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 Festival / School Festival] Recommended Songs for Beginner Bands (51–60)
Wherever you areONE OK ROCK
A ballad filled with gentle affection and vows.
The desire to always be by someone’s side and make them smile, along with the resolve to pledge eternal love, resonates deeply.
Though simply arranged around piano and acoustic guitar, Taka’s emotive vocals leave a strong impression.
Featured on the album “Niche Syndrome,” the song was used in 2015 as NTT Docomo’s commercial theme for the “Family” campaign, capturing the hearts of many.
It’s also highly popular as a wedding staple, taking first place in the ISUM Bridal Music Awards in both 2017 and 2018.
This is a perfect song to perform on stages at school cultural and campus festivals—events that can’t be created without bonds among friends and teachers.
You don’t listen to rock.aimyon
This is the third major-label single by Aimyon, a female singer-songwriter who has dominated the contemporary J-pop scene with a string of hits like “Marigold” and “Naked Heart.” The lyrics, themed around unrequited love, make it a perfect song for bands to perform at school cultural festivals.
The tempo is slow, but because there are many chord changes, it’s important for the guitar and bass to practice so the sound doesn’t cut off.
Also, the opening line of the A section is quite low for a female vocalist, so if the key really doesn’t suit you, consider using a capo on the guitar and arranging the ensemble to fit the vocalist’s key.
Adolescent Complexkessoku bando
Kessoku Band is the rock band that appears within the TV anime Bocchi the Rock!, which is based on Aki Hamaji’s four-panel manga.
The opening theme used in the anime, “Seishun Complex,” features a catchy guitar riff and a tight rock sound that really amps up the energy.
Its catchy melody and driving tempo, combined with the anime’s popularity, make it perfect for livening up a school festival.
It’s an upbeat tune that’s fun to play and recommended in terms of both difficulty and excitement.
Endless JourneyMr.Children
A song that expresses, through music, a way of life that cherishes individuality, driven by the powerful message, “You don’t have to imitate anyone.” As one of Mr.Children’s signature works, it inspires the courage to overcome setbacks and doubts and to follow your own path.
Released in October 1998 as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Naguru Onna,” it became a hit, selling 516,000 copies in its first week.
Despite running over seven minutes, its appeal lies in an intricate arrangement featuring nine key changes and a grand sound built on a compelling guitar riff.
Even those just starting out with band performance should be able to present it confidently on a school festival stage by playing a simple arrangement together with friends.
[Cultural Festival / School Festival] Recommended Songs for Beginner Bands (61–70)
RewriteASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
A song by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, a four-piece rock band from Kanagawa Prefecture known by the nickname “Ajikan.” It was used as the opening theme for the TV anime Fullmetal Alchemist, and it’s a rock tune whose intro—kicking off with a hysteric guitar—ramps up the energy.
Each part features many simple phrases based on basic techniques, and the tempo isn’t very fast, making it easier for beginner bands to cover.
However, care is needed to keep the rhythm steady during the drummer’s rapid-fill sections.
Since it’s relatively easy to cover and really gets the crowd going, it’s a recommended pick for cultural festivals and school festival stages.
Shunkan SentimentalSCANDAL
Haven’t many of the world’s girl bands copied their songs when they were just starting out? The thick, distorted guitars and the bold, aggressive vibe are irresistible! I think the track is packed with the basics of rock bands, so it’s perfect to play at your first live show.
The guitar riffs in the intro and interlude have a huge impact on the overall polish of the song, so lead guitarists should practice thoroughly!
Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbā
This is a signature song by Golden Bomber, a visual kei air band.
It’s also well established as a karaoke crowd-pleaser.
Its catchiness will definitely work even if you perform it at a school festival.
As an aside, it’s a bit curious to have a real band cover a song by an air band, isn’t it?
