Beginner’s Guide: Learn to Play 10 Easy Country Songs on Guitar

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear country music?

Cowboys, Rodeo, or Texas?

Well, country music is way more than just that. It reflects themes of everyday life, such as love, hardships, family, patriotism, and traditional values. If you are a beginner guitarist, then country music can be your best friend, thanks to its storytelling lyrics, relaxed rhythms, and simple open chords. For beginners, you will be happy to know how easily songs like ‘Jolene’ or ‘Ring of Fire’ can be played with just 2 – 3 basic chords. All you need to know are chords like G, C, D, and Em, and you will realise why learning easy country songs on guitar is one of the most rewarding experiences. 

Slow tempos, repeating patterns, and heartfelt melodies make these easy country songs favorites among learners. In this guide, we have curated a list of easy country songs to play on guitar so can start jamming right away and enjoy your guitar lessons even more.

What Makes a Country Song “Easy” to Learn?

Country music, in general, and its songs are among the easiest to learn. Here are some reasons why aspirants and guitarists find easy country songs on guitar to be such a perfect starting point:

• Simple chord progression

If you look at the famous country music songs, you will realize that most of them are usually played in open chords like G, C, D, Em, Am or A7. That’s because these are part of the I-IV-V chord system, which is found in countless top country songs. These voiced country songs often use open strings, which are easier to fret and produce a fuller sound with minimal hand movements.

• Limited chord changes

If you are new to this genre, you’ll be happy to know that country songs are very easy to play. They often loop the same chord progressions for every verse and chorus. This reduces the complexity of the songs, reinforces muscle memory, and makes it easier to play and memorize songs quickly. 

• Moderate tempo and steady rhythm

Most country songs have slow and predictable grooves. It makes strumming the guitar and understanding the time signature easier. The usual down-down-up-up-down-up or alternate bass rhythm patterns help beginners ace the songs without any pressure. 

• Memorable melody and lyrics

Since country music typically tells a story with a clear, singable tune, you can follow along emotionally even as you focus on playing chords. That sense of connection boosts motivation and aids retention.

• Accessible acoustic setup

Mostly easy country songs on guitar are written for or performed using standard-tuned acoustic guitars, which beginners often start with. You don’t need complex fingerstyle, barres, or alternate tunings—just a comfortable, open-position guitar in standard tuning.

How does this Work in Online Guitar Teaching?

Since this music is easy to play, most online music classes begin with country-style songs as they tick the following boxes: 

• Easily learn and reinforce chord technique.
  
• Repetition teaches discipline, making hand transitions more automatic and efficient.
  
• Slow tempos and clear melodies create positive feedback loops.
  
• Straightforward rhythm patterns encourage steady strumming and rhythm practice.
  

So, now the next time you see something called “easy country songs to play on guitar”, you know exactly what makes it beginner-friendly. All these features of country music build confidence in learners and give them a feel that they’re playing real, noticeable music, not just exercises.

Guitar Essentials Before You Start

Do the following things to make sure your guitar playing experience is seamless – 

1. Ensure your acoustic guitar is in tune.
   
   
2. Warm up with the basics, practice the down-down-up pattern.
   
   
3. Brush up on your chord transition skills between chords G-C and D – Em.
   
   
4. Depending on your primary hand, practice strumming technique with that hand, downstrokes accents on beats one and three.
   
   
5. Familiarize yourself with open chords: G, C, D, Em, Am, A—all used in these songs.
   

These foundations help you play the songs below with confidence and accuracy.

10 Easy Country Songs to Play on Guitar

1. Jolene – Dolly Parton

This is an excellent song for practicing control and ear timing. The song combines three open chords and a sensitive, slow strumming pattern. It helps beginners develop a smooth switching rhythm and explore dynamics. This has helped learners strum lightly and add more intensity to the chorus. 

2. Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash

This is an ideal song to improve your time reliability. This song’s built on a steady, circular rhythm and 3 major chords. To ensure consistent down-strums, the song features a marching snare-style beat. To make it enjoyable, sing along, as Cash’s vocal delivery makes it easy to play and keep the groove.

3. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver

This is one of the easiest acoustic guitar country songs for beginners. The song utilises only four open chords, allowing you to practice chord changes frequently. The best part is its lyric-friendly pace, which will enable you to strum, sing, and maintain chord timing throughout the verse and chorus. This is perfect for building confidence.

