The easiest 90s songs on guitar run on four repeating chords: “Wonderwall” by Oasis, “Learning to Fly” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day, “Zombie” by the Cranberries and “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes are the classic picks. Once you can change smoothly between G, C, D, Em and Am, you can play every song on this list.
Each entry gives the chords, any capo, and what to focus on. For the shapes themselves, see our guide to the guitar chords all beginners need to know.
1. “Wonderwall” – Oasis (1995)
Chords: Em7, G, Dsus4 and A7sus4, with a capo on the second fret.
With the capo on, the third and fourth fingers stay on the third fret of the top two strings for every chord, so only the bass notes move. That anchor is why “Wonderwall” is one of the most played beginner songs. The strum is a busy sixteenth-note pattern; start with plain downstrokes and speed up later.
2. “Learning to Fly” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1991)
Chords: F, C, Am and G.
The entire song is based on these four chords in the same order. F is the only hard one; play the small Fmaj7 shape (no barre) until the full F comes easily. The relaxed tempo gives you plenty of time to change.
3. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” – Green Day (1997)
Chords: G, C and D in the verse; Em, D, C and G in the chorus.
The song is in G major and was recorded on acoustic guitar, so it sounds right on a beginner’s acoustic. The famous intro picks the bass note and then strums, but strumming every chord works fine at first.
4. “Zombie” – The Cranberries (1994)
Chords: Em, C, G and D, repeated throughout.
Dolores O’Riordan’s song cycles through the same four chords in the verse and the chorus. Use power chords or full open chords with a heavier, slower strum. It is a good song for practising dynamics: quiet verses, loud choruses, same chords.
5. “What’s Up?” – 4 Non Blondes (1993)
Chords: A, Bm and D, back to A.
Written by Linda Perry, the song repeats one four-bar pattern for its whole length. Bm is a barre chord; until it is clean, the four-string Bm on the top strings works. Strum a steady down, down-up, up-down-up pattern and sing along with the long chorus.
6. “Losing My Religion” – R.E.M. (1991)
Chords: Am, Em, Dm, G and F.
The main riff was written on a mandolin by Peter Buck, but on guitar it is played with open chords: the verses move between Am and Em before Dm and G, and F appears in the intro and chorus. It has more chords than the songs above, so learn it once the first five feel easy.
How to Learn 90s Songs Faster
- Learn the four-chord loop first. Most of these songs never leave it; our page on the I–V–vi–IV progression explains why so many sound alike.
- Use simpler shapes for barre chords. Fmaj7 for F and a four-string Bm get you playing along straight away.
- Practise with the record. Put the capo where the song needs it so your chords match the recording.
- Keep a steady strum. Rhythm matters more than fancy chords in 90s alternative rock.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the easiest 90s song on guitar? “Wonderwall” or “Zombie”. Both repeat four chords, and “Wonderwall” keeps two fingers fixed for every chord.
- Do I need a capo for 90s songs? Only for “Wonderwall” if you want to match the record. The rest are played without one.
- Which of these songs need a barre chord? “Learning to Fly” (F) and “What’s Up?” (Bm), and both have no-barre alternatives.
- Where can I find more songs from the decade? Browse our list of the best 90s songs and look for ones with the chords above.
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