Looking for the best Karaoke songs to sing for beginners? Well you're in the right place!
Practically every artist wants to learn a song or two by their favorite band or singer.
Disappointingly, some of these songs are incredibly hard to emulate and if you don’t do them justice on stage, you could end up getting booed off by your audience.
Not to worry. There are plenty of easy songs to sing, and most of the time you don’t need to go looking much further than the top 40 charts.
Here are 27 easy songs to sing for karaoke and beginner cover artists.
P.S. If you want to improve your singing & wow the crowd at your next karaoke session, you may want to consider some online singing lessons. 30 Day Singer is the best I've come across, you can see my full review here.
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Eagle-Eye Cherry – “Save Tonight”
I find this 90s top 40 song via Eagle-Eye Cherry easy to sing and I think most others will too. Plus, whenever I bust it out, people always seem to love it.
Cherry’s vocals aren’t abnormally high, nor are they low. They sit nicely in that baritone range.
Now, if you want to sing the chorus an octave up from where it sits, that will take a little more effort. But the lead vocals in the song are clearly in the same general range throughout.
Worst case scenario you can find a more comfortable key, especially if you can accompany yourself on an instrument or know someone who can.
Oasis – “Wonderwall” – An Easy Karaoke Song To Sing
Everybody and their dog covers this song and for good reason.
Firstly, it’s a great song and most people know it. Secondly, it’s not that hard to sing.
Some might find Liam Gallagher’s vocals a little high. If so, if you have the option of adjusting the key to suit your voice, do so.
It’s a bit overplayed in my opinion, but I haven’t grown tired of it yet, and I don’t think audiences have either. So, consider giving “Wonderwall” a try.
Darius Rucker – “Wagon Wheel”
First, just to clarify – I’m not a fan of this song. I do think it’s legitimately overplayed and covered by altogether too many musicians.
But we also need to face the facts. This is a catchy song audiences love. And, it’s not that hard to sing either.
The original version is basically in the same range as “Wonderwall”. Again, if that’s not comfortable for you, and you have the option of changing the key, go right ahead.
This is another crowd pleaser worth adding to your repertoire.
Garth Brooks – “Friends In Low Places”
Some songs transcend genre and “Friends In Low Places” is one of those.
It doesn't seem to matter whether you bust out this country number at a saloon or a friendly neighbourhood pub. All the drunks love to sing along!
If you find the melody a little low (pun intended), you can always find another key to sing this in.
Have fun and get the crowd involved. This song is usually an instant “win button”.
Johnny Cash – “Folsom Prison Blues” – One Of The Best Karaoke Songs
The great thing about a song like “Folsom Prison Blues” is that you can get away with singing it however you want.
As we all know, Cash was not a bad singer. But he had that signature baritone voice that made his songs easy for just about anyone to follow along with.
For some singers, hitting those lower notes might prove challenging, though, so keep that in mind.
Bob Dylan – “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
Not that any Bob Dylan is hard to sing, especially music from his mumbling years.
But “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” is a classic. You can sing it in any bar and it’s sure to catch on quickly.
This song is easy even if you choose to sing one of the harmony parts versus the melody part.
As a lead singer, your timing need not be impeccable and you can even bend, draw out or cut off notes as you please. Have fun!
blink-182 – “All The Small Things”
Arguably, most punk pop is easy to sing. This 90s favorite is relatively monotone, making it particularly effortless.
Now, Tom DeLonge’s vocals might be a little high for some. I can sing this song in the original key, but it’s on the edge of where I generally feel comfortable.
Feel free to adjust the key, if that’s within your wheelhouse.
Aside from that, just have fun with it. This is definitely one of my best karaoke songs of the moment.
Green Day – “When I Come Around” – Great For Beginner Karaoke Singers
Another 90s punk rock favorite, “When I Come Around” might be a little harder to sing than “All The Small Things”, but it’s still easy to get the hang of.
And, if you find it challenging, it’s only because, like Tom DeLonge, Billie Joe Armstrong’s vocals are on the high side. I find I can sing it just fine though.
And, the best part about it is that your enunciation doesn’t need to be perfect. Armstrong’s vocals weren’t always clear to say the least (“Basket Case” being the prime example).
Leonard Cohen – “Hallelujah”
This is basically everyone’s favorite Leonard Cohen song and it’s been covered a lot.
In my opinion, though, the original was perfect. It’s impossible to improve upon.
Anyway, this is not a tough number to sing. There are plenty of notes in it, and it moves from low to high, but assuming you pick the right key for you, you shouldn’t struggle with it.
