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 (41–50)
Funny Bunnythe pillows
Since the song moves at a mid-tempo, I think it’s approachable even for beginners who have just started drums and aren’t yet comfortable handling the sticks.
It uses a beat that drops the downbeats of a basic 8-beat and plays only the offbeats.
It might be tricky to play until you get used to it, but once you catch the knack, it isn’t that hard! Be sure to try the ghost notes in the chorus, too!
Recommended practice songs for intermediate drummers: A collection to develop expressiveness and performance skills (51–60)
If you start running nowikimonogakari
Here’s a song by Ikimonogakari.
It’s a track where the pop-style feeling is crucial.
The key part is the many fill-ins leading into the final chorus.
If you avoid dragging or rushing there, you’ll be able to play it stylishly.
Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana
A song by Nirvana, the three-piece rock band often considered synonymous with grunge, the genre that sparked a global movement after 1990.
Released as the lead single from their second album Nevermind—which posted astonishing sales—this track is one that many people have probably heard even if they don’t know Nirvana.
The drum fills that layer over the guitar-led opening and the beat pattern that creates dynamic contrast generate the groove and momentum that drive the entire song.
swim04 Limited Sazabys
“Swim,” one of 04 Limited Sazabys’ signature songs and now a must at major festivals nationwide.
It’s a track marked by GEN’s crystal-clear high-tone vocals and a catchy guitar riff.
For the drums, there are three key points to watch: the fast tempo, the placement of the kick drum, and the sixteenth-note rolls right before the final big chorus.
Since the tempo is fast and the beat shifts frequently, it’s best to start practicing at a slow tempo and gradually work up to the original speed.
As for the kick drum, in the B section and the guitar solo, the kicks land on the off-beats of the eighth notes, which can feel awkward at first.
It’s fine to keep it slow—repeat the groove until your body internalizes the pattern.
Finally, for the sixteenth notes before the last big chorus, the accents are applied irregularly, so listen closely to the original and challenge yourself to recreate them.
JitterbugELLEGARDEN
Apart from the lead guitar, the arrangement is simple, and since it’s an extremely popular band, it really hypes up the crowd live—making this a great song for beginner to intermediate bands! Plus, it’s packed with beats you’ll encounter again and again as you continue with drums, so it’s also recommended as a first step toward improving.
Of course there’s a straight 4-beat, and the groove where you hit the hi-hat and snare together in quarter notes is commonly used in many songs.
And the one thing I absolutely want you to master in this song is the chorus beat.
It uses syncopation, meaning the cymbal accents come slightly ahead.
It’s essential for capturing the feel of this track, and you’ll run into this beat in many other songs too, so start slowly and practice while checking each sticking step by step!
left earkuriipuhaipe
CreepHyp is a four-piece rock band whose trademarks are the distinctive lyrics and high-toned vocals crafted by the band’s central figure, Sekaikan Ozaki.
“Hidari Mimi” (Left Ear), included on their first album, “Odoriba kara Ai wo Komete,” stands out for its catchy lyrics set against an ensemble of driving, fast-paced beats.
Alongside contemporary rhythm patterns, there are sections that mark the groove with rimshots, so you’ll need solid basic technique to produce clean, consistent sound.
It’s a simple yet deep track that lets you gauge your skills right at the point of moving from beginner to intermediate.
Current destructionSPYAIR
Here’s a song by SPYAIR.
Syncopation is used all over in each section, and it sounds really cool when it’s nailed cleanly.
Since it’s rock, it’s even better if you play with that nuance.
For songs like this, it’s important to stay relaxed and avoid playing with too much tension.