Do you aspire to wow people with your piano skills, but feel limited by your beginner abilities? The solution might just be simpler than you think: beginner piano songs and pop songs adapted for the piano. The key is choosing pieces that are both learnable and impressive, even with foundational skills.
That’s precisely why this curated list of 25 easy piano songs exists – songs that sound complex to the untrained ear but are surprisingly accessible for beginners. This list is regularly updated to ensure you have the best options at your fingertips.
According to research by Peter Jutras, playing the piano fosters feelings of accomplishment and boosts confidence. This positive effect extends to learning other instruments as well. Embarking on learning easy piano songs is a significant step forward. Dive into this guide to discover 25 simple piano songs perfect for beginners.
What To Look For In Beginner Piano Songs
When searching for easy piano songs that impress without exceeding your current skill level, keep an eye out for these characteristics:
- Repetitive Parts: Sections that repeat make songs easier to memorize and play smoothly.
- Simple Chord Progressions: Basic chord sequences are quicker to learn and master.
- Arpeggios (Broken Up Chords): These can sound fancy but are often based on simple chord shapes played note by note.
- Driving Rhythms: Consistent and engaging rhythms can mask simplicity and create an exciting sound.
- Limited Hand Movement: Songs that don’t require large jumps across the keyboard are easier for beginners.
- Simplifiable Melodies: Songs that can be adapted to a simpler version without losing their essence.
- Repeated Left Hand Parts: Consistent bass patterns free up mental space to focus on the right hand.
- Single Line Right Hand Parts: Melodies that primarily focus on single notes are easier to learn than complex chords or harmonies.
The songs featured in this list are selected because they incorporate several of these elements, making them ideal for beginner pianists.
25 Easy Piano Songs
Let’s explore these simple piano songs that pack an impressive punch. Many of these songs include links to YouTube tutorials to aid your learning, helping you find the perfect song to match your taste and skill level.
Note: Each beginner piano song is rated on a “difficulty” and “impress” scale, both out of 10. Aim for songs with a low difficulty score and a high impress score.
Katy Perry – Roar
With over three billion views on YouTube, “Roar” stands as one of Katy Perry’s most iconic anthems. If you’re ready for a rhythmic challenge, this song is an excellent choice for beginner piano players. Its powerful melody and recognizable tune make it instantly engaging.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 8/10
Learn to play the full song with the solfeg.io app and get started on your piano journey.
Deep Blue Something – Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Even decades after its Billboard chart success, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” remains a beloved pop-rock classic. This song’s catchy melody and sing-along quality make it a hit. Playing this popular tune on piano, especially with a vocalist, is sure to impress.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 7/10
Play the full song with solfeg.io app for a fun and engaging practice experience.
Justin Bieber – Sorry
“Sorry” by Justin Bieber is built upon a simple four-chord structure, making it technically easy for beginners to grasp. The rhythmic complexity, however, comes from its syncopated elements, offering a slight challenge that is rewarding to overcome.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 9/10
Start playing “Sorry” today with the solfeg.io app and master its catchy rhythm.
Imagine Dragons – Believer
While “Believer” by Imagine Dragons is known for its intense vocals, the drum part is truly the driving force of this hit. If you’re interested in tackling triplet rhythms, this track provides an energetic and engaging starting point on the piano.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 8/10
Explore the triplet rhythm of “Believer” with the help of solfeg.io app.
#1 Chopsticks
Few beginner piano songs are as universally recognized as “Chopsticks.” While widely known, it still holds the power to impress those unfamiliar with playing it, making it a fun and accessible piece for new pianists.
Difficulty: 1/10
Impress: 5/10
#2 Für Elise – Beethoven
Similarly iconic, Beethoven’s “Für Elise” is a hallmark of piano playing. It’s one of the most recognized piano pieces ever composed, instantly associating the player with classical music and skill.
Fun fact: Beethoven composed this piece to impress a woman, highlighting the piano’s romantic appeal.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 8/10
#3 Heart And Soul – Hoagy Carmichael
“Heart and Soul” is a fun, easy, and collaborative piece, perfect for playing with a partner. Its cheerful tune and simple structure make it instantly enjoyable.
