[2026] Easy J-Pop and Japanese Rock Songs Recommended for Beginner Bassists
The idea that bass is a plain, background position is a thing of the past.
In fact, there have always been countless stars—both overseas and in Japan—who show us the appeal of low-end with their incredibly cool bass playing.
That said, recent J-POP and Japanese rock often feature complex rhythm patterns, and some of you may have tried picking up the bass only to find it too difficult and ended up giving up.
So this time, we’re introducing classic J-POP and Japanese rock tracks that feature simple yet cool bass lines—perfect for beginner bassists who’ve gotten the basics down and are ready for a challenge.
Master these songs and take the next step beyond beginner!
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[2026] Easy J-Pop and Japanese Rock Recommendations for Beginner Bassists (1–10)
WandervogelNEW!kururi
Wonder Vogel, with its unique sense of drive, features a memorable bass line that colors Quruli’s band sound.
While maintaining a steady 8-beat, the added movement during phrase transitions makes it good practice for shifting positions in step with the chord changes.
Since the tempo is on the faster side, keeping your right-hand picking stable is important.
Staying mindful of locking in with the drums will naturally strengthen your sense of rhythm.
It’s a beginner-friendly song where you can enjoy the bass tone pulsing through a four-on-the-floor, electronic-tinged rhythm.
To tell you the truth,NEW!yangusukinii
Hontou wa ne, which conveys the bittersweet feelings of young love straight and true, is one of Young Skinny’s signature songs.
It moves forward with a steady rhythm from the intro, supported by a bassline that highlights the vocals.
In the chorus, the number of notes increases, and by consciously emphasizing dynamics in a plucking style, you can express the song’s development.
Since it proceeds at a mid-tempo that showcases both piano and band performance, it’s well-suited for practicing careful playing while maintaining a consistent rhythm.
It’s a practice piece for beginner bassists that helps you develop expressiveness and fundamentals at the same time.
Trash human, me.yangusukinii
Young Skinny is a four-piece rock band formed via social media around vocalist-songwriter Kayau.
Their song “Gomi Ningen, Ore” (“Trash Human, Me”) from their first album, “If You Put It Into a Song, I Thought You Could Get Away With Anything,” pairs decadent lyrics with a fresh arrangement that seems to make the title stand out even more.
The bass line is rooted in simple root-note playing yet features ear-catching accents, making it easy but still prominent.
It’s a recommended track for beginner bassists who’ve gotten used to root playing or are starting to get bored with just roots.
[2026] Easy J-POP/Japanese Rock Recommendations for Beginner Bassists (11–20)
I want to love you super muchneguse.
Neguse is a four-piece band from Nagoya that has captured the hearts of the younger generation as a popular rock act of the Reiwa era, even successfully headlining a solo show at Nippon Budokan in 2024.
As the title of the song introduced here, “Super Aishitai,” suggests, they’ve earned their popularity through the pure quality of their music: unforced, natural lyrics, a positive and approachable melody line, and a simple yet on-point band ensemble.
They’re especially popular among music-loving teens, and many people likely want to cover their songs with their own bands.
“Super Aishitai” is an ideal track for anyone who wants to practice a so-called shuffle rhythm.
If you’ve mainly been playing 8-beat songs, just locking into the rhythm itself may be a bit challenging, but mastering the kind of groove found in this song is exactly how you grow as a bassist—so stick with it.
The trickiest part is probably the highly active, melodic phrases in the chorus, but for bass lines like these, it’s helpful to play them with the mindset of ‘singing’ the phrase.
Windy DayELLEGARDEN
ELLEGARDEN enjoyed immense popularity in Japan’s rock scene of the 2000s.
After becoming a legend during their hiatus, they announced their first return in ten years in 2018, and since then they’ve continued to run at the forefront of the scene as a top band that transcends generations.
Their songs remain hugely popular even today in the Reiwa era as covers at school festivals and the like, and this time we’re introducing an early classic, “Kaze no Hi,” as a track that’s easy for beginner bassists to take on.
The moving Japanese lyrics and melody, along with a sound that’s aggressive yet tinged with melancholy, resonate not only with younger listeners but also with people in their 30s and 40s.
From a bass-playing perspective, it’s fundamentally rooted in playing the root notes, while incorporating melodic phrases that use slides and other techniques throughout, making it a great piece for beginner bassists to study arrangement as well.
1999Hitsuji Bungaku
Hitsujibungaku is a three-piece alternative rock band that has gained popularity, especially among younger listeners, for their songs with a sense of translucence and weightlessness.
Their digital-only single “1999” is a fan favorite Christmas song that they’ve performed since their indie days.
The bass line, apart from the root notes, uses relatively few notes, making it easy to memorize and comfortable even for beginner bassists.
The phrases move a bit during the interlude and toward the end of the track, but the parts aren’t technically difficult, so take your time and give it a try.
PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism
Official HIGE DANDism is a four-member piano pop band at the forefront of the J-pop scene, thanks to their wide-ranging musicality and outstanding performance skills.
Their second single, “Pretender,” was written as the theme song for the film The Confidence Man JP: Romance and became a massive hit that’s now considered one of the band’s signature tracks.
Although the song has relatively few notes and isn’t particularly fast in tempo, the bass part relies heavily on staccato and accents.
As a result, bassists who have only ever played root notes may find it harder to perform than they expect at first.
Because it helps you practice key aspects of bass playing, this pop tune is highly recommended for bassists aiming to move beyond the beginner level.