When you know what you’re doing, the piano can create music that will amaze audiences. Learning how to is where things get difficult.
Going through exercise after exercise gets boring, so, to help you out, I have compiled a list of songs that are simple enough for beginners and have the added benefit of helping you learn to play!
Piano Songs to Help You Learn the Notes
Beginning the piano means you need to first learn where the notes are, which keys your hands should start at, and how to manipulate both hands in a way that will create amazing pieces of music.
To do this, you start out with songs that are more than simple, they are ridiculously simple.
These songs will help you become familiar with the piano and help you to build up a muscle memory that will help you to play more complex pieces in the future!
“Jingle Bells”
Not only is Jingle Bells great for the winter holidays, but it is also a great song to help you get your fingers familiarized with the piano!
Thanks to the repetition of notes and melodies it is great for beginners, helping them to become familiar with the piano and create muscle memory of where each note is located.
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”
All right, so this may not be the most exciting song to add to your repertoire, but the song is helpful for beginners. Since the song is so repetitive, it helps beginning pianists to become used to the piano.
Plus, the song utilizes six out of seven of the notes on a scale, meaning it is a great and easy way to help learn locations of each note.
“Mary had a Little Lamb”
Another song that may not be the most fun to play or listen to, and is definitely not going to impress very many. However, this song is great for beginners. It introduces a foundation that will later be built upon for more advanced pieces.
Plus, once you get the hang of the song’s melody, go ahead and add a left-handed chord, pressing the chord on the first beat of each measure.
Keep playing with the song, adding major and minor chords, every time you feel comfortable playing the song. The added challenges will help you to keep on improving!
“My Heart Will Go On”
This classic Grammy award-winning song from the movie Titanic, will not only help you improve your piano skills but also capture your audience’s hearts.
The piece is only a few chords accompanied by a repeating melodic phrase that consists almost entirely of the notes E, E#, D, F#, G#. The slow pace of the song also helps to make it very simple to play while allowing the beginner to create a muscle memory of where each note is located.
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
Add another great classic to your list of piano songs! Made popular by The Wizard of Oz, this piece will sound amazing no matter what key it is played in!
Plus, the song will help beginners to learn the varying tempo changes throughout music pieces.
Plus, the piece will help those with dominant right-hands get used to playing more left-hand pieces– with the continual alteration between notes and the slow changes that the right-hand is to make.
“Ode to Joy”
Ode to Joy offers a challenge for the beginner pianist, with left-hand chords that can help you get used to playing with both hands.
Just like Mary had a Little Lamb, you can add twists to the music. Of course, it may be some time before you get the hang of things. Putting the left-hand chords and the right-hand melody together can prove to be a challenge.
“Fur Elise”
Typically, Beethoven’s classical piano songs are too difficult for a beginner. “Fur Elise” is an exception. This song is not only simple to play, but also very impressive!
The very first five notes are simply alternating between the two main notes of the song, E, and E-flat.
The chord progressions played throughout the piece begins with an A-minor, E7, four more A-minors, C, G, A-minor, and ends with an E chord.
Although a bit more difficult than the other pieces listed, the piece is great for practicing to play arpeggios, but doubles as awe-inspiring!
So now you have some great songs to begin practicing so you can master that piano, but where are the fun and impressive songs?
Easy Piano Songs to Impress Your Friends
Need something more popular to impress your friends, but can’t quite play the difficult pieces?
Many beginner piano songs are not very impressive, however, there are a few that are simple yet awe-inspiring. Here are a few piano songs that are easily recognized and simple to play.
“Drops of Jupiter”
Playing the piano song of Drops of Jupiter is pretty simple since there are only two parts.
For the first part, you will need to be playing the chords C, G, and F. The chords then change to G, D, F, and C chords.
All you need to know are these four chords, and you’ll be good to go!
“How to Save a Life”
This popular song is much simpler than it sounds. Most of the piano parts are played with your right hand. The chords that are present throughout the song will be played by both your left and right hands.
The first half of the song the notes your right-hand will be playing are as follows: B-flat, F, D, F, F, D, F, C, F, D, F, F, D, F.
For the second half, the melody changes and your right-hand will now be playing D, F, D, F, F, D, F, A, F, D, F, C, F, D, F.
The chords that are present throughout the song will be played by both your left and right hands. These chords can be broken into two parts: the chorus and the verse.
For the chorus, you will be playing E-flat, F, G minor, and B-flat chords. While for the verses, you will be playing B-flat, F/A, and G chords.
“All About that Bass”
That’s right, Meghan Trainor’s chart-topping song is not difficult to play! Just practice playing the bass line with your left-hand until you get the hang of it. At that point, you should move on to the melody.
Be sure you listen to how the melody changes throughout the song– it is different in the chorus then it is throughout the verse.
This song is sure to impress your friends!
“Billie Jean”
Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” comes from his Thriller album, dating back to 1982.
To play this song, 3 chords will be utilized– F#minor, G#minor, and A. These chords will be played with your right hand while you play a four-note bass line with your left.
Overall, the song may sound complicated, but it is actually easy enough for a beginner to play!
“Someone Like You”
Adele’s hit song managed to top charts in nearly 10 countries, so you’ll be surprised when I tell you it’s actually very simple! The song consists of four moving parts that will need to be mastered, but the majority of the song is made up of four repeated chords.
The song consists of four moving parts that will need to be mastered, but the majority of the song is made up of four repeated chords– A, E, F#minor, and D.
Your left hand will be playing constant arpeggios while your right hand will handle the melody.
“Stay With Me”
Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” is easy to learn and can easily become one of your favorite piano songs! The song repeats three chords and uses the same rhythm throughout the song. Because of this, the song is actually easy to play.
The three chords are A minor, F, and C, all of which will be played by your left hand. But, of course, you can always add a few frills to make the song more interesting to play!
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
As a song that is impossible to resist, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody is actually a lot easier to play on the piano than you would think!
This rock solo is great, allowing you to get used to both slow and fast tempos while also using dynamics. Plus, this song can be modified however you wish– you can make it as easy or as hard as your want!
Adding this classic to your list of piano songs will definitely impress your friends, and possibly even some strangers!
What are you waiting for? Go on and add some of these awesome piano songs to your list and impress everyone you know!
Of course, before you can master any of these songs, you need to make sure you have an amazing piano or keyboard to play on!
Want more information about learning to play, the best piano to buy, or even some more advanced songs to practice? Check out our other posts for more!