[2026] For Band Beginners! Recommended Songs from Popular Bands That Get the Crowd Going at Live Shows
I’m new to playing in a band, but I want to practice hard and get on stage…
I want to quickly cover up-and-coming young bands and show off their songs…
There are surely many people—especially teens—who feel this way.There aren’t that many songs arranged with power chords on guitar, root notes on bass, and simple 8-beat drums, but in this article we’ve picked out relatively easy-to-play tracks, including some timeless classics.If there’s any part of the songs we’re about to introduce that you just can’t manage, ask a band-savvy friend to help you arrange it into something simpler, or check out YouTube videos that share beginner-friendly arrangements.
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[2026] For Band Beginners! Recommended Songs by Popular Bands That Hype Up Live Shows (21–30)
HONEY (ARE U COMING?)Måneskin
Among today’s Western artists, Måneskin from Italy stand out as incredibly cool and globally renowned.
Since the band members themselves love Japanese culture like anime, they’re hugely popular in Japan across generations.
Their glamorous guitar rock is made for the stage, and if you’re thinking, “I want to cover a cool Western song for the school festival, but the usual bands feel boring,” this is a perfect recommendation.
Their 2023 hit ‘HONEY (ARE U COMING?)’ is an aggressive, badass track that can knock out the crowd even if they don’t know the song, and it’s a killer tune beginners can tackle since it’s fully reproducible with basic techniques.
It’s the kind of song that tests how tightly you can lock in as a band ensemble, so make sure to listen closely to each instrument’s phrases as you play.
In fact, the hardest part of this song is probably the vocals: Damiano David’s outstanding singing, with its slightly sexy melodies delivered in Italian-accented English, makes individual practice essential.
asking for the moonKANA-BOON
It’s a crisp, catchy track that makes you want to say, “This is four-on-the-floor dance rock!” It’s one of rock band KANA-BOON’s signature songs, released in 2015 as their sixth single.
Since it was featured in a Shiseido commercial, many of you have probably heard it.
The lyrics portray a wavering love story with high relatability.
The energetic arrangement—especially the call-and-response guitars panned left and right that stick in your ears—really ramps up the excitement.
The guitar part on the left channel is relatively simple, so if you can play that, even though it’s a four-piece band’s song, you can easily cover it with a three-piece lineup.
SolaninASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
With a career spanning over 20 years, Asian Kung-Fu Generation—known as Ajikan—continues to thrive at the forefront of Japan’s rock scene.
In recent years, their influence has extended far beyond music into subculture at large, even being paid homage to in the popular manga Bocchi the Rock!.
In the Reiwa era, there are young fans who discovered or became interested in Ajikan through Bocchi the Rock!, so let’s spotlight Soranin as a song we’d love to see covered.
It was the theme song for the film of the same name, with lyrics penned by manga artist Inio Asano, and it remains a beloved track.
The lead guitar, centered on octave techniques, is relatively approachable for beginners while still delivering memorable lines—so it’s worth nailing it properly.
For the rhythm section, you’ll likely find the tempo feels faster when you actually play it than it sounds by ear, so it’s a good idea to start practicing at a slower tempo.
There are also a few aggressively moving phrases within otherwise simple root playing, making it an excellent piece for bassists to grow with as well!
jerseySabasusutā
Formed in 2022, Sabasister is undeniably one of the most exciting all-female rock trios right now.
Signed to the prestigious label PIZZA OF DEATH, they achieved major success in under two years, with their milestone debut album “Kakugo wo Kimero!” released in March 2024.
With their popularity, there are surely many people who want to cover Sabasister’s songs at school festivals and the like.
Their setlists are packed with killer tunes that fire up live crowds, but my recommendation this time is “Jersey.” Its instantly memorable, catchy melody and down-to-earth lyrics are sure to resonate with young listeners, and the straightforward band arrangement should be easy to cover if you’ve got the basics down.
One note of caution: while they’re a trio, the arrangement assumes two guitars, and the lead guitar melodies played under the vocals are key.
So if possible, it’s best to perform with four members, including a bassist.
You don’t get it.WurtS
WurtS is a singer-songwriter who also thrives as a screenwriter and film director, self-producing not only his music but also the artwork and visuals.
The digital single “Wakattenai yo,” released ahead of his 2nd digital EP MAGICAL SOUP, leaves a strong impression with its opening that kicks off with a hysteric guitar sound.
The performance is simple overall, but it has a sense of drive, and the drums introduce an off-beat pattern in the chorus, so be careful not to let the rhythm slip.
It’s not technically difficult, making it an easy number to add on the fly when you suddenly want to play one more track.
LOVE ROCKETSThe Birthday
This song kicks off with a spine-tingling bass solo.
The Birthday’s “LOVE ROCKETS,” included on their 2023 EP “Tsukiyo no Zankyo ep.,” became a hit after being selected as the opening theme for the film “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK.” The raw rock ’n’ roll sound pairs perfectly with Yusuke Chiba’s gritty, growling vocals—it’s seriously cool.
Because the performance is unadorned, without flashy or difficult phrases, it captures this vibe so well.
If you want to take on a badass tune, give it a try!
STARSw.o.d.
w.o.d.
stands apart from today’s so-called J-rock scene as a solitary presence: a trio that blasts raw rock—garage, grunge, and alternative—at full volume.
The fact that they continue to release their work on cassette tapes even in 2024 speaks to their singular aesthetic.
For anyone looking to cover a w.o.d.
track, we recommend STARS.
It’s widely known thanks to being selected as the theme song for the TV anime BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Separation.
If you cover its trio-specific ensemble and dynamic sound at your school festival, you’re sure to shock classmates who are used to easy-listening J-pop.
Singing while playing the main riff that kicks in from the intro may be tough for beginners, but once you get over that hurdle, you’ll level up as a singing guitarist.
The drums make heavy use of intense drum rolls, so practice repeatedly with a metronome to keep your rhythm steady!