17 No Capo Guitar Songs
Contents
“Fire On The Mountain” by Grateful Dead
Today’s musicians have a lot to thank the Grateful Dead for, particularly when it comes to live performances. Their sound man, Owsley Stanley, truly pioneered innovative technology for the band, much of which has become commonplace today.
Aside from that, this band was also responsible for giving an example of the possibilities available in music. Each performance was unique and propelled by improvisation to take the audience to a new sonic landscape.
One of the easiest Grateful Dead tunes for any guitarist to learn is Fire On The Mountain. This song only has 2 chords but opens the door for some tasty Mixolydian solos.
It’s almost a running joke that this is usually the first song a band will play when getting into improvisation. Don’t let this deter you, rather, think of it as a rite of passage.
“Suzie Q” by Credence Clearwater Revival
Are you looking to incorporate more leads into your blend of rhythm guitar playing? You might want to consider learning the song, Suzie Q.
If you have even the smallest amount of exposure to classic rock, you probably know of this song. It has a dark, driving sound, ultimately guided by its iconic guitar riff playing throughout.
This song is relatively easy, especially if you already know your basic open chords and some barre chord shapes. The riff itself is a great exercise in playing a melody across nearly all of the strings on the guitar.
If the riff is too much, you can opt to just play the chords within the song to the same effect. You’ll at least want to know how to do this if you’re playing with somebody else playing lead guitar.
“Oye Como Va” by Santana
Santana is one of the most celebrated guitarists to come from the late 1960s and 1970s. Part of what he’s known for is his highly melodic guitar lines, many of which can be easily sung.
Another part of the winning formula is the fact that Santana had an absolutely killer band behind him. The Latin beats especially created a complex tapestry for many layers of sound to take place.
One of Santana’s most popular songs is, Oye Como Va. While this song does have some famous leads, it’s a great platform for jamming with other people.
For the most part, you’ll only really be playing 2 chords throughout the entire song. Try out the barre chord shapes to add more versatility to your toolkit.
“When I Come Around” by Green Day
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably wondering why there has been no mention made of punk music. Of course, punk rock purists would burn a village down if the song, When I Come Around, was considered punk.
Green Day is often lumped into the category of punk music because, fundamentally, their music is punk. Take the song, When I Come Around, for instance.
This song is played primarily using simple power chords that almost any desiring beginner can play after some time. Sure, it might be way more pop-oriented than the most punk song ever, but it’s a good starting point.
While it might be simple, this song will get you moving your hand around the fretboard.
“Baby, I’m An Anarchist” by Against Me!
Against Me! is a band that has had an interesting trajectory over the years. Speaking purely about the music, the band today is certainly not the same as they used to be.
In fact, Against Me! won an audience in their early career by blending folk and punk into a unique aesthetic. Much of their earlier recordings are marred with a roughness, injecting a sense of “real” into their music.
Even as the band went electric, they managed to find a way to keep their unique sound. The song, Baby, I’m An Anarchist, is a great example of this, featuring a standard progression and memorable lyrics.
In some ways, this track became an anthem for underground punk fans. It has certainly withstood the test of time, so far.
“Black Magic Woman” by Santana
Another popular Santana song for guitarists to learn is, Black Magic Woman. Most people are probably familiar with this song because of all of the signature guitar parts.
In fact, out of Santana’s work, this track has his most singable guitar lines. Even a non-guitarist can likely sing some of Santana’s solos purely from memory.
However, if you aren’t quite there yet, in terms of playing lead, Black Magic Woman is still great to learn. There are really only 4 different chords to have to worry about here.
Plus, something like this is another great selection for the repertoire. Audiences can sing along, and any skilled musician will love to jam with you on this track.
“Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
If you ever decide to play for audiences in local establishments, you might get a request for Brown Eyed Girl. This is a golden oldie that truly does make people feel good when they hear it.
You might have tried your best to steer away from having to learn this. Maybe you don’t want to be cliche, or maybe the iconic intro scared you off.
Well, either way, it’s in your best interest to learn this track, as it will truly please a crowd. Aside from the intro, it relies primarily on simple open chord shapes you probably already know.
“Love Me Do” by The Beatles
You don’t have to throw a stone very far to find somebody who’s a fan of The Beatles. If any of your Beatles-loving friends know you play guitar, you might have gotten a request.
Of course, if you’ve never learned anything from this group, it can be hard to decide on what to learn. So many of their songs are classics in their own right, which one should you pick?
A great starting point in adding Beatles songs to your repertoire is the song, Love Me Do. This is a simple track using open chord shapes, and you’ll certainly get a few people singing along.
Easy No Capo Guitar Songs, Final Thoughts
There’s definitely nothing wrong with using a capo if you’re using it to expand your creative boundaries. But, if you aren’t well-versed in your chords, you could fall into the trap of the capo crutch.
Consider learning these songs to get you more familiarized with the neck beyond the first few frets. You’ll beef up your repertoire and have fun learning things you’ll use for life in the process.