From an educational perspective, this song is excellent for teaching chord progressions, as the bass line simply cycles through the standard I-vi-IV-V progression.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 6/10
#4 Swan Lake Theme – Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake Theme,” popularized by movies like “Black Swan” and children’s shows like “Little Einsteins,” is a beautifully recognizable melody.
The main theme is quite simple to play, allowing you to focus on expressive playing and conveying emotion through the piano.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 7/10
#5 Let It Be – Beatles
When it comes to pop songs on piano, the intro to “Let It Be” by The Beatles, crafted by Paul McCartney, is instantly recognizable. While it may require some initial practice, once you grasp the pattern, it flows naturally under your fingers.
Loved by generations for over 50 years, its meaningful message and simple yet beautiful melody ensure it remains a timeless favorite.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 9/10
#6 The Git Up – Blanco Brown
“The Git Up” quickly achieved instant classic status thanks to its incredibly catchy and simple melody. Its repetitive structure makes it easy to learn and remember.
As a pop song adapted for piano, its repetitive nature means that learning a small section essentially equips you to play the entire song.
Personal experience: Using a tutorial and practicing with Solfeg.io’s songbook, which allows speed control and looping of tricky sections, made learning this song efficient and enjoyable.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 10/10
#7 Lean On Me – Bill Withers
Bill Withers’ anthem of support, “Lean On Me,” is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Almost everyone recognizes at least the chorus and can identify the song from its first few chords.
Listening to the original piano recording might make you question its simplicity, but playing basic chords and rhythms effectively captures the song’s essence.
For more advanced players, adding in some of the nuanced fills between chord changes can further enhance the performance.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 8/10
#8 Clocks – Coldplay
The intro to “Clocks” by Coldplay might initially sound daunting for a new pianist. However, the underlying pattern is surprisingly repetitive and manageable.
By slowing down the tempo initially and gradually increasing speed, learning this song is achievable within a few hours. While mastering the full speed might take longer, even a slightly slower rendition is still impressive. This song is also excellent for piano duets, offering collaborative playing opportunities.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 10/10
#9 All My Life – KC & Jojo
Similar to “Clocks,” “All My Life” sounds complex initially but simplifies beautifully once you move past the introduction. Playing basic chords after the intro still results in a great-sounding performance.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 9/10
#10 Let It Go – Frozen
Despite potentially seeming less popular with older kids now, “Let It Go” from Frozen still captivates audiences. It’s a song that has staying power, and its piano part is instantly recognizable and iconic.
The chords are straightforward, but there’s always room to explore more complex voicings for a richer sound.
The Solfeg.io songbook is a helpful tool for practicing this enduring favorite.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 9/10 (realistic impressiveness), potentially perceived as 6/10 by some kids feigning indifference.
#11 What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
“What A Wonderful World” has endured as one of the greatest songs ever written. It’s also a simple piano song that adapts and grows with your increasing skill level.
The chords are interesting yet standard, with numerous online tutorials offering various ways to play them.
Even playing basic chords sounds beautiful, and as your skills improve, you can incorporate more intricate parts to elevate your performance.
Difficulty: 2/10
Impress: 7/10
#12 Prelude To The Well-Tempered Clavier – J.S. Bach
Stepping into classical music, J.S. Bach’s Prelude from The Well-Tempered Clavier was intended as a beginner piano piece. It utilizes a very simple chord progression, broken up in an arpeggiated style.
Originally designed as a practice tool for arpeggiation (playing chords note by note), it’s simply beautiful to listen to. The way Bach structures and breaks down the chords creates a sound far more complex than the actual technique required.
Difficulty: 2.5/10
Impress: 8/10
#13 Prelude in E minor, Opus 28, No 4 – Chopin
Similar to Bach’s Prelude, Chopin’s Prelude in E minor features beautiful chords over a simple, poignant melody. While slightly more challenging than Bach’s, it remains attainable with practice.
It also provides an opportunity to express emotion and make the piece sound more profound than its technical demands might suggest.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 7/10
#14 To A Wild Rose – Edward MacDowell
“To A Wild Rose,” a classic American tune, involves slightly more hand movement than some beginner pieces, making it a good next step for those progressing to more complex material. It’s also widely recognized and appreciated.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 7/10
#15 Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley’s timeless hit, “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” is guaranteed to resonate with audiences. It features an engaging chord progression and offers excellent practice in playing arpeggiated chords.
