Want to sit down at the piano and amaze your friends and family, even if you’re just starting out? You’re in luck! Learning to play the piano can be incredibly rewarding, and you don’t need to master complex concertos to impress. The secret lies in choosing the right songs – pieces that are beginner-friendly but sound fantastic.
This guide is your go-to resource for discovering Good Songs To Learn On Piano. We’ve compiled a list of 25 easy piano songs that sound much more complicated than they actually are. Perfect for beginners, these songs will not only boost your confidence but also give you a repertoire of impressive tunes to share.
According to research by Peter Jutras in the Journal of Research in Music Education, learning piano fosters a sense of accomplishment and self-assurance. This feeling of success is amplified when you can quickly learn and play songs that others recognize and enjoy. So, whether your musical aspirations are to entertain friends or simply enjoy playing for yourself, mastering a few well-chosen easy piano songs is a fantastic starting point. Let’s dive into our curated list of 25 simple yet impressive piano songs!
What Makes a Song Good for Beginner Piano Players?
Before we jump into our song selections, it’s helpful to understand what qualities make a piano song easy to learn for beginners. When searching for good songs to learn on piano, keep an eye out for these characteristics:
- Repetitive Sections: Songs with repeating musical phrases are easier to memorize and master.
- Simple Chord Progressions: Basic chord sequences that are easy to learn and remember form the foundation of many beginner-friendly songs.
- Arpeggios: Broken chords, or arpeggios, can create a beautiful, flowing sound without complex finger movements.
- Driving Rhythms: Consistent and clear rhythms make it easier to keep time and learn the song’s structure.
- Limited Hand Movement: Songs that don’t require large jumps across the keyboard are less challenging for beginners.
- Simplifiable Melodies: Many songs can be simplified without losing their essence, making them accessible to learners.
- Repeated Left-Hand Patterns: Consistent left-hand parts provide a stable foundation and are easier to learn.
- Single-Note Right-Hand Melodies: Melodies that primarily use single notes in the right hand are simpler to play than complex chords or harmonies.
The songs featured in this list are carefully selected to incorporate many of these beginner-friendly elements, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable learning experience.
25 Impressive Yet Easy Piano Songs to Learn
This section explores 25 good songs to learn on piano that will impress listeners without overwhelming beginner skills. Each song includes a “Difficulty” and “Impress” rating on a scale of 1 to 10, where lower difficulty and higher impress scores are ideal for beginners.
Katy Perry – Roar
With its powerful message and catchy melody, “Roar” by Katy Perry is instantly recognizable and incredibly popular. Despite its grand sound, the piano part is surprisingly manageable for beginners, primarily focusing on rhythmic chords.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 8/10
Learn to play “Roar” and many other songs using interactive piano apps that can guide you through each step.
Deep Blue Something – Breakfast at Tiffany’s
This 90s pop-rock classic, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” by Deep Blue Something, retains its charm and appeal. Its gentle melody and straightforward chord progression make it an excellent choice for beginner pianists. Playing this song is sure to evoke a sense of nostalgia and impress with its familiar tune.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 7/10
Find piano tutorials online to help you master “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” quickly and easily.
Justin Bieber – Sorry
“Sorry” by Justin Bieber is built upon a simple four-chord loop, making the harmonic structure very accessible for beginners. The rhythmic aspect, with its syncopation, presents a slight challenge, but it’s a great way to develop your rhythmic feel on the piano. Its modern pop sound ensures it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 9/10
Explore various online resources and sheet music to learn “Sorry” on piano.
Imagine Dragons – Believer
While “Believer” by Imagine Dragons is known for its intense vocals and driving drumbeat, the piano part is surprisingly manageable for beginners. Focusing on a triplet rhythm, learning this song is a fun way to tackle a slightly more complex rhythmic pattern while playing a powerfully recognizable song.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 8/10
Practice the triplet rhythm in “Believer” to enhance your piano playing skills.
