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.
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Recommended practice songs for intermediate drummers: A collection of tracks to develop expressiveness and performance skills (71–80)
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.
I’m So SickFlyleaf
Flyleaf is a five-piece Christian rock band from the United States, centered around vocals that switch between clean singing and screams.
“I’m So Sick,” included on their first album Flyleaf, is striking for its contrast between aggressive guitar tones and synth sounds that create a sense of weightless space.
The tempo is relaxed and it’s not technically difficult, but the irregular combinations of snare and kick, along with the wide dynamic range, demand playing that is constantly mindful of the song’s atmosphere.
It’s a powerful rock tune I recommend when your band wants to take on an intense Western track.
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.
Recommended practice songs for intermediate drummers: A collection of tracks to develop expressiveness and performance skills (81–90)
Masu.RADWIMPS
This is a song where you can casually practice two-beat.
Even if you find the two-beat in the chorus difficult, I think it’s a great chance to work on your kick slides, so try practicing through the whole song.
If you pull it off, it feels great.
The drums right after “Mayowazu You!” are another satisfying highlight, so give it a try.
It’s also a song that really gets the crowd going live, so once you can play it, invite your bandmates!
LADY NEDYSHERBETS
Formed around Kenichi Asai, formerly of BLANKEY JET CITY, SHERBETS is a four-piece rock band that continues to lead the Japanese rock scene.
“LADY NEDY,” included on their 10th album Kirei na Chi, has a funky contrast between its catchy synth sounds and sharp-edged guitar tones.
The groove rides on a straightforward 8-beat throughout, but precisely because it’s simple, any timing issues or failure to cut off cleanly at the breaks will make the drums stand out in a bad way—so care is essential.
While the playing itself isn’t difficult, it’s a rock tune you’ll want to approach with an ear for the band’s ensemble.
Seven Nation ArmyThe White Stripes
The White Stripes are a garage rock band that you simply can’t ignore when talking about 2000s rock.
Their signature song is “Seven Nation Army.” With roots in garage rock, the track is appealing for its blend of simplicity and coolness.
The drum part is hard to really give flavor to, but in terms of memorization, it’s approachable even for beginners.
glareWANIMA
An eighth digital-only single by the three-piece band WANIMA, who thrill fans with songs that pair moving, positive messages with catchy melodies.
Chosen as the theme song for the TV drama “Nanba MG5,” it was digitally released as a double A-side single alongside “Ano Hi, Ano Basho.” The techniques are simple—such as a four-on-the-floor bass drum pattern including toms and rapid-fire snare hits—but because the tempo is fast, be mindful not to fall behind the beat.
It’s a rock tune with an exhilarating sense of speed that feels great when the whole band locks in, perfect for intermediate drummers looking for a challenge.