Chosen by a YouTuber guitarist! Practice songs for guitar strumming: Japanese rock edition

Ms. Hanako on a high pedestalback number

Back Number – Hanako-san on a High Pedestal

The tempo isn’t that fast, and the strumming pattern changes in the chorus and in the interlude right after the chorus, so it’s a great song to practice.

The chord progression is also very straightforward, so I think you’ll enjoy practicing it.

After the cherry blossoms (all quartets lead to the?)UNISON SQUARE GARDEN

UNISON SQUARE GARDEN “After the Cherry Blossoms (all quartets lead to the?)” Short Ver.

The strumming pattern isn’t difficult, but the tempo is fast, so it’s a song I’d like people who can handle slower songs to challenge themselves with.

In particular, from the intro up to the first A section, you won’t get a sharp sound unless you mute the strings with your right hand, so this is a good song to use to master right-hand muting as well.

silhouetteKANA-BOON

KANA-BOON “Silhouette” Music Video

There are strumming parts in the intro and interlude where rests are inserted, and you’ll handle these by using right-hand muting while strumming.

Aside from that, there aren’t many difficult strumming patterns, but the chords you need to hold down are ones that appear frequently in recent Japanese rock, which is why I chose this song.

AmyTHE ORAL CIGARETTES

THE ORAL CIGARETTES “Amy” Music Video

The strumming pattern is a two-bar cycle.

It gives the impression that the song has more lift and flow.

There are only about five or six chords in this song, and the progression is mostly the same, so it’s easy to memorize.

It’s simply a great song, so definitely give it a try.

Mass-produced boyfriendSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “Mass-Produced Boyfriend”

This is a strumming pattern played with a shuffle rhythm.

A shuffle has that bouncy feel, like “ta-ta-ta ta-ta-ta.” If you play it straight, you won’t get that bounce, so I hope this song helps you get a feel for the shuffle.

flykuriipuhaipe

CreepHyp – Social Window

It starts with a classic, go-to strumming pattern right from the intro.

It’s not exactly simple, so it might be challenging until you get used to it, but once your body memorizes it, it’s no problem.

The chords you hold with your left hand are the kind of basic chords you see at the beginning of method books, so definitely try to get them under your fingers.

migratory bird[Alexandros]

[Alexandros] – Wataridori (MV)

From the intro, the acoustic guitar stands out prominently.

I introduced it because the strumming pattern isn’t something you often hear in other songs.

[Alexandros] often creates a song’s vibe through its strumming patterns, so try checking out their other tracks as well.