Easy Songs to Play on the Guitar
I started learning how to play the acoustic guitar when I was 9 years old. I was fortunate to be brought up in a household of musicians: my older siblings, my dad and my cousins all played the guitar with various skill levels from beginner to seasoned player. My dad played clarinet, trumpet and piano as well as jazz guitar. What I wanted at that age was to be like everyone else and to do that I needed some easy songs to play on the guitar. Little did I know then was I only needed three chords; just three chords to play tons of songs from bands such as Lynard Skynrd, the Troggs, Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Beatles. I learned quick, picked up all the basic major and minor chords and began to master several songs. Eventually I gravitated towards and learned to play acoustic blues guitar, Hey Joe was my first followed by Red House by Hendrix. One of the most distinctive guitar tunes that came out of the 70's when i was young, was Sweet Home Alabama, a relatively easy song to play on the guitar, even for a beginner.
The 1974 Lynard Skynrd classic Sweet Home Alabama was composed in response to Neil Young’s comments about the South being racist. It is featured in well-known movies such as Forrest Gump, Con Air and Sahara and uses just three chords: D, C and G. Of course there are there are a few hammer ons and pull offs in the riffs that give the song its distinctive sound and southern flavour. Despite that, it is a relatively easy song to play on the guitar even for a beginner. So, jump right in and have a go - master the three chords and shifting between them and you will be fine. Don't worry about the hammer-ons and pull-offs, that will come later with more practice! I will post the tab for those neat tricks later!
The 1974 Lynard Skynrd classic Sweet Home Alabama was composed in response to Neil Young’s comments about the South being racist. It is featured in well-known movies such as Forrest Gump, Con Air and Sahara and uses just three chords: D, C and G. Of course there are there are a few hammer ons and pull offs in the riffs that give the song its distinctive sound and southern flavour. Despite that, it is a relatively easy song to play on the guitar even for a beginner. So, jump right in and have a go - master the three chords and shifting between them and you will be fine. Don't worry about the hammer-ons and pull-offs, that will come later with more practice! I will post the tab for those neat tricks later!
Sweet Home Alabama: lyrics and chords
D C G
Big wheels keep on turning
D C G
Carry me home to see my kin
D C G
Singing songs about the Southland
D C G
I miss Alabamy once again
And I think its a sin, yes
Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow
D C G
Sweet home Alabama
D C G
Where the skies are so blue
D C G
Sweet Home Alabama
D C G
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Big wheels keep on turning
D C G
Carry me home to see my kin
D C G
Singing songs about the Southland
D C G
I miss Alabamy once again
And I think its a sin, yes
Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow
D C G
Sweet home Alabama
D C G
Where the skies are so blue
D C G
Sweet Home Alabama
D C G
Lord, I'm coming home to you
In Birmingham they love the governor
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Tell the truth
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Here I come Alabama
Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swappers
And they've been known to pick a song or two
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue
Now how about you?
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Sweet home Alabama
Oh sweet home baby
Where the skies are so blue
And the governor's true
Sweet Home Alabama
Lordy
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Tell the truth
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Here I come Alabama
Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swappers
And they've been known to pick a song or two
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue
Now how about you?
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Sweet home Alabama
Oh sweet home baby
Where the skies are so blue
And the governor's true
Sweet Home Alabama
Lordy
Lord, I'm coming home to you
