Country music has been a popular genre for many decades and continues to attract a lot of fans. If you’re interested in learning how to play guitar, you might want to start with easy-to-play country songs. The guitar is a versatile instrument and can be used to play many different styles of music. Simple country songs are often easy to learn and can be a great way to get started playing the guitar. They typically feature straightforward chord progressions and basic strumming patterns. Additionally, many of these songs have catchy melodies and memorable lyrics. Learning to play simple country songs on guitar can be a great way to improve your playing skills, have fun, and connect with other guitarists who share your love of country music. Before learning country songs on guitar, it’s advisable to familiarize yourself with some of the basic cowboy chords, also sometimes referred to as whiskey chords.
The search for an easy-to-play country guitar song is one of the most popular choices for beginners who want to learn to play the guitar. In this regard, I have compiled a list of 5 easy country songs that you can play on guitar. These songs are mainly focused on chords, rhythm, and tempo, and are performed as a group. I have chosen artists with a distinctive style, so once you learn to play one song, you can have a better understanding of their other works as well. Some of these songs were played by me in my early days as a 16-year-old player, playing for 15 years in Honky Tonks.
1:Waylon Jennings “Lonesome On’ry and Mean”
THE outlaw Waylon had his signature ideas. It was a simple Telecaster and a Chorus pedal to the amp. Even the Lead breaks he plays are simple but Important and have their elegant character. Based out on the Key of D and including a quick C to G dynamic accent, with the chorus also including C to G back to D it’s a quick study. The Rhythm and dynamics are the things you want under your belt to play this song perfectly but practicing this good country tune will help you achieve that in the long run.
2: Johnny Cash’s “Big River”
Johnny Cash was known for his skill in using the guitars of his rhythm, which were expertly echoed by the late great Luther Perkins. Luther was also a lead man, much like Waylon, with an economical yet impactful style. Once again, the focus is on the style. However, given the uncertainty regarding the root chord and recording speeds, I’ve included a tutorial video to help clarify things. Keep in mind that the feel of the music is just as important as the chords themselves.
♪♫ Johnny Cash – Big River (Tutorial)
3:George Jones “If Drinking Don’t Kill Me” .
George‘s voice often distracted everyone from what he was doing on the Guitar. In this case, he is using a Capo on the second Fret and working from there.
This song is a prime example of a “walk-up” a dynamic used greatly in Country Music and I’m 99% sure came from The Church and Gospel Piano. Remember even Rock Players Like Chuck Berry were being led to dynamics and keys that were originating from Piano.
George Jones If Drinking Don’t Kill Me” (Her Memory Will) Chords on Chordify No Capo
4:David Allen Coe “ 33rd of August”
33rd of August – David Allan Coe Sings From a Jail Cell 1975
Written by Mickey Newbury, this is a powerful rendition. In Truth, David delivers anyone’s song as good if not better. Here we find the beauty in the simplicity of a man and a Guitar and the easy-to-play country guitar progression just keeps repeating it D-G-A for the Verse and G-D-E-A and D for the chorus.
Repeat
Chords: D-G-A verse
G D E A and D Chorus.
And Bob’s your Uncle.
5:Hank Williams Jr. “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bent”
Bocephus is a Master songwriter, Rhythm, and Lead Maestro. Here you are finding the intro to a simple structure., but in the case of all these songs, the word simple is not there to downplay it. It’s about the Distillation of music same as Making Powerful Moonshine and Whiskey. Intro G and D and again as you go you find the “walk-up” meaning quick notes or chords leading to the other primary Parts. G A B C to the G in the verse and then at the end of the verse and extended G and then D. The chorus employs much of the same structure. Feel your way around it and you begin to be able to anticipate the changes.
In General, I am not a guitar teacher at all. I use my own tunings which change many things but I find I can find bits of focus for a beginner. My Beginning was shouting” What key is it in? G ok Go” and I would figure it out, on-the-job training sometimes in front of 200 or 2 thousand depending on the gig.
I love old school Country as it is part of my life, and once you learn the intricate aspects you are gaining knowledge to use in many other forms of music. When I speak of things like “walkups” or “walk-downs” one mistake many guitarists make is that they more often listen to the guitar part. I advise people to listen to the Bass Player as well, the structure lies there and even though most might think Bass in country music is background, it is in actual fact the bone of any real band or song. Learning the Bassline can make you a better guitar player who finds it easy to play country guitar.
