Love is one of the most popular subjects in music. Whether it’s falling in love, being in love, losing love, or making love, a song has been written about it.
This emotion is a large part of human existence, sometimes prompting decisions that alter the course of a life. If you find yourself in need to play songs about love, you’ve come to the right place.
“Crimson And Clover” by Tommy James & The Shondells
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
The song Crimson And Clover is instantly recognizable by its first word sung a cappella. It’s also chock full of guitar tones that are absolutely saturated with different guitar effects.
To play Crimson And Clover, you really only need to know the chords C, G, F, and B flat. These follow a certain pattern with a bit of rearrangement in the middle of the song. The strumming pattern is what gives this song its unique sound.
Once you get the framework of the song worked out, try looping the sequence. This will open an excellent platform to play all sorts of different leads with different effects. After all, that’s precisely what happens in the recording of this iconic song.
“Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Slowhand’s classic song Wonderful Tonight is a perfect song for a beginner to learn. This song features a very simple chord structure and an easy lead that nearly anyone can master.
Wonderful Tonight follows a simple pattern based around G, D, C, D/F#, and E minor. The chords provide an excellent platform for the vocals as a melody exists within its chord pattern.
As this is such an iconic and recognizable song, make sure that your bends on the lead are in tune. If you happen to bend too flat or too sharp, it will not sound good, and people will notice.
This is another excellent platform that can be looped for playing leads. Try looping the main G, D, C, D pattern and let your own improvised leads fly. You don’t need to be Clapton, you just have to be yourself.
“Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling In Love is an absolute classic masterpiece. This is a prime example of a love song that will likely endure the test of time.
Believe it or not, it took Elvis nearly 30 different recording takes to get this song nailed down perfectly. It was also the last song he ever sang before his death. Out of all the songs in his catalog, this song is a fitting way to go out.
Can’t Help Falling In Love is a fairly simple song to play on the guitar. It does have a good number of chords, but these are common grips you likely already know. You’ll also need a capo on the 2nd fret.
There will never be another Elvis Presley. That doesn’t mean you can’t do your own rendition of this beautiful song. The juxtaposition between the major and minor tonalities within the song will leave a mark of its own.
“Michelle” by The Beatles
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
The Beatles are no stranger to love songs. Many of the songs in their catalog are about love, in one way or another. Don’t be too surprised if you see another song or two of theirs in this list.
Perhaps one of their most famous love songs is the track, Michelle. This beautiful song from Rubber Soul, with its heavy French language and iconic descending melody, is very recognizable.
To someone that’s listened to the song, it might seem as if it is difficult to play. Watching someone play it might make you think the same thing.
However, you should take the chance and get the song under your own fingers. It’s far easier than it looks and sounds.
This isn’t a strum-along like others on this list, and because of that, you’ll be playing some creative lines. Learning this will definitely break you out of any box your playing might be in. Just in case you’re worried, there are some regular barre chords throughout the song’s chorus.
Take some time and learn this one, you’ll be glad you did. It might be more difficult to nail down the French verses than the actual guitar part.
“Love And Happiness” by Al Green
Tab: E-Chords.com
The song Love And Happiness is a true soul music classic. Al Green, who is no stranger to a love song, was in his heyday when this song was released.
For the most part, this is a pretty easy song to play. It might not sound as full as the recording if you’re playing it by yourself. However, there are some juicy moments you can easily loop to play your own guitar leads over the top.
One thing to note about this song is that it is actually recorded in E flat. If you do learn this song and attempt to play with the recording, you’ll need to adjust.
The easiest thing to do would be to tune down a half step. This will allow you to play what you’ve learned without having to consciously re-arrange the song down by 1 fret.
Give this one a shot and get your funky groove on. It’s hard not to feel good when you’re jamming this classic.
“Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers
Tab: E-Chords.com
Perhaps one of the most romantic songs written in the 20th century is the song, Unchained Melody. This track has enjoyed several decades of extreme popularity. Unchained Melody has been performed by countless artists and has been featured in films such as Ghost.
By far the most popular version of this song is by The Righteous Brothers. Their version was actually released as a B-side to a single released by one of Phil Spector’s groups. Because no producer credit was given at its release, Spector took the credit for himself.
