Whether you’re a beginner picking up the guitar for the first time or an experienced player looking to add fresh tunes to your repertoire, playing modern songs can be both enjoyable and rewarding. The great thing about learning contemporary hits is that many of them feature simple chord progressions, catchy melodies, and fun strumming patterns. Below, we explore some of the best modern songs to play on the guitar, categorized by skill level and style.

Beginner-Friendly Songs

If you’re just starting out, these songs will help you develop essential guitar skills without overwhelming complexity.

1. “Riptide” – Vance Joy

• Chords: Am, G, C, F (optional)
• Why It’s Fun: The upbeat ukulele-style rhythm translates beautifully to guitar. The simple strumming pattern makes it a great introduction to playing modern indie songs.

2. “Someone Like You” – Adele

• Chords: G, D, Em, C
• Why It’s Fun: Though originally a piano song, it’s easy to adapt to the guitar with simple open chords and an emotional, expressive playing style.

3. “Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd

• Chords: Em, C, G, D
• Why It’s Fun: The driving rhythm and energetic progression make it a crowd-pleaser that sounds great on acoustic and electric guitars alike.

4. “Love Yourself” – Justin Bieber

• Chords: C, G, Am, D
• Why It’s Fun: This song features a gentle fingerpicking pattern that’s excellent for beginners looking to develop their picking skills.

Intermediate Songs

Once you’re comfortable with basic chords and strumming, try these songs to build more dexterity and rhythmic versatility.

5. “Shallow” – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

• Chords: Em, D, G, C, Am
• Why It’s Fun: It combines soft fingerpicking with powerful strumming sections, giving players a dynamic learning experience.

6. “Take Me to Church” – Hozier

• Chords: Em, C, G, D
• Why It’s Fun: The dramatic and bluesy feel of this song makes it a blast to play while improving strumming intensity and control.

7. “Believer” – Imagine Dragons

• Chords: Bm, G, D, A
• Why It’s Fun: The percussive strumming pattern and energetic rhythm make it an engaging challenge for intermediate players.

8. “Sweater Weather” – The Neighbourhood

• Chords: Am, G, Dm, F
• Why It’s Fun: Its hypnotic chord progression and syncopated strumming make it a great practice piece for groove and rhythm.

Advanced Songs

For those ready to take their guitar skills to the next level, these modern hits provide intricate fingerpicking, fast chord changes, and more complex techniques.

9. “Neon” – John Mayer

• Techniques: Slap-and-pop, complex chord voicings
• Why It’s Fun: It’s a challenge that helps improve finger strength, percussive playing, and intricate fretwork.

10. “Polyphia – Playing God”

• Techniques: Tapping, harmonics, flamenco-inspired picking
• Why It’s Fun: This song is a technical masterpiece and a must-learn for players looking to push their skills to the limit.

11. “Everlong” – Foo Fighters (Acoustic Version)

• Chords: D, Bm, G, A
• Why It’s Fun: The rhythmic strumming pattern and emotive chord progression make it a deeply satisfying song to play.

12. “Gravity” – John Mayer

• Techniques: Bluesy licks, smooth chord transitions
• Why It’s Fun: It offers a great way to work on expressive soloing and emotive playing.

Tips for Learning These Songs

1. Start Slow: If a song has challenging sections, slow down and gradually increase speed as you become comfortable.
2. Use a Metronome: Keeping time is crucial, especially for songs with complex strumming or picking patterns.
3. Practice Transitions: Smooth chord changes make a song sound polished. Spend extra time on tricky transitions.
4. Experiment with Tone: If playing on electric guitar, tweak your amp settings or use effects to match the song’s original sound.

Final Thoughts

Modern songs are a fantastic way to stay motivated and improve your guitar skills while having fun. Whether you prefer pop, rock, indie, or blues, there’s always a great song waiting for you to learn. So grab your guitar, pick a song from this list, and start playing!