Most beginner lists hand you the same campfire folk and classic rock. If your playlist leans more Drake than Dylan, that’s a hard sell.
The thing is, hip-hop actually suits a new player. Most tracks ride one short hook over a steady beat, so there’s not much to juggle.
Find that riff and lock it to the rhythm, and a loop like the one in Post Malone’s “Go Flex” comes together in a single sitting. We picked five songs like that, with tips to tighten your timing and make each one yours.
Still building basics? These other songs to learn on guitar for beginners help too, but first here are the hip-hop songs for beginners.
5 Hip-Hop Guitar Songs for Beginners
These five songs all share the same beginner-friendly traits: short riffs, repeating sections, and rhythms that reward a steady hand. Start slow, get the main part down, then build up to tempo.
1. Go Flex - Post Malone
This song is a great way to start your hip-hop guitar journey. It has a straightforward riff that you can learn quickly, and once you add the alternating strings for the rhythm, you have a full song.
You’ll get used to the pace fairly fast, which makes it one of the best hip-hop guitar songs for a first attempt.
2. One Good Time - Tech N9ne
If you’re looking for one easy song to begin with, consider this one. The beginning is very simple, and after you get the hang of it you can play around with the chords and the tempo to make it your own.
It isn’t a highly complex song, but it sounds great and is a favorite among a lot of players.
3. Shot For Me - Drake
As soon as you start learning this song, the rhythm can be tricky to match. There’s a constant high note on the beat that may give you some trouble at first.
The rest of the song isn’t that complicated, though, and once you get the hang of it you’ll probably catch yourself playing it in your head while you go about your day.
4. I Gotta Story To Tell - Biggie Smalls
This one may confuse you at first. If you watch someone play it, they usually start with a rhythm that’s hard to follow because you can’t tell where each beat lands.
Once you get familiar with the song, though, you can start playing it in a way that makes it sound like your own.
5. Superman - Eminem
This song is a little tricky, so pay close attention to where the beat falls. When you start playing, make sure the notes higher on the bar count are played before the notes lower on the bar count.
When you’re first learning it, it helps to watch a video or listen to a demo track so you can see exactly which notes are played on each beat and which ones come first.
Tips for Learning Hip-Hop Songs on Guitar
Learning hip-hop guitar songs should be fun, but it’s also important to sound good while you play. Both your guitar tone and your strumming pattern should be clean and articulate, which means keeping the rhythm locked in sync with the song’s beat.
When you first learn a song, start with a version that lets you focus on the chords and the main riff before you worry about speed. Get comfortable at a slow tempo, then gradually work your way up to the original pace.
Watching the artist or a tutorial play through the part is one of the fastest ways to understand where each note lands.
Once you have a few of these under your belt, try branching into a related style like these beginner rockabilly guitar songs to keep stretching your skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really play hip-hop on guitar?
Yes. While hip-hop is built around beats and vocals, many tracks sample or feature guitar parts, and plenty of hip-hop songs translate well to a single guitar.
The riffs are often short and repetitive, which makes them ideal for beginners to learn and loop.
Do I need an electric guitar for hip-hop songs?
No, you can play any of these songs on an acoustic or electric guitar. An electric will get you closer to the original tone on some tracks, but the riffs and rhythms work on either.
Focus on nailing the timing first, since that’s what makes a hip-hop part sound right.
How long does it take to learn these songs?
Most beginners can pick up the main riff of one of these songs in a single practice session. Getting it clean and up to tempo usually takes a few days of steady practice.
Starting slow and gradually increasing your speed is the fastest path to playing them well.
Final Thoughts
Hip-hop is one of the most beginner-friendly genres to explore on guitar because so much of it’s built on simple, repeating parts. The five songs above give you an easy on-ramp, from the straightforward riff in Go Flex to the beat-focused timing of Superman.
The key to sounding good is keeping your rhythm tight and your notes clean, so start slow and build up to tempo on each song. Once you can play through these comfortably, you’ll have the foundation to take on more elaborate tunes.
Keep exploring different styles as you grow, and you’ll quickly turn these first riffs into a real playing routine.
