Guitar With Rene
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Songs by chord set

Three chord guitar songs for beginners

You know A, D, E, Am, G, C. Here are 8 songs that use nothing else, so every minute goes into playing music instead of learning new shapes.

ADEAmGC
See the 8 songs Start the free course
Taught by Rene Free Beginner first

Quick answer

Pick a song whose chords you already know. Each card lists them. Play one strum down per chord until the changes stop pausing, then add the song's real rhythm.

  • Chords used: A, D, E, Am, G, C
  • 8 songs
  • One slow strum per chord before rhythm

Songs using A, D, E, Am, G, C

Pick the one you would actually enjoy hearing yourself play. Each lesson has the progression, strum and a slow starting tempo.

3 chords

Three Little Birds

Bob Marley ADE Easy down-up 74 BPM song

Only three open chords, with a bright groove that works well at a slow tempo.

Open lesson 3 chords

Riptide

Vance Joy AmGC Down, down-up 102 BPM song

Three chords repeat, so you can focus on rhythm instead of memorizing sections.

Open lesson 3 chords

Leaving on a Jet Plane

John Denver GCD Slow downstrokes 122 BPM song

A gentle three-chord song that gives new players time to land each change.

Open lesson 3 chords

Bad Moon Rising

Creedence Clearwater Revival DAG Down, down-up 178 BPM song

A fast but simple three-chord song once D, A, and G feel comfortable.

Open lesson 3 chords

What's Up

4 Non Blondes GAmC Down, down-up 124 BPM song

Three chords and a big strumming feel make it a useful beginner workout.

Open lesson 3 chords

Love Me Do

The Beatles GCD Easy downstrokes 75 BPM song

A simple early rock song for practicing G, C, and D without a crowded progression.

Open lesson 3 chords

Sweet Caroline

Neil Diamond ADE Down, down-up 125 BPM song

A familiar three-chord singalong that helps A, D, and E feel connected.

Open lesson 3 chords

Sweet Home Alabama

Lynyrd Skynyrd DCG Down, down-up — D · DU 98 BPM song

Three open chords you already know, looped through the whole song.

Open lesson

The chords can come in a different order in each song. The useful part is that the same small chord family unlocks all of them.

Hear and see the A, D, E, Am, G, C chords

A chord is several strings pressed and strummed together. Tap Play to hear how each shape should sound when every string rings, then compare your hand with the photo.

A
×123 A left hand holding a A chord on a guitar neck, seen from the player's viewpoint
D
××132 A left hand holding a D chord on a guitar neck, seen from the player's viewpoint
E
231 A left hand holding a E chord on a guitar neck, seen from the player's viewpoint
Am
×231 A left hand holding a Am chord on a guitar neck, seen from the player's viewpoint
G
213 A left hand holding a G chord on a guitar neck, seen from the player's viewpoint
C
×321 A left hand holding a C chord on a guitar neck, seen from the player's viewpoint

Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. × means do not play that string, ○ means play it open.

Your 10 minute plan for these chords

  1. 1

    2 minutes: clean shapes

    Build A, D, E, Am, G, C once each. Pick the strings one at a time and fix only the note that does not ring.

  2. 2

    3 minutes: the hardest change

    Find the pair of chords that makes you pause. Loop just that switch without strumming, keeping your fingertips close to the strings.

  3. 3

    5 minutes: one song

    Start with Three Little Birds. Play one downstroke per chord. Add the real strum only after the changes keep moving.

Know different chords?

Songs grouped by the exact chords they use.

Songs with C, D, G CDG 3 songs See the songs Songs with A, D, E ADE 2 songs See the songs Songs with Am, C, G AmCG 2 songs See the songs Songs with C, D, Em, G CDEmG 7 songs See the songs Songs with Am, C, F, G AmCFG 3 songs See the songs
Free 7 day course

Want a plan instead of a list?

The free 7 day course takes you from tuning to your first song, one short practice a day, and teaches chords like A, D, E, Am, G, C in the order that makes them easiest. Playable chord diagrams and a metronome are built in.

Start the free course Time your A, D, E, Am, G, C changes
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  • 10 minutes a day