Recommended songs for beginner bands: simple and crowd-pleasing tracks.

rock upsetMakishimamu Za Horumon

Maximum the Hormone “Rock Upset” Music Video

Maximum the Hormone’s “Rock Bankuruwase” has a tempo close to 180, offering a pleasant sense of speed and making it a recommended song for beginners.

It seems difficult, but the guitar part is surprisingly easy since it’s just simple strumming with power chords! There’s some cutting in the middle, so be mindful of the rhythm there.

The drums use mainly 16th-note phrases, which makes it a bit tough.

It might be a good idea to ask someone who’s comfortable playing fast drum patterns to handle the drums.

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Yuuki

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My First KissHi-STANDARD

My First Kiss - Hi-Standard

A cover of the anime Kiteretsu Daihyakka’s theme song by the punk rock band Hi-STANDARD.

That familiar melody has been arranged into a refreshing punk style, and it feels great to listen to! The distinctive guitar riff will take solid practice until you can play it smoothly, but the rest is mainly power chords, so it’s recommended for beginner guitarists too.

The bass has a bit of movement, but it’s built on simple phrases, and the drums are made up of a straightforward beat except for the fills at the transitions.

If, when you actually start practicing, you find a part that feels truly impossible, it’s fine to ask an experienced player to simplify it into an easier phrase!

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Hane Keisuke

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TV ManiacsELLEGARDEN

Ellegarden – TV Maniacs

ELLEGARDEN is a four-piece rock band that has had a huge influence on rock bands in the J-POP scene since the 2000s and continues to stay at the forefront.

“TV Maniacs,” included on their fourth album RIOT ON THE GRILL, gets your adrenaline pumping with its straightforward rock sound that kicks off with a powerful guitar riff.

The tempo is quite fast, and the drums in particular can make or break the overall quality of the track depending on whether the beat remains steady to the end, so take care.

Also, since the lyrics are entirely in English, vocalists should thoroughly learn the song before band practice so they can keep up with the ensemble.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Messenger from Sunday↑THE HIGH-LOWS↓

Messenger from Sunday – THE HIGH-LOWS (Full)

This is the 22nd single by the rock band ↑THE HIGH-LOWS↓, formed around Hiroto Kōmoto and Masatoshi Mashima, who were core members of the legendary punk rock band THE BLUE HEARTS.

It became widely known across generations after being used as the ending theme for the variety show “Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji,” and it was also featured in commercials and as a movie theme song.

As the title suggests, its relaxed, weekend-like beat makes it easy to play without rushing, so even beginner band members can take it on.

It’s a rock tune that’s just right for your first time playing together as a band—laid-back and fun to perform.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Revenge‎My Hair is Bad

My Hair is Bad – Revenge

My Hair is Bad is a three-piece rock band whose talent has been recognized since their high school days, when they supported numerous bands on tour.

“Vengeance,” which opens their major second album, Mothers, creates an addictive contrast between its hard-hitting lyrics and exhilarating rock sound.

Each instrument’s part is simple, but because the tempo is fast, I recommend that beginner band members practice slowly at first and gradually work up to the original speed.

And since the song is under three minutes, it’s easy to memorize and quickly play together as a band—definitely a number you’ll want to add to your repertoire.

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Hoshino Takashi

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A flower called “you”ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION “A Flower Named You”

Asian Kung-Fu Generation’s “Kimi to Iu Hana” is recommended for those looking for simple yet stylish drum phrases.

The drums in this song are straightforward, keeping eighth notes on the hi-hat, but the cool part is opening the hi-hat on the off-beats of those eighths.

The sound is like “tshee, tshee.” Also, the kick is just a steady four-on-the-floor—“don, don, don, don”—so even drummers who struggle with foot patterns should be fine.

The fills in the latter half are complex, so if they’re difficult, you might want to arrange them into simpler phrases.

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Yuuki

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GIVE ME FIVE!AKB48

[MV full] GIVE ME FIVE! / AKB48 [Official]

This is the 25th single by AKB48, a group that has become synonymous with idol groups in today’s J-pop scene.

The track features members performing instruments, and many fans likely became enthralled by this fresh facet of the group.

While there are no particularly challenging sections in terms of performance technique, making it approachable even for beginner band musicians, the arrangement has a full sound that includes a brass section.

If your band has a keyboard player, aiming to replicate the prominent parts will help you get closer to the original.

As is common with idol songs, there are many unison vocal sections, so be sure to practice the singing along with the instruments.

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Hoshino Takashi

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