Recommended songs for beginner bands: simple and crowd-pleasing tracks.
Your first live performance at a school festival or a live house… At the beginning, most bands probably perform as a cover band rather than playing original songs, right?
When that time comes, you’ll likely agonize over which songs to play—especially if your band is full of instrumental beginners, you’ll want to choose from simpler tracks.
You might want to hype the crowd by covering popular bands’ songs, but at the same time, you may find yourself hesitating, thinking, “This one seems tough…”
So in this article, we’ll introduce plenty of beginner-friendly songs that band newcomers can learn to play with practice!
Of course, carefully listening to and recreating the original is important, but boldly arranging songs to make them easier to play is also a great way to energize your live performance!
Alright, let’s dive into which songs we recommend!
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Recommended songs for beginner bands: easy, crowd-pleasing tracks (91–100)
AyaMy Hair is Bad
A song by the three-piece rock band My Hair is Bad—known by the nickname “Maihea”—who have honed their playing skills and reputation since high school by supporting numerous bands on tour.
It’s included on their 5th album, “angels,” and the realistic lyrics depicting a forbidden love are heartrending, aren’t they? With a relaxed tempo and simple parts across the board, it’s easy for even a beginner-only band to cover.
However, while the techniques are simple, that also means you can’t hide if the ensemble falls apart.
So don’t just focus on your own playing—be sure to listen closely to the other parts as you practice.
elevated lineELLEGARDEN
There are a lot of people looking for songs that are simple yet cool.
For you, I recommend ELLEGARDEN’s “Koukasen” (Overhead Lines).
It sounds almost like Western music, but ELLEGARDEN is a Japanese band.
The song is simple but really cool, so I think it’s a perfect choice for beginners to build confidence.
Try practicing so that the drum beat really comes to the forefront.
Lila LilhaKimura Kaera
A major third single by female singer Kaela Kimura—also known for the huge hit “Butterfly,” now a wedding standard—and active not only in music but also as a fashion model.
Used in commercials and as the ending theme for a music program, this shuffle number features a catchy melody and distinctive chord progression that sticks in your head.
Although it demands tight playing over a bouncy rhythm, it uses relatively simple techniques, making it accessible even for beginner band members.
It’s a poppy, upbeat rock tune that’s sure to get the crowd going at live shows.
Live house!Conton Candy
Conton Candy’s “Live House!” is an energetic guitar rock track that captures the raw heat of a live venue, and plenty of people will surely want to cover it.
Written, composed, and arranged by the band themselves, the song is filled with a straightforward love for live houses and their audiences—a bona fide anthem guaranteed to unite the room when played on stage.
Let the guitar drive the track with powerful power chords, while aiming to articulate the distinctive stabs and signature phrases clearly.
Because the guitar parts are relatively simple, the bass often moves more and carries a heavier load, but it’s a crucial role for creating a supple groove, so handle it with precision.
For drums, start with a solid 8-beat foundation, and incorporate detailed touches like rim shots that shift the song’s feel—there’s a lot to learn from that kind of nuanced playing.
summer festivalWhiteberry
This is the third single by Whiteberry, a five-piece band that made its mark on the history of girl bands during a relatively brief five-year span after their major debut.
It’s a cover of JITTERIN’JINN’s 1990 hit number, and it became a major success thanks to lyrics that vividly evoke the scene suggested by the title and a driving, fast-paced feel.
Compared to the original version, the arrangement is simpler, making it approachable for beginner band members; however, because the overall tempo is fast, start practicing slowly.
Be careful to gradually work on playing together as a band, or it will fall apart.
It’s a famous song that people of all generations are likely to know, and it’s sure to get the crowd going live.
TV ManiacsELLEGARDEN
ELLEGARDEN is a four-piece rock band that has had a huge influence on rock bands in the J-POP scene since the 2000s and continues to stay at the forefront.
“TV Maniacs,” included on their fourth album RIOT ON THE GRILL, gets your adrenaline pumping with its straightforward rock sound that kicks off with a powerful guitar riff.
The tempo is quite fast, and the drums in particular can make or break the overall quality of the track depending on whether the beat remains steady to the end, so take care.
Also, since the lyrics are entirely in English, vocalists should thoroughly learn the song before band practice so they can keep up with the ensemble.
Love ParadeORANGE RANGE
This is the 10th single by ORANGE RANGE, a five-member mixed-genre band with hits like “Shanghai Honey” and “Hana,” active primarily in their home prefecture of Okinawa.
The song was chosen as the theme for Densha Otoko, a film that originated on the internet and became a social phenomenon.
Written after reading the script, it’s a heartwarming number that conveys the story and atmosphere.
Unusually for an ORANGE RANGE single, the arrangement includes a guitar solo, but the overall performance is simple, making it approachable for beginner band members.
However, because the song has dynamic contrasts, avoid a flat delivery and be mindful of the tension and energy throughout the performance.