23 Easy Country Songs On Guitar [With Tabs]

Whether you live on a farm, enjoy country living, or just can’t get enough of that twangy country flavor, country music is a popular choice for those who love god, love their country, and even those who just like to have fun and party.

Looking to brush up on your country guitar technique? Want to pick up a few easy songs? We know where you’re coming from cowboy or cowgirl (or cow-person).

Here are some easy country songs to play on the guitar, with tabs!

“Jambalaya (On The Bayou)” by Hank Williams

When I think of easy country songs, this is the one that immediately comes to mind for me – Hank Williams’ “Jamalaya (On The Bayou).”

And it’s one of those songs that, even if you’re not sure from where, you’ve likely heard it before. It’s just that deeply embedded in culture and media.

But what makes it so easy? How about the fact that it only requires two chords (G7 and C) to play? And even if you don’t know those chords right now, you should be able to pick them up relatively quickly.

Whether you’re looking to gain a solid foundation in country music or want to add songs to your repertoire / setlist, this is a solid choice for starters.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Ring Of Fire” by Johnny Cash

When it comes to country classics, you can’t go wrong with Johnny Cash. Cash’s music was enjoyed by a broad audience, especially at the height of his popularity, and is still enjoyed and well-known today.

We often talk about people we’re attracted to as being “hot,” or specific romantic situations as “spicy,” so it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to tell where Cash was coming from on “Ring Of Fire.” Must have been some steamy romance!

As with most Cash songs, there’s an opportunity to learn the strumming part as well as the electric guitar riff. You can even mix and match the two if you’re a little more ambitious and advanced!

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Jolene” by Dolly Parton

Though this is not a comment on Dolly Parton’s appearance, in her day, there probably wasn’t a soul who’d consider her unattractive. Yet, she was threatened enough to sing this song about “Jolene,” a woman who was apparently out to get her man. That, of course, makes you wonder what kind of woman “Jolene” was.

In terms of guitar playing, this song features some sophisticated pattern-based Travis picking. Not for the faint of heart, but if you’re an intermediate guitarist, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to start picking it up. And as a beginner, there’s no time like the present to get started. It’s a mean riff, and a fun one!

That said, in terms of strumming, it’s basically just three chords, and anyone can do that.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver

I wouldn’t consider John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” a country song through and through (it’s very folky too), but Denver’s country spirit is certainly on full display in this classic.

At first brush, it might seem like a simple song. And, if you were just to strum along with the chords, it wouldn’t present too much of a challenge. But listen carefully to the layers of guitars. There’s strumming, picking, and even fills on this tune, making it quite sophisticated when added together.

I don’t know anyone who has tabbed out all the parts, so you could make this your own project. It’s a nice challenge for those looking to train their ear!

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Drinkin’ Bone” by Tracy Byrd

“Drinkin’ Bone” is Tracy Byrd’s humorous take on the consequences of drinking too much. And that is one of the great things about country, is that it doesn’t need to take itself too seriously.

At core, it’s a three-chord wonder with a little bit of embellishment. It shouldn’t prove too difficult to anyone who can play power chords and slides.

Of course, the guitar solo is a different matter entirely. Give it a try if you’re confident in your lead guitar abilities, but otherwise you should come back to it when you aren’t a beginner anymore.

Guitar Tab: Ultimate-Tabs.com

“Friends In Low Places” by Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks’ “Friends In Low Places” is a barroom favorite and a serious crowd pleaser.

Now, for the most part, it is a simple song. But full disclosure – the G#dim7 chord in the intro and verse section is going to feel like a finger pretzel to a beginner. The best idea would probably be to start off with the chorus, and as you start to feel comfortable with that, work on the rest of the song.

Either way, this is another essential country singalong to add to your repertoire, so if you don’t learn it now, come back to it when you can!

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” is easy if you capo up on the first fret, especially if you know your E, A, and B7 chord shapes. You can try the electric guitar riff, or you can try the strumming. Maybe even try both!