#1 Chopsticks
“Chopsticks” is perhaps the most universally known beginner piano tune. While extremely simple, it’s still recognizable and can be enjoyable, particularly for very new players or to play as a duet with someone else.
Difficulty: 1/10
Impress: 5/10
#2 Für Elise – Beethoven
“Für Elise” by Ludwig van Beethoven is an iconic piece and a hallmark for any aspiring pianist. It’s one of the most recognized piano pieces ever composed, and learning the main theme is achievable for beginners. The history behind the piece adds to its charm, as Beethoven reportedly wrote it to impress a woman.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 8/10
#3 Heart and Soul – Hoagy Carmichael
“Heart and Soul” is a classic duet piece that’s perfect for beginners. It’s fun, easy to learn, and allows you to play with a partner. From an educational standpoint, it’s excellent for understanding chord progressions, as the bass part follows a standard I-vi-IV-V sequence.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 6/10
#4 Swan Lake Theme – Tchaikovsky
The “Swan Lake Theme” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, popularized by movies and children’s shows, is a beautifully flowing melody that is not technically demanding. It allows beginners to focus on expressive playing and dynamics, showcasing emotion through music.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 7/10
#5 Let It Be – The Beatles
“Let It Be” by The Beatles, with its memorable piano intro by Paul McCartney, is a timeless classic. While the intro may require a bit of practice, once you grasp the pattern, it becomes quite fluid. Its enduring appeal across generations makes it a fantastic choice to impress.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 9/10
#6 The Git Up – Blanco Brown
“The Git Up” by Blanco Brown quickly became a modern classic with its simple, repetitive, and incredibly catchy melody. As a pop song adapted for piano, its repetitive nature means that learning one section essentially teaches you the entire song, making it efficient to learn and fun to play.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 10/10
#7 Lean On Me – Bill Withers
“Lean On Me” by Bill Withers is an anthem of support and a universally loved song. Almost everyone recognizes the chorus and the iconic opening chords. While the original piano arrangement might seem complex, simplified chord versions are readily available and equally effective in conveying the song’s spirit.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 8/10
#8 Clocks – Coldplay
The intro to “Clocks” by Coldplay might initially sound daunting, but the underlying pattern is highly repetitive. By slowing down the tempo during practice and gradually increasing speed, beginners can master this iconic riff relatively quickly and impress listeners with its recognizable melody.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 10/10
#9 All My Life – KC & Jojo
Similar to “Clocks,” “All My Life” by KC & Jojo sounds intricate, particularly the introduction, but simplifying it to basic chords still captures its essence. Once past the intro, playing the chords alone sounds great and recognizable, making it a rewarding song for beginners.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 9/10
#10 Let It Go – Frozen
“Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen remains incredibly popular, especially among younger audiences. The piano part is iconic and based on simple chords, though more advanced players can explore richer voicings. Its continued popularity ensures it’s a hit with audiences of all ages, even if kids pretend to be over it!
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 9/10 (especially with kids)
#11 What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong is a timeless classic, celebrated for decades. It’s one of those good songs to learn on piano that adapts to your skill level. The chords are interesting yet standard, and even basic chord versions sound beautiful, allowing room to grow and add complexity as your skills improve.
Difficulty: 2/10
Impress: 7/10
#12 Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 – J.S. Bach
J.S. Bach’s “Prelude in C Major” from The Well-Tempered Clavier was originally conceived as a practice piece. It uses a straightforward chord progression broken into arpeggios. Intended as an exercise in arpeggiation, it sounds deceptively complex and is remarkably beautiful, showcasing how simple patterns can create intricate sounds.
