Nothing keeps a beginner practising like playing a song they actually love — and there's a special joy in playing one you grew up hearing. The good news is that a huge number of classic Kiwi songs are built on a handful of simple chords. Below are ten I reach for with new students, each playable with three chords or fewer. For each one I've listed the rough chords and a practical tip. A quick, honest note first: chords and keys can vary between versions, and I've flagged where a capo or a simplified version makes life much easier. Recordings sometimes sit in trickier keys than the easy "campfire" version — when in doubt, simplify and capo.
How to use this list: pick one song you genuinely love, learn just its chords and a steady strum, and play it badly for a week. That's how every guitarist starts. Sounding good comes from repetition, not from picking the "perfect" first song.
The 10 songs
1. Lorde — "Royals"
Rough chords: essentially a one- to two-chord groove (often played around an E-minor / D feel, or simplified to a single droning chord). Tip: this is one of the easiest "real" songs to fake convincingly — the magic is in the rhythm and the gaps, not the chords. Mute the strings and focus on a tight, percussive strum and you'll nail the vibe almost immediately.
2. Crowded House — "Don't Dream It's Over"
Rough chords: the verse cycles through a small set of open chords (think Em7 / Cmaj7 / G / D territory in the easy version). Tip: slow it right down. The whole song breathes, so resist rushing the chord changes — let each one ring. A capo can shift it into an easier shape and a comfier key for your voice.
3. Dave Dobbyn — "Slice of Heaven"
Rough chords: a bright, repeating progression of three or four open chords. Tip: this one is pure fun, so play it with energy. Get the main chord loop solid and bouncing before you worry about anything fancy — the joy is in the bounce.
4. Dave Dobbyn — "Welcome Home"
Rough chords: a gentle, hymn-like cycle of open chords. Tip: a beautiful song to practise smooth, even strumming and clean chord changes. Take it slowly and let it feel like a lullaby — it rewards a soft touch far more than speed.
5. OMC — "How Bizarre"
Rough chords: a short, repeating loop of three or four chords that runs through the whole song. Tip: because the progression barely changes, it's brilliant for locking in your strumming hand. Get the loop comfortable and you can basically play the entire track. Capo to suit your voice.
6. Bic Runga — "Sway"
Rough chords: a flowing set of open chords, lovely for fingerpicking once you're ready. Tip: start by strumming it gently, then graduate to a simple fingerpicking pattern as your confidence grows. It's a perfect song for practising a softer dynamic.
7. Six60 — "Don't Forget Your Roots"
Rough chords: a four-chord pop progression of open chords that repeats. Tip: a great singalong and a textbook example of a "four chords, whole song" structure. A capo is your friend here for matching the original key and keeping the shapes easy.
8. Th' Dudes — "Bliss"
Rough chords: a classic, upbeat three-or-four-chord rock progression in open shapes. Tip: this is a confidence-builder. Dig into a strong downstroke strum, sing the chorus loud, and don't be too precious about it — it's meant to be belted.
9. Hello Sailor — "Gutter Black"
Rough chords: a driving progression built on a few open/barre-ish chords; very playable in a simplified open-chord version. Tip: if any shape feels like a stretch, simplify it — drop a barre chord down to its easy open cousin. The groove carries this song, so prioritise a steady rhythm over perfect voicings.
10. Dragon — "April Sun in Cuba"
Rough chords: an infectious, repeating loop of three or four open chords. Tip: the perfect "everyone joins in" song. Lock the chord loop in until you don't have to think about it, then enjoy how good it feels when a room sings along. Capo to match your voice if the chorus sits too high.
You don't need fifty songs. You need one you love, played enough times that your hands stop arguing with you.
A few honest pointers
Before you dive in, a handful of things that'll save you frustration:
- Capos are not cheating. A capo lets you keep easy open-chord shapes while matching the recording's key — or shifting a song into a key that suits your voice. Buy one; it's one of the best few dollars a beginner can spend.
- Simplified versions are completely fine. If the recording uses a tricky chord, swap in its easy open cousin. Nobody at a singalong is checking your voicings.
- Chords and keys vary. Treat the shapes above as a friendly starting point, not gospel — different chord sheets put these songs in different keys. Find the version that's easiest to sing and play, and run with it.
- Strumming is half the battle. Most beginners can fumble the chords of these songs within a session; what makes them sound like the song is a steady, relaxed strumming hand. Spend time there.
Turn three chords into real playing
Here's the lovely secret hiding in this list: many of these songs share the same handful of chords. Learn the open shapes for G, C, D, Em and Am, get a capo, and you've unlocked not just these ten songs but hundreds more. That small set of chords is the doorway to most of the pop and folk songbook.
If you'd like a hand getting those first chords clean — the changes smooth, the strumming relaxed, the sore fingers sorted — that's exactly what early guitar lessons are for. I teach one-to-one, in person on the Kāpiti Coast and online for students in Wellington and across NZ, and I love starting people on songs they already adore. Not sure what guitar to use? I've written a companion guide on choosing the best beginner guitar in NZ. And when you're ready, get in touch — tell me which of these you want to play first, and we'll start there.