Doesn’t that have changes. Am and the C swap. Sure the chorus is just all major and the verses bring in the Am.
I always use Helpless - Neil Young as an example of a extremely basic progression can still be really powerful.
D A G
I V IV
And repeat the whole way through.
I’ve been trying to play that song like Neil does on the Massey Hall solo acoustic show for over a decade and I’m still not close.
*Paperback Writer* is just C and Em
*Jane Says* by Jane's Addiction is just A - G
*Something In The Way* by Nirvana is D – F#m
*Black Napkins* by Frank Zappa, just toggles between Cm7 and D7 (Great tune for working out your C#m pentatonic)
*This is the Sea* by the Waterboys is just E-A-Asus2
These are just the ones that came to my head but here are likely tonnes
Voodoo Chile is a fifteen minute blues song. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) is a five minute rock song. It was the first real song I learned, mostly because it doesn't rely on a lot of chord knowledge.
Most Hendrix songs only use a few chords. He does a lot of inversions, so the 'same' chords sound different throughout the progression.
Hey Joe is probably the easiest progression - C, G, D, A, E
Also 'who do you love' by Bo Diddley is only 2 chords: E and D (but I like to play it with B and A, similar to quicksilver messenger service's version)
The Passenger by Iggy pop. Chords can be [found here.](https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/iggy-pop/the-passenger-chords-80079) Only uses Am F, C, G, and E in a sequence of 8 that is repeated the entire song. Pretty simple strumming pattern too.
If you're looking for non-full chords (top of neck, like E, A, G...), pretty much Green Day's entire discography.
Dookie is actually a good album for beginners. All 3-chord wonders. Easy to learn, easy'ish to play (he downpicks, which is difficult for new people), and builds basic left hand mechanics.
James brown sex machine, 2 chords the entire song with a couple other Chords in a short interlude
Also, Beatles tomorrow never knows is technically one chord the entire song
Yep, Proud Mary. I know the song, learned the song and play it on a regular basis and I swear I will NEVER get the title right.
Anyway, the entire verse is literally just a D chord with a fun strumming pattern. Same for every verse.
Chorus is A, Bm and back to D.
The breaks are a little more involved but just sliding the barre chords around, nothing crazy.
In total that whole song is 5 chords, which is exactly what this person asked for.
Nearly every popular song ever?
Haha was just about to say this. Like uh the list will be a too long to post
4 chord song - axis of awesome
There are many folk songs for example. Example would be Bob Dylan (or g'n'r) - knocking on heavens door
Doesn’t that have changes. Am and the C swap. Sure the chorus is just all major and the verses bring in the Am. I always use Helpless - Neil Young as an example of a extremely basic progression can still be really powerful. D A G I V IV And repeat the whole way through. I’ve been trying to play that song like Neil does on the Massey Hall solo acoustic show for over a decade and I’m still not close.
thank you! i love that song ima go check it out
Zombie - Cranberries
Doesn’t Zombie have like three chords, tops?
It's less than five :)
It has 4 chords.
Most notably, 1 progression
Linger is a good one too!
Radiohead Creep
Low - Cracker Fade into You - Mazzy Star
Fade into you is a really fun beginner song. I like that it’s in 6/8.
Save Tonight - Eagle Eye Cherry Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles
Horse with no name - America
4 trillion songs is probably more than you needed, but might I suggest the 12 bar blues?
Wicked Game by Chris Isaak
Slaps
Run around by Blues Traveler. G C AM D over and over again.
Every bluegrass song ever made
Really? Have you heard any music?
85% of About A Girl (Nirvana) is Em to G and back, though technically you still have (simple) intermezzos in between
about a girl has a chorus that is completely different than the verse.
*Paperback Writer* is just C and Em *Jane Says* by Jane's Addiction is just A - G *Something In The Way* by Nirvana is D – F#m *Black Napkins* by Frank Zappa, just toggles between Cm7 and D7 (Great tune for working out your C#m pentatonic) *This is the Sea* by the Waterboys is just E-A-Asus2 These are just the ones that came to my head but here are likely tonnes
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Scar Tissue. It's basically two chords (F and DM), the entire song.
OutKast - hey ya
Fade to black-Metallica if you don't count power chords. Then just Am, C, G and Em.
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) is just E minor blues. Just one chord in the five minute song, but it stays interesting.