Difficulty: 2.5/10
Impress: 8/10
#13 Prelude in E minor, Op. 28, No. 4 – Chopin
Chopin’s “Prelude in E minor” features rich chords and a poignant melody over a simple structure. Slightly more challenging than Bach’s Prelude, it’s still accessible with practice and offers a chance to express emotion through your playing, making it sound more profound than its technical difficulty suggests.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 7/10
#14 To a Wild Rose – Edward MacDowell
“To a Wild Rose” is a classic American tune that requires a bit more hand movement across the keyboard, making it a good step up for beginners ready for a slightly greater challenge. Its recognizable melody and gentle character make it a pleasant piece to learn and perform.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 7/10
#15 Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
“Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. It features an engaging chord progression and provides good practice in playing arpeggiated chords. Its romantic melody and iconic status make it a rewarding song to learn.
Difficulty: 2/10
Impress: 8/10
#16 The Entertainer – Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer” is a ragtime classic and one of the most iconic piano pieces ever written. Adaptable to various skill levels through different arrangements, beginners can find simplified versions while more advanced players can tackle complex arrangements.
Difficulty: 2-6/10 (depending on arrangement)
Impress: 9/10
#17 Canon in D – Pachelbel
Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” is renowned for its beauty and elegance. Learning to play it on piano is a rewarding endeavor. The left hand maintains a repeating pattern throughout, simplifying the learning process, while the right hand melody offers opportunities to develop technique and expression.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 8/10
#18 Ave Maria – Schubert
Schubert’s “Ave Maria” is a legendary piece, instantly recognizable despite not everyone knowing its name. For piano, it sounds far more complex than it is. The chord arpeggios are formulaic, supporting a stunning melody that floats above them, making it sound sophisticated yet manageable for learners.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 7/10
#19 Yesterday – The Beatles
Another Beatles gem, “Yesterday” is deceptively simple yet sounds intricate on the piano. Originally for guitar, it translates beautifully to piano. From a teaching perspective, the broken chords offer excellent practice for chord work and progressions, similar to Bach’s preludes.
Difficulty: 2/10
Impress: 7/10
#20 The Addams Family Theme
The “Addams Family” theme song is instantly catchy and universally loved, especially around Halloween. The opening piano riff is iconic and encourages finger-snapping participation. Whether playing basic chords or more complex parts, it’s a fun and engaging piece.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 8/10
#21 All That Jazz – Chicago
“All That Jazz” from Chicago might not be immediately familiar to everyone, but its catchy piano part is quickly captivating. Moving beyond basic accompaniment to incorporate filler parts will truly impress your audience, showcasing a more developed skill set.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 9/10
#22 All of Me – John Legend
John Legend’s “All of Me” is a popular love song with a driving syncopated rhythm. The chord progression is unique yet accessible, and the chord voicings are such that finger movements between chords are minimal, facilitating smoother transitions for beginners.
Difficulty: 2/10
Impress: 7/10
#23 Marry You – Bruno Mars
“Marry You” by Bruno Mars is a pop song that offers versatility for piano players. You can start with basic chords to create an impressive sound and later challenge yourself with more intricate aspects of the song. This scalability makes it a good song to learn on piano at various stages of learning.
Difficulty: 2/10 (simple version), 5/10 (full version)
Impress: 8/10
#24 My Heart Will Go On – Titanic
“My Heart Will Go On,” the Grammy-winning theme from Titanic, is guaranteed to resonate with listeners. While students might not immediately recognize it, parents certainly will. The chords and voicings are straightforward, offering a high impress-factor relative to its difficulty.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 8/10
#25 Stitches – Shawn Mendes
“Stitches” by Shawn Mendes is a popular favorite among students. With the right learning tools, it’s not difficult to play and is highly rewarding for beginners. Its contemporary pop appeal ensures it’s a hit with younger audiences.
Difficulty: 3.5/10
Impress: 9/10
Conclusion
We hope this list of 25 good songs to learn on piano has inspired you and shown that creating impressive music is within reach, even for beginners. It’s all about smart song selection and utilizing helpful resources. With dedication and the right songs, you’ll be surprising yourself and others with your piano skills in no time.
Start exploring these songs and discover the joy of playing the piano!
Written by Zach VanderGraaff