Sing it with plenty of passion.
Joan Jett – “I Love Rock ‘n Roll”, For An Energetic & Memorable Performance
If even Britney Spears can sing it (and I’m not saying she did it well), then rest assured you can sing “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” too.
And, although it’s being sung by a female vocalist, it should be in a comfortable range for most male vocalists.
First, it’s kind of monotone, especially during the verses. If anything, the beginning of phrases might take a little time to figure out, but it’s not too hard.
Second, Jett’s vocals have that tired, “I don’t care” quality to them. Her pitch is still spot on, but it certainly takes the pressure off having to be perfect.
Britney Spears – “Oops!… I Did It Again”, A Classic Karaoke Tune
Speaking of Britney Spears, most of her songs are relatively easy to sing.
What makes “Oops!… I Did It Again” especially simple is that there isn't a huge spread in high and low notes.
So, while you may need to adjust the key to suit your voice, that's about the only adjustment you should ever need to make.
Whether it's this song or another, you can have plenty of fun with Britney songs.
Spice Girls–“Wannabe”
You can always choose another Spice Girls song if you find this one to be toocliché.
But there's a reason it made it so huge. It's because it's easy to remember and sing along to.
Of course, it's best to sing as a duo (at least), as there are overlapping parts (especially in the little “rap” section).
Also, don't forget to practice the verses. Everybody tends to fixate a little too much on the chorus without working on the other parts.
Van Morrison – “Brown Eyed Girl”
Everyone loves to sing along with “Brown Eyed Girl.” So, even if you don’t sing it perfectly, it doesn’t matter that much. Your audience will love it.
I can certainly sing “Brown Eyed Girl” in Morrison’s range, but his voice is admittedly high. Still, these days he seems to mumble his lyrics more than he sings them, so if you want to do a modern take on this tune, it's easy to imitate.
And, few things are easier to sing than the ever popular “sha la la…” part.
If your voice isn’t naturally high-pitched, again you will need to find a key signature that’s right for you. But this song shouldn’t cause you too much stress.
The Beatles – “Hey Jude”, An All Time Greatest Karaoke Song
Arguably the most influential pop band of all time, The Beatles songs are beloved because of their surface-level simplicity and underlying complexity.
“Hey Jude” is certainly a Karaoke favorite. It might be a little harder to sing than other songs on this list, but it’s still a lot of fun and it should be in a comfortable range for most.
Of course, the “nah nah nah nah” singalong section is probably why everyone thinks this is a simple song to sing. Audiences always love to join in on that part.
The Steve Miller Band – “Take The Money And Run”
A three-chord wonder, even in my early days as a solo performer, I found “Take The Money And Run” an easy song to sing.
And, of course the fact that it’s a three-chord song makes it easy for instrumentalists to pick up and play too.
If you want to imitate all the falsetto parts, sure, that might prove a little more challenging (not by much, mind you). But the verses and chorus should be in a comfortable range for most.
It’s a bit old school, but it’s still a crowd pleaser, and it should get your friends going.
Neil Diamond – “Sweet Caroline”
Another well-known classic that crosses generational lines, “Sweet Caroline” is relatively easy to sing.
Sure, there’s a bit of a bump in range from the verse to the chorus. But taken alone, each section is easy to sing.
If you can’t sing it in the original key, it’s always worth trying in another.
Sing this song and you’re sure to get the audience singing along.
Destiny’s Child – “Say My Name”
“Say My Name” inevitably makes a lot of lists like this one.
That’s because the melody is quite monotone, especially during the verse.
Now, there is a little bit of syncopation in the verses, and the pre-chorus section is also fast. But if you can get a hang of that, the rest is easygoing.
Guys shouldn’t find it too hard to sing either, especially an octave down.
OutKast – “Hey Ya!”, A Fun Karaoke Song Your Audience Will Get Interactive With
The impossibly catchy sleeper hit “Hey Ya!” can be a crowd pleaser in the right setting.
Here's what you need to know:
First, the song has a lot of words. If you go into it cold, you're probably going to forget how the song goes. Be sure to spend some time in practice.
Second, find your place in the song. People either don't notice or forget that “Hey Ya!” has layered vocal parts, and some are quite high.
Otherwise, this can be a fun party tune to bust out.
Chumbawamba – “Tubthumping”
The chorus is basically just shouting so you can get away with just about anything.
The verse isn’t particularly hard to sing either, unless you’re a guy trying to sing it in the same octave as the original.
And, the male part of the verse is just chanting.
The magic of music is that this song is still impossibly catchy and is remembered everywhere.
