James Taylor has said that part of this song addresses his reaction to the death of a friend, so it’s a perfect choice for a funeral service. Of course, the song’s simplicity lends itself to other adaptations, so you might want to play around with rhythms, fingerpicking, etc. You only need G, C, D, and Em, and this video tutorial (above right) can take you through it. When it comes to both chords and strumming patterns, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” is one of the easiest songs on the list. This meaningful song, told from the perspective of a dying sheriff, works beautifully as a funeral song. Though initially written for a Western film, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” has become an iconic track.

You can simply strum the chords, or you might prefer to create your own fingerpicking pattern!ġ3. This tutorial (video below left) can take you through it. With the capo at the first fret, you will just need to play A, E, F#m, D, Bm, B, F#, G#m, and C#m. You can learn to play this song fairly easily, too. This Luther Vandross song perfectly captures the relationship between a father and son, so it’s a great choice for playing at a father’s funeral. “Dance With My Father” by Luther Vandross It includes quite a few chords, but most aren’t too difficult to play. “What a Wonderful World” also sounds great strummed. If you intend to play your own funeral song, you might want to check out this beautiful fingerstyle arrangement (video above right). And if you want a funeral song to celebrate life, this classic can certainly help you do it. Though Louis Armstrong didn’t write this uplifting song, he was the first to record it. “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong To play it, you will need to place a capo on the second fret and play A, A7, Asus4, Bm, D, Dsus4, G, and Gadd4.ĥ. There are a few different versions out there to learn, but this video tutorial (below left) shows you one that isn’t too difficult. Like most Elton John songs, this one is played on the piano, but you can play it on guitar as well. “Candle in the Wind” by Elton JohnĮlton John initially wrote this song about the death of Marilyn Monroe, but it’s a beautiful and heartfelt funeral song for just about anyone.

And if you want to play it on guitar, it isn’t too hard to learn. There are countless versions, but the country-tinged Leanne Rimes one is especially touching you can listen to it here. And even though it was written in 1772, it remains a mainstay of funeral music. “Amazing Grace” is an iconic funeral song at religious and non-religious memorial services alike. Here are some of the best funeral songs to choose from. Music has connected people for millennia, so choosing the perfect song for a funeral or memorial service is a great way to pay tribute to a life well lived. When you lose a loved one, one of the most important things is finding a way to honor their memory.

Songs for funerals