Off Topic Good(easy) songs to sing/play the guitar

I am relatively new to playing the guitar and find for some of the harder chords I get 2 or at best 3 strings correct and strum and blag it and just sing a bit louder.

I want some good song recommendations that I can play and sing at family gatherings. Ages range from 83 to 5 with a small cluster around 25-30 yrs of age.

My singing is better than Ed Sheeran but not quite as powerful as bono and I just cant hit the hoo hoo bits on U2's bad. Im not a fan of vibrato but can do it, don't like the rate jessie J or micheal stipe do it.
something with a good singalong chorus would be great.

The easier the better because I will no doubt have to get borderline inebriated to summon up the courage to start playing.

so basically anything from 90's onwards but it would be nice to entertain the two youngest - 5 and 10.

I find open chords sound nicer as I struggle with bar chords due to my lack of technique.

~(And no miners strike shanties please)

 

Its pre 90s but "Knocking on heavens door" is G, D, C and is a good sing along tune.

 

The wheels on the bus, twinkle twinkle little star, Humpty Dumpty. Guaranteed family favourites that will provide fun for everyone.

Once the kids are in bed some the likes of Californication, Sweet Home Alabama and Behind Blue Eyes are well known and simple singalongs. If you want something a little harder and leave your guests jaws gaping and your ego bursting Metallica’s master of puppets is quite an easy tune with lots off dead simple but fast riffs (so they look and sound a lot more impressive than they really are). The second solo will need a bit of finger tapping practice but you can skip it.

If you’re struggling with the traditional chords just use power chords. Easy and effective. Get an electric and amp and you’ll be able to completely disguise your cheating.

 

My 1st Easy Strumming Songs With Simple Chord Changes Were

WITHOUT YOU = NILSSON
HEART ❤️ OF GOLD = NEIL YOUNG
DOWN UNDER = MEN AT WORK
& Suprisingly
HOTEL CALIFORNIA = THE EAGLES.
Simple Melodic Tunes.

 

Not exactly upbeat!

 

https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/oasis/dont_look_back_in_anger_chords_6097

 

Keep on rockin in the free world by Neil Young and others is Em D C G

 

More like it!

 

But how many there would know it to singalongachillo?

 

Through the Fire and Flames by DragonForce.

 

Everyone knows the Beatles! And most can be played using simplified chords.

Yellow Submarine -the ultimate sing-along: G D C G Em Am Em D etc etc

(If you're feeling adventurous play Cmaj7 in place of the 2nd Em)

 

As beginner guitar player, Justinguitar should be your Bible.


https://www.justinguitar.com/songs

 

There are many guitar lessons on YouTube. They are free

 

A Hard’s Night by The Beatles canbe started with one strum of the guitar. As a non-guitar player that’s the only tip I have

 

To hit the group in their 30s, whilst also being recognisable to most:

Oasis songs are all pretty easy, they riff around a structure where you can generally plant a finger or two for almost all the song and just move the others - easily observable on songs like Wonderwall and Half the World Away.

Robbie William's Let Me Entertain You is another simple chord structure.

The prize for the easiest song I ever learned to play, all the way through, goes to Deep Blue Something's Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Little bit trickier, but getting points from Radio 2 listeners and a staple for learning, is Fast Car by Tracy Chapman. This has the bonus of sounding great, but really isn't that hard with a bit of practice.

Zombie by Cranberries is another pretty simple song, built around powerchords in large part, its something that most people will know too, not sure if it is family singalong material though...

Little bit older, Free's Alright Now. Its simple almost all the way through, and there are some great simplifications of the classic solo that can earn you much kudos without much effort. Like a lot of 70s rock I find it hard to sing though, your mileage may vary.

 

If you can’t play bar chords just get a capo

Sorted

Try playing That’s Entertainment by the way. Fairly easy and good for pissed singalongs

 

Teenage Kicks - The Undertones

 

Song 2, Blur. Easy to play and everyone going whooo - hooo would be a blast.

 

Master of Puppets by Metallica.