This song is available in Solfeg.io’s songbook, which is particularly helpful for practicing chord changes and timing.
Difficulty: 2/10
Impress: 8/10
#16 The Entertainer – Scott Joplin
Expanding beyond pop, Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer,” like “Marry You,” can be adapted to suit various skill levels.
As one of the most iconic piano rags ever written, “The Entertainer” has numerous arrangements catering to different abilities. Finding an easier arrangement makes this piece accessible to beginners.
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 presents a manageable challenge with a significant payoff in impressiveness.
The left hand maintains a repeating pattern throughout nearly the entire piece, simplifying the coordination. You can then focus on learning as much of the right-hand melody as you feel comfortable with.
For educators, this piece is excellent for developing left-hand independence due to its repetitive yet independent bass line.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 8/10
#18 Ave Maria – Schubert
Schubert’s “Ave Maria” is legendary in the world of music. While the name might not be immediately familiar, the melody is instantly recognizable upon hearing it.
On piano, it sounds far more intricate than it actually is. The chord arpeggios are quite formulaic, providing a beautiful harmonic foundation for the stunning right-hand melody.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 7/10
#19 Yesterday – Beatles
Another gem from The Beatles (limiting ourselves to just two!), “Yesterday” is another simple piano song that sounds deceptively complex. Originally written for guitar, it translates beautifully to the piano.
From a teaching perspective, the chords are broken down in ways that provide excellent practice for chord shapes and progressions, reminiscent of Bach’s Prelude.
Difficulty: 2/10
Impress: 7/10
#20 The Addams Family Theme
With a quirky and recognizable tune, The Addams Family theme song is surprisingly popular across age groups. The opening piano riff is instantly catchy and encourages finger-snapping participation.
Whether playing just the chords or incorporating more intricate parts, this song is simply fun and engaging. Solfeg.io includes it in their songbook, offering a helpful practice resource.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 8/10
#21 All That Jazz – Chicago
You might not instantly recognize “All That Jazz,” but its catchy piano part is likely to stick in your head. Moving beyond a basic piano accompaniment to include some of the fill parts will truly impress your audience.
Difficulty: 4/10
Impress: 9/10
#22 All Of Me – John Legend
John Legend’s romantic ballad “All of Me” features a compelling syncopated rhythm. The chord progression is also more unique, moving beyond typical chord structures.
While the progression is different, it’s not overly complex. The chord voicings are designed such that finger adjustments between chords are minimal in both hands.
Difficulty: 2/10
Impress: 7/10
#23 Marry You – Bruno Mars
Pop songs on piano occupy a unique space in a pianist’s repertoire. While some rhythms can be challenging, the underlying chords are often simple.
“Marry You” by Bruno Mars exemplifies this. You can achieve an impressive sound using basic chord voicings, and later challenge yourself with the song’s more intricate elements.
Difficulty: 2/10 (simple version), 5/10 (full version)
Impress: 8/10
#24 My Heart Will Go On – Titanic
This Grammy-winning theme from the movie Titanic, “My Heart Will Go On,” is sure to capture the attention of anyone listening. While younger students might not immediately recognize it, parents certainly will.
The chords and voicings are relatively easy compared to the emotional impact and recognition the song carries.
Difficulty: 3/10
Impress: 8/10
#25 Stitches – Shawn Mendes
“Stitches” by Shawn Mendes is a popular favorite among students. With the right tools, this pop song on piano isn’t difficult to learn. Solfeg.io can be a valuable aid in mastering this contemporary hit.
Difficulty: 3.5/10
Impress: 9/10
Conclusion
Hopefully, this list of 25 easy piano songs that sound complicated yet are beginner-friendly has been helpful and inspiring. It might seem ambitious now, but with the right song choices and supportive tools like Solfeg.io, learning to play impressive piano pieces is absolutely within reach.
Solfeg.io can assist you in playing along with high-quality song covers, allowing you to adjust the speed and loop challenging sections. It truly is an invaluable practice tool for any aspiring musician.
Written by Zach VanderGraaff