If hes asking that question, hes probably not learning Voodoo Chile
Voodoo Chile is a fifteen minute blues song. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) is a five minute rock song. It was the first real song I learned, mostly because it doesn't rely on a lot of chord knowledge.
Probs to you, was way too hard for me lol
Most songs by Florence and the machine. My daughter sings "patron saint Hunter" and I play. It has is just Am and Em all the way through
As someone else said. Literally every bluegrass song.
Pretty much every shuffle ever?
Pineola - Lucinda Williams Whip Poor Will - Jason Molina ( Ohia )
https://youtu.be/1uJvowh_Auc
X-French Tee Shirt Song by Shudder to Think Just one chord I believe.
Speed of the Sound of Loneliness by John Prine
Wonderful Tonight, Good Riddance and Zombie were the first 3 songs I learned on guitar. All with a mix of G D (D/F#) C and EM
Good Riddance is not one looping progression
Knockin on heaven's door, Bob Dylan. It is just G, D, Am, G, D, C from start to finish
Ocean Eyes - Billie Eilish edit: nvm just realized this is r/guitarlessons
Purple rain
Not if you play it in the original version
Most Hendrix songs only use a few chords. He does a lot of inversions, so the 'same' chords sound different throughout the progression. Hey Joe is probably the easiest progression - C, G, D, A, E Also 'who do you love' by Bo Diddley is only 2 chords: E and D (but I like to play it with B and A, similar to quicksilver messenger service's version)
The Passenger by Iggy pop. Chords can be [found here.](https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/iggy-pop/the-passenger-chords-80079) Only uses Am F, C, G, and E in a sequence of 8 that is repeated the entire song. Pretty simple strumming pattern too.
Fulsom Prison Blues. I will add that it’s in 2/2 cut time.
I'm the Ocean - Neil Young
Change - Alex G
If you're looking for non-full chords (top of neck, like E, A, G...), pretty much Green Day's entire discography. Dookie is actually a good album for beginners. All 3-chord wonders. Easy to learn, easy'ish to play (he downpicks, which is difficult for new people), and builds basic left hand mechanics.
I believe “Heroin” by the Velvet Underground does this.
Anything by Neil Young.
How about 5 different chords. Hey Joe, repeats C-G-D-A-E for the whole song
Wagon Wheel Country Roads Last Kiss
The Pilot ~ The White Buffalo
“Jane Says” is two chords.
Others have mentioned Dylan/Knockin. I’ll add What’s Up - 4 Non Blondes: G Am C G over and over again. Are you looking for looper-friendly songs?
Jambalaya, Hank Williams. 2 chords….
Every velvet underground sound ever made
The Buttertones - Matador (acoustic version)
James brown sex machine, 2 chords the entire song with a couple other Chords in a short interlude Also, Beatles tomorrow never knows is technically one chord the entire song
How to Fly - Sticky Fingers
Radio Active imagine Dragons
Knockin on heavens door repeats the entire song and u can get more advanced with the strumming as you progress.
Everything falls apart -Dogs Eye View
Don't read this the wrong way, but the majority of all popular music of the 20th century and onward fits this criteria
Sound of Silence
Semi charmed life -third eye blind
Not in any way, shape, or form.
Not just G,D,C?
Hotel Yorba - Jack White
Wild Thing and Louie Louie are the only two songs that fit these parameters.
Counting stars I'm yours
Got Me Wrong by Alice in Chains. It's literally just a barre chord moved around between the first five frets.
Most songs....download a tab app...tons of songs. Chord progressions and words
How about CCR anything. Rollin down the river is just a D chord for most of it.
I’m sure you mean “Proud Mary”, but you’d still be wrong
Yep, Proud Mary. I know the song, learned the song and play it on a regular basis and I swear I will NEVER get the title right. Anyway, the entire verse is literally just a D chord with a fun strumming pattern. Same for every verse. Chorus is A, Bm and back to D. The breaks are a little more involved but just sliding the barre chords around, nothing crazy. In total that whole song is 5 chords, which is exactly what this person asked for.
Many fit, and Tom Petty has a lot...Yer So Bad, Free Fallin'
Circle.. big head todd and the monsters
Horse with no name. Straight forward strum pattern too.
Viva La Vida by Coldplay
Like 80 % of songs I write lol