Easy Fingerstyle Songs - Modern Guitar Approach

These easy guitar fingerstyle songs are fun to play and perfect to perform for others. In this lesson, you will learn some great guitar arrangements of Blackbird & Here Comes The Sun from the Beatles. You will also learn how to play Happy Birthday, Bookends by Simon and Garfunkel and A Soalin’ by Peter Paul and Mary. All of these songs are listed in the order that I teach them to my students.

These 5 easy guitar fingerstyle songs are fun to play and perfect to perform for others. In this lesson, you will learn some great guitar arrangements of classic songs. Songs like Blackbird & Here Comes The Sun from the Beatles, Happy Birthday, Bookends and A Soalin'. These arrangements are taught in the order I teach them to my own guitar students and will help you learn how to play fingerstyle guitar. Modern Guitar Approach. #learnguitar

I do two recitals for my students every year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. Many of my students like singing and playing songs with chords. Others are terrified of singing in front of others. These songs are for guitar players who want to play something without having to sing. They also teach important concepts for anyone trying learn how to play the guitar.

Reading Tablature

Before you start diving into these songs, you’ll need to know a few concepts. The first is how to read tablature. Each string on a tablature (or Tab) staff represents a string on the guitar. The top line represents the 1st string. The first string is the smallest string and sounds the highest.

The lowest line on the tablature staff represents the 6th string. This can feel backwards to some people. This is because when you are holding your guitar, the first string is closest to the floor, or the lowest.

Right Hand Fingering

You’ll also need to be familiar with how to identify your right hand fingers. I use the traditional Spanish naming which is a common practice for most guitar music:

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p: thumb, the Spanish name is pulgar
i: index finger, indicio
m: middle finger, medio
a: third finger or ring finger, anular

1. Happy Birthday

I actually teach this song when I’m introducing the chords D & A7 and have included this song in the post Learn Chords D & A7. I bring it up again here, because if you haven’t played it before, it’s a great introduction to a fingerstyle arrangement.

For the most part, you only play the melody to Happy Birthday in tab. There are a few places where you’ll need to use your thumb and a finger to pluck (almost like pinching) two strings at the same time. A guitar pick can’t easily play the 5th and 2nd strings at the same time. This is why you need to use your right hand thumb and fingers instead. This is also why it’s called a fingerstyle arrangement.

My arrangement of Happy Birthday plays the song twice. The first time as a guitar fingerstyle solo. The second time as a strum and sing song. Try playing this song next time a friend or family member has a birthday. You would play through this song once on your own and then one more time through while everyone sings!

Happy Birthday - Chords and Guitar Tab. This easy beginner guitar song is a great way to learn easy tablature and the chords D and A7. #learnguitar #guitarlessons — Happy Birthday

2. A Soalin’ by Peter, Paul & Mary

I use this song to introduce fingers i and m. Use your right hand index finger (i) to play the second string. Use your right hand middle finger (m) to play the first string. This should get you through the first two lines.

The last two lines of this song bring in your thumb (p). You’ll need to play strings using your thumb and middle finger at the same time. A Soalin’ is a repetitive song which makes it easy to learn and remember. I have found that once my students are learning their first minor chords, they are usually ready to jump into this song as well.

A Soalin' - by Peter, Paul & Mary. This easy fingerstyle guitar arrangement if fun to play and perfect for beginning guitar players. I use this song to introduce fingers i and m. Use your right hand index finger (i) to play the second string. Use your right hand middle finger (m) to play the first string. #learnguitar #fingerstyleguitar Modern Guitar Approach. #learnguitar #guitarlessons

3. Blackbird by the Beatles

The version of Blackbird I give my beginning guitar students isn’t an exact transcript of the original. I have learned through trying to teach the correct version that it is too tough for new students. Because of this, I adapted it and made it easier. This song uses an interval of a 10th (Just thought I’d through a little music theory in there).

Blackbird - by the Beatles. This easy solo guitar arrangement is a fun way to improve your fingerstyle technique as a beginning guitar player. This song is available to print and save to your computer at www.modernguitarapproach.com #learnguitar #guitarlessons — Blackbird – easy version by the Beatles

4. Bookends – by Simon and Garfunkel

I have found that most of my students don’t recognize this song upon first listening. They must not have had this cassette tape growing up like I did :). Even still, most find it a fun song to learn and play. This song uses the interval of a 6th. That means that the two notes that are played together are generally 6 notes apart.

The fingering for this song is indicated on the left hand side on the first line. Use your thumb (or p) to play strings 6, 5, & 4. Use your index finger for the 3rd string, middle for the 2nd string, and ring finger (or a) for the first string.

Bookends - by Simon and Garfunkel. Tab and Lyrics. This easy fingerstyle song is fun to learn and play. It uses the interval of a 6th. Be sure to use the capo on the 4th fret to keep it sounding like the recording.

5. Here Comes The Sun – by the Beatles

This is THE MOST REQUESTED song I get for wedding ceremonies (if you live in Utah and want me to play for your wedding, be sure to check out my website www.jamitaylor.net). Here Comes The Sun makes a great recessional song. The arrangement I play is more complicated than this version. I put this arrangement together as a way for my beginning guitar students to be able to enjoy playing it as well. The song is two pages, which can both be accessed by subscribing.

Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles. This easy solo guitar arrangement is a fun way to improve your fingerstyle technique as a beginning guitar player. This song is available to print and save to your computer at www.modernguitarapproach.com. #learnguitar #guitarlessons

Home Again by Michael Kiwanuka

This is a great song that I just finished up for one of my guitar students. I liked it so much, that I decided to start teaching it to more of my students and to also share it on my website.

These songs should keep any guitar player busy for awhile! If you are a guitar instructor, try using these next time you hold a recital. If you like playing fingerstyle guitar, also be sure and check out my lesson 4 easy songs for the beginning guitarist to learn Fingerstyle Accompaniment Patterns.