4. The Gambler – Kenny Roger

This famous ballad by Kenny Rogers has 3 chords and mirror-like verses. This makes it easy to anticipate the chord changes that follow. The rhythm is relatively straightforward, making it perfect for transitioning to fingerstyle or bass-note strumming.

5. Fist City – Loretta Lynn

As a beginner, if you want to know more about timing, this song should be on your list. It features an upbeat waltz (3/4) rhythm, accompanied by alternate bass and chord strumming patterns. This is great for developing hand coordination and tempo awareness, as the guitar repeats the same progression, allowing you to lock into the groove while singing.

6. Good Hearted Woman – Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson

For those looking for consistency and settling into a groove, this is an ideal song. It features a repetitive mid-tempo duet, a feel-good chorus, and a slow chord progression. You can use either a simple strumming pattern or alternating bass patterns for better timing.

7. Take It Easy – Eagles

This is a classic country-rock song by the legendary Eagles. The song is played using three chords with a down-up strumming pattern. The repetitive chorus reinforces grip and chord shape memory. A steady tempo and melodic lines across the verses help beginners hear where chord changes occur. It’s both fun and forgiving.

8. Lay Down Sally – Eric Clapton

Another classic by the legendary Eric Clapton, this is an easy and rhythmic country-rock song that teaches chord form changes mid-song. To play this song, use the down-down-up/down-up (swing/shuffle) strum pattern to feel the groove. It’s great for playing with a bop feel and transitioning smoothly between chord shapes.

9. Wasted Days and Wasted Nights – Freddy Fender

A slow, swamp-pop ballad with simple chord flow and lyrical delivery, this song invites you to focus on timing and feel. Practice each chord change slowly while singing lightly. Its relaxed pace encourages expressive strumming rather than speed, making it soothing and beginner-friendly.

10. Jambalaya (On the Bayou) – Hank Williams

Cheerful, Cajun-flavored, and rhythmically repetitive, this song helps with quick chord shifts and down‑up strumming. There are three chords in this song. Practice switching between these three chords while singing the lyrics. It builds fluidity, timing, and the fun of a sing-along, especially when practicing phrase by phrase.

Note: All descriptions assume standard tuning (EADGBE), an acoustic or budget electric guitar, and beginner finger positions. Practice each chord slowly, play along with YouTube, and most importantly, have fun!

Pro Tips to Learn Songs Fast

• Always practice with a metronome or play at a slower speed. Gradually increase the speed once you are comfortable.
  
• Break down the songs, ideally into 4-bar loops. Once you master all the bars, string them together and play at once.
  
• Focus on timing: chord changes on the beat, strumming consistently.
  
• Enroll in online music classes or take online guitar classes for instant feedback and structured progress.
  
• Sing along as you play—it helps internalize rhythm and keeps learning fun.
  

How Artium Can Help You Learn Guitar?

At Artium Academy, we are committed to providing the best music experience for our students. We understand that the guitar is more than just playing a few chords, it’s about developing skill, style, and confidence. That’s why our online guitar lessons are curated by Raju Singh, one of Bollywood’s respected music composers. Under his guidance, we have developed a structured music programme that is globally recognized and Ofqual-accredited. This puts us on par with other prestigious institutions worldwide. Now students can not only play confidently but also be globally certified while at the same time.

Through our Artium learning app, you can access:

• Live 1:1 sessions with expert guitar instructors
• Progress tracking tools to monitor skills, timing, and accuracy
• Flexible scheduling that fits your lifestyle
• Interactive practice resources that make learning both practical and fun
  

Master Your First Country Songs Now

Not only is it amazing to listen to country music, but it is also one of the easiest genres to play. Songs like “Jolene” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” are easy country songs to play on guitar, as they provide a solid foundation for chord transitions, timing, and musical expression. So, it doesn’t matter if you are a complete beginner or have been playing the guitar for years; country songs are great for practice.

At Artium Academy, we believe music should be accessible to everyone. As a premier online music school in India, offering online guitar lessons and online music classes, we support learners across genres—from classic country to film music in languages such as Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Tamil. With structured guidance, expert teachers, and a clear progression plan, you can confidently master these songs and more.

Ready to learn? Explore our guided courses and start your musical journey today.

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