If you’re looking to knock someone off their feet (and have the vocals to do it), learn this song. It’s very simple to play, consisting of common open chords. Arpeggiating the chords will add a delicate accompaniment under the vocals.
Slow dances are still in fashion, and there are not many songs as fitting for a slow dance as this. A great performance of Unchained Melody will likely be an unforgettable occurrence.
“Always On My Mind” by Willie Nelson
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Willie Nelson’s Always On My Mind is a true classic country song. It’s a pretty easy song to learn, too. If you feel the need to show your devotion to love in a song, this is a surefire winner.
The lyrics of this song are beautiful and relate to taking the time to show one’s appreciation for another. Life’s trials and tribulations often get in the way of showing affection. Sometimes a simple song like this can emote more than words.
The song is based around simple open chords, many of which you likely know. These include D, D/F#, E, E minor, A, B minor, and G.
Whether Willie was speaking to his love or about a green plant he’s fond of, this is an excellent ode. Willie Nelson fans are sure to love it if you bust this one out in a performance.
“You Are My Sunshine” by Johnny Cash
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Speaking of classic country songs, be sure to check out Johnny Cash’s You Are My Sunshine. This is a massively popular song that has been recorded by hundreds of different artists. It stands as a testament to the potency of its melody and lyrics.
You Are My Sunshine is an incredibly easy song to learn. It consists of only 3 different chords: A, D, and E. Any beginner can pick this song up in a matter of minutes.
Of course, you can spice it up and play the song’s melody within the chords. As such, this song makes a great entry into learning fingerstyle guitar. You’ll learn how to strum chords and pluck a melody at the same time.
If you’re showing your love, you can’t go wrong with this staple. It even makes a great singalong if you’re performing to a group.
“My Girl” by The Temptations
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
One of the most famous tracks to come from the Motown era of music is without a doubt, My Girl. This song is full of iconic sections, particularly the song’s signature riff. Anyone who has heard this song likely knows its lyrics.
My Girl is an excellent song for any guitarist (even beginners). The riff is relatively easy to play and centers around a pentatonic lick in C and F. Double it up with a bass guitarist and it’ll really sound great.
Of course, the song isn’t all riff. There are some chords you’ll need to know to play the song. These are easy, common chords and include C, F, D minor, E minor, A, and G.
As soon as you play the first few notes of the riff, people will immediately know what you’re playing. Make sure you have it down smoothly so that any mistakes aren’t as noticeable.
“Nights In White Satin” by The Moody Blues
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
The Moody Blues are a bit of an obscure band in the lexicon of music from the 1960s and 70s. Some of their greatest work is not very well-known to people who listen to mainstream music.
With that being said, Nights In White Satin is by far their best-known song. This ethereal, dreamy-sounding love song is an excellent dedication of love to another.
You can play Nights In White Satin pretty easily, and it's suitable even for beginners. It consists of common open chords such as E minor, D, C, G, and F. Try it out on an acoustic guitar for a nice down-to-earth approach to this atmospheric track.
If you like this song, be sure to check out the rest of the Moody Blues catalog. The album On The Threshold Of A Dream is a true masterpiece.
“Something” by The Beatles
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Here is another love song by The Beatles that is extremely popular across the entire world. This George Harrison track was a glaring example of the guitarist’s hidden songwriting skills. It was his first contribution to be released as a single for The Beatles.
There are a few signature sections that make Something so appealing and recognizable to the ear. The first has to be the song’s iconic riff, which opens the song and is featured throughout. The chord melody during the vocals is another feature that makes the song so classic.
Something is an excellent track to learn, especially for a beginner-to-intermediate level guitarist. The chords are based on simple open chords, and the leads are easy enough to learn and master.
If you have the chance to perform this with an ensemble, be sure to do so. You’ll receive rave reviews if you perform it well. It’s a favorite song, Beatles fan or not.
“You Really Got Me” by The Kinks
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Looking for a song that just flat out rocks with a bit of attitude? You Really Got Me by The Kinks will appease your appetite. This song is very famous and has gone on to be covered by Van Halen and other artists.
If you’re a beginner and getting into power chords, this song is for you. The entire song (aside from the crazy solo) consists of power chords. These chords follow a similar pattern throughout the song.