The solo also isn’t too hard, but it might seem intimidating to a beginner. Give it a try if you want, but otherwise, come back to it later, when you feel more confident in your abilities.

And if you hadn’t figured this out already – most Johnny Cash songs are worth a try for beginners! So, feel free to explore more of his songs on your own.

Guitar Tab: Songsterr

“Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus

Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart” was either the novelty country tune you hated to love or loved to hate in the early 90s. Either way, it followed you around like the plague on the radio, at the malls, in the restaurants – practically anywhere you went. You couldn’t escape it.

And wouldn’t you know it, this catchy line dance ditty is a two-chord wonder! Obviously, that makes it perfect for beginners, but also leaves lots of room for more advanced players to add their own flavor to it.

I don’t know about it being a “classic,” but it is a favorite novelty number.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker

This is one of those country guitar songs I could never get enough of. The Darius Rucker version might be the most well-known, but this tune was originally co-written by Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show. Does that give it a little more credibility? Not sure, but either way, I find it to be rather campy (even if it wasn’t originally intended that way).

 “Wagon Wheel” is a little overplayed by open mic going singer-songwriters, but hey, if it’s a guilty pleasure of yours and still want to learn it, we won’t judge.

Not surprising, then, that this song only features four chords. That makes it quite easy to play.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Blue Ain’t Your Color” by Keith Urban

Truthfully, Keith Urban is a great guitar player, and there aren’t too many of his songs that are easy enough for a beginner to learn from top to bottom. “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” though, only features six chords, and is a slow-paced ballad in 6/8 time.

Playing exactly what’s being played on the recording might present a challenge, but if you just want to strum along with the chords, no problem at all. That Bm chord, admittedly, might give you a bit of a workout, but that’s a chord you should eventually learn anyway.

So, if you’re up for a slight challenge and are comfortable reading tabs, give “Blue Ain’t Your Color” a try.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift

Even in her early days, Taylor Swift was more pop than country – not that there’s anything wrong with that! What “You Belong With Me” demonstrates is that a little banjo roll can make anything sound more redneck. But let’s face it – Keith Urban is guilty of the same thing!

For Taylor Swift fans, and younger beginner guitar players, “You Belong With Me” should prove endless fun. The entire song is made up of easy cowboy chords – D, A, Em, and G. Of course, for those who are a little further ahead, there are plenty of opportunities to embellish and fill in the cracks.

If pop flavored country is your thing, “You Belong With Me.”

Guitar Tab: Tab

“On The Road Again” by Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson’s “On The Road Again” is all about the joy of traveling and touring. It’s an upbeat country classic with a lot of fun layers to listen to.

At its core are just six chords driving most of the song. As a beginner guitarist, that pesky F chord always makes for a solid rival, so fair warning.

Aside from that, though, the song isn’t too hard, and it is a fun one to play.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Fast As You” by Dwight Yoakam

Dwight Yoakam’s “Fast As You” is a twangy country song with a classic 12-bar blues / rock and roll structure. And every beginner should learn how that 12-bar structure works because it’s used in a truckload of songs!

Riffs like the ones found here might seem kind of crazy to a beginner, but don’t be intimidated! It’s much simpler than you think, and single note riffs are great to learn. Just as the 12-bar blues, they form the foundation of a lot of songs.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Remember When” by Alan Jackson

Alan Jackson’s reflective and contemplative “Remember When” is certainly one of his easier songs, just looking at the chords. Sure, there is some embellishment in Jackson’s playing, but beginners are encouraged to follow along with the chords until they feel comfortable with them. Then you can start adding the fancy fretwork.

This is also a relatively slow song, so that doesn’t hurt at all when looking for simple songs to pick up.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“You’re Still The One” by Shania Twain

Shania Twain’s “You’re Still The One” is all about long-lasting love, and to this day, it still holds up as a country-pop favorite. You might not like everything she’s done, but it’s hard not to like Shania, right?

