One of the best things about learning piano is how quickly and easily you can get started. Unlike string instruments where you have to learn how to use your hands to fret or pluck strings first, you can start playing the piano just by hitting the right keys. That means there are loads of easy piano songs you can learn today.
In this guide, we’ve collected 32 easy songs to get you started. You don’t need to know how to read sheet music. We have included tutorials for all of the songs.
There is something for everyone, with soundtracks and popular songs on this list. There is also some classical music that sounds complicated and impressive, even if you are a novice piano player.
The Common Chords
There are thousands of chords and chord variations. Luckily, you only need to know a handful to play some beautiful yet easy piano songs. Loads of piano pieces and popular songs are just made up of these common chords.
Most people start with “triad” chords. These are all made up of patterns of three notes on the keyboard.
Chords that aren’t on this list are easy to look up online. Don’t fret if you see a chord you don’t recognize.
The notes of these chords are usually played all at the same time. In some songs, you cycle through the notes of a chord. These are called “arpeggios” Chords are not the only thing to understand when it comes to playing songs on the piano.
Melodies are played by learning individual notes and playing them one at a time in rhythm. If you want to play piano songs for beginners that sound impressive, the melody will usually be crucial.
Chords are often more of an accompaniment to singing, whereas the melody or the “hook” is what people recognize.As you get better at playing the piano, you will learn to incorporate both left hand and right hand. The left will normally be playing a bass line or chords, while the right plays the melody.
Practice Tips to Learn Songs Faster
As well as finding easy songs to learn, should consider the following tips to streamline the process further and be playing full songs in virtually no time:
- Learn in sections: It helps to break the song down into a number of sections and learn these individually. Intro, verse, chorus. Don’t try to learn in a “linear” way and go from start to finish. A section at a time is easier for the brain.
- Start with the right hand: Don’t try to combine both hands too quickly. This can be tough to coordinate, especially at the beginning. Just focus on the right-hand melody first, and then combine chords if needed.
- Choose songs you like: This is more of a motivation tip. You’re less likely to stick at it if you don’t enjoy the song.
- Slow things down: Learning the song slower than you’re used to hearing it makes it easier to learn the notes and moving between them. Use YouTube’s “playback speed” control if needed.
12 Super Easy Piano Songs
1. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – Nursery Rhyme
This is a great piano song for kids to learn. Easy, fun, and a song that everyone knows.
Difficulty score: 2/10
Impress score: 4/10
2. Happy Birthday To You
Happy Birthday is not just a great song to learn because it is easy, it’s one of the most useful pieces of piano music! Get everyone to sing along when it is someone’s birthday.
Difficulty score: 2/10
Impress score: 4/10
3. If You’re Happy and You Know It
Difficulty score: 1/10
Impress score: 4/10
4. Chopsticks
What a fun song this is for beginners. There are probably millions of people who learned chopsticks as their first-ever piano piece. It may be simple, but it’s effective, and you can sound great in minutes.
Difficulty score: 1/10
Impress score: 4/10
5. Fur Elise – Beethoven
Most people are really excited when they realize they can play a Beethoven song as one of the first in their songbook. Fur Elise, a lovesong by the renowned composer, has a surprisingly simple motif running through it.
Difficulty score: 2/10
Impress score: 6/10
6. Jingle Bells
You might feel a bit silly learning Jingle Bells in 11 months of the year, but when the holiday season rolls around it is great to know a festive song.
Difficulty score: 2/10
Impress score: 5/10
7. Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra
Difficulty score: 2/10
Impress score: 6/10
8. Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
This is a really popular beginner song for ukulele, but your piano teacher might get you to play this as one of your first songs too.
Difficulty score: 2/10
Impress score: 6/10
9. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen (C, Am, F, G, E7)
Difficulty score: 3/10
Impress score: 7/10
10. Let it Be – The Beatles (C, G, Am, F)
Difficulty score: 3/10
Impress score: 6/10
11. Look What You Made Me Do – Taylor Swift
One of the easiest pop songs you will ever find. Catchy, and it’s great to sing along to.
Difficulty score: 2/10
Impress score: 5/10
12. Part Of Your World – The Little Mermaid
Difficulty score: 2/10
Impress score: 5/10
15 Medium Easy Piano Songs
1. Coldplay – The Scientist ( Dm7, A#, F, Fsus2)
Difficulty score: 4/10
Impress score: 8/10
2. Lean on Me – Bill Withers (C, F, Em, G, G7)
This Bill Withers classic is pretty simple, especially if you can handle quick chord changes. There are some more intricate fills you can add in, but they’re optional for beginners.
Difficulty score: 5/10
Impress score: 8/10
3. Minuet in G – Bach
Difficulty score: 4/10
Impress score: 8/10
4. Canon in D – Pachabel
Difficulty score: 5/10
Impress score: 7/10
5. What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong (F, Am, Dm, Am, Gm)
Difficulty score: 4/10
Impress score: 7/10
6. Let Her Go – Passenger (D, C, Em, G, Bm)
Difficulty score: 5/10
Impress score: 8/10
7. Jar of Hearts – Christina Perri (Bm, D, A, Em, G)
Difficulty score: 5/10
Impress score: 7/10
8. Africa – Toto
Difficulty score: 5/10
Impress score: 7/10
9. Imagine – John Lennon (C, Cmaj7, F, E, E7)
Difficulty score: 5/10
Impress score: 8/10
10. Mad World – Gary Jules (Fm, A#, G#, D#)
Difficulty score: 5/10
Impress score: 8/10
11. How To Save A Life – The Fray (A#, F, Gm, F, D#)
Difficulty score: 5/10
Impress score: 8/10
12. Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 – Chopin
This is one of those songs that most people know the melody of, even if they don’t know it’s by Chopin. You’ll sound like a true pro if you can master this.
Difficulty score: 5/10
Impress score: 9/10
13. In The Jungle – The Lion King
Difficulty score: 4/10
Impress score: 7/10
14. Hedwig’s Theme – Harry Potter
Difficulty score: 5/10
Impress score: 7/10
15. City of Stars – Ryan Gosling (La La Land)
Ryan Gosling famously learned piano in four months by taking piano lessons for his part in La La Land. This is one of the simpler pieces in the movie. It’s pretty easy to learn this piano song, even though it sounds impressive.
Difficulty score: 5/10
Impress score: 8/10
5 Intermediate Easy Piano Songs
1. Married Life – Up
Difficulty score: 6/10
Impress score: 8/10
2. Rewrite The Stars – The Greatest Showman
Difficulty score: 7/10
Impress score: 9/10
3. Piano Man – Billy Joel (C, G, F, D7)
Difficulty score: 6/10 (depending on the arrangement)
Impress score: 8/10
4. The Winner Takes It All – Abba
Difficulty score: 6/10
Impress score: 9/10
5. I’m Still Standing – Elton John
Difficulty score: 6/10
Impress score: 8/10
Conclusion
Depending on what arrangement you opt for, you might have noticed there are simple and more complex versions of most of these songs. The tutorials we’ve picked are great for learning in a simple way, but ensuring everyone can recognize what you’re playing.
You don’t have to reach a professional skill level to start enjoying full songs and playing in front of friends or family. As you can see, there are plenty of songs you can learn on a rainy afternoon.
Anna teaches piano and guitar and also has extensive experience recording music. She’s well read in music psychology and love to share the benefits of learning to play music.