You might have a little issue with the rhythm of the picking hand with this one. If you do have issues, take care not to put too much effort into it. It’s easy to overdo it with this song, which makes the song more difficult than it actually is.
“Why Do Fools Fall In Love” by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Here’s another classic song from the golden era of old-time rock ’n’ roll music. You’ve likely encountered this song at some point in your life. It’s been featured in films and commercials, even reaching the top of the R&B charts in 1956.
Why Do Fools Fall In Love is a great song to learn if you’re learning how to use barre chords. This song uses a lot of them, with fast transitions to really exercise your skills.
As with most songs from this era, Why Do Fools Fall In Love has a fairly common chord progression. Despite its age, this classic remains forever in style. A modernized version of this hit song will likely go over well with audiences.
“Build Me Up Buttercup” by The Foundations
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
If you haven’t heard Build Me Up Buttercup at some point in your life, you need to open your ears! This is a song that is as popular today as it was when it was first released.
Build Me Up Buttercup is a true classic about the expectations that come with being in love. All too often, it ends up in hurt feelings, as expectations can be a double-edged sword.
This song is a very easy song that beginners and intermediate players will likely have no issues with. Try to include the famous opening riff and your audience will immediately know what you're playing.
“Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Ben E. King’s Stand By Me is cemented in history as one of the greatest love songs ever written. With an iconic bassline and memorable lyrics, this ballad is extremely recognizable. It’s also quite fun and easy to play, too.
You can play Stand By Me in a number of different ways. Only 4 chords are used in this song. These are A, F# minor, D, and E.
A capo can be placed on the 2nd fret to play open chords with no issues. You might also want to try playing a combination of open chords and barre chords (with no capo). This allows you to play the bass riff true to pitch.
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” by Frankie Valli
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Frankie Valli was a factory for creating musical hits during his career. Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You is one of his most enduring tracks. It’s also one of the best love songs of all time.
This is quite a complex song as there is a lot of instrumentation in the recording. However, any intermediate player will likely be able to master this song with patience.
If you can pull this one off, it would make for an excellent show of love for another person. Take your time with it and really learn to incorporate as much ornamentation as possible.
“Crazy” by Patsy Cline
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Here’s another Willie Nelson song called Crazy. This song is most famously done by Patsy Cline, who made the song a smash hit. Her vocals are exquisite in her rendition of the song.
This song has a very melancholy feel which perfectly compliments the lyrical content. It’s a classic that has been covered time and again. Why not make it yours and do a rendition of your own?
If you have an excellent vocal range, be sure to put this on your song list. Your audience will really appreciate your performance. Many people have been in the lyrical narrator’s shoes.
Crazy is fairly straightforward to play. It consists of a few open chords based in the key family of C. There is a key change though, which can be a little tricky.
“Baby I Love Your Way” by Peter Frampton
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Peter Frampton became a household name when he blew up in the mainstream. Of course, Tide laundry detergent might have a small role to play in that. Regardless, Frampton has an excellent catalog of songs that display his guitar skills.
Baby I Love Your Way is a radio hit that still enjoys quite a bit of radio play today. As such, it’s also an excellent love song. There’s a reason why it’s still a popular song today.
If you’re an intermediate guitarist, you’ll love learning this. It incorporates open-shaped chords played all over the neck as well as barre chords.
“Patience” by Guns ’N’ Roses
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Guns ’N’ Roses was known for a lot of things. But, when their album G ’N’ R Lies came out, it was quite a surprise.
The first half contained live tracks of the band's usual antics. The second half, however, was much more toned down. It was akin to an acoustic session in a living room.
Patience is one of those songs that emerged from the latter half of the album. It’s a real good one too.
This is a song about having to deal with the wait often required when another’s love is away. You can lie to yourself and say you’re okay, but sometimes it's never enough.
Be sure to learn this if you’re a Guns ’N’ Roses fan. It’s fairly simple and contains some killer guitar leads (if you decide to learn them).
“Stuck In The Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Stealers Wheel may be a bit of a one-hit-wonder. However, Stuck In The Middle With You has been a mega-hit that is still quite popular today.
You’ve no doubt heard this song before. It’s been in commercials, TV shows, and films, including Reservoir Dogs, The Wonder Years, Family Guy, and many more.
This isn’t your traditional love song. In fact, there really is no profession of love anywhere in the song. However, the lyrics allude to friends having love for the kind of person someone else is.
