12 Easy Bruno Mars Songs On Guitar [With Video Tutorials]

Bruno Mars Easy Guitar Songs
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You can’t deny the talent and success of Bruno Mars. From his debut in 2010 to his numerous collaborations and a halftime performance at a Super Bowl, Bruno has remained a relevant artist to this day.

When I’m teaching guitar lessons or performing small gigs, Bruno Mars guitar songs are often requested. He’s crafted some of the best songs to dance to.

Here are some of the best Bruno Mars songs to learn for new to intermediate guitar players. I’ve included a music video guitar tutorial and a link to the guitar chords when available.

1. Marry You

YouTube video

Guitar Chords

“Marry You” is one of the best Bruno Mars songs to learn when you’re just starting out. You only need to learn three easy chords. The song is played with a capo on the third fret.

This song debuted in 2010 on Bruno Mars’ first studio album, “Doo-Wops & Hooligans.” The song was produced in collaboration with Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine.

It landed on the Billboard Charts at number 85 despite not being released as a single in the United States.

2. It Will Rain

YouTube video

Guitar Chords

If you’re looking to put on your own Bruno Mars concert for your family and friends, you should add “It Will Rain” to your repertoire. You will need to put a capo on the second fret.

This one isn’t too hard, but there are more chords to learn for this particular song. It was released as a single in 2011 and was featured on the soundtrack of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.”

3. Somewhere in Brooklyn

Bruno Mars song: Fat Juicy & Wet

Guitar Chords

This is yet another simple song that you can play with a few chords and an easy strumming pattern. It can be played in a number of different ways since it’s not primarily a guitar-based song.

I’ve skipped the video tutorial this time, as there aren’t a lot of accurate options out there for this tune.

“Somewhere in Brooklyn” was a bonus track on Bruno’s debut album. It later appeared as the opening track for “It’s Better if You Don’t Understand.”

4. When I Was Your Man

YouTube video

Guitar Chords

“When I was Your Man,” is slightly more complex than our previous Bruno Mars songs. It’s still simple to play, but there are a larger number of chords to remember this time. The structure of the song is more complicated this time, too.

This tune debuted on Bruno Mars’ second studio album titled “Unorthodox Jukebox” in 2013. This ballad is about the heartbreak and regret you feel when you lose that special someone. The song topped the Billboard 100 Chart in the United States.

5. Locked Out of Heaven

YouTube video

Guitar Chords

We go back to fewer chords for “Locked Out of Heaven,” but the rhythm has a faster tempo. The timing may be tricky for new players. As always, I suggest playing along with the song until you master the timing.

“Locked Out of Heaven” is a blend of Reggae, New Wave and Funk, which gives it its unique tone and rhythm. The song was another hit for Mars, reaching the top of the Billboard’s Hot 100 List.

6. Count on Me

YouTube video

Guitar Chords

“Count on Me” shouldn’t be too difficult for new or intermediate players. Its upbeat tempo makes it a little lower on our list than the previous five songs, but you should be able to handle it with some time and practice.

The tempo echoes the song’s upbeat and positive message.

“Count on Me” features a tropical-folk sound that makes it a popular choice for parties and small gigs. Once released in 2010, the song was in constant rotation on contemporary adult radio stations.

7. Die with a Smile

Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga on 2025 Grammy Awards

Tutorial Video | Guitar Chords

“Die With a Smile” isn’t too hard to play, but there are a total of 18 different chords to learn and memorize. This song also uses a number of barre chords, which many new players find difficult to play.

This song was a successful collaboration between Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. This is a newer Bruno Mars song, having just debuted in August 2024. Following its release, “Die with a Smile” achieved significant commercial success, topping the Billboard Global 200 chart for eight consecutive weeks.

It was also nominated for Song of the Year and Best Duo Performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards, and on February 2, 2025, the duo won the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award.

8. Just the Way You Are

YouTube video

Guitar Chords

“Just the Way You Are” is another easy song to play due to its slower pace and simple structure. It also only uses three chords with easy shapes that are simple for most beginners.

The thing that makes it slightly more challenging is the use of finger picking instead of chord strumming.

The song is played with a capo on the third fret, and you’ll be using the D, Bm7 and G open chord shapes. This song was the lead single for Bruno’s debut album and remains a popular tune to this day.

9. Treasure

YouTube video

Guitar Chords

With “Treasure,” we’re starting to get into intermediate-player territory instead of strictly beginner songs. This one is mostly played with barre chords and with a capo at the third fret.

“Treasure,” was Bruno’s seventh song to reach the top ten on Billboard’s Charts. It debuted on his second studio album in 2012 and immediately saw heavy play on radio stations throughout the United States.

It also landed on top-ten lists in multiple countries, becoming a true international hit for the artist.

10. The Lazy Song

YouTube video

Guitar Chords

In spite of the song title, there’s nothing lazy about playing this tune. It’s played in the standard tuning with seven different chords, including some of those dreaded barre chords that new players often struggle with.

If you’re having a hard time with barre chords, try placing your fingers into position and make the barre last of all. Try not to get too frustrated. The more you play these chord shapes, the more you’ll improve.

This song, with its cool Reggae style, became a fun anthem for lazy folks everywhere.

11. Grenade

YouTube video

Guitar Chords

“Grenade” has chord shapes and changes that shouldn’t be too difficult, even for beginners. At this point, however, it’s time to try some finger picking instead of simple strumming. This increased challenge will elevate your skills while making the song sound fantastic for your listeners.

This is another hit from Bruno’s debut album in 2010. Like many other songs on our list, it reached number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 and also topped the Canada Hot 100 Chart. The song sold 10.2 million digital downloads that year.

12. APT.

YouTube video

“APT.” is a new Bruno Mars song that was created as a collaboration with Rosé from the group Blackpink. The title is a play on words, as it’s the abbreviation for apartment but also the name of a Korean drinking game.

Released on October 18, 2024, “APT.” blends pop, pop rock, pop-punk, and new wave elements, creating a catchy and energetic tune. This one is best performed by playing the melody as a solo. It sounds great on both electric and acoustic guitars.

The song achieved significant commercial success, topping charts in multiple countries and spending 12 weeks at number one on the Billboard Global 200.

Image Credit: infobrunomarsbr, brunitomarsss, and gagaessentials.

About the Author

guitar teacher
Music Teacher |  + posts

Gustavo is a music teacher and classical guitar player from Brazil, currently residing in Dublin, Ireland. He holds a graduate degree in Classical Guitar Performance from the Federal University of Pelotas. In 2020, Gustavo successfully completed a Master's degree in Sound Engineering from the Academy of Sound in Ireland.

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