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!
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[Culture Festivals / School Festivals] Recommended Songs for Beginner Bands (91–100)
GLAMOROUS SKYNakajima Mika
The theme song of the film “NANA,” woven from a powerful guitar sound, striking melodies, and soul-stirring lyrics.
It’s an ambitious work in which Mika Nakashima makes a bold shift from her previous ballad style to a rock-tinged approach.
Infused with a strong will to keep moving forward despite the emptiness and loneliness of everyday life, it gives listeners courage and hope.
Released in August 2005, it topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart for two consecutive weeks.
This star-studded collaboration features composition by HYDE of L’Arc〜en〜Ciel and lyrics by the original author, Ai Yazawa.
With its simple rhythms and catchy melodies, this piece is perfect for band performances at school and cultural festivals—great for practicing and enjoying with friends.
Tears are about to fall.[Alexandros]
![Tears are about to fall.[Alexandros]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-JE55OiCe3Y/sddefault.jpg)
Many songs by [Alexandros] are on the challenging side, but this one has a simple structure and is great for beginners.
Nail it all the way through to the chorus.
Since it’s tuned a half step down from the original, you may need to think a bit about the set list order.
catDISH//
A four-piece rock band centered around actor Takumi Kitamura, DISH//’s song.
It’s a standout number featuring the melancholic melodies and uniquely expressive lyrics characteristic of singer-songwriter Aimyon, who wrote the track.
Every part is arranged simply with no difficult phrases, so even beginner bands should find it easy to cover.
However, since the vocals have a swinging rhythm while the instrumentation proceeds with a relaxed straight 8-beat, be careful not to let the vocal melody pull your timing out of the groove.
Messenger from Sunday↑THE HIGH-LOWS↓
It’s a song that can be called one of The High-Lows’ signature tracks, having been remade many times and featured in numerous tie-ins.
The performance is very simple, so I think even beginners can enjoy playing it.
Precisely because it’s simple, the key may be how lively you can make it.
Glass BluesBUMP OF CHICKEN
This piece is the very first Japanese song ever written by Motoo Fujiwara of BUMP OF CHICKEN when he was in high school.
At the time, Fujiwara was searching for the meaning of life and the importance of self-expression.
The lyrics, which candidly capture those feelings, convey the fragility and beauty of life, as well as the strength to overcome hardship.
It’s a song that truly resonates with the emotions of teenagers in the midst of adolescence.
For the band, it represents the origin of their musical journey, and it remains a beloved classic among many fans even today.
If you perform this song at a school festival, it will surely strike a chord with your friends.
Consider showcasing this track—a deeply meaningful song that questions the purpose of life.
To the Frontlinesayonara poezi
With a relaxed tempo and simple song structure, this is a track I can recommend even to beginners.
It’s a young band popular among younger audiences, so if you play it stylishly, you’re sure to be a hit! However, since it’s a three-piece band, the guitar-vocalist should practice thoroughly, and the bass and drums should also practice well to support the guitar-vocalist.
My First KissHi-STANDARD
Hi-STANDARD is a rock band that can arguably be credited with shaping Japan’s melodic hardcore scene.
“My First Kiss,” included on their second single “Love Is A Battlefield,” is an English-lyric cover of “Hajimete no Chuu,” known as the opening theme of the TV anime Kiteretsu Daihyakka.
While each part is generally played in a standard style, the intro guitar riff may be a bit challenging for beginners, so keep practicing.
Since it’s a famous song that almost everyone has heard at least once, it’s also a great pick for school festivals.