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: simple, crowd-pleasing tracks (111–120)
Mass-produced boyfriendSHISHAMO
This is the second single from SHISHAMO, a three-piece rock band that has won overwhelming popularity among younger generations with candid, down-to-earth lyrics and a punchy rock sound.
It’s a number that hooks you with an arrangement that makes the most of the sound pressure from a minimal three-piece setup and a breezy shuffle-beat rhythm.
The fast tempo might make it seem challenging, but it doesn’t use difficult techniques, so if you practice slowly at first, even beginner band members will be able to play it.
I recommend listening to it repeatedly and practicing until you get used to the bouncy feel of the beat, which is different from a standard straight 8-beat.
Messenger from Sunday↑THE HIGH-LOWS↓
This is the 22nd single by the rock band ↑THE HIGH-LOWS↓, formed around Hiroto Kōmoto and Masatoshi Mashima, who were core members of the legendary punk rock band THE BLUE HEARTS.
It became widely known across generations after being used as the ending theme for the variety show “Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji,” and it was also featured in commercials and as a movie theme song.
As the title suggests, its relaxed, weekend-like beat makes it easy to play without rushing, so even beginner band members can take it on.
It’s a rock tune that’s just right for your first time playing together as a band—laid-back and fun to perform.
Rock ‘n’ rollkururi
Kururi is a rock duo whose lyrically arranged songs are supported by many artists, both professional and amateur.
Rock’n’Roll, included on their fifth album Antenna, was used as the opening theme for the railway information program series Minna no Tetsudō.
The guitar riff, while technically simple, is catchy and sticks in your ear, making it fun to play.
Every part is straightforward and the tempo is relaxed, so it’s a number that should be easy for beginner band members to take on.
I touched an angel!Hōkago Tī Taimu
A song by the band Ho-kago Tea Time that appears in the hugely popular TV anime K-On!, which became a social phenomenon.
Even among K-On! tracks—many of which are high-level performance-wise—this one features a simple arrangement playable with standard techniques, making it approachable for beginner band members.
If you want to recreate the feel of the original, each member will need to practice their respective vocal parts, but since the playing itself isn’t difficult, it’s manageable.
It’s a famous song from a series with a large fanbase, so it’s a number you’ll want to perform as close to the original as possible.
A flower called “you”ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
Asian Kung-Fu Generation’s “Kimi to Iu Hana” is recommended for those looking for simple yet stylish drum phrases.
The drums in this song are straightforward, keeping eighth notes on the hi-hat, but the cool part is opening the hi-hat on the off-beats of those eighths.
The sound is like “tshee, tshee.” Also, the kick is just a steady four-on-the-floor—“don, don, don, don”—so even drummers who struggle with foot patterns should be fine.
The fills in the latter half are complex, so if they’re difficult, you might want to arrange them into simpler phrases.
Without putting it into wordsSIX LOUNGE
SIX LOUNGE’s “Kotoba ni Sezudomo” was also chosen as the theme song for the TV anime BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict Arc, and with its sense of speed and emotional sound, it’s a track that’s sure to shine on stage.
The tight, powerful ensemble unique to a trio setup is extremely instructive for honing band performance skills, so it’s definitely worth a try.
The guitar’s strong chord strumming forms the backbone of the song; even with mainly power chords, varying your use of palm muting should get you close to the nuance of the original.
The bass lays down a tight 8-beat, and the melodic phrases that appear throughout will make for great practice for any bassist.
The drums support the whole with a steady beat—especially aim to nail the spotlighted fills cleanly by listening closely to the other instruments and locking in together!
SunflowerSHACHI
SHACHI is a three-piece rock band with two contrasting lead vocalists, and their positive, message-driven lyrics captivate fans.
Their fourth single, “Himawari,” amps you up right from the intro that makes you want to thrust your fist in the air.
While each part relies only on basic techniques, the fast tempo—like the guitar’s palm muting and the drum beats—adds difficulty, so it’s best to start practicing at a tempo you can comfortably play.
It’s a refreshing rock tune with a driving ensemble that perfectly suits a school festival vibe.