easy songs for "first" gig

[Steve McQueen]

I need some ideas for easy songs for a four piece band,
For a laugh, a few of us are going to play at our works xmas dinner and we will have no pre-practice/rehearsal time available.

The plan is to give everyone involved a cd with the correct versions of half a dozen songs, some tab, and a few chord diagrams etc. let them sort it out for themselves and then get togethor on the day.

Im looking at a couple o bryan adams songs and maybe "teenage kicks" that kinda thing, although i would love to do "we will rock you" - can there be a simpler arrangement?

Any ideas welcome - throw in the Chord Prog if you know it!

Edited by Steve McQueen on Tuesday 2nd December 16:17

[shirt]

was going to say teenage kicks but you beat me to it. doesn't get much easier.

just stick to simple forms of music. early rock, rockabilly, punk etc. songs on a bands first album are usually their simplest. i.e.

folsom prison blues
summertime blues
louie louie
blitzkrieg bop
judy is a punk
day tripper
i fought the law
gloria
i saw her standing there
proud mary

etc. etc.

[Steve McQueen]

Ok I like some of those,

Set list so far

1. Teenage Kicks

2. Summer of 69

3. I fought the law

4. something by the beatles or the stones- as yet undecided

5. ??????

6. A big finish number - maybe "we will rock you".


further suggestions welcome.........

Edited by Steve McQueen on Tuesday 2nd December 16:28

[MonkeyBusiness]

Status Quo songs
Rod Stewart - Hot Legs
Blues Brothers songs
Gimme some loving
ZZ Top - Legs

[shirt]

what line of work are you in? maybe a cheesy work related song for no.5.

[minimatt1967]

Smoke on the Water?

[gbbird]

Christy Moore - Ride On
Patience by GnR is suprisingly easy in terms of chords
RHC Peppers - Under The Bridge - again, quite easy in terms of chords to simply strum

g

[satchbot]

You give love a bad name by Bon Jovi is quite easy. Even the guitar solo is easy.

[bga]

loads of simple stuff which you can do, a few off the top of my head

Hey Joe
Wild Thing
Knockin' on Heavens Door (any version)
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Don't Look Back in Anger or Roll with it
House of the rising sun
Great Balls of fire

good luck!

[smiller]

Geetar solos excepted, these are pretty straightforward (from early gig experience):

Pearl Jam: Alive
Animals: House of the Rising Sun
Nirvana: Come As You Are
Dire Straits: Money for Nothing
Deep Purple: Smoke on the Water

All the best!

[Twit]

Anything simple and rocky, AC DC could be played by a 5 year old! Just pick songs carefully as if you pick a classic and do it badly people will know whereas if you pick something well known but not classic and murder it, they won't care!!

Psychadelic furs - pretty in pink is the easiest song in the world and cool!

[chevy-stu]

Alot of those tunes are technically easy chord wise but the arrangements will trip people up, without rehearsal... look for songs that go round the same sequence, without middle 8's, or one off sections.

Easiest 'arrangement' popular party songs off top of the head are:

Oasis - wonderwall
monkees - I'm a believer
Abba - dancing queen
Beastie boys - fight for right
mustang sally
Bob marley - no woman no cry
Blur - parklife / song 2
Nirvana - smells like teenspirit
Cranberries - Zombie
Soft Cell - tainted love
Ami Wineshop - Valerie
Proclaimers - 500 miles
Clash - should I stay or should i go
u2 - with or without you
word up
la bamba

[satchbot]

Song 2 is stupidly easy

[Steve McQueen]

Thank you very much for those suggestions.
How does this look for a mix of old and new

Set list so far

1. Teenage Kicks - Undertones

2. Summer of 69 - Bryan Adams

3. either "I fought the law" or "Should I stay or should go" - Clash

4. "Wonderwall" or "roll with it"- Oasis

5. Song 2 - Blur

6. 500 miles - Proclaimers


Whats the best guitar tab site nowadays, OLGA still around?

[shirt]

[quote=Steve McQueen]

3. either "I fought the law" or "Should I stay or should go" - Clash
[/quote

both. do the bobby fuller 4 version of i fought the law. youtube it, its miles better.