Top 5 Easy Bollywood Songs to Play on Guitar for Beginners

One of the most rewarding moments for any beginner in our online guitar classes is realizing they can play a song they actually know and love. You don't need to learn complicated barre chords to impress your friends; some of the biggest Bollywood hits are built on just 3 or 4 basic open chords.

Here are the top 5 easy Bollywood songs every beginner should learn, using simple chords like G, C, D, Em, and Am.

1. 'Pani Da Rang' (Vicky Donor)

This Ayushmann Khurrana hit is a rite of passage for Indian guitarists. The strumming pattern gives it a great rhythmic drive.

Chords Used: Em, D, C
Strumming Pattern: D - DU - UDU (Down, Down-Up, Up-Down-Up)
Why it’s great for beginners: The transition between Em and D is excellent practice for moving your fingers across all strings.

2. 'Give Me Some Sunshine' (3 Idiots)

The ultimate college anthem. This song has a very distinct, acoustic-driven intro that is instantly recognizable.

Chords Used: G, D, Em, C
Strumming Pattern: D - D - U - U - D - U
Why it’s great for beginners: It uses the most common 4-chord progression in pop music. Once you master transitioning between these four chords, you can play thousands of other songs.

3. 'Tum Hi Ho' (Aashiqui 2)

Arijit Singh's massive hit is surprisingly accessible on the acoustic guitar if you use a capo.

Chords Used: Em, Am, D, G, C (Capo on 1st fret to match the original pitch)
Strumming Pattern: D - DU - UDU
Why it’s great for beginners: It’s a slow, emotional song, giving you plenty of time to switch between chords without rushing.

4. 'Kabira' (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani)

A beautiful melody with an upbeat acoustic rhythm. It’s perfect for singing along around a campfire.

Chords Used: C, G, Am, Fmaj7 (a much easier alternative to the full F barre chord)
Strumming Pattern: D - D - U - U - D - U
Why it’s great for beginners: Using Fmaj7 instead of a full F major chord saves your fingers while still sounding lush and beautiful.

5. 'Gulabi Aankhen' (The Train)

The classic Mohammed Rafi song, famously covered by Atif Aslam and Sanam. It has a fast, energetic rhythm.

Chords Used: Am, G, F, E
Strumming Pattern: D - U - Mute - U (The 'chuck' or mute technique adds a percussive beat)
Why it’s great for beginners: It introduces beginners to percussive strumming (muting the strings with your right hand) which makes acoustic playing sound highly rhythmic.

Next Steps

Learning chords is only half the battle; transitioning smoothly between them and singing while playing takes structured practice. At Sukoon Music Academy, our online guitar lessons focus on combining rhythm, chords, and vocals seamlessly. Book a free trial class and learn to play your favorite song in your first month!