弾いてみた

• Reading: ひいてみた
• Romaji: hiite mita
• Kanji breakdown: 弾 (play instrument, flick) + いてみた (tried doing) → tried playing (an instrument); instrumental cover video genre
• Pronunciation: /hi.i.te.mi.ta/

Meaning

'I tried playing' — a genre of online cover videos where people perform instrumental covers of songs and share their performances.

弾いてみた is one of the '〜てみた' (I tried doing) video genres that exploded on Niconico Douga and later YouTube. Creators upload videos of themselves playing guitar, piano, bass, or other instruments covering popular songs. The best performers gain massive followings, and some have launched professional music careers from their 弾いてみた videos. The genre ranges from bedroom recordings to studio-quality productions, and has fostered a huge community of amateur musicians.

Examples

1. あの曲の弾いてみた動画上げたら再生回数すごいことになった。 I uploaded a 'tried playing' cover of that song and it blew up in views.
2. 弾いてみた系のYouTuberから好きになったアーティスト多い。 There are a lot of artists I got into through 'tried playing' YouTubers.
3. ギターの弾いてみたに挑戦したいけどまだ全然弾けない。 I want to try doing a guitar cover but I still can't play at all.

Usage Guide

Context: video platforms, social media, music communities

Tone: creative, sharing

Do Say

• 弾いてみた動画見てると自分も楽器やりたくなる。 (Watching 'tried playing' videos makes me want to pick up an instrument.)
• あの弾いてみた、原曲超えてるレベルですごい。 (That cover is so good it surpasses the original.)

Don't Say

• プロの公式演奏を「弾いてみた」とは呼ばない — 弾いてみた implies amateur or indie creators sharing their cover attempts

Common Mistakes

• Confusing 弾いてみた with 歌ってみた — 弾いてみた is instrumental covers, while 歌ってみた is singing covers

Origin & History

From 弾く (to play a stringed/keyboard instrument) + てみた (tried doing). Part of the '〜てみた' video genre that originated on Niconico Douga in the late 2000s. Related to 歌ってみた (singing covers) and 踊ってみた (dance covers).

Cultural Context

Era: Late 2000s Niconico Douga origin, ongoing on YouTube

Generation: Teens to 30s, musicians and music fans

Social background: Universal among online music communities

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Part of a broader '〜てみた' culture that has launched many professional careers from amateur video uploads.