What are the easiest songs to start with?

Three-chord songs built from G, C, and D (or C, F, and G7) are the classic starting point — you can play dozens of traditional tunes with just those shapes.

Are these songs really free to use?

Yes. Every song here is public-domain or traditional and shows its source, so the chords and any lyric fragments are free to learn, play, and share.

Which instruments can I play them on?

The charts are chord symbols, so they work on guitar, ukulele, and any chording instrument — open each chord to see diagrams for your instrument.

5-String Banjo Songbook

Real songs you can actually play — a growing library of public-domain and traditional tunes as chord-over-lyric charts. Every chord links back to full fretboard diagrams, and each song shows its key, tempo, and source.

Filter by difficulty or by the chords you already know, then open a song to see its chart, diagrams, and attribution.

Browse the songbook

The songbook is filling up with public-domain classics across folk, spirituals, sea shanties, nursery rhymes, Stephen Foster, and carols. In the meantime, start the Beginner Guitar Path, drill open chords in guided practice, or browse the guitar chord library.

Why these songs are free to play

Every entry is strictly public-domain or traditional, source-attributed, and charted as chords — so you can learn, play, and share without any copyright worry.

Songbook FAQ

What are the easiest songs to start with?: Three-chord songs built from G, C, and D (or C, F, and G7) are the classic starting point — you can play dozens of traditional tunes with just those shapes.
Are these songs really free to use?: Yes. Every song here is public-domain or traditional and shows its source, so the chords and any lyric fragments are free to learn, play, and share.
Which instruments can I play them on?: The charts are chord symbols, so they work on guitar, ukulele, and any chording instrument — open each chord to see diagrams for your instrument.