12 Easy Taylor Swift Songs To Play on Guitar for Beginners (With Chords & Tips)

Taylor Swift’s music has captivated millions with its heartfelt lyrics and memorable melodies. For aspiring guitarists looking to learn their first songs her catalog offers plenty of beginner-friendly options that sound impressive with just a few basic chords. From early country hits to recent pop anthems Swift’s songwriting often follows simple chord progressions that beginners can master quickly. Many of her most popular tracks use standard open chords like G C D and Em making them perfect for guitarists just starting their musical journey. Whether strumming along to “”Love Story”” or picking the notes to “”Cardigan”” new players will find these songs both accessible and rewarding to learn.

Easy Taylor Swift Songs To Play on Guitar

Taylor Swift’s songs offer a perfect starting point for novice guitarists due to their repetitive chord patterns and straightforward melodies. Her acoustic-driven tracks feature accessible arrangements that build fundamental guitar skills.

Basic Chords You Need to Know

Mastering these essential chords unlocks numerous Taylor Swift songs:

• • Em (E minor): Place fingers on 2nd fret of A string and D string

• • G major: Index finger on 2nd fret of A string, middle finger on 3rd fret of low E string, ring finger on 3rd fret of high E string

• • C major: Index finger on 1st fret of B string, middle finger on 2nd fret of D string, ring finger on 3rd fret of A string

• • D major: Index finger on 2nd fret of G string, middle finger on 2nd fret of high E string, ring finger on 3rd fret of B string

• • A major: Index, middle and ring fingers on 2nd fret of B, G and D strings

Understanding Strumming Patterns

Common strumming patterns in Taylor Swift songs include:

• • Down-down-up-up-down-up pattern (“”Love Story””)

• • Simple down strums on quarter notes (“”You Belong With Me””)

• • Down-up-down-up pattern (“”Cardigan””)

• • Down-down-up pattern (“”Shake It Off””)

Strumming tips:

• • Start with slow, steady downstrokes

• • Practice with a metronome at 60-80 BPM

• • Focus on keeping consistent rhythm

• • Add upstrokes gradually as comfort increases

Song Title	Chord Progression	Difficulty Level
Love Story	G-D-Em-C	Beginner
Cardigan	Am-F-C-G	Beginner
Fearless	G-C-Em-D	Beginner

Love Story: A Perfect Starting Point

“”Love Story”” showcases Taylor Swift’s signature songwriting style with its straightforward chord progression and repetitive patterns. The song’s basic structure makes it an ideal choice for beginners learning guitar.

Simple Chord Progression

This romantic ballad uses four basic chords: D, A, Bm, and G. The verse follows a repeating pattern:

• • D (2 beats)

• • A (2 beats)

• • Bm (2 beats)

• • G (2 beats)

The chorus maintains the same chords in a slightly different sequence:

• • G (4 beats)

• • D (2 beats)

• • A (2 beats)

• • Count 1: Down stroke

• • Count “”&””: Down stroke

• • Count 2: Up stroke

• • Count “”&””: Up stroke

• • Count 3: Down stroke

• • Count “”&””: Up stroke

Section	Beats Per Measure	Strums Per Measure
Verse	4	6
Chorus	4	6
Bridge	4	6

You Belong With Me: Three-Chord Wonder

“”You Belong With Me”” stands out as one of Taylor Swift’s most guitar-friendly songs, featuring just three basic chords: G, C, and Em. This iconic pop-country crossover hit demonstrates how simple chord progressions create memorable melodies.

Easy Verse and Chorus Structure

The verse and chorus follow an identical chord pattern:

• • G major (4 beats)

• • C major (4 beats)

• • Em (4 beats)

• • C major (4 beats)

This repetitive structure creates a consistent foundation throughout the song:

1. 1. Start with G major in the verse: “”You’re on the phone””

1. 1. Move to C major: “”with your girlfriend””

1. 1. Transition to Em: “”she’s upset””

1. 1. Return to C major: “”going off about””

Song Section	Chord Progression	Duration (beats)
Verse	G-C-Em-C	16
Chorus	G-C-Em-C	16
Bridge	G-C-Em-C	16

• • Focus on smooth chord transitions

• • Maintain steady rhythm

• • Build muscle memory

• • Practice chord changes without complex variations

Shake It Off: Mastering Power Chords

“”Shake It Off”” introduces guitarists to power chords through a straightforward progression. The song’s main riff consists of three power chords: E5, A5 C#5.

Chord Structure

• • E5 Power Chord: Place index finger on 7th fret (A string) middle finger on 9th fret (D string)

• • A5 Power Chord: Place index finger on 5th fret (E string) ring finger on 7th fret (A string)

• • C#5 Power Chord: Place index finger on 4th fret (A string) ring finger on 6th fret (D string)

Playing Pattern

1. 1. Start with E5: 4 quick downstrokes

1. 1. Move to A5: 2 downstrokes

1. 1. Finish with C#5: 2 downstrokes

1. 1. Repeat pattern throughout verses choruses

Section	Chord Progression	Duration (beats)
Verse	E5-A5-C#5	8-4-4
Chorus	E5-A5-C#5	8-4-4
Bridge	E5-A5	8-8

Palm muting enhances the rhythmic element creates the signature pop-punk sound. Place the side of the picking hand lightly on the strings near the bridge while strumming.

