Whether you're at an actual campfire or just jamming on the couch, these five songs are crowd-pleasers that sound great with basic open chords.
I've been playing guitar for about 8 years, and these are still my go-to songs when someone says "play something!" Each one uses 3-5 chords max.
1. Wonderwall — Oasis
The ultimate campfire song. Uses Em7, G, Dsus4, A7sus4 — which are actually easier than they sound because your ring and pinky fingers stay planted on the 3rd fret of the B and high E strings the whole time.
Strum pattern: Down, Down-Up, Up-Down-Up
Full chords and lyrics for Wonderwall
2. Knockin' on Heaven's Door — Bob Dylan
Four chords: G, D, Am, C. That's it. The original Dylan version has a slow, deliberate strum that's perfect for beginners. Don't try the Guns N' Roses version until you've got some practice.
Tip: Focus on clean chord transitions rather than speed.
Full chords and lyrics for Knockin' on Heaven's Door
3. Horse With No Name — America
This one is ridiculous: it's basically two chords (Em and D6/9) for the entire song. The D6/9 shape is just Em moved up two frets. If you can play one chord, you can play this song.
Why it works: The simplicity means you can focus 100% on your strumming rhythm.
Full chords and lyrics for Horse With No Name
4. Wish You Were Here — Pink Floyd
A step up from the others — uses G, Em, C, D, Am. The intro riff is iconic but the strumming part is very approachable. Great for learning transitions between G and C.
Pro tip: Learn the intro picking pattern. It's not as hard as it sounds and people will be impressed.
Full chords and lyrics for Wish You Were Here
5. Scarborough Fair — Traditional
This one's in 3/4 time (waltz rhythm), which makes it stand out from the usual 4/4 strummers. Uses Am, G, C, D. The melody is beautiful and it's a great song for fingerpicking practice too.
Bonus: It's a traditional folk song, so you get extra credibility points at actual campfires.
Full chords and lyrics for Scarborough Fair
Where to Find More
All the links above go to ChordRoom, which has chord charts and lyrics for over 260,000 songs. It's free and you don't need an account to browse. I use it when I want to quickly look up chords without wading through ads and pop-ups.
What are your go-to campfire songs? Drop them in the comments — always looking for new ones to add to the rotation.
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