R&B Karaoke Songs: 44 Picks From Easy Grooves to Power Ballads

But don't let that scare you off. The key is matching the song to your voice. The table below rates every pick Easy, Medium or Hard, so you can find R&B karaoke songs that fit, whether you're channeling Mariah or just trying to groove.

Songs the whole bar already knows, where attitude and groove count for more than vocal runs.

"No Scrubs" — TLC

The attitude carries it. Talk-sing the verses, then hit the chorus with personality, because the whole room joins in on the title line anyway. You need confidence, not runs.

"Let's Get It On" — Marvin Gaye

Smooth and gentle, and the crowd reaction is always great. The melody sits low and forgiving; the only tricky bit is the few falsetto lifts, which you can skip and nobody minds. It's all about the vibe.

"My Girl" — The Temptations

Classic Motown charm with a melody that barely stretches. The bassline intro gets a cheer before you sing a note, and everyone knows the hook. A safe, sweet opener.

"Superstition" — Stevie Wonder

The verses are more groove than melody, so swagger does most of the work. The hard part is staying locked to that clavinet riff without rushing. The title hook is the moment the room joins in.

"Crazy in Love" — Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z

The horn intro is an event on its own. The verses move quickly and the chorus sits high, so you need energy and breath control more than Beyoncé's actual voice. Bring a friend for the Jay-Z verse.

"Yeah!" — Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris

Half hype-man, half singing. The crowd handles the shouted ad-libs, so the vocal demand is low and the energy payoff is huge. Split it three ways with friends for maximum chaos.

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" — Stevie Wonder

Joyful and uptempo, with a hook the whole room shouts back. The verses flow naturally; the only challenge is the energy, so don't start at full volume. Short enough that it never drags.

"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" — The Temptations

Energetic Motown that's all about the performance. The lead sits a little high and gritty, so lean on attitude when you run out of notes. Dance moves optional but encouraged.

The decade R&B owned the radio, and still the section the bar sings loudest.

"Killing Me Softly" — Fugees

Lauryn Hill's version is smooth and controlled, with no sudden jumps. The chorus repeats so often the crowd carries it, and the ad-libs at the end are there if you want to show off. One of the most reliable 90s R&B picks.

"No Diggity" — Blackstreet feat. Dr. Dre & Queen Pen

Half singing, half vibing. The piano loop gets an instant cheer and the chorus is a group chant. Hand the rap verses to friends and take the hook.

"Waterfalls" — TLC

A step up from other TLC picks because the verses are wordy, but the chorus is so well known the room lifts you. Keep the verses conversational and save your voice for the hook.

"Return of the Mack" — Mark Morrison

That beat is iconic and the melody hangs around a comfortable middle range. Confidence and rhythm matter more than precision. The title line is a guaranteed crowd shout.

"End of the Road" — Boyz II Men

90s slow-jam perfection, and the lead melody is straightforward until the big finish. The spoken bridge gets laughs if you commit to it. Harmonies don't matter solo, but the last choruses do need stamina.

"I'll Make Love to You" — Boyz II Men

Slow and romantic, with a melody most voices can handle. The top of the chorus is the only real stretch. Great for dedicating to someone in the room.

"Creep" — TLC

Mellow, low and simple, so it's easy to sit in the groove. The whole thing is about cool delivery rather than big notes. The horn hook gets people nodding right away.

"Pony" — Ginuwine

That bouncing synth line gets an instant reaction, and the song is more about delivery than big notes. The falsetto spots are short. Commit to the performance and the room will do the rest.

More 90s picks: 90s Karaoke Songs.

Want the Motown roots? The Classic Karaoke Songs list has a whole Motown section.

Newer songs your younger friends know every word to.

"Blinding Lights" — The Weeknd

Synth-driven R&B that's pure energy. The chorus sits high but repeats a lot, and the crowd sings it with you. One of the most crowd-friendly modern picks.

"Earned It" — The Weeknd

Slow, cinematic and exposed. The falsetto lines are the hard part, so it suits someone comfortable up top. When it lands, the bar goes quiet.

"Love on the Brain" — Rihanna

Retro-soul energy with a chorus that builds into a raw falsetto cry. The emotion translates perfectly to karaoke if you're willing to push. Pick it when you're warmed up.

"All of Me" — John Legend

Piano ballad with a gentle melody and real emotion. The chorus climbs, but the verses let you settle in first. A great couples moment at karaoke.

"Say So" — Doja Cat

Disco-flavored R&B that's pure fun. The chorus is breezy and the rap verse is short. The crowd knows the hook from social media.

