Soundcheck: the often-overlooked, yet crucial, element of a killer live performance. Getting your sound right before you hit the stage isn't just about technical proficiency; it's about setting the tone for an unforgettable show. That's why choosing the best songs for live sound check is more important than you might think. This isn't about blasting your biggest hits; it's a strategic selection of tracks designed to test your PA system, your instruments' balance, and your overall stage presence. We've compiled a list of top choices that address various frequency ranges, rhythmic complexities, and dynamic shifts, ensuring a smooth and confident performance come showtime. Forget agonizing over feedback loops and struggling with muddy mixes – let's dive into the ultimate playlist for a flawless live sound check. This curated list will help you avoid common soundcheck pitfalls and leave you feeling ready to rock.
| Song | Artist | Album | Listens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Thunderstruck | AC/DC | The Razors Edge | 1B+ |
| 2. Best of You | Foo Fighters | In Your Honor | 261M+ |
| 3. With Or Without You | U2 | The Joshua Tree (Super Deluxe) | 163M+ |
| 4. Hysteria | Muse | 121M+ | |
| 5. Loud | Mac Miller | 72M+ | |
| 6. Angel | Massive Attack | 57M+ | |
| 7. Limit To Your Love | James Blake | 28M+ |
1. Thunderstruck (1990)
Powerful Riffs: Thunderstruck's iconic opening riff is instantly recognizable and provides a strong test for your PA system's low-end response, allowing for easy identification of any issues.
Dynamic Range: The song's dynamic shifts, from quiet verses to explosive choruses, offer a comprehensive check of your sound system's ability to handle varying volumes effectively.
Tempo and Rhythm: Its driving rhythm and consistent tempo make it ideal for verifying timing and synchronization across your entire sound setup.
2. Best of You (In Your Honor)
Best of You - Foo Fighters
Powerful Dynamics: "Best of You" features a dramatic build-up and a crushing, anthemic chorus ideal for testing your PA system's full range and power handling.
Distinctive Guitar Tone: The song's driving guitar riff is easily recognizable and provides a solid reference point for checking frequency balance and distortion levels during soundcheck.
Strong Percussion: The powerful drums and driving rhythm section in "Best of You" allow for a precise check of low-end response and timing across your entire setup.
3. With Or Without You (1987)
Dynamic Range: "With Or Without You" boasts a powerful dynamic range, shifting from quiet, intimate verses to explosive, anthemic choruses—ideal for testing your PA system's capabilities across the frequency spectrum.
Iconic Guitar Line: The instantly recognizable, soaring guitar riff provides a perfect benchmark for checking your guitar amp's clarity and sustain, ensuring a crisp and clean tone across all registers.
Vocal Clarity: Bono's distinctive vocals offer a superb test for vocal mic placement and EQ settings; ensuring the mix is balanced and the lyrics are easily discernible even at low volumes.
4. Hysteria - 2025
Hysteria - Muse
Dynamic Range: Its massive dynamic shifts, from quiet verses to explosive choruses, provide an excellent test of your PA system's capabilities, revealing any weaknesses in frequency response or headroom.
Complex Rhythmic Structure: The intricate drumming and bassline offer a challenging yet rewarding sound check, ensuring all instruments are balanced and properly timed.
Vocal Performance: Matt Bellamy's powerful and versatile vocals provide a crucial test for microphone placement and equalization, allowing you to fine-tune the clarity and presence of the vocal mix.
5. Loud (Mac Miller - 2025)
Powerful Bassline: "Loud" boasts a driving bassline that's perfect for testing your subwoofer's capabilities and ensuring a solid low-end foundation for your entire sound system during a soundcheck.
Dynamic Range: The track features a wide dynamic range, allowing you to easily check the clarity and balance across different frequency levels—from the subtle nuances to the explosive climaxes.
Distinctive Drum Beat: The crisp, punchy drums provide a clear reference point for timing and rhythmic accuracy throughout your sound check, making it easy to spot any timing issues.
6. Angel (Massive Attack)
Sound: Angel's deep bassline and intricate drum programming provide a solid foundation for soundcheck, allowing engineers to easily test low-frequency response and overall system balance.
Vocals: Shara Nelson's distinctive vocals offer a clear reference point for vocal mic placement and EQ adjustments, ensuring optimal clarity and presence.
Dynamic Range: The track's dynamic range, from hushed verses to powerful choruses, offers a comprehensive test for the system's ability to handle both subtle nuances and powerful peaks, identifying any compression or limiting issues.
7. Limit To Your Love
Dynamic Range: "Limit To Your Love" boasts a wide dynamic range, perfect for testing the full spectrum of your sound system; from the intimate whispers to the powerful crescendos.
Subtleties: Its nuanced production reveals subtle details in the mix, allowing for precise adjustments of EQ and effects during soundcheck.
Tempo & Groove: The song's mid-tempo groove provides a solid foundation for checking the timing and balance of your drums and bass, ensuring a tight and energetic live performance.
8. When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin IV (Deluxe Edition)
When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin
Powerful Low-End: The song features a deep, resonant bass line and powerful drum sound, perfect for testing the low-frequency response of your PA system and subwoofer setup.
Dynamic Range: "When the Levee Breaks" boasts a wide dynamic range, from quiet, almost whispered verses to explosive, heavily distorted choruses, ideal for checking your system's ability to handle both subtle nuances and extreme volume shifts.
Complex Arrangement: Its layered instrumentation and intricate rhythmic structure provides a comprehensive test of your sound system's ability to reproduce a complex mix accurately and clearly.
9. Summer Madness (Kool ft The Gang)
Summer Madness
Artist: Kool & The Gang
Powerful Instrumental Hook: The infectious bassline and horn section provide a robust foundation, ideal for testing your PA system's low-end and mid-range frequencies.
Dynamic Range: The track features a wide dynamic range, from quiet verses to powerful crescendos, allowing for a comprehensive sound check across all volume levels.
Genre Versatility: Its blend of funk and disco makes it a useful benchmark for checking your system's response across various genres, ensuring a balanced sound for diverse musical acts.
10. Flight of the Cosmic Hippo - 1991
Flight of the Cosmic Hippo
Artist: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
Frequency Range: This track offers a wide dynamic range, perfect for testing your PA system's low-end and high-frequency response. The banjo's high notes and the bass's deep tones provide a comprehensive test signal.
Complex Rhythms: The intricate rhythms and syncopation in "Flight of the Cosmic Hippo" will expose any timing or phasing issues in your sound system, allowing for precise adjustments.
Instrumentation: The diverse instrumentation (banjo, bass, sax, etc.) allows for a thorough check of your system's ability to reproduce a wide variety of tonal colors and timbres accurately.
11Mookid
Aphex Twin
1995