Queen Guitar Songs – Learn to Play 6 Classic Rock Anthems

From the rockabilly-inspired “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” to the gritty groove of “Fat Bottomed Girls” and the dramatic flair of “I Want To Break Free,” each lesson includes easy-to-follow chords, strumming guidance, and video snippets to help you get playing fast.

Start by watching the video overview below, then jump to any song you'd like to learn.

39 is a song from the 1979 album A Night At The Opera.

This is one of Queen’s most acoustic-driven tracks, with a strong campfire feel. Brian May used a 12-string acoustic to build the rhythm, making it a perfect fit for solo performance.

The lyrics tell a time-travel tale disguised as a love song — very unique.

The song was never released as a single. May sang the lead in the studio but on tours Freddie Mercury would sing the lead. 

At the 1992 Tribute concert for Freddie Mercury, George Michael sang 39 as his contribution to the concert.

All Dead All Dead was written by Brian May  about a pet cat that had died when he was a young boy. The song was never released as a single.

The track can be found on the 1977 album "News Of The World".

A haunting, piano-led ballad with deep emotional tones — originally sung by May (and later by Freddie in an alternate version).

Though the studio version is piano-heavy, the chords translate beautifully to guitar. The melancholic melody and slow tempo make it suitable for expressive acoustic play.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love hit the airwaves in 1980 and can be found on the album "The Game".  A rockabilly-style tribute to Elvis Presley.

It’s practically made for acoustic guitar. The rhythm is upbeat and catchy, and the chords are beginner-friendly. Queen performed it live with Freddie on acoustic — so it's very natural to teach in this format.

The song was a #1 in Australia, Canada and the US and a top 10 in several others.

Fat Bottomed Girls hails from the bands 1978 album Jazz and written by Brian May.

Bluesy riffs, big harmonies, and cheeky lyric make up this number.

While the original is heavy and electric, the core structure uses strong open chords and a steady, stomp-clap rhythm — easily adapted to acoustic. Fun to play and very recognizable from the opening line.

The song was actually a B side to a song called Bicycle Race.

Hammer To Fall was one of four singles from Queen's 1984 album called The Works. The other three singles charted in the top 10 where this song peaked at #13 in the US.

A hard-rock anthem with Cold War themes — famously performed at Live Aid.

The acoustic version tones down the heaviness, focusing instead on the powerful rhythm and dynamic chord changes. Players can keep the song’s energy while adapting it to a solo format.

I Want To Break Free was a single from the band in 1984 from their album "The Works" and was written by John Deacon. The song has an iconic synth intro, controversial music video, and a liberation anthem.

Although it’s synth-driven in the original, the chords and progressions adapt well to acoustic strumming. It’s a great example of turning an 80s pop-rock track into a more intimate guitar performance.

The song was a #1 in several countries and a top ten in several more.