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.
Playlist
| Recommended practice songs for intermediate drummers: a collection of tracks to develop expressiveness and performance skills | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | 50%Ofisharu Higedan Dism |  play_arrow | This song is characterized by its complex musical development, and furthermore... |
| 2east | Blue HabitatKitanitatsuya |  play_arrow | It features a driving sense of speed and sharp, snappy guitar riffs, and… |
| 3east | OutPorukadotto Sutingurei |  play_arrow | It's around BPM 190 and uptempo, and... |
| 4east | exceed; surpass; go beyond; cross (over)[Alexandros] | ![exceed; surpass; go beyond; cross (over)[Alexandros]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WsEhSXH497I/default.jpg) play_arrow | It features the kind of driving energy characteristic of [Alexandros]… |
| 5east | RewriteASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION |  play_arrow | ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERA… |
| 6east | lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE |  play_arrow | Released in 2024, the anime “Boukyaku Ba…” |
| 7east | migratory bird[Alexandros] | ![migratory bird[Alexandros]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O_DLtVuiqhI/default.jpg) play_arrow | Although it’s a song released in 2015, even now… |
| 8east | libidosumika |  play_arrow | This song that starts with a Vocaloid-like intro... |
| 9east | Last NoteOmoinotake |  play_arrow | It's the kind of song that's fast-paced and flashy, and... |
| 10east | Savior Of My LifeTHE ORAL CIGARETTES |  play_arrow | With a BPM of 175, it’s relatively up-tempo and ener... |
| 11east | Bling-Bang-Bang-BornCreepy Nuts |  play_arrow | The main ... of the anime “MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES” |
| 12east | Bye-Bye to youUVERworld |  play_arrow | A drum phrase that marries a sense of speed with a heavy, weighty feel… |
| 13east | Speed – Speedyutori |  play_arrow | As the title suggests, matching the sense of speed and the song’s progression… |
| 14east | Leylinego!go!vanillas |  play_arrow | This progresses at a very relaxed tempo... |
| 15east | magnet04 Limited Sazabys |  play_arrow | This song uses closed rimshots and s… |
| 16east | The Zero Sense10-FEET |  play_arrow | Metal, reggae, hip-hop, guitar pop… |
| 17east | protagonistSUPER BEAVER |  play_arrow | In a mid-tempo track around BPM 130, ... |
| 18east | It’s myselfshaitoopu |  play_arrow | A refreshing track marked by the chorus’s generous, laid-back beat... |
| 19east | At KoenjiPEOPLE 1 |  play_arrow | It kicks off right from the intro with an exhilarating two-beat… |
| 20east | SunburstShingāzuhai |  play_arrow | This track pairs perfectly with the heavy guitar sound... |
| 21east | Mela!Ryokushokushakai |  play_arrow | A refreshing high-tone voice and the band’s sa… |
| 22east | cloudy skyDOES |  play_arrow | If you want to play a solid, macho rock tune, this is the song… |
| 23east | Shangri-LaChatto Monchī |  play_arrow | Over a steady quarter-note bass drum, the hi-hat... |
| 24east | Only for you, clear skiesYorushika |  play_arrow | If you’re a student, there’s a good chance you like Yorushika… |
| 25east | asking for the moonKANA-BOON |  play_arrow | If you can play a dance beat, I highly recommend it... |
| 26east | You and the summer music festivalSHISHAMO |  play_arrow | Even SHISHAMO’s songs are being played by student band members… |
| 27east | The Story You Don’t Knowsupercell |  play_arrow | Even as the ending theme of the hit anime “Bakemonogatari”… |
| 28east | Love Never Felt So GoodMichael Jackson, Justin Timberlake |  play_arrow | Immense popularity that earned him the title “King of Pop”… |
| 29east | All of the YouthFujifaburikku |  play_arrow | Still beloved even now, at the tail end of summer, pi… |
