Easy songs to sing for beginners: 30+ simple pop & classical songs under one octave

If you're looking for easy songs to sing for beginners, this guide will help. Singing simple, one-octave songs isn’t just for beginners—it's a crucial tool for all singers, even advanced ones.

Why? Because when you’re practicing your singing and learning a new vocal skill—such as closing your vocal cords properly (which is essential for belting) - you need a song that’s easy enough to let you focus on technique rather than difficult jumps, high notes, or complex riffs.

This list of 30+ fun and simple pop, classical, and musical songs will help you develop control, confidence, and vocal precision—all while keeping things enjoyable.

Criteria of an easy song

What is an 'easy' song is often misunderstood. Many lists with easy songs have a range of well over an octave and/or big jumps. These songs might still be easy to remember - but they can be hard on your vocal cords, especially for beginners.

So here are my criteria of an easy song:

• A short range
• Few or no big jumps
• Not too slow nor too fast
• Catchy! If the song is catchy enough it might be easy enough to sing even if it doesn’t meet the other criteria.
• Not chromatic: so songs with notes that 'make sense' in the major or minor scale of the song. No 'odd' notes.
• No growling or screaming

(If you're unsure what songs suit your voice best, this is exactly what I help my students with in my singing programs. Whether you're just starting or want to refine your technique, I can help you find the right songs and vocal approach.)

A starter's list of easy, fun songs

With my students I often use the following five songs with a short range: less than an octave. So if you're a beginner, or if you have vocal issues like a cold - which I had when I recorded below video - you don't have to worry about high or low notes. You can simply focus on the technique you want to practice.

Super easy Pop/Rock songs with an extremely short range

All the below songs are under an octave, some have only three notes!

One Octave pop/rock songs

One octave songs can be easy enough range-wise, to build new habits, to practice on, to learn new technique. As long as the other criteria listed in the beginning of this article are met - no big jumps, not chromatic. etc.

Here's a short list with one-octave songs that are good for practicing.

And find out why you're closer to being a great singer than you think

Easy traditional songs

Traditionals are quite often within one octave and relatively easy to sing. Otherwise they would not have survived the ages!

How to sing any easy song – even if it was meant for another voice type

It can be tricky to sing a karaoke song that is originally sung by a woman if you are a man - and vice versa. Sometimes the song is just too low or too high, regardless of the gender of the original singer.

For example, if you're a bariton and they're tenor (This is why working with a vocal coach can make all the difference. If you're unsure how to adjust a song to fit your voice, I can help you find the right key and vocal placement to make it sound natural and effortless.).

That doesn't mean you can't sing the songs. You can make it easy. Two hacks:

1. Go on YouTube and type: '[name of the song] + karaoke + female/male version'. Or '[name of song] + karaoke lower / higher key'.
2. Use software that changes the key of a song. Karafun and MagicSing do that (see my review of karaoke apps). Second option: x-minus.pro. A website that is free. Another great app for this is Moises.

Which key is best for you? Check with your teacher.

Simple Classical Songs up to One Octave Ideal for Practice

Below classical songs are sometimes not easy to remember - but at least the range is short.

Are you curious more short range classical songs of under an octave? I have more in my program (I'm a trained opera singer myself, so if you're interested in learning opera/classical, I'm your gal).

Easy Musical Songs to Start With          for Vocal Control

I'm a big musical theater fan. In fact, I conduct two musical choirs, in Amsterdam and Utrecht. Below musical songs are within the range of one octave.

Want to get more short range musical songs of under an octave? Check out my program From Whisper to Roar. I also have a list of jazz/soul songs. 

Easy Songs to Help You Sing in Tune - Ideal for Early Stages

When you want to learn how to sing in tune, you want to stay in your lane. You want to focus and train your mind to control the vocal cords. Fewer notes in a song makes this easier.

Also, sometimes the out-of-tune singing is a vocal cord issue: they don't have the range. So it's not a mental thing, and that's were the short range songs come in handy.

The five easy songs I use most often in my singing coaching are:

• Wind of change by The Scorpions: 7 note range
• Hotel California by The Eagles: 7 notes
• Michel by Anouk: 6 notes
• Take my breath away by Berlin: 6 notes
• I want love by Elton John: 5 notes

If you have any issues with singing in tune - either on an occasional note here and there, or it's a core problem - here's what you do:

Go to my article on how to sing in tune, learn what you have to do to work on it, and when it comes to working on a song - definitely choose an easy song. Don't sing difficult songs in the beginning, just don't go there.

Again, you are building a skill, in this case, singing in tune. So focus. 

Tips for Practicing Easy Songs Effectively

1. Unless you know the original key of a song suits you - try to sing without the original recording. Rather start singing where it’s comfortable for you.
2. Another important tip: you know it's an easy song if you can singing while feeling little to no strain in your throat. If strain is something you struggle with constantly, my above easy songs video is your place to start. Choose the song that bothers you the least.

I also made a formula to learn a song. It partly depends on which type of learner you are.

If you feel like you're struggling to find that 'comfortable' place, I can help you. Many students make rapid progress once they learn how to sing in a way that fits their natural voice.

What is your favorite Easy Song?

Let me know in the comments what song you would want me to add in this list.