And what’s in a song? Well, in this case, just four chords. You might have assumed it to be more complicated than that listening to it, but no, this is a great song for all beginners to give a whirl.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow

If you were listening to pop radio in the mid-90s, there was no way to escape Sheryl Crow’s “crossover” country-pop / adult contemporary / easy listening hit, “All I Wanna Do.” And the strange thing about it is that because the lyrical content is a little nuanced and hard to grasp, it’s a bit of a surprise that it managed to climb to the top of the charts. But the playful bassline and lap steel didn’t hurt one bit.

This song has a “fun” chord progression, especially compared to a lot of tunes we’ve already looked at so far. The only chord that should put up any kind of fight is Bb, and maybe to a lesser extent B7. But if you can’t get it under your fingers now, you should be able to later!

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Have You Ever Seen The Rain” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

It’s arguable whether Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” is strictly a country song (I’ll buy country-rock), but it could certainly be adopted as such. And to be fair, it does have a folky, singer-songwriter vibe to it.

As with most John Fogerty songs, “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” is relatively straightforward. There are some chords here, again, that might appear strange, like the F/C or Am/G. And of course, the F usually takes some time to master.

Aside from that, it’s not too bad, and figuring out this song could be a good steppingstone onto becoming a capable intermediate guitar player.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” is kind of a funny song. Not to say there aren’t those who can relate – I’m sure there are – it’s just that it’s kind of assumptive.

But regardless of subject matter, “Before He Cheats” is easier than it sounds. You just need to be able to play five chords, and the hardest one is B7. So, if you want to strum along to this one, it would be great practice for you.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum

Yet another country-pop anthem, the melodramatic “Need You Now” spawned countless parodies because of its cringe worthy lyrics. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is up for you to decide, but musically, it does have some merit.

This tune utilizes eight chords, and that’s more than the average pop song has. That pesky F is here again, so if you struggle with it, you can always come back to this tune later. But like I always say, it’s a good challenge!

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Our Song” by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s country-pop “Our Song” has got a decidedly country sounding instrumentation, as many of her early songs did. And this one is perhaps more country than many of her others.

The entire song is made up of easy one-, two-, and three-finger chords. The best. Obviously, it’s catchy and fun too, so it’s a great tune for beginners to try.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Take It Easy” by Eagles

Maybe some people don’t see it, but what are the Eagles if not country-rock? And they’ve got a lot of great songs, like “Take It Easy” that sound more country than rock.

Just as the title would suggest, this song is all about taking it a step back and enjoying life. Taking some time out to smell the roses if you will.

Although Eagles songs are always tight and always have some flare (there’s a reason they hit it big), strumming along with “Take It Easy” isn’t too difficult, and is a lot of fun besides.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“The First Cut Is The Deepest” by Sheryl Crow

“The First Cut Is The Deepest” was originally written by the legendary and ever prolific Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam), and through the years, it was covered by a variety of artists. If you’re anything like me, though, you remember Sheryl Crow’s version more than the others.

Anyway, this is basically a three-chord wonder, and should be easy enough for just about any beginner to pick up. And it’s a good one to add to your repertoire, given its overall longevity.

Guitar Tab: Tab

“Peaceful Easy Feeling” by Eagles

“Peaceful Easy Feeling” seems like the perfect complement to “Take It Easy.” Maybe too complementary. They could almost be the same song!

This five-chord wonder (the skeleton of it is just four chords) is the perfect song to play in the sun by the beach, fireside, or anywhere you like to relax – even in the back of your favorite pickup (but not while driving please).

And you can bet that it’s beginner friendly, too.

Guitar Tab: Tab

Best Easy Country Guitar Songs, Final Thoughts

Well, those were some of the easiest country songs on guitar. We hope you got all the twang you were looking for while riding down country roads in your red pickup truck.

The basics of country guitar are the same as anything else – learn the chords, learn to strum, and pick. But when it comes to more advanced playing? It’s one of the most aggressive playing styles there is, because you snap and pop those strings for an all-out percussive attack!

So, have fun with this style. Even if you don’t usually play country, there’s something you can learn from the above.