This article features five easy pop songs we teach at our Do Re Mi Students guitar lessons. They are ideal to help students master chords A, D and E as they only feature these three chords. Click here if you need to familiarise yourself with these chords. Three of the songs require a capo if you wish to play along with the original audio recording. Have fun.
The first of the five easy pop songs is a 1960’s classic. The “|” in between the chord progression indicates the barlines.
1) Wild Thing (The Troggs)
Chord Progression: A D | E D |
“Good Year For The Roses” is the next of the easy pop songs in this article. It is not a fast song. Thus, it allows the learner to master the chord changes more easily.
2) Good Year For The Roses (Elvis Costello)
*indicates a bar in 2/4 (i.e. two beats per bar)
Intro: A | A | A | A |
Verse 1: A | A D | A | A | (2x)
D | D | A | A |
E | E | A | A |
Chorus 1: D | E | A | A | D |
E | A | A | D | E |
D* | A | A | D | E |
A D | A E |
instrumental: A | A | A | A |
Verse 2: A | A D | A | A | (2x)
D | D | A | A |
E | E | A | A |
Chorus 2: D | E | A | A | D |
E | A | A | D | E |
D* | A | A | D | E |
A D | A E | A ||
Like the previous song, the next song is included as one of the easy pop songs as it also is not fast. Note that for this song you will need to place a capo on the 4th fret if you wish to play along with the U2 version
3) I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (U2)
Capo fret 4
Intro: A | A | A | A |
Verse 1: A | A | A | A | D | D | A | A | (2x)
Chorus: E | D | A | A | (2x)
Verse 2: A | A | A | A | D | D | A | A | (2x)
Chorus: E | D | A | A | (2x)
Verse 2: A | A | A | A | D | D | A | A | (2x)
Chorus: E | D | A | A | (2x)
Instrumental: A | A | A | A | A | A | D | D | A | A |
Verse 3: A | A | A | A | D | D | A | A | (2x)
Chorus: E | D | A | A |(4x)
Outro: A | A | A | A | D | D | A | A | (then repeat chord A and fade away)
We just could not have an article on easy pop songs without a classic like the next song. “Lean on Me” uses a capo on the 3rd fret.
4) Lean on Me (Bill Withers)
Capo 3
Intro: A | D | A | E | A | D | A | E A |
Verse 1: A | D | A | E | A | D | A | E A |
Chorus: A | D | A | E | A | D | A | E A | (2x)
Bridge: A | A | A | E A | (2x)
Chorus: A | D | A | E | A | D | A | E A |
Bridge: A | A | A | E A | (2x)
Verse 2: A | D | A | E | A | D | A | E A |
Outro: D A | (14x)
The last of the easy pop songs in this article is by Abba. The easiest place to start playing along with the recorded version is to join in on the bar with the words “I have a” (which is chord A). Alternatively, start playing on the following bar on the word ‘dream’ (chord E).
5) I Have a Dream (Abba)
*indicates a bar in 2/4 (i.e. two beats per bar)
Capo fret 1
Verse 1: E | E | A | A | E | E | A | A | E | E | A | A | E | E | A | A |
Chorus 1: E | E | D | A | (2x)
E | E (pause) | A | A |
Verse 2: E | E | A | A | E | E | A | A | E | E | A | A | E | E | A | A (pause) |
Chorus 2: E | E | D | A | (2x)
E | E | A | A |
E | E (pause) |
Instrumental: A | A | A* | E | A | A | A | E | E | A | A |
Verse 3: E | E | A | A | E | E | A | A | E | E | A | A | E | E | A | A (pause)|
Chorus 3: E | E | D | A | (2x)
E | E | A | A |
E | E (pause) |
Ending: A | A | A* | E | E | A | A ||
Had fun practicing these easy pop songs? Want to learn more? If you wish to practice chords C, F, G and A minor via some popular easy guitar songs, check out this article. Also, check out all the types of music lessons we offer here.