff Macon - 1964
- Dance to the Music - Sly & the Family Stone - 1968
- Everyday People - Sly & the Family Stone - 1969 - (Slightly out of tune.)
- It's a Rainy Day Sunshine Girl - Faust - 1972
- Low Rider - War - 1975
- Bad to The Bone - George Thorogood - 1982
- One Chord Song - Keith Urban - 2000
- U.S. 41 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - 2010
- Pretty Polly - Traditional - NA
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat - Traditional - NA
- The Farmer in the Dell - Traditional - NA
- Make New Friends - Traditional - NA
- Frère Jacques - Traditional - NA
To see chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele, mandolin, or banjo, click here.
2-Chord Songs with G & C
Click any title to see the chords and notation.
Click any artist for a video.
- The Bum Song - Harry "MAC" McClintock - 1928 - I don't have music notation yet.
- Jambalaya (On The Bayou) - Hank Williams - 1952
- Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley - 1955
- Paperback Writer - The Beatles - 1966
- Every Day People - Sly & the Family Stone - 1969 - The studio recording is slightly out of tune.
- Look So Fine, Feel So Low - Paul Kelly - 1985
- Molly's Lips - Nirvana - 1989
- Unknown Legend - Neil Young - 1992
- Anyone Else but You - Moldy Peaches - 2001 - Calls for Cmaj7 - but playable with C major.
There are also lots of folk tunes & nursery rhymes with these 2 chords.
To see chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele, mandolin, or banjo, click here.
Once you can play 3+ chords, you’re ready to use the Search Songs by Chord tool.
Mandolin Chords
Click the first image below for 1-chord songs with G. When you're ready, move onto 2-chord and 3-chord songs.
1-Chord Songs with G Major
Click any song below to play along with the video.
- Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley - 1955
- My Jack Don't Drink No Water - Shortstuff Macon - 1964
- Dance to the Music - Sly & the Family Stone - 1968
- Everyday People - Sly & the Family Stone - 1969 - (Slightly out of tune.)
- It's a Rainy Day Sunshine Girl - Faust - 1972
- Low Rider - War - 1975
- Bad to The Bone - George Thorogood - 1982
- One Chord Song - Keith Urban - 2000
- U.S. 41 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - 2010
- Pretty Polly - Traditional - NA
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat - Traditional - NA
- The Farmer in the Dell - Traditional - NA
- Make New Friends - Traditional - NA
- Frère Jacques - Traditional - NA
To see chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele, mandolin, or banjo, click here.
2-Chord Songs with G & C
Click any title to see the chords and notation.
Click any artist for a video.
- The Bum Song - Harry "MAC" McClintock - 1928 - I don't have music notation yet.
- Jambalaya (On The Bayou) - Hank Williams - 1952
- Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley - 1955
- Paperback Writer - The Beatles - 1966
- Every Day People - Sly & the Family Stone - 1969 - The studio recording is slightly out of tune.
- Look So Fine, Feel So Low - Paul Kelly - 1985
- Molly's Lips - Nirvana - 1989
- Unknown Legend - Neil Young - 1992
- Anyone Else but You - Moldy Peaches - 2001 - Calls for Cmaj7 - but playable with C major.
There are also lots of folk tunes & nursery rhymes with these 2 chords.
To see chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele, mandolin, or banjo, click here.
Once you can play 3+ chords, you’re ready to use the Search Songs by Chord tool.
Other Instruments
I've only made chord diagrams for the guitar, ukulele, banjo, and mandolin. But if you play another instrument, you can still find lots of easy songs with 1, 2, and 3 chords.
Click any of the colored sequences below to see what that looks like.
Once you can play 3+ chords, you’re ready to use the Search Songs by Chord tool.
Search Songs by Chord
Add your chords to the search bar below.
Discover songs that only use those chords.
Type chords here or import from My Library
"Finding songs that have only the chords I know is HUGE for a beginner."
- Jason S
"Its a great idea. In 25 years of playing in bands (I'm a drummer) I've never seen this concept before."
- Dan P
"Easy access to songs you can play at your level....whatever that level is."
- Nico
If you found this resource helpful, please share it with others.
Thanks. And happy strumming.
-Austin