As far as difficulty goes, this is an excellent song for a beginner to learn on their acoustic guitar. It features pretty common open chords that you’ll have an easy time with if you know them. Even if you don’t, this song is a great exercise at learning and applying them.
“Layla” by Eric Clapton, Derek And The Dominoes
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Perhaps one of Clapton’s most famous and enduring songs is his track, Layla. The original version from the Derek And The Dominoes album is excellent. However, the song got a makeover for Clapton’s Unplugged album, which became equally just as famous.
The song takes its name and inspiration from an old Arabic tale. Clapton actually wrote the song about his unrequited love for George Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd.
For the purpose of this list, we will focus primarily on the acoustic version as heard on the Unplugged album. It can be played pretty easily if you are familiar with your barre chord shapes.
“Beth” by KISS
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
KISS is a band that essentially took a bar-room band sound to the arena stage. As such, much of their lyrics are crude and revolve around some facet of love.
The song Beth, on the other hand, is not a crude song at all. In fact, this powerful ballad is about the woes of being on the road away from the one you love.
This song was originally recorded with the piano as the main accompanying instrument. It translates quite well to the acoustic guitar. Be sure to give it a shot, especially if you can relate to the lyrics.
“All Shook Up” by Elvis Presley
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Here’s another classic straight from the golden era of rock ’n’ roll, by the King himself. All Shook Up was a massive hit for Elvis and is still quite popular today.
This song is all about that funny little feeling you get the first time you fall for someone. These feelings go by various names but are more commonly called butterflies.
All Shook Up is pretty simple to play on the guitar. It utilizes barre chords and a pinky extension to achieve its iconic rock ’n’ roll sound. Try it out with a band and you’ll be sure to have people dancing.
“Do Wah Diddy” by Manfred Mann
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
One of the biggest Manfred Mann hits to come from the 1960s is Do Wah Diddy. You’ve likely heard this song before. It’s become a mainstay within pop culture, even being featured in the film Stripes.
To play Do Wah Diddy, you only need to know a few chords. These include E, A, C# minor, and B7.
This can be a pretty fun song to play. The call and response between the vocals and the instrumentation is the biggest kick of the song. People are bound to sing along with you if you decide to play this one publicly.
“You Are So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Joe Cocker was a master at creating his own renditions of famous songs. Not only did he cover songs, but he did so in a way that was completely unique to his style.
You Are So Beautiful is a perfect example of this. Originally, it was written by the excellent musician Billy Preston.
To play this song, you’ll need to have a capo on the 1st fret. There are quite a bit of different chords involved that can make the song seem very intricate. However, an intermediate player will likely be able to tackle this song without any issues.
Be sure to take your time. If you can, arpeggiate the chords as you hear in the recording. This will make your rendition sound more true to the actual recording of the song.
“Come And Get Your Love” by Redbone
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Redbone’s Come And Get Your Love is perhaps most recognizable by its intro riff. This jangly riff is a signature to the song and is one of the best simple riffs of all time.
If you’ve wanted to learn this song, you may have thought it might be fairly difficult. Actually, the song is quite easy and only requires a few basic chords. These include E minor, A, D, and B minor.
You can play these using mostly open chords. However, you should experiment with playing the same chords using barre chord grips. It’ll give the song a different sound, and allow for a bit more funk to shine through.
“Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
The title “musical genius” isn't one that should be used unless it's absolutely warranted. Few are deserving of this title. When it comes to Stevie Wonder, there is absolutely no question that he is a musical genius.
The song Isn’t She Lovely is a great love song, written for his then-baby daughter, Aisha. She actually appears on the recording of the song, which you can hear if you listen very closely.
Isn’t She Lovely is a fairly easy song to play, although it's more appropriate for an intermediate player. It contains quite a few chords with jazz voicings, which help to give the song its iconic sound.
This song is a load of fun, especially with its infectious and iconic lead melody. You can have even more fun by playing the chords in different positions of the guitar.
“I Will Follow You Into The Dark” by Death Cab For Cutie
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Death Cab For Cutie’s hit song I Will Follow You Into The Dark is an excellent love song. It’s likely the newest released song out of all of the songs on this list. There’s good reason, though, as this song deserves to be amongst the greatest of all time.
