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This is the song you should work on over winter break to improve your guitar skills!

A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.
Live Spot LugHirata Hiroyasu
I’m Hiroyasu Hirata from Live Spot RAG. When I was 15, I was blown away by how cool music—especially rock—was, and I started playing guitar and formed a band. I’m from Kochi Prefecture, where there weren’t many live houses or concert venues, so there were few opportunities to experience live music. Back then, our sources of information were magazines, CDs, and even VHS tapes (!?). Still, I was captivated by the sparkle of music, and I spent my days enjoying guitar and music, mostly neglecting my studies. I moved to Kyoto for university and “graduated” from the light music club, so to speak (laugh). Until then, I mainly listened to Japanese rock and Western hard rock, but thanks to seniors and peers I learned there was so much more music in the world. Now I listen to anything that strikes me as good, regardless of genre. After graduating, I joined RAG. After about six years in the office and about ten years in the music studio, I now work at the long-established Live Spot RAG, which has been around for 39 years, mainly handling promotions. Being exposed to the “real music” performed by Japan’s top musicians and delivering it to our audience lets me feel the brilliance of music anew every day. I still play guitar and keep a band going casually, and in recent years I’ve even started singing—better late than never. I’ve fully become an old guy by now, but I hope we can continue to chase “what lies beyond the dreams I painted with music back then” together.

Winter break gives you plenty of time—it’s a great chance to practice guitar and make real progress!

Maybe you’re not only aiming to get better at guitar, but also feeling the urge to dive deeper into music itself.

You might be unsure which songs are effective for practice, or what to play to better understand music, and find yourself stuck.

So in this article, we’ve gathered lots of practice songs we’d love guitar beginners to try!

We’ll focus on songs that even those who just started playing can handle, so be sure to check them out.

These are the songs you should work on over winter break to improve your guitar skills! (61–70)

dragonflyNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

dragonfly

dragonflyNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

“Tonbo” by Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi, an artist famed for his tremendous charisma.

The song can mostly be played by repeating chords like Em and D, making it great for beginners.

A slightly tricky chord, Gsus4, does appear, but not very often—so use this song to get comfortable with it!

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Song of the WheelsBUMP OF CHICKEN

BUMP OF CHICKEN 'Song of the Wheels'

Song of the WheelsBUMP OF CHICKEN

The eighth single by the rock band BUMP OF CHICKEN.

It’s a track characterized by fast, country-style chord strumming on the guitar.

Most of the chords used are simple, so it should be approachable for beginner guitarists.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Love SongGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Love Song

Love SongGReeeeN

GReeeeN’s “Ai Uta” was released in 2007.

It’s a love song characterized by a simple, heartfelt melody and warm, straightforward lyrics.

It sincerely sings of unwavering love for someone special and everyday gratitude.

Thanks to its message, it’s also a staple at weddings and graduation ceremonies.

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A Little Love SongMONGOL800

MONGOL800 / A Small Love Song

A Little Love SongMONGOL800

A song by MONGOL800, a rock band from Okinawa, which was also adapted into a film in May 2019.

The guitar parts are mostly played with power chords and there’s no guitar solo, making it approachable for beginners.

By being mindful of the sections where you strum boldly and the sections you play tightly, you can effectively capture the song’s vibe.

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Hoshino Takashi

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To Hikarimiwa

Hikari e – miwa (Full)

To Hikarimiwa

This is a song by the talented singer-songwriter miwa.

The Cadd9 chord is a bit unique, but aside from that there aren’t any difficult chords, so I think even beginners can play it.

miwa’s songs are often bright and uplifting, so you can enjoy practicing!

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Lingering Snowiruka

Nagori-yuki – Iruka

Lingering Snowiruka

Originally a song by the folk band Kaguya-hime, it later became a big hit when covered by the folk singer Iruka.

Aside from the strummed chords in the chorus, the guitar is played using an arpeggio technique that breaks up the chords, so it may be difficult at first, but it serves as fundamental practice for folk songs.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Voice of the SeaKiritani Kenta

"The Voice of the Sea" Full ver. / Urashima Taro (Kenta Kiritani) [Official]

Voice of the SeaKiritani Kenta

“Umi no Koe” (Voice of the Sea), performed by Kenta Kiritani as Urashima Taro, became popular as a commercial jingle.

In the ad, it’s played on the Okinawan traditional instrument, the sanshin, but it’s also fun to play on the guitar! Centered around minor chords, it uses a simple chord progression, so even beginners can play it with confidence.

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In conclusion

We’ve introduced songs that are easy to tackle even for first-time guitar players! Since these songs don’t use difficult chord shapes or techniques, practicing should be fun.

You’ll also stay more motivated by practicing songs you like, so be sure to find that one special song for yourself and give it a try.