Easy Songs
for Bands

27 songs · 3 sections · about 1.6 hours

A new band needs a first set before it needs anything else. The songs below have simple chord progressions and steady tempos, and crowds still like hearing them. That last part matters: easy songs nobody wants to hear won't get you rebooked.

Grouped by how much they ask of the band. Load them into the free setlist maker and you have a first gig set to rehearse.

Free, no signup. Each section becomes a set you can reorder, trim and print.

Three or four chords

Learn these in one rehearsal.

#	Song	BPM	Length
1	Bad Moon RisingCreedence Clearwater Revival	—	2:19
2	Twist and ShoutThe Beatles	124	2:33
3	Brown Eyed GirlVan Morrison	158	3:36
4	Wild ThingThe Troggs	—	2:37
5	Louie LouieThe Kingsmen	123	2:45
6	Stand by MeBen E. King	119	2:54
7	Knockin' on Heaven's DoorBob Dylan	140	2:30
8	Ring of FireJohnny Cash	104	2:35
9	Seven Nation ArmyThe White Stripes	—	3:51
10	Rockin' in the Free WorldNeil Young	132	4:41

Steady grooves

Simple parts, but the band has to lock in.

#	Song	BPM	Length
11	Takin' Care of BusinessBachman-Turner Overdrive	—	4:49
12	Sweet Home AlabamaLynyrd Skynyrd	—	6:46
13	Old Time Rock & RollBob Seger	—	3:14
14	Folsom Prison BluesJohnny Cash	110	2:35
15	Mustang SallyWilson Pickett	110	3:06
16	Feel It StillPortugal. The Man	158	2:43
17	ZombieThe Cranberries	—	4:01
18	WonderwallOasis	—	4:18
19	I Love Rock 'N RollJoan Jett & the Blackhearts	—	2:55

Next step up

A tricky part or two, but very achievable once the basics feel solid.

#	Song	BPM	Length
20	Mr. BrightsideThe Killers	—	4:39
21	Use SomebodyKings of Leon	140	3:51
22	Learn to FlyFoo Fighters	136	3:58
23	Basket CaseGreen Day	175	3:01
24	Sweet CarolineNeil Diamond	127	3:21
25	ValerieAmy Winehouse	96	3:50
26	Born to Be WildSteppenwolf	147	3:28
27	Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana	—	4:49

BPM and length come from the original recordings and are approximate (tempo apps sometimes read half or double time). Your band's version will vary.

Tips from the stage

Pick songs for your singer first. The easiest song for the band is still hard if it's in the wrong key for your vocalist. Start with what they can sing, then work out the parts.
Learn the endings. New bands fall apart at the endings more than anywhere else. Agree how every song finishes and run just the endings at rehearsal.
Ten songs is a set. Ten to twelve songs is a 45-minute set. Get one solid set together before you start learning the second.

Common questions

What are the easiest songs for a band to play?+

Bad Moon Rising, Twist and Shout, Brown Eyed Girl, Wild Thing, Seven Nation Army, Knockin' on Heaven's Door and Stand by Me are among the easiest. They use three or four chords and steady tempos.

How many songs does a new band need for its first gig?+

A typical opening slot is 30 to 45 minutes, so 8 to 12 songs. For a full bar night, you'll need three sets, roughly 35 to 40 songs.

How should a new band practice?+

Pick a short list, learn your own parts at home, and use rehearsal for playing together: transitions, endings, and the spots where it falls apart. Run the full set in order before your first gig.

More song lists

Wedding Band Song List Best Cover Band Songs Best 80s Cover Songs Best 90s Cover Songs Best 2000s Cover Songs Classic Rock Cover Songs Best Country Cover Songs Acoustic Cover Songs Worship Songs for Your Team Christmas Songs for Bands Halloween Songs for Bands

Your songs,
on every phone

Bandloop keeps your band's songs with the key you play them in, builds setlists from them, and puts the lyrics on a teleprompter for the stage. Paste a list like this one and it fills in tempo and length for you. Free to start, for the whole band.

Get Started Free →