Guitar With Rene
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Songs by chord set

Two chord guitar songs for beginners

You know Em, D, C, G, A, E. Here are 4 songs that use nothing else, so every minute goes into playing music instead of learning new shapes.

EmDCGAE
See the 4 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: Em, D, C, G, A, E
  • 4 songs
  • One slow strum per chord before rhythm

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

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

2 chords

A Horse With No Name

America EmD Steady down-up 124 BPM song

A two-chord song is perfect when you want music before many chord shapes feel ready.

Open lesson 2 chords

Jambalaya

Hank Williams CG Country down-up 88 BPM song

A two-chord country song gives beginners a real tune with very little memorizing.

Open lesson 2 chords

Achy Breaky Heart

Billy Ray Cyrus AE Steady country strum 122 BPM song

Two chords and a clear beat make it useful for first rhythm confidence.

Open lesson 2 chords

Dreams

Fleetwood Mac FG Slow down-up 120 BPM song

A two-chord loop that is simple musically, though F may need the easy version first.

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 Em, D, C, G, A, E 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.

Em
23 A left hand holding a Em 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
C
×321 A left hand holding a C 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
A
×123 A left hand holding a A 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

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 Em, D, C, G, A, E 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 A Horse With No Name. 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 Em, D, C, G, A, E in the order that makes them easiest. Playable chord diagrams and a metronome are built in.

Start the free course Time your Em, D, C, G, A, E changes
  • Free
  • No card
  • 10 minutes a day