Top 10 Easy Piano Songs to Master While You're Learning

Leonard Cohen


This haunting song took on a life of its own when it was covered by Jeff Buckley in 1994. It then entered mainstream consciousness after being featured in the 2001 animated film “Shrek.” Did you know it makes for a sophisticated-sounding yet easy piano arrangement? Slow and self-referential, the song’s lyrics actually tell you the chords they are based on. You can’t get any better instruction than that. Plus, to the layman’s ear, the song sounds full and impressive, making it a great choice for learning the piano.

The Beatles


This legendary band’s swan song was included in their final studio album. Composer Paul McCartney got the inspiration for the song from a dream he had about his mother, Mary. “Let It Be” debuted at number 6 on the “Billboard” Hot 100, becoming one of the band’s most beloved and iconic songs. With its straightforward chords and melody, it’s the perfect song to develop your beginner piano skills. It’s in C major, without sharps and flats to contend with. Another famous beginner-friendly composition by a Beatles member is John Lennon’s “Imagine,” also a ballad in the key of C major. But we’re giving the nod to “Let It Be” here.

The Beatles


This Fab Four composition is a great addition to your piano repertoire. Composed by Paul McCartney, “Yesterday” is a timeless standard, interpreted by many artists over the years. Not only does it sound beautiful without being overly sentimental, but it’s also easy to play for newbies. The song starts in F major and smoothly transitions to D minor, its relative minor, before then resolving back into F major. This gives beginners a chance to practice dynamics, particularly in the bridge section. With its classical-style intonations, “Yesterday” makes for the perfect piano arrangement.

Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, & George David Weiss


Wish to play romantic ballads to impress a lover or touch the sentimental side in all of us? Every pianist should have “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in their repertoire. Based on the French love song ‘Plaisir d’amour,’ this composition by Peretti, Creatore, and Weiss was made famous by Elvis Presley and has been covered countless times ever since. It has especially become a favorite at weddings, particularly first dances. With its orderly D major key and simple, yet powerful melody, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is just right for beginners—and because of its classical history, it even sounds impressive on the piano.

Bill Withers


Want to steer clear of played-to-death compositions? If you’re aiming for a more varied repertoire, consider this timeless song to memorize on the piano. One of the most successful songs of all time, Withers’ 1972 recording of “Lean on Me” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and certified Platinum in the U.K. With its poignant lyrics and slow tempo, “Lean on Me” features C major left-hand chords, allowing you to focus on the melody with your right hand. It’s a great song to play that isn’t overdone.

Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg


Standards are called standards for a reason. Written for “The Wizard of Oz,” the melody of “Over the Rainbow” came unexpectedly to Harold Arlen while he was on the road. It’s one of the most famous and beloved songs of all time. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and has been cemented in American consciousness ever since. The song also lends itself well to terrific piano arrangements. While its familiar melody takes at least an octave leap, “Over the Rainbow’s” AABA structure is uncomplicated, with a tritone “B” melody. You can bet that everyone would be thrilled to hear this ballad of melancholic longing.

Ludwig Van Beethoven


Who doesn’t love this daughter of Elysium? The fourth movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, “Ode to Joy,” is one of his most well-known melodies, with its text adapted from Friedrich Schiller’s poem. It even became the official anthem of the European Union and is considered one of the greatest musical works ever. While the completed work is taxing to both play and sing, the actual melody of the fourth movement is a cinch to play on the piano. Both the left and right hands play the stepwise melody before you even get to the variations. “Ode to Joy” will please all, and your fingers will thank you.

Patty Hill & Mildred J. Hill


This song really needs no introduction. One of America’s most well-known tunes, “Happy Birthday” was originally created by two Kentucky sisters as a catchy song for kindergarteners. Thanks to corporate chicanery, though, it was given a long copyright that only ended in 2015 in the U.S. While the song is notorious for its tricky high note—especially for untrained singers like most of us—such leaps are no problem on the piano. Since the song uses a relatively simple, repeating melody, playing it is a piece of cake—even for a newbie.

Frank Loesser & Hoagy Carmichael


Most pianists have surely come across this tune in their introductory piano books. Composed by Frank Loesser, famous for “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “Heart and Soul” is a beloved jazz standard, widely referenced in media. With its childlike melody paired with surprisingly intense adult lyrics, “Heart and Soul’s” simplified piano arrangement is a breeze to learn and memorize. It’s traditionally meant to be a duet between the piano teacher playing the left-hand chords and the student playing the right-hand melody. Once you’ve mastered this arrangement, you can experiment with variations. You’re sure to have a wonderful time with this song—no matter your level.

Traditional


We definitely do not need to explain this one. That said, the history behind this familiar children’s song may surprise you. This folk tune began as the French “Ah! Vous dirai-je maman,” a girl’s sweet confession to her mother about her crush. Eventually it was given nursery rhyme lyrics, twelve variations by Mozart, and no fewer than three sets of English lyrics. The most common English version is of course “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” based on a poem by Jane Taylor—as well as the alphabet song and “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.” With its stepwise melody and only one “B” variation, this is the simplest song to learn for beginners on the piano.

Which other songs do you think would be great for a beginner to try on the piano? Let us know in the comments down below!