[2026] Practice Songs for Beginner Drummers: Easy and Cool Recommendations
Many people who have just started playing the drums may be wondering which songs they should practice first.
If you don’t know how difficult the song you’re trying to tackle is, it’s hard to make steady progress.
So in this article, we’re introducing songs recommended for beginners who have just taken up the drums—tracks that will help you step up your skills.
We’ve picked a wide range, from the latest hits to timeless classics.
Of course, improvement comes from steady practice and developing your feel and technique, but we’ve also included “I tried playing” videos arranged for beginners, so be sure to use them as a reference!
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[2026] Practice Songs for Beginner Drummers: Easy and Cool Recommendations (11–20)
Don’t give upZARD
Among classic J-pop songs, “Makenaide” is a top recommendation if you’re looking for a track that’s especially easy to play on drums.
J-pop drums often feature unexpectedly tricky phrases or complex structures, so many songs aren’t straightforward.
But this one is built from three simple beat types and has a relaxed tempo, making it approachable.
The first is the intro/chorus beat with eighth notes on the ride cymbal and quarter-note snare.
The second is the basic straight eighth-note beat that appears in the A section, and the third is an eighth-note groove in the B section where the bass drum on beat 3 is anticipated on the “and” of 2—a beat you often hear in J-pop.
All of them are simple, fundamental patterns, so even beginners might be able to play them right away.
Since the song has a laid-back tempo, be careful not to rush; keeping it grounded will give you a solid, confident groove and make your performance sound even cooler!
Rose of PassionTHE BLUE HEARTS
This song is recommended when you want to play an up-tempo, powerful track.
It’s built primarily on an 8-beat structure, characterized by very fast and straightforward playing.
Since the BPM is close to 200, if you can’t use the up-and-down technique, you’ll likely struggle to smoothly keep eighth notes on the hi-hat or ride.
The up-and-down technique is essential for drumming going forward, so take this opportunity to master it! In terms of phrasing, it’s mostly 8-beat throughout, but be careful with the variations: the interlude features beats that incorporate toms, and there are rapid-fire runs from snare to toms that feel like a drum solo.
First, focus on getting used to the speed, and train yourself to keep the rhythm accurately!
You and the summer music festivalSHISHAMO
This song is super catchy and fun to listen to, but from a drummer’s perspective it actually uses a ton of techniques and grooves you’ll want to have under your belt.
First up is the hi-hat bark used in the intro.
It’s a technique where you strike the hi-hat while it’s open and immediately close it to produce a short “chick” sound—often heard in fills.
Next is the closed rimshot that appears in the B section of the second verse.
You lay the stick across the snare, press the head lightly with your palm, and strike the rim with the stick.
Neither of these will produce a clean sound until you’re used to them, so practice them repeatedly.
In terms of grooves, the track features an array of patterns—8-beat, 4-beat, and beats built around the floor tom with the high tom woven in—so many that we can’t list them all here.
Since the song moves along at an up-tempo pace, it’s best to understand each groove in your head before you play so you don’t get bogged down at the transitions.
Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbā
For beginner drummers who want to play an upbeat, fun song, I recommend “Memeshikute.” The whole track is built around a dance beat using an 8-beat and off-beat hi-hat, making it easy for beginners to perform.
Key points to watch out for are being able to play the dance beat steadily and locking in the numerous hits and accents with the other instruments throughout the song.
This track features several recurring phrases that match the lyrics and accompaniment; if you can’t line these up, the perceived performance quality drops noticeably.
So after you can play along with the original recording, rehearse repeatedly with your bandmates to make sure all the hits are tightly synchronized.
MayoigaHitsuji Bungaku
This track features a simple structure with a four-beat feel in the chorus and tight eight-beat grooves in the other sections.
While the actual playing is very minimal, that’s exactly why focusing on timekeeping and the sound of each instrument will make it sound cool.
Within the song, there are moments where the hi-hat gradually opens from closed to about half-open, and even when playing the ride cymbal, the drummer distinguishes between striking with the tip of the stick and the shoulder, offering delicate attention tailored to each section’s mood.
Learning that the same instrument can produce a variety of tones depending on how it’s played—and being able to choose those sounds to suit the song—will undoubtedly lead to improvement.
sparkling ashRīgaru Rirī
Characterized by its simple beat, this song is recommended for beginners looking for a girls’ band track.
Throughout most of the piece, an 8-beat pattern is played, with the placement of the snare and bass drum shifting slightly between sections.
Several variations of the 8-beat appear in different parts of the song, so it’s important to organize which beat to play where and memorize them thoroughly.
Toward the end of the track, a dance beat featuring offbeat hi-hats comes in.
Since it’s a distinctive groove that highlights the climax, practice until you can play it steadily without dragging or rushing.
While the dance beat is very satisfying to listen to, it’s surprisingly easy to play—so take this opportunity to master it.
[2026] Practice Songs for Beginner Drummers: Easy and Cool Recommended Tracks (21–30)
cloudy skyDOES
When the non-drum parts are also played by beginners, it can be hard to decide on a song to cover as a band.
In times like that, I recommend “Donten” by DOES, which was also used as an opening theme for the TV anime Gintama.
The non-drum parts are simple too, so it’s a great pick for a beginner band’s first live show.
Be careful not to let the rhythm fall apart during the high-speed snare rolls!