"Leave the Door Open" — Silk Sonic

A 70s-style slow jam made for two singers trading lines. The falsetto and the harmonies are the hard part, so split it with a friend. The spoken lines get easy laughs.

"Kill Bill" — SZA

Short, catchy and darkly funny, and the crowd loves the chorus. The melody floats around the middle of the range with a few quick turns. Under three minutes, so it never outstays its welcome.

Love R&B but don't have the range for Mariah or Whitney? These let you enjoy the genre without the risk.

"Stand by Me" — Ben E. King

The melody barely moves, and even rough vocals sound charming on it. The bassline is so familiar the room starts swaying from the first bar. As safe as karaoke gets.

"Lean on Me" — Bill Withers

Soulful simplicity. The melody walks up and down like a scale, and the call-and-response section is built-in crowd participation. Great for closing out a night.

"Let's Stay Together" — Al Green

Smooth and contained. Al Green's falsetto is iconic, but you can sing this in your natural range and it still works. The crowd knows the opening line instantly.

"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" — Otis Redding

Relaxed, soulful and zero pressure. The melody stays in a comfy low-middle range, and at the end you just whistle. Perfect for a laid-back set.

"Ain't No Sunshine" — Bill Withers

Barely two minutes, and the famous repeated section in the middle is the whole song. Simple, emotional and devastating. Ideal if you're nervous.

"What's Going On" — Marvin Gaye

Conversational singing that flows from speech patterns. The groove is relaxed, so you have time to breathe. Hard to do badly, easy to do beautifully.

"No Scrubs" — TLC

Listed again because it's one of the most accessible R&B songs for non-R&B singers. The range is modest and the talk-sung verses take the pressure off.

"A Change Is Gonna Come" — Sam Cooke

Slow and beautiful, and the melody itself is simple. The lift in the bridge asks for some power, but the tempo gives you all the time you need. A quiet-the-room pick.

More beginner picks: Easy Karaoke Songs.

The showstoppers. If you've got the voice, these will make the bar go silent in awe.

"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney Houston

The ultimate vocal showcase. The a cappella start is exposed and the key change is where legends are made. Attempt only if you're ready for the spotlight.

"Vision of Love" — Mariah Carey

Mariah's runs and whistle notes are legendary. You don't need to do them all, but if you nail even one, the crowd will lose it. Keep the melody clean and add runs sparingly.

"At Last" — Etta James

Timeless and classy, and the slow tempo lets you show your range gradually. The phrasing matters more than volume. A favorite at weddings and late-night sets.

"I Have Nothing" — Whitney Houston

The final belt is one of pop's great vocal moments, after a key change. High risk, highest reward. Warm up first.

"Un-Break My Heart" — Toni Braxton

Dramatic and building, and Toni's rich lower register suits altos who want to show off. The chorus climbs but never gets squeaky. Pour on the drama.

"Purple Rain" — Prince and the Revolution

The falsetto sections are a real flex, and the long outro is a crowd sway-along. It's long, so check the karaoke version's edit. Best when you can move between chest voice and falsetto smoothly.

"I'd Rather Go Blind" — Etta James

Raw emotion in a restrained package. The power comes from holding back, not belting. Suits a husky voice.

"Ribbon in the Sky" — Stevie Wonder

A true singer's song, with a melody that wanders wide and a lot of held notes. The harmonies are intricate, but the lead line is singable if you know it well. The R&B fans in the room will notice.

Grab a partner. Classic call-and-response and modern back-and-forth.

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" — Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

Call-and-response perfection. The interplay between voices is the magic, and the chorus builds into a big shared moment. Short, joyful and the crowd sings along.

"Endless Love" — Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

Smooth and romantic, and both parts are gentle. The harmonies in the chorus are the only tricky bit. Play it earnest or play it for laughs; both work.

"No Air" — Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown

A modern R&B duet with a big chorus. Both voices get spotlight moments, and the top notes are genuinely high. Pick it with a partner who can match your power.

"If This World Were Mine" — Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

A deeper cut that impresses R&B fans. The lines trade gently and neither part strays far. Beautiful interplay.

"You're All I Need to Get By" — Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

Motown gold. Both parts are melodic and the harmonies are sweet. It builds like a gospel number, so save something for the end.

"The Boy Is Mine" — Brandy & Monica

A playful argument set to music, and made for two friends. The runs are optional; the attitude isn't. The crowd loves picking a side.

More duets: Best Duet Karaoke Songs.

Rather rap the verse than sing the hook? Try Best Rap Karaoke Songs. And for every genre in one place, see Best Karaoke Songs.

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