Recommended practice songs for intermediate drummers: a collection of tracks to develop expressiveness and performance skills
Playing the drums gets really fun once you can hit a certain level, doesn’t it? Still, many people probably struggle—tripping up on songs with difficult phrases, or finding it hard to express groove and match the feel of the song even with simple patterns.
In this article, we’ll introduce recommended practice songs for those who’ve just moved beyond the beginner stage or are aiming to level up further.
We’ve picked plenty of recent popular tracks too, so feel free to use this as a guide when choosing your practice songs.
- [J-Pop] A Compilation of Songs with Awesome Drums [2026]
- [2026] Practice Songs for Beginner Drummers: Easy and Cool Recommendations
- A song with a cool drum intro
- Recommended songs for beginner bands: simple and crowd-pleasing tracks.
- Recommended Songs for Beginner Bands at School Culture Festivals
- Speaking of this rhythm! Five Western songs with drum intros that leave a lasting impression!
- Recommended songs for beginner band members by instrument
- [2026] For Band Beginners! Recommended Songs from Popular Bands That Get the Crowd Going at Live Shows
- Challenge percussion! A collection of songs I want to play on the cajón
- Chosen by professional drummers. Training videos you really should watch.
- [2026] Japan’s Leading Famous Drummers — From Veterans to Rising Stars
- [For Beginners] Recommended Songs for Female Vocal Bands: Great for Choosing Your Setlist! [2026]
- A roundup of cool drum-vocal bands: vocalists who sing while drumming.
Recommended practice songs for intermediate drummers: A collection of tracks to develop expressiveness and performance skills (71–80)
Guitar, Loneliness, and the Blue Planetkessoku bando
This is an original song by Kessoku Band, the protagonists’ band that appears in the 2022 anime “Bocchi the Rock!” It has the vibe of classic guitar rock and is a cool, up-tempo track.
For the drums, even though the tempo is fast, there are many beat phrases that use sixteenth notes, so practice to make sure you don’t fall behind! In the fills especially, there are lots of phrases that mix rapid-fire sixteenth-note snare hits with the hi-hat and toms.
When you’re not used to it, you might catch the sticks and drop them, so review not only how you move your body but also your drum set configuration to keep your stick movements smooth.
Savior ~Messiah~Janne Da Arc
Janne Da Arc is a visual-kei rock band that gained popularity with rock tracks featuring a powerful high-tone voice.
The lead track “-Messiah-” from their major second album “Z-HARD” features lyrics themed around the same French heroine as the band’s name, which is truly moving.
With rhythm patterns that use toms and frequent syncopation throughout, you have to be careful, as the tempo can waver if you lose focus.
Because the song relies heavily on the drums’ sense of drive, it’s a number that intermediate drummers will find rewarding to play.
Wherever you areONE OK ROCK
A four-piece rock band, ONE OK ROCK, whose commanding vocals and hefty rock sound continue to captivate fans in Japan and abroad.
This track, included on their 4th album “Niche Syndrome,” became a hit when it was featured in NTT Docomo’s commercial (the “Family” version).
You can hear how the drums shape the song’s dynamics—from the minimalist, stripped-down beat at the start to the powerful playing in the chorus.
Despite its relaxed tempo, it’s a rock ballad that’s fun to perform, showcasing drum-only expressions like ghost notes that enhance the ensemble and brilliant fills.
Monster feat. yamaJenīhai
Jenny High, a five-piece band whose name carries the meaning “surpass genius” and whose eccentric lineup has drawn attention, has released their 10th digital single, Monster feat.
yama, featuring yama, known for the smash hit Spring Announcements.
Its polished production—showcasing top-tier musicians collaborating at their best—really elevates the energy.
The drum part is simple throughout, but the calculated push-and-pull makes it tough unless you’re really listening to the other parts.
It’s a track for intermediate drummers, where the playing required enhances the song rather than standing out on its own.
cherrysupittsu
It’s one of Spitz’s signature songs, representing Japanese rock bands.
The tempo is relaxed, so you can play calmly without rushing—great for beginner drummers.
As long as you can play a basic 8-beat, you’re good to go; just practice the fills that appear between each section.
That said, the very tight rhythm and the flowing groove created by ghost notes make it well worth practicing!
Let Your Hair DownMAGIC
They’re a relatively new band, but they’ve achieved exceptional popularity for a reggae group—so much so that they’re said to have helped revive the genre’s popularity.
Because it’s reggae rhythm, you need to catch the offbeat, which can be a bit challenging for beginner drummers, but it really helps develop a sense of rhythm.
SOULSOUPOfisharu Higedan Dism
Written as the theme song for the 2023 film SPY x FAMILY CODE: White, this track is characterized by the fresh HiGE DANdism vibe and a pleasant groove created by its intricate rhythms.
Since tight rhythm patterns are used throughout the piece, practice repeatedly until your body internalizes them to avoid drifting off time.
There are also plenty of elements you can apply to other songs, such as fills that combine hands and feet, and rhythm patterns that incorporate opening and closing the hi-hat.