Recommended Songs for Beginner Bands at School Culture Festivals
For students in bands, performing on the cultural festival stage is probably a major goal, isn’t it?
However, if you’ve only just started your instrument or have members with limited experience, choosing songs to play can be quite challenging.
The guitar might be easy but the drums are hard… or the drums are easy but the bass is hard… It’s tough to pick songs that are satisfying to listen to while keeping the difficulty under control.
So in this article, we’ll introduce recommended songs that beginners can definitely pull off if they practice hard.
The key is to be flexible—don’t cling too much to the original, and arrange the parts you absolutely can’t manage.
If you work on it with your bandmates while having fun as you prepare for your first stage, it’s sure to become a lifelong memory!
[Culture Festival / School Festival] Recommended Songs for Beginner Bands (1–10)
CarmineNEW!ELLEGARDEN
This song, which was used as the opening theme for the TV anime One Piece, is one many of you have probably heard.
The rhythm has variations in tempo and intensity, so being mindful of that as you play will make it sound really cool.
Also, be sure not to lose the sense of drive when the chorus kicks in.
When you perform other pieces in the future, try to play while sensing how the groove changes between different parts.
dancerNEW!Vaundy
This is a song that was also performed at the 75th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.
It was released as a digital-only single in November 2012.
It’s a track that feels like you’re dancing the whole time, with a steady, unhurried rhythm and a vocal vibe that gives it a cool impression.
So, I think it’s best to aim for a restrained performance.
Let’s practice keeping a stable, light beat.
But be careful: if the tension gets too strong, you’ll lose the song’s inherent ennui, so watch out.
C7NEW!GO!GO!7188
It’s a song by the rock band GO!GO!7188, included on the album “Gyotaku.” The simple yet robust performance characteristic of a three-piece band is appealing, and you can also feel the flavor of nostalgic music like Showa-era kayōkyoku.
The guitar riff is the main practice point, so I think you’ll finish faster if you isolate that part and practice it repeatedly.
Beginners tend to play from start to finish, but sectional practice is highly recommended.
We’re in the car again today.NEW!Hump Back
Here’s a song released in 2019 by Hump Back, a girls’ rock band from Osaka.
The lyrics are fairly wordy, but the tempo is slow, so I think you’ll be able to play it calmly.
The song is also short and simple, so it should be easy to practice.
For songs with a straightforward ensemble, the key is whether each member’s performance locks in well, so it might be a good idea to record yourselves and listen back objectively.
Twenty-nine, thirtyNEW!kuriipuhaipe
I think the tempo is on the slower side, making it very approachable for beginners.
The lead guitar features octave techniques along with single-note lines and chord phrases, but since it’s basically played in quarter notes, it should still be easy for beginners to take on.
Also, even though the tempo is slow, the rhythm section—drums and bass—should be careful to play in a way that doesn’t let the song lose its drive.
Try aiming for a performance with dynamic contrast, being mindful of accents and intensity in line with the song’s progression.
MONSTER TREENEW!SHAKALABBITS
SHAKALABBITS’ “MONSTER TREE” is notable for its powerful sound.
Released in 2003, its cover art, true to the title, depicts a “monster tree” with people of no specific nationality living peacefully around it.
The song features several classic straight-ahead eight-beat rock patterns, so if you practice it thoroughly, it should be useful when you play other songs in the future as well.
RevolverNEW!yonige
This song proceeds at around 140 BPM and is characterized by all parts sharing eighth-note phrases.
At this tempo, eighth notes make it a piece that even beginners should find approachable.
However, precisely because of the simple structure and the three-piece arrangement, the quality of each member’s performance may become more apparent.
It’s recommended that each member first be able to play their part solidly on their own, and then practice together as a band.