a cool guitar-vocal band
When it comes to guitar-vocals, it’s the star role in a rock band, right?
In this article, I’ll introduce bands with cool, recommended guitarists who also serve as the lead vocalist.
Whether you’re looking for bands where the guitarist sings, or you’re searching for songs to cover as a guitar-vocal yourself, this article is for you.
Watching someone sing with a guitar in hand is undeniably cool, but when it’s your turn to perform, you might think, “That seems hard…” and hesitate.
But there are actually songs that are easier than you’d expect!
First, let’s start by listening to a variety of songs from bands with guitar-vocalists.
- Charm overload! A roundup of Japanese three-piece bands (perfect for cover bands, too!)
- The depth of guitar sound. A collection of songs with cool guitar.
- Cool band: A rock band that represents Japan
- High School Students’ Favorite Band Songs Ranking [2026]
- Popular Band Songs Ranking [2026]
- Full of charm like attractive voices and high notes! A roundup of recommended male singers
- A collection of cool songs that sound great when sung by women, originally male songs
- Recommended Japanese punk bands: the punks who represent Japan.
- A high-energy band number! A hype, crowd-pleasing track with male vocals.
- Ranking of Japanese Bands Popular Among Men [2026]
- Popular female vocal band [2026]
- Easy-to-sing songs recommended for teenage boys with low voices | Songs you can sing even during voice change!
- A compilation of cool Japanese rock band songs. Recommended tracks for cover bands.
Cool guitar-vocal bands (1–10)
Galactic ExpresswayHanbureddāzu
A band formed in high school to perform at the school festival.
After showcasing their music at the festival, they realized how powerful music can be and began band activities from there.
In January 2018, they released their first nationwide-distributed album, “Jun Isei Koyu” (Pure Heterosocial Interaction).
The vocalist and guitarist is Akira Mutsumuro.
He writes relatable lyrics, and it’s striking how he always gives his all to convey the awe of music they felt when they first started the band.
Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
The band name comes from wanting to include a food name and add a gender-neutral image.
Mrs.
GREEN APPLE is a five-member coed band that debuted in 2015 with the mini-album “Variety.” Their songs, which evoke a fresh, youthful feeling, are especially popular among high school students.
Motoki Omori serves as the lead vocalist and guitarist, and he writes and composes all of their songs.
His vocal range—freely moving from deep tones to falsetto while playing guitar—leaves listeners feeling refreshed.
To Your TownASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, the band that has led Japan’s alternative rock scene.
Without them, today’s Japanese rock wouldn’t exist! Rock ’n’ roll used to belong to long-haired, flashy pretty boys.
But they completely overturned that.
No one expected these bespectacled, slightly shy college students to blast out such fierce sounds.
You can’t talk about Japanese rock without them!
Cool guitar-vocal bands (11–20)
You, the Sheep, and the BlueRADWIMPS
RADWIMPS is a band with impressive technical prowess and a unique worldview.
When songs like “Oshakashama” and “Kyoshinshō” were released, I thought, “What a dark band.” But when I listened to “Sparkle” and “Is There Still Anything That Love Can Do?” which they released while handling the music for the hit film Your Name in 2018 and the subsequent film Weathering With You, I couldn’t help but think, “What a beautiful band!” They’re a band that makes you feel the breadth of the emotional spectrum.
brand-newKANA-BOON
A four-piece rock band that made their major-label debut in 2013 with the single “Jōsha Hissui no Kotowari, Okotowari.” Before their major debut, they were an Osaka-born band performing primarily at the live house Mikunigaoka FUZZ in Osaka.
The guitarist and vocalist is Maguro Taniguchi.
Riding the music, he sings and plays guitar with his whole body, never losing that youthful freshness! At the same time, his voice is captivating on mid-tempo numbers where he truly showcases his vocal prowess.
Because I want to be by your side.SHISHAMO
It’s the hugely popular girls’ band SHISHAMO! Asako Miyazaki’s heart-fluttering, cute vocals and down-to-earth lyrics have resonated with many young women.
They first applied to a contest just to test their skills and suddenly won an Excellence Award, and then made remarkable strides—unprecedented for an unknown band—by being chosen as hosts for All Night Nippon.
They also performed at the 68th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
They’re a true “Cinderella band,” rather than Cinderella girls.
Keep your eyes on them!
We’re in the car again today.Hump Back
A three-piece girls’ rock band formed in a high school light music club.
On guitar and vocals is Momoko Hayashi, whose full-throttle singing—delivered just as she is, without putting on airs, like Eriko Hashimoto of Chatmonchy whom they used to cover when the band first formed—is captivating.
They made their indie debut in 2016 with the mini-album “Yoru ni Nattara,” and in 2018 released their first single, “Haikei, Shonen yo,” on the major label Vap.