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)
DAVIDRega
The instrumental band Rega’s tracks are excellent practice material for drummers.
This piece from their third mini-album “Among the flow” is characterized by its rapidly shifting sections and precisely placed hits.
It’s an ideal song for honing rhythm-section technique.
Rega’s music, which is highly praised for live performances, combines high technical perfection with deep emotional expression.
It’s recommended for those who want to take on playful instrumental pieces and for drummers looking to develop their expressiveness and performance skills.
Guns For Handstwenty one pilots
The global rock band twenty one pilots’ song “Guns For Hands” became hugely popular worldwide as a track with very cool drums.
On YouTube, there are many videos covering the drum part of this song.
The rhythm pattern is very simple, so with a bit of practice even beginners should be able to play it.
When practicing, try using the YouTube cover videos as a reference.
A Place for the Soulmakaroni enpitsu
Known by the abbreviation “Makaen,” Macaroni Enpitsu is a four-piece rock band popular for its emotional lyrics and complex yet pop-leaning arrangements.
This is their second major-label single.
Written specifically for Nissan’s Sakura commercial, the song’s floating, go-out-and-explore feel fits the ad perfectly.
While the drum parts alone aren’t overly difficult—such as the fill that moves from a snare roll into rapid hits, or the breaks that appear during the stabs in the latter half—be careful in the ensemble, as it’s easy to fall out of sync with the other parts.
Recommended practice songs for intermediate drummers: A collection of tracks to develop expressiveness and performance skills (81–90)
Burst back to life!!Makishimamu Za Horumon
Maximum the Hormone is a four-piece rock band that continues to lead Japan’s loud rock scene with aggressive songs and performances that draw audiences in.
The title track of their fourth album, “Buiikikaesu,” was selected as the ending theme for Hokkaido Television’s NO MATTER BOARD.
Because the song’s structure develops at a dizzying pace and demands playing that matches it, it should prove rewarding for intermediate drummers who are getting comfortable with the instrument.
Additionally, since the drummer also handles vocals while executing intricate, high-difficulty parts, it’s best to practice the drums and vocals separately at first.
Are you gonna be my girlJet
Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” features a cool, simple rock sound.
The drum part is straightforward yet stylish, making it really rewarding to practice.
The fills are powerful and cool, with a decent amount of notes.
It’s a lot of fun to play as a band, so if you’re in one, definitely try covering it with your members.
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.
Roco LotionORANGE RANGE
From ORANGE RANGE, this is a song that even beginners will enjoy playing.
The groove stays almost constant throughout, and the hits/breaks are easy to catch, making it very approachable from a drummer’s perspective—a perfect entry-level track.