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[2026] Start with this song! A collection of practice tracks for R&B beginners

When you listen to R&B, its groove and beautiful melodies make you want to sing along, right? Still, many people might be wondering, “Which song should I start practicing with?” In this article, we’ve gathered a wide range of recommended songs—both Western and Japanese—that are perfect for practice, focusing on modern R&B classics from the 1990s onward.

From tracks with simple, singable melodies to ones that let you step up gradually, you’re sure to find the perfect song for you.

Of course, singing R&B generally demands strong vocal skills, but we’ve also included more pop-leaning songs, so feel free to use this as a guide.

Playlist

[2026] Start with this song! A collection of practice tracks for R&B beginners
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastSo SickNe-Yo
So SickNe-Yoplay_arrow
An R&B ballad that depicts the pain of heartbreak
2eastJust The Way You AreBruno Mars
Just The Way You AreBruno Marsplay_arrow
A love ballad by Bruno Mars
3eastSave Your TearsThe Weeknd
Save Your TearsThe Weekndplay_arrow
The Weeknd’s signature song “Blinding Lights”
4eastEnd Of The RoadBoyz II Men
End Of The RoadBoyz II Menplay_arrow
An R&B ballad about lost love
5eastBoo’d UpElla Mai
Boo'd UpElla Maiplay_arrow
Ella Mai’s Grammy-winning R&B song
6eastKill BillSZA
Kill BillSZAplay_arrow
An R&B-style pop song about heartbreak and a thirst for revenge
7eastFirst LoveUtada Hikaru
First LoveUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
A gem-like ballad depicting the loss of first love
8eastsparkleFuji Kaze
sparkleFuji Kazeplay_arrow
Lots of falsetto used in Fujii Kaze’s VEZEL commercial song
9eastNo ScrubsTLC
No ScrubsTLCplay_arrow
The appeal and characteristics of TLC’s signature song “FanMail”
10eastLA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu
LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobuplay_arrow
Toshinobu Kubota's love song becomes a hit
11eastNo OneAlicia Keys
No OneAlicia Keysplay_arrow
Alicia Keys’ signature song, “Keep the Bond”
12eastSay My NameDestiny’s Child
Say My NameDestiny's Childplay_arrow
Signature songs of Destiny's Child
13eastNeed You BadSIRUP
Need You BadSIRUPplay_arrow
Introduce SIRUP’s contemporary R&B songs
14eastWeakSWV
WeakSWVplay_arrow
An R&B song that expresses SWV’s romantic feelings
15eastAll of MeJohn Legend
All of MeJohn Legendplay_arrow
John Legend’s first number-one single in the United States
16eastHaloBeyoncé
HaloBeyoncéplay_arrow
Beyoncé’s famous and soothing song
17eastIf I Fall in LoveCrystal Kay
If I Fall in LoveCrystal Kayplay_arrow
A pop R&B song for women
18eastBoyfriendJustin Bieber
BoyfriendJustin Bieberplay_arrow
Justin Bieber is very popular in Japan
19eastSTORYAI
STORYAIplay_arrow
AI's STORY recommended songs
20eastUn-Break My HeartToni Braxton
Un-Break My HeartToni Braxtonplay_arrow
Won a Grammy Award for a ballad
21eastHelloAdele
HelloAdeleplay_arrow
The strong vocal ability and emotional expression of a blues singer
22eastNo Diggity ft. Dr. Dre, Queen PenBlackstreet
No Diggity ft. Dr. Dre, Queen PenBlackstreetplay_arrow
A dark music video track by an R&B group
23eastShould’ve Kissed YouChris Brown
Should've Kissed YouChris Brownplay_arrow
Chris Brown becomes a huge hit overseas
24eastClimaxUsher
ClimaxUsherplay_arrow
Usher's distinctive singing voice is captivating.
25eastI Will Always Love YouWhitney Houston
I Will Always Love YouWhitney Houstonplay_arrow
Whitney Houston’s classic song
26eastNevertheless, I want to do it.Hirai Ken
Nevertheless, I want to do it.Hirai Kenplay_arrow
A catchy pop song for beginners
27eastI’m Not The Only OneSam Smith
I’m Not The Only OneSam Smithplay_arrow
Sam Smith is a singer active worldwide.
28eastThe HillsThe Weeknd
The HillsThe Weekndplay_arrow
The Weeknd’s high, clear voice is captivating.
29eastBurn Break CrashAanysa ft. Snakehips
Burn Break CrashAanysa ft. Snakehipsplay_arrow
A 17-year-old rookie female vocalist is attracting attention.
30eastBecause I like you.BENI
Because I like you.BENIplay_arrow
A cool, heartrending love song
31eastBetterBrian McKnight
BetterBrian McKnightplay_arrow
Brian's sweet singing voice is captivating.
32eastHotline BlingDrake
Hotline BlingDrakeplay_arrow
A popular Canadian rapper’s song gets a remix
33eastLove The Way You Lie ft. RihannaEminem
Love The Way You Lie ft. RihannaEminemplay_arrow
The ultimate collaboration song by Eminem and Rihanna
34eastSome Kind Of Drug ft. Marc E. BassyG-Eazy
Some Kind Of Drug ft. Marc E. BassyG-Eazyplay_arrow
A song by G-Eazy featuring Marc E. Bassy
35eastWhat You WantJUJU
What You WantJUJUplay_arrow
Beginner-friendly Japanese R&B by JUJU
36eastOn The Floor ft. PitbullJennifer Lopez
On The Floor ft. PitbullJennifer Lopezplay_arrow
An upbeat, high-energy song
37eastPayphone ft. Wiz KhalifaMaroon 5
Payphone ft. Wiz KhalifaMaroon 5play_arrow
A refreshing hit song by Maroon 5
38eastTo fall in love againMs. OOJA
To fall in love againMs. OOJAplay_arrow
A husky voice makes the ballad love song sink into the heart.
39eastSuper BassNicki Minaj
Super BassNicki Minajplay_arrow
Nicki Minaj's hip-hop music
40eastWaka WakaShakira
Waka WakaShakiraplay_arrow
Famous singers of World Cup theme songs
41eastUnfair WorldSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
Unfair WorldSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibuplay_arrow
Popular artist draws attention with diverse musicality
42eastProblem ft. Iggy AzaleaAriana Grande
Problem ft. Iggy AzaleaAriana Grandeplay_arrow
Rising artist recognition, popular among young people