20 Easy Banjo Songs For Beginners

“Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan

Song year: 1963

We’ve come this far without touching on master songsmith Bob Dylan (although, technically he co-wrote “Wagon Wheel”), but frankly, it was inevitable that he’d pop up in this guide.

Dylan is first and foremost a songwriter and a great one at that. He’s not bad as a singer, guitar player, or instrumentalist in general, but his strength is really in weaving together brilliant lyrics.

“Blowin’ in the Wind” is one of his simpler tunes, both lyrically and musically. Dylan himself said there wasn’t a whole lot he could say about the song except for the fact that you can’t find answers to life in books, discussion groups, TV, etc.

It was, however, one of the first songs of his that was more widely and generally applicable than more specifically applicable.

The original was made up of just three chords.

“I’ll Fly Away” by Albert E. Brumley

Song year: 1932

Continuing down the list of songs my grandparents loved (there are a lot in this guide), we have “I’ll Fly Away,” a hymn originally composed by Albert E. Brumley. No wonder it makes for a great banjo song.

The song can easily be played with three to four chords. You can get about as sophisticated as you want with it, and in the video above, Clawhammer Banjo demonstrates how you can combine the chord with the melody.

Although it sounds great, this technique is a little more advanced, and as with most things, the best thing for a beginner is to stick with the chords before they worry about getting all fancy with it.

“Oh! Susanna” by Stephen Foster

Song year: 1848

Here’s another song with a long tradition (to put it mildly). “Oh! Susanna” is considered one of the most popular American songs of all time. With lyrics like “a banjo on my knee,” it’s almost as if this song was tailor-made for the instrument. Does that leave you with any other option than to learn it?

And wouldn’t you know it, this minstrel song is a three-chord wonder. You will usually find it in the key of A, which is easy to play on the banjo if you have a capo and slap it on the second fret. But you can play it in G too, there are no rules against it.

“Take It Easy” by Eagles

Song year: 1972

Name a band who nailed the country rock genre better than the Eagles did. You can’t because it doesn’t exist. Some bands came close, but none with the staying power or prolificacy of the Eagles.

“Take It Easy” is just one of many hits. It’s a little more intricate than your average pop song, with five chords rather than the standard three or four. One of the best things about the song, though, was surely its vocal harmonies, which became emblematic of the band.

The tutorial above will show you the picking pattern.

“Stuck in Middle with You” by Stealers Wheel

Song year: 1973

Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle with You” is one of those songs that only seems to get better with age. This country-rock / folk-rock tune is perfect for the banjo too.

You only need to be able to play four chords to be able to pick up this tune, and the video tutorial above will show you some of the nuances and licks too.

If you’re just getting started, you may not want to start with this tune, but it’s easy enough for beginners with limited experience.

“Have You Ever Seen The Rain?” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Song year: 1971

For all you CCR fans out there, we’ve got another tune for you to work on, none other than “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?”

In the video tutorial, MunsonCovers plays it as a ballad rather than as a roots rock or country rock tune as it was originally intended. That’s not a bad thing for beginners, though, because it means you should be able to pick it up with relative ease.

You can play the entire song with just four chords, but there are some slash chords in there in case you want to tackle them.

“Imagine” by John Lennon

Song year: 1971

For those who might want to try something other than traditional, country, folk, or country rock, there’s John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Sure, it might seem like an odd pick for banjo, but what it demonstrates is that you can play just about whatever song you want on the instrument.

In the video above, MunsonCovers shows us how to play a ballad on the banjo, and it sounds almost as evocative as the original.

“Heart of Gold” by Neil Young

Song year: 1972

If you’ve followed other MunsonCovers tutorials to this point, then learning to play Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” should be a shoo-in for you. Same basic picking pattern, mostly the same chords you’ve already learned too.

Fun fact – the backing vocals on the original were provided by Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. Now there’s a supergroup if there ever was one – Young, Taylor & Ronstadt. No? Oh well, I guess Crosby, Stills, Nash & sometimes Young will have to do.

Another fun fact – to Bob Dylan, “Heart of Gold” sounded like one of his songs. And he ended up kicking himself because Neil Young beat him to the punch!

“Viva La Vida” by Coldplay

Song year: 2008

Now for something completely different. MunsonCovers has got a wicked banjo arrangement for Coldplay’s late 2000s baroque pop of “Viva La Vida,” so we thought we’d include it here. Sometimes Munson is a little off, usually, he’s solid, but this time he’s at his creative and inspired best.

For those looking to test their strumming ability, this is a great song to try. Aside from that, you’ll be using familiar picking patterns and chords. Easy, right?

“Sweet City Woman” by Stampeders

Song year: 1971

The Stampeders’ “Sweet City Woman” prominently features the banjo as the primary rhythm instrument.

I’ve included it here as a bonus because it’s probably not the easiest song for a beginner to pick up. You can play most of the song with four chords, but there are some extra flourishes and embellishments that make it sound as great as it does. The strumming pattern is also one of a kind.

If you love the banjo, though, this is a song you should attempt at some point. And having completed the previous 20 or so tunes, maybe you can wrap your fingers around this one too.

Best Banjo Songs For Beginners, Final Thoughts

There are several popular ways of playing the banjo. None of them are wrong or right. Beginners, however, should stick to simpler arrangements so they can continue to get a better feel for their instruments.

By the time you’ve mastered a few songs, muscle memory will kick in and you’ll start to feel a lot more comfortable on your instrument. So, if you find it tough at first, hang in there. Good things are coming.