Every guitarist should know a good blues song or two. It has been such a foundational genre for guitar music that traces of the blues can be found in most modern styles, from its direct descendant in rock and roll to blues-esque repeated refrains in pop and hip hop. Learning the basics of blues is a great way to begin playing guitar, as you’ll be performing in a range of keys that will arm you with the tools of open and closed chord shapes, and basic soloing and improvisation, all the while building a strong core of rhythm, timing, and song structure.
The blues is a broad term that covers a lot of different sounds, but is generally a rather simple and straightforward genre using only a few basic chords in its simplest form. This makes it a great style for beginner guitarists looking to learn their first songs.
There are songs on this list that even someone with almost no working knowledge of a guitar could learn to play, but that’s not to say there aren’t tunes that will challenge an intermediate player.
Perfecting these easy blues guitar songs will prepare you for playing in many other genres, so when you’re ready to branch out into rock, country, bluegrass, and jazz, you’ll already have a sense of familiarity with common song structures and chord progressions.
These easy blues guitar songs for beginners come from some of the most legendary musicians of all time, so if you’re ready to join in the tradition of the greats, tune up and dive into this list with confidence. Then soon, you’ll be writing up your own woes in this timeless genre that will have people amped up to play and sing along.
Easy Blues Guitar Songs For Starters
- Sweet Little Angel – B.B. King – Tab
- Little Red Rooster – Howlin’ Wolf – Tab
- Crosscut Saw – Albert King – Tab
- Look At Little Sister – Hank Ballard – Tab
- The Stumble – Freddie King – Tab
- Before You Accuse Me – Bo Diddley – Tab
- The Thrill Is Gone – B.B. King – Tab
- Alberta – Eric Clapton – Tab
- Born Under A Bad Sign – Albert King – Tab
- Life By The Drop – Stevie Ray Vaughan – Tab
- Nobody Knows When You’re Down And Out – Eric Clapton – Tab
- Kind Hearted Woman Blues – Robert Johnson – Tab
- Suitcase – Keb Mo – Tab
- Manish Boy – Muddy Waters – Tab
- Smokestack Lightning – Howlin’ Wolf – Tab
- Sweet Home Chicago – Robert Johnson – Tab
- T-Bone Shuffle – T-Bone Walker – Tab
- Blues Stay Away From Me – John C. Reilly – Tab
- Boom Boom – John Lee Hooker – Tab
- Take Out Some Insurance – J.J. Cale – Tab
- Damn Right I’ve Got The Blues – Buddy Guy – Tab
- Rock Me Baby – B.B. King – Tab
- I Can’t Quit You Baby – Led Zeppelin – Tab
- Things That I Used To Do – Guitar Slim – Tab
- Boogie Chillun – John Lee Hooker – Tab
- Matchbox – Carl Perkins – Tab
- Phone Booth – Robert Cray – Tab
- Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers – Tab
- It Hurts Me Too – Elmore James – Tab
- Crossroad Blues – Robert Johnson – Tab
- What’d I Say – Ray Charles – Tab
- Call It Stormy Monday – T-Bone Walker – Tab
- Papa Ain’t Salty – T-Bone Walker – Tab
- Mean Woman Blues – Roy Orbison – Tab
- House Of The Rising Sun – Lead Belly – Tab
- Got My Mojo Working – Muddy Waters – Tab
- Key To The Highway – Eric Clapton – Tab
- Big Boss Man – Jimmy Reed – Tab
- Dust My Broom – Elmore James – Tab
- Red House – Jimi Hendrix – Tab
- People Get Ready – The Impressions – Tab
- Trouble In Mind – Lightnin’ Hopkins – Tab
- Ramblin’ On My Mind – Robert Johnson – Tab
- All My Love’s In Vain – Robert Johnson – Tab
- The Sky Is Crying – Stevie Ray Vaughan – Tab
- Every Day I Have The Blues – B.B. King – Tab
- Blood And Wine – Dustin Kensrue – Tab
- Come On In My Kitchen – Robert Johnson – Tab
- Hard Times – Eric Clapton – Tab
- I’ll Play The Blues For You – Albert King – Tab
- Just Got Paid – ZZ Top – Tab
- Texas Flood – Stevie Ray Vaughan – Tab
- I’m Tore Down – Freddie King – Tab
- I’m Just Your Fool – The Rolling Stones – Tab
- Pride And Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan – Tab
- All Your Love – The Bluesbreakers – Tab
- Ice Cream Man – Van Halen – Tab
- Down – Eyes Of The South – Tab
- Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash – Tab
- Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett – Tab
- Baby What You Want Me To Do – Jimmy Reed – Tab
- Hoochie Coochie Man – Muddy Waters – Tab
- Statesboro Blues – Blind Willie McTell – Tab
- Born In Chicago – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band – Tab
- One Way Out – Elmore James – Tab
- 3 O’Clock Blues – B.B. King – Tab
- Cold Shot – Stevie Ray Vaughan – Tab
- Killing Floor – Howlin’ Wolf – Tab
- Me And The Devil Blues – Robert Johnson – Tab
- Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry – Tab
- How Long, How Long Blues – Eric Clapton – Tab
- Hey Joe – The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Tab
- La Grange – ZZ Top – Tab
- I Just Want To Make Love To You – Foghat – Tab
- Hellbound On My Trail – Robert Johnson – Tab
- Deep River Blues – Doc Watson – Tab
- One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer – John Lee Hooker – Tab
- After Midnight – Eric Clapton – Tab
- Death Letter Blues – Son House – Tab
- Blues Power – Eric Clapton – Tab