Recommended songs for beginner band members by instrument

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

“I just started learning an instrument but already formed a band” or “We’re all beginners, but we want to start a band and play live!!” If that sounds like you, a budding band member— You’re probably thinking, “I have no idea where to start…” Of course, basic practice is important, but in the beginning, practicing songs is also recommended.

So in this article, we’ll introduce beginner-friendly songs for each instrument! Read this with your bandmates and use it to help you pick your setlist!

Vocal (1–10)

Ballad of a SingerSaitō Kazuyoshi

Kazuyoshi Saito – Ballad of a Singer [Live ver.]

Ballad of a SingerSaitō Kazuyoshi

This is the 15th single by singer-songwriter Kazuyoshi Saito, who debuted with the catchy tagline “A four-and-a-half-mat room is too cramped.” The song was used as the ending theme for the music program COUNT DOWN TV, and it’s one of Saito’s signature tracks, known for being covered by many artists, including Bank Band.

With its slow tempo and sparse arrangement—and its broad popularity—it’s a perfect choice for people who aren’t confident at karaoke.

Rather than focusing on intricate melodies, it’s a Heisei-era masterpiece ballad where we hope you’ll concentrate on conveying the emotion in the lyrics.

Raise the rankinglower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

In conclusion

We introduced recommended songs for beginners by instrument part—did you find any you’d like your band to cover? If you go through this article together as a group while choosing songs, I think you’ll be able to pick ones at just the right difficulty. If you’re unsure—like “the guitar is easy, but the drums are hard…”—I also recommend simplifying certain sections so they’re easier to play. Wishing you a wonderful stage debut!