Your first live show at a school festival or a live house… At the beginning, most bands probably appear not with original songs but as cover bands, right?At times like that, choosing which song to play can be really tough, but if your band is mostly made up of beginners on their instruments, you’ll want to pick from simpler songs.You want to hype the crowd by covering popular bands’ songs!On the other hand, you might hesitate, thinking, “This song seems hard…”So in this article, we’ll introduce plenty of beginner-friendly songs that band beginners can learn to play with practice!Of course, faithfully recreating the original is important, but it’s also totally fine to boldly arrange the song so it’s easier to perform!Now, let’s dive into which songs we recommend!
Recommended songs for band beginners: easy and crowd-pleasing tracks (1–10)
InfernoMrs. GREEN APPLE
It’s a rock tune that combines a sense of speed with a catchy melody, built around a theme that evokes heavy, roaring flames.
Released in July 2019, it’s also included on the album “Attitude.” The song was used as the opening theme for the TV anime Fire Force.
The sound arrangement, with its overwhelming drive, is really cool.
While it’s high-energy, many of the phrases—like guitar octave playing—can be handled with simple techniques, making it approachable even for those who’ve just started playing an instrument.
Goodbye ElegySuda Masaki
Masaki Suda’s third single.
Released in February 2018, it was chosen as the theme song for the drama “Kiss that Kills,” in which he also appeared.
Born from his close friendship with Huwie Ishizaki, who wrote and composed the song, this work sets emotions where love and loneliness intersect to a fast-paced rock sound.
The tempo is on the quicker side, so be sure to keep a steady rhythm.
The melody is simple and easy to remember.
far awayASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION is a four-piece rock band that led the Japanese rock scene in the 2000s and continues to thrive at the forefront today.
“Haruka Kanata” is one of their signature early tracks, included on the 2002 mini-album “Houkai Amplifier.” It was used as the second opening theme for the TV anime “NARUTO,” and is highly recognized both in Japan and abroad.
Characterized by aggressive distorted guitars and a powerful rhythm, it contains few technical elements, making it a great choice for beginner bands.
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Dear, boyHump Back
This is a passionate track by the Osaka-based rock band Hump Back.
Released as a single in June 2018, it became a hit with multiple tie-ins, including TV show endings and a commercial song for Shinken Zemi High School Course.
It’s also included on the album “Ningen Nano Sa,” released in July 2019.
Based on notes vocalist Momoko Hayashi wrote in her teens, the song carries a message that encourages people dealing with anxiety and feelings of frustration.
It’s perfect for pumping up the crowd at events like school festivals.
To tell the truth,yangusukinii
This is a love song by Young Skinny that vividly portrays feelings of love that can’t be expressed honestly.
Released in October 2022, it was later included on the album “I Thought I Could Get Away with Anything If I Turned It into a Song.” It was also used as the ending theme for the TV show “Osama no Brunch.” The realistic worldview—combining the awkwardness of acting contrary to one’s true feelings in front of someone you like with a single-minded love kept hidden in the heart—resonated with many listeners.
With its brisk, upbeat arrangement, it’s a song that everyone can enjoy performing together.
Become sharp like steelNUMBER GIRL
This single was released in November 2000.
It’s an aggressive, thrilling number that combines a sharp, solid band sound with distinctive lyrics capturing slices of urban scenery, distilling the essence of NUMBER GIRL.
The guitar features a characteristically distorted tone, while the bass and drums maintain a forward-leaning sense of speed, unleashing intricate, unruly phrases.
The performance difficulty might be a bit high, but since there aren’t many sections in the song, it’s easy to memorize in that sense.
Amanojaku164
This is one of 164’s signature songs that has been loved in the Vocaloid scene for a long time.
Released in May 2011, its appeal lies in lyrics that portray the complicated feeling of not being able to be honest precisely because you like someone, paired with a fast-paced rock sound.
164 himself has said that “the guitar is super easy.” So if you’re a guitar beginner, definitely give it a try.
I think the key is how well you can recreate the explosive power of the chorus!