Popular Fingerstyle Guitar Songs

We’ve previously covered 5 of Today’s Best Fingerstyle Guitarists so you could find some inspiration among the greats. Now it’s time to look at some popular fingerstyle guitar songs that you can try out at home.

10 Popular Fingerstyle Guitar Songs to Try

We’ve rounded up a good selection of songs for both beginners and intermediates. These are good to get down before you try to emulate the best fingerstyle guitarists we covered in our previous article.

1. The Animals – House of the Rising Sun

  • Key: Am
  • Tempo: 78 BPM
  • Time Signature: 6/8
  • Tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E (Standard)
  • Difficulty Level: Beginner

2. Bill Withers – Ain’t No Sunshine

  • Key: Am
  • Tempo: 79 BPM
  • Time Signature: 4/4
  • Tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E (Standard)
  • Difficulty Level: Beginner

3. The Calling – Wherever You Will Go

  • Key: D
  • Tempo: 112 BPM
  • Time Signature: 4/4
  • Tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E (Capo on 2nd fret)
  • Difficulty Level: Beginner.

4. Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight

  • Key: G
  • Tempo: 94 BPM
  • Time Signature: 4/4
  • Tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E (Standard)
  • Difficulty Level: Beginner

5. Fleetwood Mac – Landslide

  • Key: Eb
  • Tempo: 158 BPM
  • Time Signature: 4/4
  • Tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E (Capo on 3rd fret)
  • Difficulty Level: Intermediate

6. Green Day – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)

  • Key: G
  • Tempo: 94 BPM
  • Time Signature: 4/4
  • Tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E (Standard)
  • Difficulty Level: Beginner

7. Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah

  • Key: C
  • Tempo: 84 BPM
  • Time Signature: 3/4
  • Tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E (Standard)
  • Difficulty Level: Intermediate

8. The Police – Every Breath You Take

  • Key: A
  • Tempo: 116 BPM
  • Time Signature: 4/4
  • Tuning: Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb (or Standard with capo on 1st fret)
  • Difficulty Level: Intermediate

9. R.E.M – Everybody Hurts

  • Key: D
  • Tempo: 94 BPM
  • Time Signature: 3/4
  • Tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E (Standard)
  • Difficulty Level: Beginner

10. Tracy Chapman – Fast Car

  • Key: A
  • Tempo: 103 BPM
  • Time Signature: 4/4
  • Tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E (Capo on 2nd fret)
  • Difficulty Level: Beginner

Style It Out

Now that you know these popular fingerstyle guitar songs, all there’s left to do is to master them. If you need some help doing that, maybe you should consider signing up for one of the best guitar courses we’ve covered here on this blog. Happy playing!