50 Easy Karaoke Songs Anyone Can Sing (Even If You Think You Can't)
Let's be honest — karaoke can be terrifying. You're standing in front of people, mic in hand, and suddenly that song you've sung a hundred times in the shower feels impossible.
The secret? Pick the right song. Some songs are basically designed to make you sound good. Simple melodies, limited range, and lyrics everyone knows (so the crowd sings along and covers your mistakes).
TL;DR: The easiest karaoke songs have simple melodies, stay within a comfortable vocal range, and get the crowd singing with you. "Sweet Caroline," "Livin' on a Prayer," and "Don't Stop Believin'" are bulletproof choices. Scroll down for 50 songs organized by difficulty and vibe.
What Makes a Song "Easy" to Sing?
Before we dive into the list, here's what to look for in beginner-friendly karaoke songs:
- Limited vocal range: Songs that don't jump between super low and super high notes
- Repetitive melodies: Easy to remember, forgiving if you drift off-key
- Talk-singing sections: Some songs let you half-speak the verses (looking at you, "Rapper's Delight")
- Crowd participation: When everyone sings along, nobody's judging your pitch
- Forgiving tempo: Not too fast, not too slow — gives you room to breathe
According to vocal coaches at Berklee College of Music, most untrained singers have a comfortable range of about one octave. The songs below stay within that sweet spot.
The Top 10 Easiest Karaoke Songs (Bulletproof Picks)
These are the songs that work for literally everyone. Nervous? Start here.
| Song | Artist | Why It's Easy |
|---|---|---|
| "Sweet Caroline" | Neil Diamond | Everyone sings "BA BA BA" with you |
| "Livin' on a Prayer" | Bon Jovi | Crowd takes over at the chorus |
| "Don't Stop Believin'" | Journey | The ultimate karaoke anthem |
| "Dancing Queen" | ABBA | Simple melody, pure joy |
| "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Queen | Nobody expects you to hit Freddie's notes — it's theater |
| "Mr. Brightside" | The Killers | Talk-singing verses, everyone knows it |
| "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" | Joan Jett | Three chords of attitude |
| "Country Roads" | John Denver | Sentimental crowd singalong |
| "Wonderwall" | Oasis | Literally impossible to mess up |
| "Uptown Funk" | Bruno Mars | Energy matters more than pitch |
Easy Karaoke Songs for Women
Looking for songs in a comfortable female vocal range? These stay mostly in the mid-range without too many vocal gymnastics.
| Song | Artist | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| "I Will Survive" | Gloria Gaynor | ⭐ Easy |
| "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" | Cyndi Lauper | ⭐ Easy |
| "Respect" | Aretha Franklin | ⭐⭐ Medium-Easy |
| "Valerie" | Amy Winehouse | ⭐⭐ Medium-Easy |
| "Since U Been Gone" | Kelly Clarkson | ⭐⭐ Medium-Easy |
| "Wannabe" | Spice Girls | ⭐ Easy |
| "Before He Cheats" | Carrie Underwood | ⭐⭐ Medium-Easy |
| "Hit Me Baby One More Time" | Britney Spears | ⭐ Easy |
| "Love Shack" | The B-52's | ⭐ Easy (bonus: duet option) |
| "Material Girl" | Madonna | ⭐ Easy |
Pro tip: Songs from the 80s and early 2000s tend to be easier than modern pop, which often has more complex vocal runs.
Easy Karaoke Songs for Men
These songs sit comfortably in the male vocal range — no falsetto gymnastics required.
| Song | Artist | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| "Brown Eyed Girl" | Van Morrison | ⭐ Easy |
| "Stand By Me" | Ben E. King | ⭐ Easy |
| "American Pie" | Don McLean | ⭐ Easy |
| "Summer of '69" | Bryan Adams | ⭐⭐ Medium-Easy |
| "Old Time Rock and Roll" | Bob Seger | ⭐ Easy |
| "Johnny B. Goode" | Chuck Berry | ⭐⭐ Medium-Easy |
| "Free Fallin'" | Tom Petty | ⭐ Easy |
| "Take Me Home, Country Roads" | John Denver | ⭐ Easy |
| "Piano Man" | Billy Joel | ⭐⭐ Medium-Easy |
| "Hey Ya!" | OutKast | ⭐ Easy (energy > pitch) |
Easy Duets for Karaoke
Singing with a friend? These duets split the work (and the nerves).
| Song | Artists | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| "Summer Nights" | Grease Soundtrack | Classic call-and-response |
| "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" | Elton John & Kiki Dee | Simple, fun, crowd-pleaser |
| "Islands in the Stream" | Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers | Smooth and forgiving |
| "Shallow" | Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper | Dramatic and memorable |
| "Somebody That I Used to Know" | Gotye ft. Kimbra | Modern classic |
| "Under Pressure" | Queen & David Bowie | Iconic but tricky |
| "Endless Love" | Diana Ross & Lionel Richie | Slow and sweet |
| "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" | Meat Loaf | A full theatrical experience |
Want to practice before karaoke night? StemSplit lets you create karaoke versions from any song — remove the vocals and practice with just the instrumental. Free 30-second preview, no account needed.
