Some are crowd favorites, like “Don't Stop Believin'” by Journey, “I Love Rock 'n Roll” by Joan Jett, “Hey Jude” by The Beatles, “Like a Virgin” by Madonna, “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls, “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash, or “Wonderwall” by Oasis.
When you start singing lessons, it can be difficult to figure out which song you want to sing first, especially if you aren’t aware of your voice type, or what style you’d prefer to practice. These are choices that are solidified as you progress in your lessons, but at first, it can be difficult to pinpoint.
Without knowing your true range of vocal abilities, song choice might be based on simply finding something that you like the tune of or have a desire to sing. But song choice is important to make sure you are complimenting your voice as well. There are songs you can choose from that are easy and can be sung at any vocal ability level.
So, what makes a song easy to sing? Here are some key factors you should look for: lyrics that are simple to remember, a range of an octave or less, more of a chest or belting-voice and no falsetto or head voice (which provides a comfortable range), and a rhythm that doesn’t contain a lot of unexpected accents are your best bet.
Easy karaoke songs are sometimes a great option to start with, and some karaoke songs are easier to sing than others. “Bohemian Rhapsody” with its ever-changing keys and tunes probably wouldn’t be a great song choice to start with. It doesn’t fall into the best karaoke songs category.
And because of this, it’s important to learn the songs which are some of the best options you can try to help you find the perfect song for your voice.
Here is a list of ten simple songs to get your singing juices flowing:
1. Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers
This is a great song to start with because it is a repetitive tune without a true “chorus” and the verses all sound the same. The repetition makes for easy recognition of pitch and the range is also very limited, making this simple. The song itself really packs a punch since it’s full of heartache and sadness, so you can really utilize dynamics within the vocals to move your audience as well.
2. Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
If you think you might like a slower ballad to begin with, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is a perfect choice. This, like the one above, is also very repetitive without a true “chorus” part so the verses all sound the same, again, however, the bridge has a little more variation to it.
The noticeable change is when it gets to the part: ‘Like the river flows/Surely to the sea/Darling so it goes/Some things are meant to be.’ So there’s more range in the vocals here and can showcase a bit more of a higher reach in pitch.
3. Make You Feel My Love by Bob Dylan
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The lyrics to this song are a little more complex, but the melody and verses are quite simple. And, if you’ve ever been in love this is the perfect love song that anyone can relate to. Most people also know the version that Adele has done, but without all of the expanded vocals she does in her version, it is a very easy song to pick up.
4. Shake It Off by Taylor Swift
This song is for more peppy and upbeat singers to take on and is especially fun for karaoke night. If you want to sing a song that is fun and you can really get into, this is a great choice because again, it has simple verses and a melody that is very repetitive, that goes simply ‘Shake it off, shake off, o-, o-, off’ over and over. It’s a catchy tune that makes it hard not to move or dance while singing it, making it a terrific crowd-pleaser.
5. Mamma Mia by ABBA
Yet another upbeat and fun song, “Mamma Mia” by the group ABBA is another great easy tune to sing. It is a fun, uptempo song without any key changes to allow you to focus more on your delivery instead of the pitch. It’s also a really good mid-range song for a singer who might not have an extensive one or doesn’t know theirs.
6. Born This Way by Lady Gaga
Surprisingly, this song is a great one for a singer of any level. Although Lady Gaga herself has quite the extensive range and ability to sing many genres, this anthem is one of her more simple but powerful songs. The notes are all lower to mid-range, and the melody even has another version that is slower you can utilize if you don’t want the faster tempo. The song also has a great message about society and loving yourself, if you want to make a real statement.
7. Da Doo Run Run by The Crystals (feat. Dolores Brooks)
Taking it back to a more old school feel, this song has a great little melody with the repetitive chorus of ‘Da doo run run run, da doo run run.’ The rhythm of the drums is what helps to drive the chorus and makes it really fun to sing.
8. I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash
This is one of those feel-good songs that gets your day started off right. With easy lyrics and a simple melody, it’s a mid-tempo and easy flowing song. This is one of those songs that is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face when they hear it, making it a great choice for an easy song to sing.
9. A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
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When you want to sing a love song that has a lot of meaning without singing too many high notes, this one is perfect. This is also a great versatile song that can work for a man or woman, so very gender-neutral, like the Bob Dylan song. It’s a great song if you love piano ballads, too!
10. Bubbly by Colbie Caillat
This may be the easiest song on the list. The tune and melody are very repetitive again, which attributes to the easiness of learning and singing this song.
This is one of those songs when sung simply, can just be a simple, sweet tune. But if you wanted to, you can explore some more depth in dynamics, as well as get more stylized as you feel more confident with it. There’s a little bit of a freestyle scat in the middle of the song that you can get very creative with, making this a great choice for someone who’s interested in building up their singing repertoire to showcase. It makes for a great “back pocket” song to have in case you need something to sing on the fly.
There are plenty of songs out there that have simple lyrics, melodies, and tunes that can be included within this top ten list. Some are crowd favorites, like “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey, “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” by Joan Jett, “Hey Jude” by The Beatles, “Like a Virgin” by Madonna, “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls, “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash, or “Wonderwall” by Oasis.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with some songs to find your vocal range and voice type. Many of the songs above have different styles and genres, making it a great list for anyone who is interested in singing but just doesn’t know where to start. Time to jump in, go to that karaoke bar and take your first swing at singing your heart out!