[Western Rock Edition] Recommended Practice Songs for Beginner Bands [2025]

Heart of GoldNeil Young

Neil Young – Heart of Gold (Full HD)

Neil Young’s signature work, released in 1972.

It’s a folk-rock classic.

The song is close to a solo vocal-and-guitar style, with a very simple backing arrangement.

The chord progression uses easy-to-play chords, making it beginner-friendly even for band performances.

Wild ThingThe Troggs

The Troggs- Wild Thing

The Troggs covered a pre-existing song.

It became a big hit and is often thought of as one of their originals.

It’s a number with an extremely simple chord progression, as if it were made as a band practice piece.

Still, it might be hard to play it with the kind of flavor the Troggs have.

Hotel CaliforniaThe Eagles

Eagles – Hotel California (Official Audio)

A song by the American rock band the Eagles, whose total record sales have exceeded 200 million since their debut in 1971.

Set in a fictional hotel, it’s the number that many listeners in Japan first associate with the Eagles.

With its laid-back tempo and straightforward structure, it doesn’t require advanced techniques, making it a great pick for beginner bands.

However, the guitarist may need the focus to play through to the end, as the extended guitar solo in the outro takes up about a third of the entire track.

Also, the distinctive arpeggiated intro—recorded with 13 guitars—is difficult to fully recreate, so it’s best to copy the most prominent phrases.

What I’ve DoneLinkin Park

What I’ve Done (Official Music Video) [4K Upgrade] – Linkin Park

If you think Linkin Park’s music—complete with electronic elements—would be tough to reproduce as a band, why not take on their classic, band-friendly track “What I’ve Done”? Released in 2007, it’s also famous as the ending theme for the movie Transformers.

The lyrics, which vividly portray a protagonist confronting their past and taking a bold new step forward, are deeply moving.

The band sound is both melodic and dynamic, and covering it will undoubtedly help you pick up essential rock band skills.

It’s guaranteed to hype up a live crowd, too.

Having a keyboardist is ideal, but in a pinch you can even cut the piano parts and still make it work!

t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l (ft. Travis Barker)Willow

WILLOW – t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l ft. Travis Barker (Official Music Video)

Willow Smith is an American singer and the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, who has also been active as an actor since childhood.

The song she released in 2021 drew attention with its pop-punk sound featuring Travis Barker.

Released as the lead single from the album ‘lately I feel EVERYTHING,’ the track takes aim at hypocritical friendships.

Willow incorporates punk energy into her music, inspired by accompanying her mother’s nu-metal band on tour when she was young.

Both the guitar and bass use simple phrases and are relatively easy, making it approachable for beginners to cover.

The drums can be challenging at first to keep up the speed, but it’s a good idea to practice by slowing down the tempo and gradually increasing it.

Louie LouieKINGSMEN

The Kingsmen – Louie Louie

In the United States, this is a song that often comes up as a band practice piece.

It’s a standard among rock standards, with reportedly as many as 1,600 covers.

Since it’s structured around endlessly repeating just four chords, even someone who’s never touched an instrument could master it in a day.

Twist & ShoutThe Isley Brothers

Isley Brothers – Twist and Shout

The Beatles’ version has become so famous, but the song was originally a hit in the United States.

Many think the Isley Brothers did the original, but theirs was a cover too.

It’s a rare number where only the cover versions are well-known.

With just three chords, it’s perfect for beginner bands.