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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!

Recommended songs for beginner bands: easy, crowd-pleasing tracks (91–100)

You and the summer music festivalSHISHAMO

A three-piece girls’ band from Kanagawa, SHISHAMO’s track.

It’s an up-tempo, refreshing song that’s guaranteed to hype up the crowd when played live.

The guitar is mainly chord strumming, and the chords used are mostly basic, so it’s easy for beginner guitarists to cover.

However, the intro and guitar solo include some faster phrases, so start practicing at a slower tempo and work up until you can play them cleanly.

The bass and drums are generally simple, but there’s a short bass solo before the guitar solo, so bassists who mainly practice root notes may need to put in some extra work.

Overall, the song uses a lot of syncopation to create a driving feel; if each part focuses on staying tight together, you’ll get closer to the vibe of the original recording.

Hoshino Takashi
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My girlfriend is PIZZA OF DEATHSabasusutā

SABANNAMAN – My Girlfriend is PIZZA OF DEATH Music Video
My girlfriend is PIZZA OF DEATHSabasusutā

Sabasister’s “My girlfriend is PIZZA OF DEATH,” which also made waves with its punk-styled music video, is a one-minute punk song brimming with love for the prestigious label PIZZA OF DEATH! It’s a surefire killer tune that will unite the floor if you cover it live.

Keep the guitar tight and choppy with distorted power chords, have the bass lock in a moving, walking-style phrase in the B section, and make sure the drummer can power through the final two-beat—that’s the key.

Practice it repeatedly!

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Recommended songs for beginner bands: simple, crowd-pleasing tracks (101–110)

My First KissHi-STANDARD

A cover of the anime Kiteretsu Daihyakka’s theme song by the punk rock band Hi-STANDARD.

That familiar melody has been arranged into a refreshing punk style, and it feels great to listen to! The distinctive guitar riff will take solid practice until you can play it smoothly, but the rest is mainly power chords, so it’s recommended for beginner guitarists too.

The bass has a bit of movement, but it’s built on simple phrases, and the drums are made up of a straightforward beat except for the fills at the transitions.

If, when you actually start practicing, you find a part that feels truly impossible, it’s fine to ask an experienced player to simplify it into an easier phrase!

Hane Keisuke
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Tears are about to fall.[Alexandros]

[Alexandros] – Tears Are About to Fall (MV) @ALEXANDROSchannel
Tears are about to fall.[Alexandros]

This band’s songs are generally on the difficult side and tough for beginners, but this particular track has a simple structure and is recommended even for newcomers.

If your part usually focuses solely on your instrument, try adding some backing vocals if you can! It uses half-step-down tuning, so be mindful of the set order and your gear.

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Carnivalmuque

muque – Carnival (Official Music Video)
Carnivalmuque

muque’s “Carnival” was born as a commemorative theme song for a local FM station and is a pop-rock number brimming with hope.

Its straightforward 2000s-style sound and the canon progression in the chorus make it highly memorable, and it’s sure to get the crowd going if your band covers it.

The key to the performance is having every member convey the song’s warm, uplifting vibe.

The guitar should deliver the distinctive intro riff cleanly, while the bass locks in with the drums to lay down a steady 8-beat.

Even simple drum fills can tighten the track, so nailing the timing is essential.

If you sing the lyrics with emotive expression like Asakura, it will undoubtedly resonate with listeners!

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jellyfishchakura

Chakura – Jellyfish (Official Music Video)
jellyfishchakura

Formed in 2022, Chakra is a young four-piece gaining attention with their energetic guitar rock.

The song that put their name on the map, “Kurage,” is relatively approachable for band beginners and is sure to shine live.

For guitar, focus on locking in together on the simple backing riff and nailing the countermelody-style phrase that appears in the chorus.

The bass features relatively busy lines; it may be challenging for beginners, but it’s great practice.

For drums, keep it simple while adding clear dynamics to bring out shifts in the song’s character.

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To the blue skySABOTEN

SABOTEN – To the Blue Sky (2014) Re-recording
To the blue skySABOTEN

SABOTEN is a three-piece rock band that captivates fans with straightforward, Japanese-based lyrics and the beautiful melodic-work typical of melodic hardcore.

“Aozora e,” included on their first album HI ROCK HI, features the clean, simple sound unique to a three-piece, which feels really good.

While there aren’t any difficult phrases, the performance can end up sounding flat unless you focus on tight playing and dynamics, so be mindful of that when practicing as a band.

Also, harmonies—the hallmark of melodic hardcore—are important, so practicing vocals alongside your instruments will raise the overall quality.

Hoshino Takashi
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