The best part of learning is when a few chords turn into a real song. You don’t need many chords for that. Here are songs sorted by how many chords they use. They are all in the public domain and in the app with lyrics and chord changes to play along.
One chord: start right away
Bruder Jakob (the German “Frère Jacques”) needs just one chord: F. So you can focus entirely on rhythm. It sounds lovely as a round when someone sings along.
FTwo chords: C and G7
With C and G7 you can already accompany lots of songs. Changing between these two is the first big goal for many beginners.
- Hänschen klein (German children’s song)
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat
- Mary Had a Little Lamb
- London Bridge Is Falling Down
- Skip to My Lou
- Oh My Darling, Clementine
Something different: What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor only needs Dm and C and has that minor-key sea-shanty sound.
Three chords: C, F and G7
Add F and you have the three most important chords in the key of C. That opens up countless folk and children’s songs:
- Alle meine Entchen (German children’s song)
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
- Jingle Bells
- Alle Vögel sind schon da (German spring song)
Four chords: adding minor
With Am as a fourth chord, things get more emotional. Try Am Lagerfeuer or Amazing Grace.
Play songsYour own song
Your favourite song isn’t here? Just paste in the lyrics and chords yourself. The app turns them into a play-along song, saved only on your device.
Add your own song