Recommended practice songs for intermediate drummers: a collection of tracks to develop expressiveness and performance skills

Sculpturekinoko teikoku

Kinoko Teikoku “Sculpture” drum cover

This is a highly recommended song for those who aren’t used to playing drums in 3/4 time.

It features stylish, simple fills sprinkled throughout, and I think it will be helpful for anyone who hasn’t tried a song in triple meter before.

The structure is simple and easy to memorize, and it helps you realize things like, “Oh, it’s okay to put the snare here,” while also getting you accustomed to how to move your arms.

Blue TrainASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION 'Blue Train'

Known by the nickname Ajikan and boasting numerous hit tunes like Rewrite and Solanin, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION is a four-piece rock band.

Blue Train, their 7th single released ahead of their 3rd album Fanclub, is a track so challenging that they even put out a call saying, “If you can play these drums, send us your recording.” There’s a highly intricate, busy beat running even beneath the vocals, and many will likely find it difficult to keep the rhythm steady.

On the flip side, if your band can play it through to the end, it’s sure to level you up, making it a rock tune that intermediate drummers should set as a goal.

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I should be able to fly (in the sky).supittsu

Spitz / I Should Be Able to Fly in the Sky

A mid-tempo 8-beat ballad.

You can play almost the entire song using just an 8-beat.

In fact, even the fills are basically 8-beat phrases placed in different spots, so I think it’s a great song for beginners to learn from.

It’s a must-know if you’re going to play vocal music.

Re:makeONE OK ROCK

ONE OK ROCK 「Re:make」

Among ONE OK ROCK’s many songs with difficult drum parts, this one is comparatively simple and easy to play.

There’s a bit of shuffle feel at times, but since the tempo isn’t that fast, it should be good for practice.

The chorus stays in straightforward quarter notes, so you can use it to work on producing a good sound and playing with more volume.

There’s also a small chorus-like vocal part over the simple drums, so it might be a good chance to practice singing while drumming.

Yuki-chan’s GenesMōmō Rurugyaban

Mow Mowl Lu Gaban – Yuki-chan’s Genes

This is a popular song by MowMow LuLu Gyaban.

It’s a great practice piece for anyone who wants to try drum vocals.

Keeping the offbeat rhythm steady while singing the lead instead of backing vocals seems easy but is actually quite difficult.

If you think you can’t stand out on drums, definitely give this a try.

God knows…Hirano Aya

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya "God knows…" FULL

When it comes to anime songs, this is the one.

The closed hi-hat and the snare fill accents before the chorus are the tricky parts.

It’s best to start practicing at a slow tempo.

Also, if you can give the rhythm pattern a sense of drive while adding a bit of weight, it’ll sound really cool.

trapThe Back Horn

THE BACK HORN “Trap” Music Video

This is a famous song by THE BACK HORN.

Even people who don’t know much about THE BACK HORN might know this one.

The drum phrases are straightforward, making it an ideal song for beginners to level up.

Because a sense of unity with the other instruments is important, it’s also recommended for band practice.