Musical Freedom: Intermediate Guitar Songs with Open Chords

Are you an intermediate guitarist looking to expand your repertoire and master the art of open chords? Open chords are a fantastic way to add depth and variety to your playing, and they are found in countless songs across different genres. In this guide, we’ll explore a range of open chord songs tailored to different skill levels: easy, medium-difficulty, and hard. So, grab your guitar, and let’s dive into the world of intermediate guitar songs with open chords that will take your playing to the next level!

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Easy Open Chord Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

If you’re relatively new to open chords or looking for some relaxed tunes to start with, these songs are perfect for you:

“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals

This is a classic folk-rock song, perfect for intermediate guitarists seeking easy intermediate guitar songs with open chords. The song primarily uses open chords like Am, C, D, F, and E, making it accessible for players looking to enhance their chord transition skills. The strumming pattern is relatively straightforward with room for added complexity as you progress. However, the arpeggio pattern gives many students trouble as well as the 6/8 time signature. The song structure follows a simple verse-chorus-verse-chorus format, and you can add a haunting melody to make your rendition more captivating.

Check out the tab/chords for “House of the Rising Sun” on UltimateGuitar.com.

“Heart of Gold” by Neil Young

The song primarily uses open chords like Em, C, D, and G, making it accessible for players looking to improve their chord transitioning skills. The strumming pattern is straightforward, providing room for beginners to work on their strumming technique. It also incorporates a quick riff in the middle of the chords that will progress your technique.

The song’s structure follows a simple verse-chorus-verse-chorus format, with a memorable melody that can be added to your playing for a touch of authenticity. Learning “Heart of Gold” not only enhances your chord proficiency but also adds a timeless Neil Young hit to your repertoire.

Check out the tab/chords for “Heart of Gold” on UltimateGuitar.com.

“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd

“Wish You Were Here” offers a gentle introduction to open chords with its iconic intro (Am G). The song’s melancholic atmosphere and beautiful melody make it a must-learn for any guitarist. This song primarily employs open chords like Em, G, C, D, and Am, making it accessible for those looking to enhance their chord transition skills. The strumming pattern is relatively straightforward, offering beginners an opportunity to refine their strumming technique. This is a perfect song for intermediate guitar songs with open chords.

Check out the tab/chords for “Heart of Gold” on UltimateGuitar.com.

Medium-Difficulty Open Chord Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

Ready to step up your game? These intermediate guitar songs provide a bit more challenge and complexity:

“Back in Black” by AC/DC

The song primarily revolves around power chords such as E5, D5, and A5, creating a bold and aggressive sound. While power chords are relatively easy to fret, the challenge lies in maintaining a consistent and powerful strumming pattern that captures the song’s energy. “Back in Black” offers an excellent opportunity for intermediate guitarists to work on their rhythm and timing. The song structure is straightforward, with verses and a catchy chorus, making it accessible for intermediate players to learn. It’s an excellent choice for those looking to add a classic rock staple to their repertoire and refine their power chord technique.

To tackle “Back in Black,” start by mastering the main riff, which sets the song’s tone. Focus on precise palm muting and strong downstrokes to emulate the song’s iconic crunch. Once you have the riff down, practice transitioning between the power chords smoothly. As you progress, work on nailing the song’s dynamic shifts, which are crucial for capturing the song’s raw intensity. “Back in Black” is not just a fantastic song to play; it’s also a rock ‘n’ roll classic that will ignite any crowd.

Check out the tab/chords for “Back in Black” on UltimateGuitar.com.

“Space Oddity” by David Bowie

This intermediate guitar song primarily features chords like Fmaj7, C, Em, A, and D, making it accessible for intermediate guitarists looking to enhance their chord transitioning skills. What sets “Space Oddity” apart is its use of a large variety of chords, which adds depth to your playing. The song’s structure includes verses and a memorable chorus, offering an engaging structure for intermediate players to explore. “Space Oddity” presents an excellent opportunity to work on both fingerpicking techniques and vocal harmonies, as Bowie’s iconic layered vocals are an integral part of the song.

To tackle “Space Oddity,” start by mastering the chord shapes, which create the song’s ethereal atmosphere. Once you’re comfortable, focus on transitioning smoothly between the chords. This song allows you to experiment with dynamics, adding emotion to your rendition. “Space Oddity” is not just a song; it’s a journey into the realm of David Bowie’s musical creativity. It’s a valuable addition to your repertoire that showcases Bowie’s songwriting brilliance while providing an opportunity to develop your fingerstyle skills.

Check out the tab/chords for “Space Oddity” on UltimateGuitar.com.

“Hotel California” by The Eagles

The song’s chord progression includes E minor, G, D, A minor, and other chords, offering a mix of open and barre chords. This variety makes it an excellent choice for intermediate guitarists aiming to diversify their chord repertoire. The song’s structure is intricate, featuring multiple sections, including verses, choruses, and an iconic guitar solo. It’s a fantastic piece to develop your chord transitioning skills and soloing techniques simultaneously.

To tackle “Hotel California,” start by learning the chord progression for the verses and choruses. Practice transitioning between the chords to maintain a smooth flow. Additionally, work on the iconic guitar solo, which incorporates both electric guitar techniques and fingerstyle elements. This song offers a great opportunity to enhance your overall guitar proficiency, from chord work to lead guitar skills. “Hotel California” is a timeless classic that showcases The Eagles’ musical prowess, and mastering it will undoubtedly impress your audience and elevate your guitar playing to the next level.

Check out the tab/chords for “Hotel California” on UltimateGuitar.com.

