1970s Oz Rock classic Khe Sahn by Cold Chisel is an excellent rhythm chart for developing steel-string players. Originally released in 1978, Khe Sahn has grown steadily more popular in the time since. It regularly features amongst the top 10 in Top 100 Song surveys in Australia and is one of Cold Chisel’s most enduring hits. Perfect for learning how to put chords together with a straight-ahead Rock strumming pattern.

California Dreamin’ by The Mamas & the Papas is one of the defining hits of the ‘psychedelic Pop’ era. The #1 rated song in the USA in 1966 it grew into one of the biggest global hits of the 1960s. With it’s signature guitar intro, strong rhythm progression and memorable melodies California Dreamin’ is a great song for acoustic guitarists.

Just Like Heaven is a classic ‘80s track by The Cure that is perfect for electric guitar and acoustic players. One of their biggest hits, Just Like Heaven comes from The Cure’s 1988 album Kiss Me, Kiss Me and the sing-along chorus, steady beat and catchy guitar lines have turned it into a streaming hit in the current era.

I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor by Arctic Monkeys is a great 21st Century rocker for electric guitarists! From their Whatever People Say I Am ~ album, this is a straight ahead, fun, high energy garage-rock track with distinctive electric guitar lines.

Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver is one of the most recognisable Country/Folk style songs of all. A hit in 1971, it has maintained popularity in the digital era and become an official anthem in West Virginia as well as sporting venues around the world. Take Me Home, Country Roads’ steady medium-tempo rhythm and two-bars-per-chord structure makes it ideal for learner guitarists.

The fourth single from her Hit Me Hard and Soft album, Wildflower by Billie Eilish and Finneas is a cool jazz-pop number that makes a great chart for steel-string acoustic and electric guitars. The guitar is an integral element of the structure throughout Wildflower ; an excellent example of the importance of good rhythm guitar work.

Take On Me by A-ha is a one of the biggest global pop hits from the 1980s. The original is not guitar oriented but the song has been re-imagined as an acoustic fingerstyle ballad for the HBO hit series The Last of Us. Reduced to a slow, simple finger-picked ballad, Take On Me becomes a beautiful song for acoustic guitar.

Please Don’t Move to Melbourne by Ball Park Music is the first single from their 2025 album Like Love. It’s a slice of classic, summer Pop that is both breakup song and feel-good radio hit. Please Don’t Move to Melbourne is a perfect capo rhythm track for acoustic guitarists and also a good play-along track for electric players.

Winner of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest, Zitti e Buoni by Måneskin is a great 21C rock track for electric guitarists. From the energy of the opening E-blues riff to the spiky lead fills of the ending section, Zitti e Buoni is a cool modern example of classic Rock style and suitable for electric guitar learners with the basics established.