Country Songs Lessons
Die A Happy Man by Thomas Rhett
Die a Happy Man by Thomas Rhett is played in the key of D. Chords used are D, G, A, Bm, Gm. There are a few barre chords used and a soulful part in the verse using first inversion D/F# chord. Taught on electric but can be easily played on acoustic as well.
Song Difficulty: 4
Mama Tried by Merle Haggard
In this lesson we will learn the classic Merle Haggard tune Mama Tried. Just 4 chords needed for this one. D, G, A, and Bm. The intro is the most challenging part using a hybrid picking technique to create a D major based arpeggio.
Song Difficulty: 3
Long Trip Alone by Dierks Bently
Long Trip Alone is a fairly easy country tune by Dierks Bently. It utilizes mainly open chords. The song starts with a melodic line within a G major chord that takes a little fingering practice. That melodic theme reoccurs throughout the tune.
Song Difficulty: 3
Friends In Low Places by Garth Brooks (Electric)
In this lesson we will study the electric guitar parts and the solo. The electric guitar is in standard tuning and does not use a capo like the acoustic.
Song Difficulty: 5
Friends In Low Places by Garth Brooks
In this lesson we will be learning the acoustic parts to this country classic. It requires the use of a capo at the 2nd fret. Chords used are G, Abdim7, Am, D, and Cm.
Song Difficulty: 4
Blue Moon Of Kentucky by Bill Monroe (Chord Melody)
In this lesson we will be learning Bill Monroe's Blue Moon of Kentucky. We will be learning this chord melody style with a pick although you could use your fingers as well. The song consists of just 3 chords- I, IV, V in the key of A.
Song Difficulty: 5
Always On My Mind chords by Willie Nelson
In this lesson we will be studying Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson. The original recording is mainly piano so we have transposed it for guitar in a fingerstyle arrangement. Always On My Mind chords include open chords, barre chords and some interesting slash chords.
Song Difficulty: 4
Buy Me a Boat by Chris Jansen
In this lesson we will be studying the song Buy Me a Boat. The song uses just 3 chords, but does have some cool country style licks. The guitar is tuned to drop D tuning in the original recording. We will cover all the licks in drop D, but for beginners you could easily strum along using just D, G, and A in standard tuning.
Song Difficulty: 3
Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton
Easy 2 chord song with a simple lead intro. You need to know A major and B minor for this tune.
Song Difficulty: 3
Tennessee Stud by Doc Watson
In this lesson we will study Tennessee Stud as performed by Doc Watson. The tune has a great bluegrass type intro that repeats throughout the song. It applies many of the basic bluegrass principles we have discussed in the Bluegrass Genre section. The chords used are not difficult, however the timing and arrangement are a little tricky. Best to learn a section at a time.
Song Difficulty: 3
Old Town Road by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
In this lesson we will be learning Old Town Road. For beginners I would suggest tuning down 1/2 step. This will allow you to play along with the original recording while using open chords. The song consists of just 4 chords - A, C, G, F.
Song Difficulty: 2
Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings
This classic country walz consists of just 3 chords, the I, IV, and V played in two different keys. The song starts in the key of D and halfway through shifts to the key of E. Chords needed are D, G, A7, E A, and B7. We will also be applying an alternating bass line to the progression.
Song Difficulty: 3
Boot Scootin Boogie by Brooks and Dunn
Boot Scootin Boogie is a 3 chord country blues boogie played in the key of E. The guitar part consists of a bluesy shuffle riff played over each of the 3 chords E7, A7, and B7. You could also play this song on acoustic, strumming along with the 3 main chords.
Song Difficulty: 3
Jesus Take The Wheel by Carrie Underwood
In this lesson we will be learning Jesus Take The Wheel by Carrie Underwood. The song is relatively simple from and arrangement and strumming perspective. However, there is the use of some slash and barre chords along with melodic lines in the D chord before the chorus.
Song Difficulty: 4
Beautiful Crazy by Luke Combs
The song Beautiful Crazy by Luke Combs is played with a capo at the 4th fret and uses 7 chords. The chord shapes needed are G, D/F#, Em7, Dadd9, C, Am7, and C/B. The strumming pattern is a common one and stays consistent throughout.
Song Difficulty: 3
Meant To Be by Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha
This tune by Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha is a pretty simple tune with 5 chords. The song is played, on the original recording, with a capo on the 3rd fret. Chords used are G, Am, Em, C, and G/F#.
Song Difficulty: 2
Hurt by Johnny Cash
In this lesson we will be learning Hurt by Johnny Cash. The tune consists of mostly open chords including Am, C, D, Dsus2, G, and F. The verse has a arpeggio picking pattern while the chorus goes to a simple 8th note up and down strumming pattern. Pretty easy tune and good for beginners, but also fun for any level player.
