Karaoke Party: Games, Setup and Songs to Sing Together

Set up karaoke in your living room

You need a way to display lyrics and play the backing track. A phone or tablet can do both for a small group; a TV makes the words easier to share if your device can connect to it. Test one whole song with the screen and sound you intend to use.

A phone and TV do not automatically provide an amplified microphone. If you want amplified vocals, check that your microphone works with your karaoke speaker or system. One microphone can be shared; two are useful for duets if the equipment supports both. You can sing without amplification, too.

If several guests want microphones for group songs, you could allow one mic per five singers to share. That is an optional arrangement, not a requirement for guests taking turns. For 8–20 guests, decide how many will actually sing at once before buying or borrowing more equipment.

Put the lyrics screen where singers and seated guests can see it. Try the speaker ahead of the singing spot rather than behind it, then test the arrangement. Mark the performance spot with a lamp if you want a stage effect; keep seats nearby so watching friends can join a chorus.

If karaoke is part of an overnight party, the sleepover karaoke guide helps connect singing with food and quieter activities. Use the sleepover ideas guide for the rest of the night’s arrangements.

Six karaoke games to play

These are suggested house rules you can use as written. Explain passes before starting, keep rounds short and use familiar songs. You don’t need to play all six at one party.

Finish the Lyric

Suggested ages: 6 and up. Have ready: a playlist you can pause and a score sheet.

Split into two teams and choose six short song excerpts. Alternate which team answers first. Before playing each excerpt, name the next willing player on that team; teammates wait while that player answers.

Choose the pause points before playing. Pause just before the phrase you want the player to finish and hide the lyrics screen. The player has ten seconds to sing or say the next few words for one point. If they pass or miss, the other team’s next player has ten seconds to try for that point. If both miss, reveal the answer by restarting the track and award no point. Move to a different player on each team for the next excerpt.

End after six excerpts. Most points wins; equal scores, including 0–0, are a tie. To play again, clear the scores and choose six different excerpts. Include songs the youngest guests recognize rather than using only the oldest guests’ favorites.

Duet Roulette

Suggested ages: 8 and up; useful for 8–20 guests. Have ready: song slips and name slips; two microphones if available, or one to share.

Put familiar song titles in one bowl and the names of willing singers in another. Draw two names and one song. The pair may swap the song once, invite a third friend or pass. Remove their names after the turn; return the song slip to its bowl.

Each pair sings one chorus or up to two minutes, then the host draws the next pair. If one name remains, that person can invite someone who has already sung or pass. The shared goal is to give each willing guest a duet turn; there are no scores or ties.

End when the name bowl is empty or after 15 minutes, whichever comes first. If nobody volunteers, skip the draw and sing a group song instead. For another round, refill the bowl only with people who want another turn.

Genre Battle

Suggested ages: 9 and up. Have ready: two teams, an agreed song queue and four category slips.

Try pop, country, throwback and movie song. Draw one category each round. Each team has one minute to select a song from the queue and a willing singer or pair who has not represented the team yet. Alternate which team performs first.

Each team performs a chorus or up to one minute. Award one point if its song fits the category and it completes the excerpt; both teams can earn a point. Agree any disputed category before the song starts. A team that cannot find a song or chooses to pass gets no point, and the round still ends.

Finish after four categories. Most points wins; equal scores are a tie. Clear scores and replace the category slips to restart. For younger guests, use categories such as “animated movie” or “TV theme” instead of unfamiliar genres.

Lip Sync Relay

Suggested ages: 7 and up. Have ready: one upbeat track and a real or pretend microphone.

Make two teams and play the same chorus once for each team, so both have the same number of handoff opportunities. Before starting, give each teammate a line to mime in a fixed order. On the next line, pass the mic to the next person. Repeat the order if the chorus has more lines than players.

The host counts each handoff made before the next person’s assigned line begins. A late or dropped handoff earns no point; keep playing without starting the song over. Nobody has to sing, and players can pass their turn before the track starts.

End after each team has performed that chorus once. Most successful handoffs wins; equal totals, including zero, are a tie. Reset the count, choose another chorus and change the starting player for a new round.

Guess the Song

Suggested ages: 6 and up; play seated. Have ready: six familiar titles on slips and a timer. No speaker is needed for humming.

Split into two teams. Alternate a willing hummer from each team, using a new player each turn. The hummer draws a title and has 30 seconds to hum it without words while their own team guesses. Keep any lyrics screen hidden.

A correct title earns one point. At 30 seconds, if nobody has named it, the other team gets one guess within ten seconds. A correct steal earns one point; otherwise reveal the title and award none. If the hummer does not know the tune or passes, reveal it without a point and move on.

End after six slips, three starting turns per team. Most points wins; equal scores are a tie. Discard used slips and clear the score before starting again.

Group Number Challenge

Suggested ages: 9 and up. Have ready: the same song for two teams, a five-minute timer and an optional props bin.

Give both teams five minutes to divide a chorus into parts and decide on any movements or props. Guests can sing, mime, hold props or help arrange the performance. Agree on an excerpt of up to two minutes and flip a coin to decide which team performs first.

The shared goal is for each team to perform its version; there is no judging or winner, so ties don’t apply. A team can switch to singing together if its individual parts don’t work. If neither team wants to perform when rehearsal ends, play the chorus once for everyone to join or watch, then finish the game.

End after both performances, or that shared chorus. Put the props back and choose a different song if you want to repeat it. This game fits just before the all-group finale.

For more choices, browse karaoke party games. When guests want a break from singing, music party games offers other ways to play with music.

End With the Song Everyone Knows

Choose one shared song before party day and put it last in the queue. Ask guests about it when you collect requests, so you aren’t trying to settle a vote in the final minutes. Invite everyone to sing, mime or watch; bring out the props if you have them.

Play the song once, thank everyone and end the singing session. If the chosen song turns out to be unfamiliar, let the group follow the displayed lyrics or use a familiar chorus from earlier in the party instead.

For an overnight version, return to the sleepover karaoke party plan to arrange the next activity and put the equipment away when singing ends.