| 30east | Isn’t She LovelyStevie Wonder |  play_arrow | This song, also familiar from the famous tea commercial, is al… |
| 31east | astronomical observationBUMP OF CHICKEN |  play_arrow | Even BUMP OF CHICKEN songs get ban… |
| 32east | Cosmic GirlJamiroquai |  play_arrow | One song from Jamiroquai. A club like this… |
| 33east | swim04 Limited Sazabys |  play_arrow | Now they’ve become an indispensable presence at major festivals nationwide… |
| 34east | rainbowELLEGARDEN |  play_arrow | One song from ELLEGARDEN. The tempo… |
| 35east | Re:makeONE OK ROCK |  play_arrow | Even among ONE OK ROCK songs, which often have difficult drum parts, this one is easy… |
| 36east | Sculpturekinoko teikoku |  play_arrow | An easy-to-remember practice piece in 3/4 time for beginners, featuring creative snare work. |
| 37east | Gather round! Party people!Yabai T-shatsu Yasan |  play_arrow | It gets insanely hyped up at festivals all over the place... |
| 38east | This LoveMaroon 5 |  play_arrow | This Maroon 5 song also has notes exactly as in the original recording... |
| 39east | JitterbugELLEGARDEN |  play_arrow | It’s composed of simple playing except for the lead guitar… |
| 40east | Yuki-chan’s GenesMōmō Rurugyaban |  play_arrow | It's a popular song by Mow Mow Lulu Gyaban. The drums... |
| 41east | Is that okay?RADWIMPS |  play_arrow | A bouncy rhythm that goes 'takka takka,' a shuffle… |
| 42east | I should be able to fly (in the sky).supittsu |  play_arrow | A mid-tempo 8-beat ballad. It’s kind of… |
| 43east | It’ll get stained.Chatto Monchī |  play_arrow | It's slow-tempo, and ironically there are some parts that are a bit difficult... |
| 44east | God knows…Hirano Aya |  play_arrow | When it comes to anime songs, this is the one. Close Ha... |
| 45east | trapThe Back Horn |  play_arrow | It's a famous song by THE BACK HORN... |
| 46east | IdentitySakanakushon |  play_arrow | When it comes to four-on-the-floor J-rock, it’s got to be Sakanaction... |
| 47east | loveHoshino Gen |  play_arrow | With the “Koi Dance,” which became a social phenomenon, across a wide range of demographics… |
| 48east | Funny Bunnythe pillows |  play_arrow | Since the song progresses at a mid-tempo, the drums should… |
| 49east | Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana |  play_arrow | It sparked a global movement after 1990 and... |
| 50east | SolaninASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION |  play_arrow | Is there anyone left who doesn’t know about it anymore…? |
| 51east | D.I.J.’s pistolBLANKEY JET CITY |  play_arrow | Profound influence and shock to numerous artists... |
| 52east | Crow SongGirls Dead Monster |  play_arrow | A piece that requires practicing various rhythm patterns to play them with a consistent feel. |
| 53east | If you start running nowikimonogakari |  play_arrow | Here’s a song by Ikimono-gakari. If it’s pop music… |
| 54east | left earkuriipuhaipe |  play_arrow | Mr. Sekai-kan Ozaki, the central figure of the band, crea... |
| 55east | Come On !Toukyou Sukapara Daisu Ookesutora |  play_arrow | One song from Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra... |
| 56east | Blue TrainASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION |  play_arrow | Known by the abbreviation “Ajikan,” and for songs like “Rewrite” and “… |
| 57east | Current destructionSPYAIR |  play_arrow | A song from SPYAIR. Synchro Motion… |
| 58east | Fever Believer FeedbackHanumān |  play_arrow | Depicting the emotions of people who have fallen into gambling addiction... |
| 59east | Beyond that10-FEET |  play_arrow | Here's a song by 10-FEET. As for the fill, it's not... |
| 60east | unde the sunDo As Infinity |  play_arrow | Here’s a song from Do As Infinity... |
| 61east | Cherry on the beakEGO-WRAPPIN’ |  play_arrow | It troubles drummers who’ve gotten a little used to the drums… |
| 62east | Misery BusinessParamore |  play_arrow | Paramore has an emotional musical style… |