• • Maintain consistent downstrokes for a driving rhythm

• • Keep wrist loose relaxed

• • Focus on clean transitions between power chords

• • Practice with metronome starting at 120 BPM

The song’s repetitive nature makes it perfect for building power chord proficiency stamina. Moving between these three power chord shapes develops fundamental rock guitar techniques.

Our Song: Country-Style Picking

“”Our Song”” introduces guitarists to essential country-style picking techniques through its engaging melody. The song features a simple chord progression of D, A and G chords played in a signature country picking pattern.

Basic Chord Structure

The main picking pattern follows this sequence:

• • D chord: Pick the 4th string then 3rd string then 2nd string

• • A chord: Pick the 5th string then 3rd string then 2nd string

• • G chord: Pick the 6th string then 3rd string then 2nd string

Picking Pattern Breakdown

The picking technique involves alternating between bass notes and higher strings:

1. 1. Pick the bass note of each chord

1. 1. Pluck the middle string

1. 1. End with the high string

1. 1. Repeat this 3-note pattern throughout verses

Section	Chords	Picking Pattern	Duration
Verse	D-A-G	Bass-Middle-High	4 beats per chord
Chorus	D-A-G	Bass-Middle-High	4 beats per chord
Bridge	G-D-A	Bass-Middle-High	2 beats per chord

• • Start practicing at 60 BPM

• • Use a thumb pick for cleaner bass notes

• • Keep fingers anchored on strings 2-3

• • Maintain steady eighth-note timing

• • Focus on clear string separation

The fingerpicking pattern creates the signature country sound that defines “”Our Song”” while building fundamental picking skills for beginner guitarists.

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

“”We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”” features four basic chords: G, C, Em D in a repeating pattern throughout the song. The chord progression follows a consistent structure in both verses and chorus, making it accessible for beginner guitarists. The strumming pattern employs a straightforward down-down-up rhythm:

1. 1. Downstroke on beat 1

1. 1. Downstroke on beat 2

1. 1. Upstroke on the “”and”” of beat 2

Section	Chord Progression	Duration
Verse	G – C – Em – D	4 bars
Chorus	G – C – Em – D	4 bars
Bridge	Em – C – G – D	2 bars

The song maintains a moderate tempo at 86 BPM, creating an ideal pace for practicing chord transitions. Each chord receives two beats, allowing enough time to shift hand positions smoothly. The Em to D transition requires particular attention, focusing on keeping the index finger anchored while moving the remaining fingers. To master the rhythm:

• • Start with single downstrokes on each chord

• • Add the up-strokes gradually

• • Practice the chord progression separately from the strumming pattern

• • Combine both elements once comfortable

The song includes muted strums between chord changes, created by releasing pressure on the fretting hand while maintaining contact with the strings. These muted strums add dynamics to the rhythm without complicating the core progression.

Fifteen: Slow-Paced Practice Song

“”Fifteen”” presents an ideal practice opportunity for beginning guitarists with its moderate tempo of 96 BPM. The song follows a simple chord progression using four basic open chords: G, D, Em C. Here’s the chord progression breakdown:

Verse: G - D - Em - C

Chorus: G - D - C - Em

Bridge: Em - C - G - D

The strumming pattern maintains a steady quarter-note rhythm:

Down 

| Down | Down |


 Down
1    

|  2   |  3   |

  4

Key elements of “”Fifteen””:

• • Quarter-note strumming focuses on timing fundamentals

• • 4/4 time signature keeps counting simple

• • Open chord shapes minimize finger stretching

• • Repetitive progression builds muscle memory

• • Clear chord changes allow time to prepare hand positions

Learning tips for “”Fifteen””:

1. 1. Start with single downstrums on each beat

1. 1. Practice transitions between G D Em C in sequence

1. 1. Count aloud while strumming to maintain timing

1. 1. Use palm muting for dynamic control

1. 1. Record practice sessions to monitor progress

The song’s lyrical pacing matches perfectly with the chord changes, creating natural cues for transitions. This alignment helps guitarists develop a strong sense of timing while mastering fundamental chord shapes. Learning to play Taylor Swift’s songs on guitar is an ideal way for beginners to develop their musical skills. Her diverse catalog offers opportunities to master essential techniques from basic chord progressions to fingerpicking patterns. Whether it’s the simple three-chord structure of “”You Belong With Me”” or the country-style picking in “”Our Song”” there’s something for every aspiring guitarist. These songs not only build fundamental guitar skills but also keep players motivated with familiar and enjoyable music. As beginners progress through Swift’s repertoire they’ll naturally develop better timing chord transitions and overall confidence in their playing abilities.