Want to get jamming but not sure where to start? Look no further, we’ve got you covered! You’re guaranteed to know at least one of these songs, we at WeJam have compiled a list of the easiest cover songs for beginner bands to get your band
jamming in no time.
Song title: Cake by the Ocean
Band: DNCE
Recommended by: Tom
Cake by the Ocean was the soundtrack of my adolescence, and even now maintains a special place in my heart; if you have children in the late teens/early 20s, you may have heard them singing this around the house a few years ago (though hopefully
the clean version). It reached no. 4 in the weekly charts in 2015-16, and was the most played song in 2016 next to Justin Bieber’s Love Yourself. The song revolves around a repetitive two-bar bass riff, and four chords, featuring some groovy syncopation in the guitar and vocal. It is pretty straightforward to play, and its upbeat tempo is guaranteed to leave you feeling energized after you’ve played it.
If you’re a male singer, be prepared to make full use of your falsetto!
Check out the music video here (though be prepared for some pretty fruity language)! Difficulty ratings:
Vocals: 7/10
Guitar: 4/10
Drums: 5/10
Song Title: Push It
Band: Salt-n-Pepa
Recommended by: Tom
‘Push It’, the hit song by hip-hop group Salt-n-Pepa, is known for being one of the great ‘jokey’ songs of the 1980s. Its distinctive whispering introduction, and its catchy synth line, instantly resonate with listeners, as well as being great fun to play. The song was an enormous success when it was released; it reached number 2 in the UK charts, along with their other hit, ‘Let’s Talk About Sex’, and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
The song is centred around a repetitive synth line – once you’ve mastered that, you’ve practically got the entire song! Lots of the vocals are spoken, and the singing bits are easy to get the hang of, although there are a few awkward entries. The great thing about this song is that because the accompaniment is so simple, you can ‘pepa’ it with your own interpretations!
Difficulty ratings:
Keyboard: 1/10 Drums: 5/10
Vocals: 1/10
Song Title: Let it Be
Band: The Beatles
Recommended by: Charlotte
The Beatles ‘Let it Be’ might just be one of the most iconic tracks in history. The first eight bars alone are instantly recognizable for the majority of people. Just like ‘Yesterday’, ‘Let it Be’ is yet another track born out of Paul McCartney’s unconscious psyche. The music mogul claimed that the song came to him in a dream about his own mother during the tense recording sessions for the band’s ‘White Album’. Released after McCartney’s announcement that he would be leaving the band, the track marks one of the final single releases for The Beatles as a group.
The beauty of this piece is that it’s pretty much a four-chord song, making it nice and simple for your keyboard player, but with room for embellishment should you wish to put your own spin on it- if you can master the iconic intro, you’re halfway
there. There are also a couple of recordings that you can base your cover off of when it comes to the guitar. If you’re keeping it simple, go with the single version, which is a lot softer than Phil Spector’s album alternative with a far more energetic solo, making it a great choice for a range of abilities. When it comes to the bass and drums, ‘Let it Be’ might not be the most intricate of pieces, but its simplicity makes it ideal for learning how to build a song in order to achieve the ultimate crowd pleaser.
Difficulty ratings: Drums: 3/10
Bass: 4/10
Piano: 4/10
Guitar: 5/10
Song title: Use Somebody
Band: Kings of Leon
Recommended by: James G
One of two breakthrough singles for Kings of Leon, along with ‘Sex On Fire’, ‘Use Somebody’ shot the band into the limelight. The catchy sing along chorus and memorable lyrics made ‘Use Somebody’ a staple of radios stations the world over. Their 3 previous albums had made them a favourite of festival goers across the UK, but with the release of ‘Only By The Night’, Kings of Leon had gone global and had seeped into the popular consciousness. The audiences’ response is a vital consideration for any band when considering repertoire to perform. I experienced this first hand when starting my first band at 15. When faced with an array of different songs to cover, I remember this as a song that was guaranteed to get the
audience feeling the groove. This song is a great way to start your performance, providing an energetic springboard for the rest of your set.
The instrumentation here is straightforward, bar-long chords and root bass guitar notes carry the song, whilst the lead guitar and drums supplement the ends of verses and drive home the chorus. The trickiest instrument to master is the drums. With some complex pre-chorus fills and an offbeat second verse, if you’re looking to get the drums to a tee, it may take a while to crack. However, to avoid this, improvised fills and a simple rock beat on the second verse work just as well, the gestures these provide bring more than enough to the table. One last thing to
look out for would be the more complex bass part that plays through the second verse. It will take a bit of time to perfect the rhythm, but arguably adds a lot to break up the repetitiveness of the same 3 chords which play throughout the entire song. Most of all, I would say get stuck into the chant in the choruses as it encourages the audience to get involved too!
Difficulty ratings:
Rhythm Guitar: 2/10
Bass Guitar: 6/10
Lead Guitar: 5/10
Drums: 7/10
Conclusion
We hope that these have given you some inspiration; although we have identified these as being good for beginners, it will still take practice and patience before you are all playing in time with each other or sound like the original band. But with
WeJam, it is easy. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never picked up an instrument before, by the time your session has finished, you will be playing like the virtuoso you really are! Book a session here now!