The 10 Best Easy Fingerpicking Songs for Beginners (2025 Edition)
Learning fingerpicking guitar (also called fingerstyle) opens up a world of musical expression — from acoustic ballads to intricate fingerstyle riffs. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a simple way into the world of fingerstyle, these beginner-friendly songs are the perfect place to start. We've curated the best easy fingerpicking songs that are fun, well-known, and proven favorites among new guitarists.
What is Fingerpicking Guitar?
Fingerpicking (or fingerstyle) guitar is a technique where you pluck the strings directly with your fingers rather than using a pick. It allows for greater independence between the thumb and fingers, enabling you to play melody, harmony, and rhythm all at once. It’s common in folk, classical, blues, and even pop music.
How to Choose a Beginner Fingerpicking Song
The 1960s and '70s were a golden age for fingerstyle guitar, with artists like Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, and the Beatles bringing this style into the mainstream. When selecting a beginner song, look for:
- Simple chord progressions
- Repetitive picking patterns (like Travis picking)
- Moderate to slow tempos
- Recognizable melodies
This list includes both timeless classics and more modern options to suit different tastes and learning styles.
Note: A special thanks to reddit, Guitardomination.net, and posts here and here, for providing some great lists as inspiration. If you want to see some more ideas, make sure to check out their posts. You can also check out one of my earlier posts for general acoustic guitar songs for beginners.
Top 10 Easy Fingerpicking Songs for Beginners
1. Blackbird (The Beatles)
Genre: Folk Rock | Difficulty: Easy
One of the most iconic beginner fingerstyle songs. The melody and picking are both beautiful and approachable.
Video Lesson: Trevor Gordon Hall has some great "intro to fingerstyle" lessons to get you started here.
2. Dust In The Wind (Kansas)
Genre: Rock | Difficulty: Easy
Uses a classic Travis picking pattern. Also helpful for learning "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac.
Video Lesson: Don Ross's lessons on Travis picking are a great starting place for learning this one.
3. Ain't No Sunshine (Bill Withers)
Genre: Soul | Difficulty: Easy
A soulful, repeating pattern that helps develop rhythm and finger independence.
Video Lesson: Tommy Emmanuel's lesson on "House of the Rising Sun" is helpful here.
4. Nothing Else Matters (Metallica)
Genre: Metal Ballad | Difficulty: Easy
Beautiful arpeggios and fingerpicking that are great for beginners. Skip the lead parts for now...
So pretty, and so simple, no lessons needed here.
5. Shape of My Heart (Sting)
Genre: Pop | Difficulty: Moderate
Elegant and unique. Challenging chords, but simple picking.
Video Lesson: The chord shapes are the hard part on this one (those "6" chords!), but you could check out Trevor Gordon Hall's lessons for some basic fingerstyle guidance if needed
6. Don't Think Twice It's Alright (Bob Dylan)
Genre: Folk | Difficulty: Easy
A laid-back song that lends itself perfectly to casual fingerpicking.
Something tells me you sound more like Bob when you don't worry too much. Skip the lessons, just jam.
7. Good Riddance (Green Day)
Genre: Rock | Difficulty: Easy
A familiar tune with a basic fingerpicking pattern. Works with either pick or fingers.
Video Lesson: You can actually do this with a pick or fingers. But if you're just getting started with acoustic guitar, you can check out David Isaacs beginner guitar lessons.
8. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (Led Zeppelin)
Genre: Rock | Difficulty: Moderate
A haunting piece that uses hybrid picking techniques. Start with a simplified fingerstyle version.
Video Lesson: Same thing here, you can actually do this with a pick or fingers. But if you're juuuust getting started with acoustic guitar, you can check out David Isaacs beginner guitar lessons.
9. Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley)
Genre: Folk | Difficulty: Easy
A slow, melodic tune that is perfect for beginner fingerpickers.
Nice and slow, just take your time.
10. The Boxer (Simon and Garfunkel)
Genre: Folk | Difficulty: Moderate
A must-know classic. Combines Travis picking with beautiful lyrics and harmonies.
Video Lesson: Again, Don Ross's lessons on Travis picking are super helpful here.
Bonus Round:
The truth is, there's so many great beginner fingerstyle songs to choose from. Here are a few more suggestions pulled from comments, recommendations, and further contemplation.
11. Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin)
A legendary intro with arpeggios perfect for practicing finger coordination and chord transitions.
12. Everybody Hurts (REM)
Simple picking pattern and slow tempo make this emotional ballad great for beginners.
13. Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)
An easy love song with steady fingerpicking that’s perfect for slow dancing or serenading.
14. Fast Car (Tracy Chapman)
Features a memorable, rhythmic riff that introduces a unique approach to fingerpicking.
15. House of the Rising Sun (The Animals)
A folk-rock staple with a foundational picking pattern used by many beginners.
16. Don't Cry (Guns'n'Roses)
Great for learning slow picking patterns over simple chords with a nostalgic '90s vibe.
17. Love Yourself (Justin Bieber)
Great for learning slow picking patterns over simple chords with a nostalgic '90s vibe.
18. Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
A rich example of melodic fingerpicking with emotional depth and folk roots.
19. Hotel California (The Eagles)
The intro's rolling pattern works well for fingerstyle and helps build coordination.
20. One (Metallica)
The intro riff is iconic, slow, and simple—perfect for early fingerpicking practice.
Recommended Resources
🎸 Want to master fingerpicking fast? Check out Don Ross's Fingerstyle Guitar Course — an excellent step-by-step video course for learning Travis picking, hand placement, and fingerstyle rhythm techniques.
👀 Just starting out on guitar? Browse our list of 30 Great Songs for Absolute Beginner Guitarists.
FAQs About Learning Fingerstyle Guitar
What is the easiest fingerpicking song to learn? "Blackbird" by The Beatles and "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas are two of the easiest and most popular starter songs.
How long does it take to learn fingerstyle guitar? With regular practice, most players can start playing basic fingerpicking songs within a few weeks.
What is Travis picking? Travis picking is a common fingerpicking pattern that uses the thumb to alternate bass notes while the fingers play the melody.
Do I need long fingernails to fingerpick? Not at all. Many players use their fingertips or a combination of nails and flesh.
Got suggestions? Add them in the comments below!
Still Looking for More Resources? We Got You.
Tommy Emmanuel offers a number of fingerstyle guitar courses. If you haven't heard of him, he's considered one of the best (or the best) acoustic guitarist in the world. He's certified C.G.P. and rocks a thumb pick like no other.
So if you're interested in learning the ways of the Jedi Master (when it comes to fingerstyle guitar, that is), then check out these course below.
He's a personal hero of mine - he plays flawlessly, teaches endlessly, and generally makes you feel better about life after you've heard him. Can't recommend him enough.
* (Heads up, if you click through that link and end up signing up for his course, a few bucks will come back to support this site. Thanks in advance! Additional lesson recommendations are included below that are more specific to each song.)
Further Reading
Top 25 Fingerstyle Guitar Players