| 63east | Never EndSIAM SHADE |  play_arrow | From the intro, it’s an irregular meter, 5/4 time. One… |
| 64east | avocadoyonige |  play_arrow | This song, which was yonige’s breakout work, is a bit... |
| 65east | Call Me When You’re SoberEvanescence |  play_arrow | Evanescence won a Grammy Award... |
| 66east | The TrooperIron Maiden |  play_arrow | Metal that’s relatively easy for beginner drummers to get into… |
| 67east | PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism |  play_arrow | The movie 'Confidence Man JP - Romance...' |
| 68east | Before the Dawnpasupie |  play_arrow | We’re going to turn Impressionist music, a genre of classical music, into a ban… |
| 69east | 8filmsuchuu konbini |  play_arrow | ...with a unique musical style rooted in post-rock |
| 70east | Guitar, Loneliness, and the Blue Planetkessoku bando |  play_arrow | The 2022 anime “Bocchi the Rock!”… |
| 71east | Savior ~Messiah~Janne Da Arc |  play_arrow | Featuring a powerful high-tone voice… |
| 72east | The CityThe 1975 |  play_arrow | The popular rock band The …, active on the global stage |
| 73east | Monster feat. yamaJenīhai |  play_arrow | A glue with the nuance of “surpassing a genius.” |
| 74east | cherrysupittsu |  play_arrow | A band like Spitz, emblematic of Japanese rock... |
| 75east | Roco LotionORANGE RANGE |  play_arrow | From ORANGE RANGE, even beginners... |
| 76east | SOULSOUPOfisharu Higedan Dism |  play_arrow | The 2023 film 'SPY×FAMILY CODE: White'... |
| 77east | Burst back to life!!Makishimamu Za Horumon |  play_arrow | An aggressive, audience-engaging musi... |
| 78east | Let Your Hair DownMAGIC |  play_arrow | It’s a relatively new band, but their reggae-infused… |
| 79east | I’m So SickFlyleaf |  play_arrow | A vo… that switches between clean vocals and screams… |
| 80east | Wherever you areONE OK ROCK |  play_arrow | Vocals with an overwhelming presence and a gritty, hard-hitting rock... |
| 81east | Masu.RADWIMPS |  play_arrow | This is a song where you can casually practice two-beat. The chorus... |
| 82east | LADY NEDYSHERBETS |  play_arrow | Asai from the former BLANKEY JET CITY... |
| 83east | Seven Nation ArmyThe White Stripes |  play_arrow | The White Stripes are, 2… |
| 84east | glareWANIMA |  play_arrow | A heart-stirring positive message, and th... |
| 85east | DAVIDRega |  play_arrow | A track by the instrumental band Rega... |
| 86east | Guns For Handstwenty one pilots |  play_arrow | The world-renowned rock band, twenty one… |
| 87east | Charonnegoto |  play_arrow | While keeping a four-on-the-floor beat, there are a variety of fills… |
| 88east | End the worldHarukamirai |  play_arrow | Clumsy as it may be, a straightforward and passionate message… |
| 89east | A Place for the Soulmakaroni enpitsu |  play_arrow | Known by the abbreviation “Makaen,” and emotional… |
| 90east | GibbsShiina Ringo |  play_arrow | The one-of-a-kind music that hasn’t changed since their debut... |
| 91east | SiriusAoi Eiru |  play_arrow | It's a light and upbeat song. The fill-in... |
| 92east | Thinking in Yura Yura Teikokuyurayura teikoku |  play_arrow | Still enjoying undiminished popularity, Yura Yura Teikoku—their… |
| 93east | MercyMuse |  play_arrow | I want to master playing cool Western rock songs on the drums… |
| 94east | YMMSuchmos |  play_arrow | To practice a comfortable laid-back (behind-the-beat) groove, it's best to... |
| 95east | secret base ~What You Gave Me~ZONE |  play_arrow | An iconic song by ZONE, a classic loved across generations… |
| 96east | Odoru-LoopFurederikku |  play_arrow | Formed around the Miharas, a pair of fraternal twin brothers, … |
| 97east | Are you gonna be my girlJet |  play_arrow | The simple rock sound is cool, Je... |
| 98east | A Little Love SongMONGOL800 |  play_arrow | Most people with band experience will have performed… |