Help needed

Scratcher

Now where to start.
I am a total novice I think I am doing ok.Just ok really.
I would love some lessons but it's not an option at the moment,so I have been learning via Justin Sandercoes tutorials.I am at a  bit of a standstill as I want to learn 3 songs for a family barbecue next year.That was the challenge set for me.
Can anyone recommend which songs to learn rock type ideally.
I can do the start of paranoid but not particularly fast.Do I persevere and learn lead guitar songs or would I be better with rhythm guitar tunes.
I am a real novice but feel to progress I need to play something recognisable.
I have a telecaster if that helps and a practice amp with overdrive.
Advice please would be really appreciated

I am enjoying learning but for a boost would like to do the above.
Sorry for the long post.

Brocco

Here are some riff based suggestions for you to consider:

Teenage Kicks
Hands Open
Song 2
Bohemian Like You

pintspiller

Keep on rocking in the free world by Neil Young

That way you don't need to worry about vocal technique either!

Smells like teen spirit is fairly easy too (that's not Neil Young by the way).

Lestratcaster

Chordy songs always go down well, ones with 3-4 all the way through so you can busk it.

WIthout a backing track or other guitarist any lead based songs will sound pretty empty.

Scratcher

Thanks for the suggestions.

chotu495

Seems a cheesy cliché i know, but Wonderwall is universally well-known, and will be good strumming practice too, so additional technique points that you can use in the future for other stuff.

get a soft pick to help. 

The whole song is pretty much anchored around a G shape chord, so not too challenging to learn.

Revolting1

Knocking on heavens door is straightforward

   Asimple version  D A and G chords in that order

    You can Hammer on parts of the chords in places for emphasis if you want

  you can also drop the bass E string to a D and leave mainly unfretted to fatten up the sound and leave it ringing if you solo

     If you practice tuning the guitar with harmonics this will tell you when the strings are knackered-the harmonics will be unstable

     What hardly anyone teaches is to play the guitar a bit before tuning it -it will stay in tune better

HAL9000

Hungry Heart (Springsteen) is...
| C | Am | Dm7 | G |
repeating - ok there's an instrumental bit in Eb but you can safely ignore that.

Learning to Fly (Petty) is just...
| F : C | Am : G |
...and is a doddle to sing. Depending on how confident you are you could go the full Tom petty and hit the second chord of each bar a half beat early but it really isn't important enough to worry too much about it.

hollywoodrox

Highway to Hell - ac/dc 
  Living after midnight - Judas Priest  (solo is easy too)
  

Anderz

What you really like.