Need an easy song to learn for a beginner

Blatio

Just scan the acoustic message board and you'll see some previous requests for the same thing ... alot of good info from posters ...

I got the Negative vote from a few about leaning that song first. The picking on that song can get a tad confusing, and the chord changes they said are a little beyond beginner. >< It didn't stop me from continuing playing what I knew and starting to learn more of the song.

Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Horse with no name by America
Wonderwall by oasis

Ihave got the basics of lots of songs but never seem to play them all the way through, and I am starting to realise that at some point I am going to have to start singing!!
Been playing a year or so, nearly all self taught

Try to play with other guitarists I found it gave me a little extra push and try to play every day

My advice would be, if you are new to guitar, would be to NOT worry too much about learning a song at the beginning stage. I would spend my time learning the open major chords - E, A, D, G & C. Also learn a few minor - Dm, Am & Em. Then learn a few 7th chords - D7, G7, E7, A7 & C7 (even B7). Practice the chords as if they are a chord progression - {A, D & E} -
{E, A  B7] (B7 is easier to play than a B chord), {D, G & A}, {G, C & D} With these 4 chord progressions there are thousands of songs that can be played. As a beginner practice the Chord progression of {C, F & G} but don't get too disappointed due to the F chord as it can be difficult. Practice these progressions until you become adjusted to forming the chords and changing from one to the other quickly. Once you are comfortable with the chords and changes then it will become time to begin learning to play songs. As you are practicing chord progressions try to learn parts of a song as the chords just continue to be repeated. nAs you are learning the chord progressions also learn the strum pattern of the song. What I'm telling you is how I wished someone had told me when I started. Remember even babies gotta learn to crawl before they can walk. I just takes time to learn how to play well. With the correct practice routine  and quality time spent practicing you will learn much faster.

Nela

Wish You Were Here-Pink Floyd

These are easy chords with nicely spaced chord changes (which I found to be VERY VERY importaant when first starting.  For example, a lot of the Eagles songs are easy chords but are pretty quick changes.) Plus W.Y.W.H.  has that cool riff in the begining.  Don't worry about being exact on the riff, just play it a couple of times and then start with the intro chords.  Nothing feels better than the first time you play a song and it actually sounds like what you meant for it to sound like! 

Good luck!  Don't forget "a journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step"

Jambalaya by Hank Williams.  All C and G7

Horse with No Name someone mentioned above, only four chords.  All chords are two finger chords.  And you only switch back and forth between two of them at a time.  Easy strum pattern too.  A good confidence building song.

Bob Dylan songs have been working for me lately.  Open chords, easy strum patterns.  Songs that tell a story.  Good stuff.  Again, confidence building songs. 

Something that's important to me is that I don't try and cover songs EXACTLY like the "original".  In my perception of things, songs ought to be interpreted.  I blew a poor guy's mind at a guitar shop once.  He was playing some Lep Zeppelin and making a perfect reproduction of the sound.  Perfect.  It may as well have been a record.  So he was a pretty young kid and he looked up at me (not nearly the guitar player, but an older guy) and I could tell he was looking for some sort of affirmation by the puppy dog look he gave.  Anyway I said, "That was brilliant.  A perfect reproduction.  Very well done.  Now play it again the way YOU think it ought to be played."  He did, and it sounded even better to my ears.  The whole point is, don't be afraid to interpret. 

And when you make a mistake, don't be afraid of that either and don't get upset with yourself.  EVERYONE makes mistakes.  I had the good fortune to listen to some raw tapes of a Willie Nelson session.  They played an AWESOME version of a Hank Williams song (don't recall which right now).  Really jamming.  They paused for a moment after the big finish on the song, and then they all busted out laughing.  Seems Willie Nelson played a guitar solo over the harmonica solo, he got some choruses reversed in the lyrics, and the harmonica player stepped all over Willie Nelson when it was time for the guitar solo.  You'd never have known it from the recording, but listening to the laughter and banter after it was all done and then going back, you could pick it up.  EVERYONE makes mistakes.  These guys have been playing together for decades and screw up.  So, take it easy on yourself and keep it fun. 

- Zurf

Don't know what type of stuff you like, but I know that it was important to me to be able to play a song fairly quickly. Learning a song gave me motivation to keep practicing.

A lot of country stuff (especially older stuff like Johnny Cash and Hank Williams) is pretty simple.

Ring of Fire is three chords (G,C, & D).

A lot of CCR stuff is fairly simple (Down on the Corner, Bad Moon Rising, Have You Ever Seen the Rain, etc...)

You can play Sweet Home Alabama with D, C, and G.

just find something, and stick to it.

and just play.