Are you a beginner-level guitarist? If yes, you can probably relate to how amazing it feels to play your first solo.
Even though learning to play solo can be pretty challenging, nothing is impossible. Certainly not learning to play a guitar solo – you can easily practice on many famous melodies and get started.
We have listed down some of the easy guitar solos you can learn to make the job easier for you.
Easy Guitar Solos for Beginners
Song # 1: Dust in the Wind by Kansas
Kansas was almost through composing and recording the Point of Know Return album when producer Jeff Glixman asked for more songs.
Livgren despised playing this song, especially on acoustic guitar, even though the band members insisted on recording it. Basically, Livgren was unimpressed with this track and even refused to promote it.
Fortunately, the other members of the band outvoted him, and “Dust in the Wind” became their most popular song.
The catchy tunes make it such a breeze to practice your solo. Check out this tutorial here.
Song # 2: We Will Rock You by Queen
We Will Rock You, which is probably one of the most hit songs in the world, contains a lead guitar section in the song’s last act, which is what we will be focusing on.
The guitar solo has a consistent style and repetitive strumming, so if you get the separate pieces down, it’s not that difficult to nail.
Next: 7 Best Guitar Solos of All Time
Song # 3: Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
Billie Jean’s groovy guitar solo would be a terrific practice set for new guitarists.
Although, It’s not as easy as it sounds; you must concentrate on your strumming. The solo mainly consists of two phrases, so be sure to bring in all your groove.
Song # 4: Perfect by Ed Sheeran
As popularly known, Ed Sheeran composed this particular title for his then-girlfriend, Cherry Seaborn. “Perfect” for an old friend, Cherry Seaborn.
In 2017, the English vocalist published his third album, which he composed. It topped the UK charts at number four on the Top Singles Chart. In the same year, Billboard highlighted “Perfect,” stating that track “would be the album’s fourth single.”
If you wish to learn the guitar solo, here is a tutorial for you.
Song # 5: Angels by Robbie Williams
While Robbie Williams’s singles or tracks do not offer many solos, Angels seem to be an exception.
It is a lovely tune that you can play with even your basic chords, and it also contains a beautiful solo for novice guitarists. If you like, you may use a guitar slide for this since it adds an excellent effect.
Song # 6: Black Magic Woman by Santana
Learning Santana’s solos are a wonderful delight as he’s one of the greatest musicians in the world.
We would recommend practicing this track phrase after phrase because it’s played on the D minor scale and includes a lot of technical components. Try to find a few live performances and practice along the videos.
The way he delivers the song is not even half of it – if you could capture that essence, you are good to go!
Song # 7: Californication by Red Hot Chilli Peppers
If you are looking for a basic solo with few complications, then this is your song.
It’s free of excessive notes, and despite its simplicity, it sounds fascinating. If this is your first time trying out guitar solos, this is the perfect track to practice on because it has a few good bends that would help you improve your technique.
Related: What is the longest guitar solo ever recorded?
Song # 8: It’s my life by Bob Jovi
This song contains multiple string bends, which are designed to replicate Richi Sambora’s talkbox during the song.
If you want to truly master this track, it would be best to check out this tutorial video and give it a shot!
Song # 9: Free Falling by Tom Petty
One of the smoothest transitions of rock stars from the 1970s to the 80s was of Tom Petty. With the delivery of “Free Falling,” Petty proved to the world just how versatile he could be.
Free Falling was truly a gift to our ears and eyes. It was an immediate hit – one of the best-sellers of Petty’s singing career.
Given its history, we believe this song is perfect to practice for your first solo – don’t be shy, get your rock on!
Song # 10: High and Dry by Radiohead
Another great example of an uncomplicated solo that you can grasp quickly.
However, there are a few things you may want to keep in mind before beginning your practice sessions. Most important thing to remember is to check if your fretting fingers are doing the job correctly; otherwise, the high E string may not play as it should.
All in all, this track is an excellent example of a basic solo that doesn’t sound forced onto the music; it blends right into it and just adds to the melody.
Song # 11: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Guns n’ Roses
This is the Guns n’ Roses cover of Bob Dylan’s legendary song.
While the cover adds more of a rock feel to the classic tune, it is undoubtedly one of the best things out there in the music industry.
Slash performs two outstanding solos, both of which you can easily get a hang on if you practice consistently, so make a routine and get practicing. You should be a Guns n’ Roses pro in no time!
Moreover, not only are the guitar solos worth mentioning, but the vocals in this track are out of this world – Axl truly delivers and exceeds expectations within this one.
Song # 12: Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
While this Pink Floyd track has some amazing riffs, what you should be paying attention to is the solo that comes after these riffs.
It’s performed on acoustic guitar, which can be tricky for starters. It has a little bit of everything from slides, bends, hammer-ons, to double stops.
This is probably the most difficult solo to learn, so don’t be discouraged if you cannot seem to get it in one day. What you should be focusing on is practicing the song consistently and then perfecting your solo.
Song # 13: Fix You by Coldplay
This solo, which is less of a complete solo and more like a portion of the melody, mixes beautifully with the tune’s remainder.
However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be learning this, because such solos let you showcase your range and variety through using various instruments. This particular advantage comes in handy when you eventually move on to composing your music.
Song # 14: American Idiot by Green Day
American Idiot’s solo is relatively easier to get a grip on.
Pretty much, any beginner should be able to do it. It combines finger-picking that lets you play the same notes in two octaves at the same time, giving you beautiful melodies.
It is a relatively simple technique, and it just has to be executed right.
Final Thoughts
We have listed some of the best solos to learn for all newbies or those simply looking to practice. You can choose your favorite song or opt to practice all of them one by one.
Practicing and learning solos is way easier when you are choosing a song you enjoy listening to. This way, it won’t feel like work, but you will be having fun throughout the process.
So, pick a song you like from the list and get started with that first. Good Luck!