Hard Open Chord Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

If you’re up for a challenge and want to push your skills further, these intermediate guitar songs will test your proficiency with open chords:

“Plush” by Stone Temple Pilots

“Plush” features a challenging mix of open chords and barre chords, including Em, D, G, C, Am, and others. This blend of chords provides an opportunity for intermediate guitarists to advance their chord proficiency. The song’s structure includes verses, choruses, and a dynamic bridge, offering a diverse learning experience. What sets “Plush” apart is its distinctive guitar riffs and intricate lead lines, which add complexity to the song. Mastering this track will not only enhance your chord transitions but also improve your lead guitar skills.

To tackle “Plush,” start by mastering the chord progressions for the verses and choruses. Pay close attention to the strumming patterns to capture the song’s energy. Additionally, focus on the iconic guitar riffs and lead lines, which are central to the song’s character. Practice precision and timing when playing these parts. “Plush” is a rock classic that showcases Stone Temple Pilots’ musical prowess and offers a challenging yet rewarding experience for intermediate guitarists. Playing this song proficiently will impress your audience and demonstrate your versatility as a guitarist.

Check out the tab/chords for “Plush” on UltimateGuitar.com.

“Pinball Wizard” by The Who

As with other intermediate guitar songs, this one predominantly uses open chords such as C, G, D, and F, providing a foundation for intermediate guitarists to enhance their chord transitioning skills. However, what makes “Pinball Wizard” challenging is its fast-paced strumming pattern and intricate song structure. The song features a variety of sections, including verses, choruses, and instrumental breaks, which require precise timing and rhythm control. Additionally, “Pinball Wizard” includes a memorable guitar solo that offers an opportunity for intermediate players to work on their lead guitar skills.

To tackle “Pinball Wizard,” begin by mastering the chord progressions and strumming patterns for each section of the song. Focus on maintaining a steady rhythm throughout the song, as the tempo can be demanding. As you progress, work on playing the iconic guitar solo, paying attention to note accuracy and phrasing. “Pinball Wizard” is a rock classic that showcases The Who’s musical genius and provides a challenging yet rewarding experience for intermediate guitarists. Mastering this song will not only impress your audience but also help you refine your overall guitar skills.

Check out the tab/chords for “Pinball Wizard” on UltimateGuitar.com.

“Blackbird” by The Beatles

This song is known for its intricate fingerpicking patterns and a blend of open chords, including G, Am, G/B, and C. While the chords themselves are open and relatively familiar, the challenge lies in the fingerstyle picking technique required to play the song accurately. “Blackbird” features a delicate and intricate melody intertwined with the chords, making it a perfect choice for intermediate guitarists looking to advance their fingerpicking skills.

To tackle “Blackbird,” start by learning the fingerpicking pattern for the song. It’s essential to practice precision and timing to capture the song’s intricate melody. Pay close attention to the transitions between chords and notes to maintain a seamless flow. As you progress, work on adding dynamics to your playing to create the emotional depth that makes “Blackbird” so captivating. Mastering this song will not only enhance your fingerstyle technique but also give you a valuable addition to your repertoire, showcasing The Beatles’ timeless musical artistry.

Check out the tab/chords for “Blackbird” on UltimateGuitar.com.

“Dust in the Wind” by Kansas

The song primarily relies on open chords like Am, G, C, D, and variations of these chords, making it accessible in terms of chord shapes. However, the true challenge of “Dust in the Wind” lies in its intricate fingerpicking pattern. The song features a beautiful arpeggio-picking style that runs throughout, requiring precision, finger independence, and control. It’s a perfect piece for intermediate guitarists looking to advance their fingerpicking skills while maintaining a steady rhythm.

To tackle “Dust in the Wind,” begin by mastering the arpeggio picking pattern for the song. Practice it slowly and gradually increase the tempo as you become more comfortable. Focus on maintaining a smooth flow between the chords while picking the individual notes. As you progress, work on adding dynamics and expression to your playing, as this song is all about conveying emotion through your fingerstyle technique. “Dust in the Wind” is a classic that showcases Kansas’ musical talent and offers a challenging yet rewarding experience for intermediate guitarists. Playing this song proficiently will not only impress your audience but also elevate your fingerpicking skills to a higher level.

Check out the tab/chords for “Dust in the Wind” on UltimateGuitar.com.

“Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton

The song features a blend of open chords such as A, E, F#m, and D, making it accessible in terms of chord shapes. However, the real challenge in “Tears in Heaven” is in the intricate fingerpicking pattern, which is central to the song’s beauty. The fingerstyle technique in this song requires precision, finger independence, and a gentle touch to convey the song’s emotional depth.

To tackle “Tears in Heaven,” start by mastering the fingerpicking pattern, which runs consistently throughout the song. Begin slowly and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable. Focus on transitioning smoothly between the chords while maintaining the delicate picking pattern. As you progress, work on adding dynamics and expression to your playing, as this song is all about conveying heartfelt emotions through your fingerstyle technique. “Tears in Heaven” is a poignant classic that showcases Eric Clapton’s musical brilliance and offers a challenging yet profoundly rewarding experience for intermediate guitarists.

Check out the tab/chords for “Tears in Heaven” on UltimateGuitar.com.

Conclusion

No matter where you are on your guitar journey, these intermediate guitar songs with open chords offer something valuable to intermediate players. Start with the easier ones to build your confidence and work your way up to the more challenging tunes. Remember, practice makes perfect, and mastering these songs will open up a world of possibilities for your guitar playing. So, grab your guitar, enjoy the journey, and unlock the musical freedom that open chords have to offer!

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Chadwick Becks

I have two degrees in guitar performance and was privileged to study under Aaron Shearer, Tom Kikta, David Skantar, Ken Karsh, Tim Bedner, and currently Christopher Berg. Outside my editorial work on this blog, I teach full-time across many genres including classical, jazz, blues, rock, funk, and metal.

Unlocking Musical Freedom: Intermediate Guitar Songs with Open Chords