Easy Karaoke Songs by Decade
70s Classics
| Song | Artist |
|---|---|
| "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Queen |
| "Dancing Queen" | ABBA |
| "YMCA" | Village People |
| "Stayin' Alive" | Bee Gees |
| "September" | Earth, Wind & Fire |
80s Hits
| Song | Artist |
|---|---|
| "Take On Me" | a-ha |
| "Livin' on a Prayer" | Bon Jovi |
| "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" | Joan Jett |
| "Total Eclipse of the Heart" | Bonnie Tyler |
| "Pour Some Sugar on Me" | Def Leppard |
90s Bangers
| Song | Artist |
|---|---|
| "I Want It That Way" | Backstreet Boys |
| "Wannabe" | Spice Girls |
| "No Diggity" | Blackstreet |
| "MMMBop" | Hanson |
| "Waterfalls" | TLC |
2000s Throwbacks
| Song | Artist |
|---|---|
| "Since U Been Gone" | Kelly Clarkson |
| "Mr. Brightside" | The Killers |
| "Hey Ya!" | OutKast |
| "Crazy in Love" | Beyoncé |
| "I Gotta Feeling" | Black Eyed Peas |
2010s–Today
| Song | Artist |
|---|---|
| "Uptown Funk" | Bruno Mars |
| "Happy" | Pharrell Williams |
| "Shake It Off" | Taylor Swift |
| "Shut Up and Dance" | Walk the Moon |
| "Can't Stop the Feeling" | Justin Timberlake |
How to Sound Better at Karaoke (Without Vocal Lessons)
You don't need to be a great singer to crush karaoke. Here's what actually matters:
1. Pick Songs in Your Range
This is 90% of the battle. If a song has notes you can't hit, you'll strain and sound worse. Stick to songs you can sing comfortably in the car.
2. Commit to the Performance
Confidence sounds better than perfect pitch. Own the song. Make eye contact. Move around. A mediocre singer with great energy beats a nervous good singer every time.
3. Practice the Tricky Parts
Most songs have one or two spots that trip people up. Find those sections and run them a few times before you get on stage.
4. Use the Crowd
Point the mic at the audience during chorus sections. They'll sing along, you'll get a break, and everyone has more fun.
5. Create Your Own Practice Tracks
Can't find a karaoke version of the song you want? Use a vocal remover to strip the vocals from any track. StemSplit creates clean instrumentals in under 60 seconds — perfect for practice runs before the big night.
Songs to Avoid as a Beginner
Some songs seem like good ideas but are actually karaoke death traps:
- "Bohemian Rhapsody" (seriously) — Yes, it's on our "easy" list, but only because it's theatrical. If you try to actually hit all the notes, you'll struggle. The trick is to ham it up and let the drama carry you.
- Whitney Houston anything — "I Will Always Love You" sounds achievable until that key change destroys you.
- Mariah Carey anything — Unless you have a five-octave range, hard pass.
- "Africa" by Toto — Deceptively difficult melody with awkward phrasing.
- Most Adele songs — Emotional and beautiful, but vocally demanding.
Stick to songs where energy and attitude matter more than technical perfection.
FAQ
What's the easiest karaoke song for someone who can't sing?
"Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond is the ultimate safe choice. The melody is simple, the range is limited, and the crowd will sing "BA BA BA" and "SO GOOD SO GOOD" louder than you. You basically can't mess it up.
What karaoke songs are good for low voices?
If you have a deeper voice, try "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash, "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals, or "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger. These songs sit in a comfortable low-to-mid range.
What karaoke songs are good for high voices?
Higher voices do well with "Dancing Queen" by ABBA, "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett, or "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift. Pop songs from female artists in the 2000s–2010s often hit that sweet spot.
How do I find karaoke versions of songs?
Karaoke tracks are available on YouTube, Spotify, and karaoke apps. But if you can't find one for a specific song, you can create your own using StemSplit — just upload the song and remove the vocals. You'll get a clean instrumental in under a minute.
What if I'm nervous about karaoke?
Everyone's nervous! Pick an easy song, go early in the night (before you overthink it), and remember — people want you to succeed. They're not judging; they're rooting for you. And if all else fails, pick a crowd singalong where everyone joins in.
The Bottom Line
The best karaoke song isn't the one that shows off your vocal range — it's the one that gets the room singing with you. Stick to crowd-pleasers with simple melodies, practice the tricky parts beforehand, and commit to the performance.
And if you want to practice with any song (not just the ones with available karaoke versions), StemSplit can create instrumentals from any track in seconds.
Ready to Practice?
Create karaoke versions from any song in your library. Upload, remove vocals, and practice like a pro — all before your next karaoke night.
- ✅ Free 30-second preview
- ✅ No account required
- ✅ Results in under 60 seconds