Song Difficulty: 3
Tennessee Whiskey (Solo)
In this lesson we will be studying the guitar solo in Tennessee Whiskey by Christ Stapleton. The solo consists of mostly A pentatonic major and B pentatonic minor licks. Notice how the solo highlights the notes of the chords being played underneath.
Song Difficulty: 5
American Kids by Kenny Chesney
In this lesson we will be studying American Kids by Kenny Chesney. The song is comprised of basically just 4 chords, C, G, Em, Bm. The rhythm in the verse is a little tricky but super fun to play once you lock it in. We will be covering all the parts of the song including the acoustic guitar solo.
Song Difficulty: 4
Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker and Old Crow Medicine Show
In this lesson we will study the song "Wagon Wheel" by Darius Rucker and Old Crow Medicine Show
Song Difficulty: 2
Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash
In this lesson we will study Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash. The lesson includes both the acoustic and electric parts. The solo is also taught.
Song Difficulty: 4
Boys Round Here by Blake Shelton
In this song study lesson we will learn the country tune Boys Round Here by Blake Shelton.
Song Difficulty: 3
Fifteen by Taylor Swift
In this lesson we will study the song Fifteen by Taylor Swift. Good tune for beginners. Requires being able to play open chords.
Song Difficulty: 3
I'm Gonna Miss Her by Brad Paisley
This lesson is a song study of I'm Gonna Miss Her by Brad Paisley. This song is based in the key of F# and requires an alternate tuning of a 1/2 step down.
Song Difficulty: 6
Walk The Line by Johnny Cash
This lesson is a song study of Walk The Line by Johnny Cash.
Song Difficulty: 3
If I Die Young by The Band Perry
In this lesson we will learn If I Die Young by The Band Perry
Song Difficulty: 3
Six Days On The Road by Dave Dudley
This lesson is a song study of the classic country tune Six Days on the Road.
Song Difficulty: 3
Country Road by John Denver
This lesson is a song study of John Denver's Country Road country classic.
Song Difficulty: 3
Stupid Boy by Keith Urban
This lesson is a song study of Keith Urban's Stupid Boy. The song requires Drop D tuning and capo at the 1st fret.
Song Difficulty: 5
Picture by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow
In this lesson we will be learning Picture by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow. This is an easy tune using just a few open chords. Great tune for beginners.
Song Difficulty: 2
You and Tequila by Kenny Chesney (chords and tab)
You and Tequila is a relatively simple tune with mainly open chords based in the key of G. Tune down 1/2 step to be in tune with the original recording. Kenny Chesney uses the chords G, Csus2, G/B, D, Bm, and A7 to build the chord progressions in the song.
Song Difficulty: 3
Neon Light by Blake Shelton
In this lesson we will take a look at Neon Light by Blake Shelton. This song is unique in that harmonically, it uses just one chord. Different riffs make the sections different. We can also apply an easy chicken pickin (hybrid picking) technique to the main riff.
Song Difficulty: 3
Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet
In this lesson we will be learning Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet. Easy song for beginners using only 3 open chords.
Song Difficulty: 2
You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift
Learn how to play this tune on acoustic guitar with a capo at the 4th fret. The tune is fairly simple using just 4 chords throughout.
Song Difficulty: 2
Cruise by Florida Georgia Line
In this lesson we will learn the Florida Georgia Line tune Cruise. The song requires a capo and consists of the same 4 chord progression throughout. Easy tune if you know your open chords. We have also provided the intro lead guitar part.
Song Difficulty: 2
Love Sick Blues by Hank Williams
In this lesson we will be learning Lovesick Blues by Hank Williams. This tune uses mostly open chords, but does have an interesting arrangement and was written with a 2/2 time signature.
Song Difficulty: 3
Stay by Sugarland
In this lesson we will be learning Stay by Sugarland.
Song Difficulty: 2
Drink A Beer by Luke Bryan
In this lesson we will be Learning Drink A Beer by Luke Bryan. This tune require a capo at the first fret.
Song Difficulty: 4
When You Say Nothing At All by Allison Kraus
In this lesson we will be learning When You Say Nothing At All by Allison Kraus. Great tune for beginner finger picking. Requires a capo at the first fret
Song Difficulty: 3
Chicken Fried (Acoustic) by Zac Brown Band
In this lesson we will be studying the acoustic parts to Chicken Fried by the Zac Brown Band. Tune down 1/2 step to be in tune with the original recording. The song intro requires difficult Travis picking techniques. Recommended study of volume 12 lessons on finger picking. The rest of the tune is basic open chords.
Song Difficulty: 8
Chicken Fried (Electric) by Zac Brown Band
In this lesson we will learn the electric guitar parts to Chicken Fried by the Zac Brown Band. It requires basic open chords.
Song Difficulty: 3