3-Chord Songs

Title (Artist)

Genre

Chords

Sug. Key(s)

[Any 12-bar blues song]

Blues

I, IV, V

A, C

“Ode to Joy” theme from Symphony No. 9

Classical

I, IV, V

C

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star / The Alphabet Song

Classical

I, IV, V

C

Aloha Oe

Folk

I, IV, V

G

Down by the Riverside

Folk

I, IV, V

F

Happy Birthday To You

Folk

I, IV, V

F, G

I’ll Fly Away

Folk

I, IV, V

C

Keep On the Sunny Side

Folk

I, IV, V

C

Lavender Blue

Folk

I, IV, V

C

She’ll Be Comin Round the Mountain

Folk

I, IV, V

C

This Land Is Your Land

Folk

I, IV, V

G

This Little Light of Mine

Folk

I, IV, V

G

Turn the World Around (Harry Belafonte)

Folk

I, IV, V

C

Volcano (Jimmy Buffett)

Pop

I, IV, V

C

When the Saints Go Marching In

Folk

I, IV, V

C

You Are My Sunshine

Folk

I, IV, V

C

The Marine’s Hymn

Patriotic

I, IV, V

C

Don’t Worry, Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin)

Pop

I,ii, IV

C*

Free Fallin’ (Tom Petty)

Pop

I, IV, V

C

Glad You Came (The Wanted)

Pop

I, IV, vi

C

Have You Ever Seen the Rain (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

Pop

I, IV, V

C*

I Gotta Feeling (Black Eyed Peas)

Pop

I, IV, vi

C, G*

You Can’t Always Get What You Want (Rolling Stones)

Pop

I, II, IV

C*

Lean on Me (Bill Withers)

Soul

I, IV, V

C*