Weezer – “Island In The Sun”
I see other Weezer songs topping lists like this one, but honestly there’s nothing easy about “Buddy Holly”, or for that matter, “Say It Ain’t So”.
“Island In The Sun”, on the other hand, is legitimately simple. There’s a bit of movement in the melody, but once you get the hang of it, it’s unmistakable.
So, if you’re looking for an easy Weezer tune, skip the others and move right over to this one.
No Doubt – “Spiderwebs”
Honestly, I would have thought “Spiderwebs” to be harder than it is.
But if you pay attention you can hear that there isn’t huge movement in the melody, and the verses are relatively monotone.
Finding the right key is probably where the challenge is but personally, I can comfortably follow Gwen Stefani’s vocals an octave below.
I would probably lose some of the energy if I sang it down there, mind you, so I would find a key that’s better suited to my voice.
Anyway, this is another fun, recognizable tune that’s sure to please the crowd.
My Personal Best Karaoke Song To Sing Is R.E.M. – “Losing My Religion”
An unlikely hit, “Losing My Religion” is built around a mandolin riff, making it kind of folky.
Although there is some movement in the melody, I would still consider this an easy song to sing. The range should be comfortable for most, too.
For those who want to show a bit of their serious side, this is a great song choice. It’s incredibly well-known and popular, too.
Devo – “Whip It”
Quirky and fun, Devo’s “Whip It” defined 80s music.
And, because the singing in the chorus is basically chanting, it’s not a hard song to master. Just don’t forget to practice the melodies in the verse.
Still widely recognized and well-received by most, it’s worth giving this song a try.
The Verve – “Bitter Sweet Symphony”
Love it or hate it, “Bitter Sweet Symphony” became a bit of a hit in the 90s.
The midtempo, contemplative Verve song doesn’t have much movement in the melody, making it easy to sing. The slow tempo doesn’t hurt either.
As with most songs, you should make sure it’s in a range you can sing before taking it on. It’s higher than you might assume it to be, but I still find it reasonable to negotiate.
Semisonic – “Closing Time”, Another Easy Song To Sing On Stage
Virtually no cover band can leave the stage of a bar without playing “Closing Time”.
I’ve covered this song as a solo artist and in a band scenario too.
Just watch out for those higher notes in the chorus, beginning with the word “know”. I find the “know who I” part high enough that sometimes I automatically slip into falsetto.
You can easily navigate this by finding a different key to sing it in, mind you.
Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance”
The verse is monotone. The pre-chorus is just chanting. The chorus is low enough that even a guy with the right range could sing it.
No, “Bad Romance” may not be the easiest song in the world, but it shouldn’t cause too much trouble for anyone either.
Just remember to learn the lyrics. Some of it is nonsense, but if you’re going to do it justice, you may as well learn the whole thing.
The Bloodhound Gang – “The Bad Touch”
Okay, so the lyrical content in this song may not be appropriate in every environment.
But if you’re singing karaoke in a bar at the end of the night when everyone’s had too many drinks, you probably can’t go wrong.
The verse is a rap, and most of it is slow, so if you’ve got decent rhythm, you should be able to master it in a short amount of time.
The melody in the chorus could be sung by virtually anyone. Pick an octave that feels good to you.
The Best Easy Songs To Sing For Karaoke Conclusion (& Easy Piano / Guitar Songs)
So, we’ve looked at 27 easy songs to sing, but what exactly makes a song difficult to vocalize?
Here are a few things that can make a song harder to sing:
- The melody moves all over the place.
- The song features a key change or multiple key changes.
- The song requires that you sing in multiple voices (vocal fry, falsetto, etc.).
- There are plenty of vocal flourishes throughout the song (i.e. Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, DC Talk, etc.).
- A song with incredibly high or low melodies. You can always adapt by changing the key, mind you.
- A song with an odd chord progression, requiring that you sing a melody that may not be immediately apparent from the instrumentation (jazz sometimes falls under this category).
- A song using an odd scale. This becomes easier as you get used to it, but if you don’t have a good ear, it could prove challenging.
- Songs requiring screaming.
So, if you’re looking for a song that’s easier to sing than others, keep these criteria in mind.
And, don’t forget to have fun! Even if you aren’t the best signer in the world, choosing the right song and being entertaining can make all the difference.
If you or a friend also plays an instrument, check out these easy guitar and piano songs.
Whether you use an instrument or just your voice, I hope you found this guide useful. 🙂
Now over to you, what is your best karaoke song?
And if you performed one of the above at your karaoke night, how did it go?