To play this song, you’ll need a capo at the 5th fret. You’ll be utilizing both open chords and barre chords. These chord shapes include A minor, C, F, G/B, E, F, and F minor.
This is a pretty simple song to play as it follows a pretty traditional chord pattern. Be sure to try and play the alternating bass line in the chords when necessary. This will help give your rendition a more true sound to the recording.
“Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
There are few songs that have worked their way into the lexicon of musical standards played amongst many musicians. Ain’t No Sunshine is one of these songs.
This powerful Bill Withers song manages to perfectly emote the feeling of being away from a lover. It’s not only a great vocal platform, but it’s an excellent go-to for guitar solos galore.
To play Ain’t No Sunshine, you’ll need to know a few basic chords. These include A minor, E minor, G, and D minor. Listen to the recording to get an idea of the placement of these chords.
You may want to experiment with using some barre chords in particular areas of the song. This will give the song a bit of a different flair and provide an easy entry into pentatonic-based leads.
“I Still Love You” by KISS
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Here is yet another example of a perfect love ballad by the arena-rock band, KISS. It serves as a reminder that the band is not all about crude lyrics covering inappropriate-for-school topics.
This is a fairly simple song, with its most difficult parts essentially being arpeggiated chords. It takes a great deal of concentration to properly arpeggiate the chords correctly.
There are also some killer guitar solos in this song. If you’re getting into lead guitar, these solos might be right up your alley.
For extra inspiration, be sure to check out the band’s performance from their MTV Unplugged session. Their performance of this song blows the doors off of the performance hall.
“Never My Love” by The Association
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Never My Love is a very famous song that you’ve probably heard at some point in your life. However, it’s not often as widely known as some of the other tracks on this list, making it somewhat obscure. Give this song a play if you’re unfamiliar, and it’ll likely ring some bells.
This song is great for the intermediate guitarist or the beginner working their way into more advanced studies. It features common chord grips accompanied by little guitar lines. These guitar lines are crucial, as they are part of the song’s signature sound.
The trickiest part in the song is during the bridge. It consists of quick chord changes between suspended chords. You’ll be able to dial it in if you take it slow and have some patience.
“I’ve Just Seen A Face” by The Beatles
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
This classic song comes from a turning point in the creative career of The Beatles. Many of their oldest releases were hinged on cover renditions of popular music at the time.
I’ve Just Seen A Face is a great love song that includes many folk tropes of its era. This is particularly apparent with the strumming rhythm and the walking bass line of the chord melody.
The song begins with an iconic intro riff that is played utilizing a technique often heard in country music. This is otherwise known as “playing the 6ths,” and uses isolated sections of a chord between 2 strings. You’ll know exactly what it is once you hear it.
For the most part, this is a pretty straightforward song to play. The chords are all very common. You’ll need a capo on the 2nd fret to play the chords with open voicings as heard on the recording.
Take extra care to really practice the strumming rhythm of the song. It has an iconic pulse that is crucial to the song’s signature sound.
“Say Yes” by Elliott Smith
Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com
Elliott Smith is perhaps one of the greatest songwriters of the late 20th century. His music is not as widely known as it should be, though he did receive some mainstream success.
When it comes to songwriting, Elliott Smith has an honest way of writing that few can even come close to. He mixes heavy subject matter with beautiful song structures, sometimes mimicking Beatlesque composition.
Say Yes, from his 1997 album Either/Or, is a great love song that closes out the album’s tracklist. It’s about being caught in between someone else’s indecision on whether or not they love the narrator. The song also touches on the uncertainty that follows in the aftermath of a breakup.
For the most part, this is a fairly simple song that most beginners will likely have an okay time with. There are some interesting chord shapes that you’ve likely never encountered. It should be noted that Elliott’s guitar in the recording is tuned 1 whole step lower than standard tuning.
Easy Love Songs To Play On Guitar With Tabs, Final Thoughts
Love will likely continue to be a universal theme for musicians to write about. The human experience is dull without the touch of inspiration from another human.
Of course, this type of inspiration doesn’t need to be romantic. Love comes in many different varieties. Regardless of its form, it is something to be celebrated.
Side note, do you want to learn to play guitar songs the easy way? Learn how here – results are guaranteed!