Taking up piano as a novice beginner can open up an incredibly rewarding world of musical expression. However, those black and white keys can seem intimidating at first! By starting out with some easy, familiar tunes that you already know and love, you can quickly build confidence, skill, and motivation to continue advancing on the instrument.
There are hundreds of great beginner piano songs across many genres and styles to choose from. These are just ten of hundreds of easy piano songs for beginners for you to consider.
1. ’Hedwig’s Theme’
The Harry Potter movies will forever be a classic, and “Hedwig’s Theme” from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is a favorite of many piano students. Originally composed by music legend John Williams, there are arrangements for many different levels. The charming Harry Potter theme switches between A minor and E minor keys. This gives it a magical, mysterious sound. There are easy piano versions for beginners. These keep the enchanting mood but use simpler notes. New players can learn to conjure up some musical magic!
2. ‘Piano Man’
A hit since the 70s, “Piano Man” by Billy Joel is a song that piano players the world over yearn to learn. Its steady rhythms, memorable lyrics, and manageable hand positions make it an ideal pick for students transitioning from nursery rhymes to pop songs. Master the repeating patterns in the right hand while maintaining the solid chordal accompaniment in the left hand. With a moderate tempo and C Major notes, it’s a good choice for beginning and intermediate players.
3. ‘Canon in D’
One of the most popular and beloved easy piano songs for beginners is “Canon in D” by Pachbel. Because it’s in D Major and has a very slow tempo, it’s not overly difficult to learn, and sounds beautiful, even when simplified. Coordinating left and right hands boosts control and independence while playing this song. Noticing subtle volume changes while playing the repeating tune builds musical listening skills too. This graceful, old-fashioned melody still sounds wonderful played on piano today.
4. ‘Easy On Me’
A newer hit that’s an easy piano solo is Adele’s “Easy On Me”. It has a slower tempo and fairly repetitive rhythms, so beginners can enjoy learning this pop song without much hassle. The song also has easy versions for beginners. These break down the right-hand tune and basic left-hand chords. This is great for practicing holding bass notes while playing fuller chords above. It helps balance and smoothly connect the hands. Repeating 4 chords also lets beginners focus more on feeling phrases rather than reading complex music. Heartfelt yet raw, this straightforward ballad will please new players and listeners.
5. ‘A Thousand Years’
It’s an amazing experience to play a romantic and emotive song like “A Thousand Years”. Christina Perri’s hauntingly beautiful song is learnable for beginners, as it is often arranged in C Major. Though categorized as a pop ballad, “A Thousand Years” draws inspiration from classical composition with its cascading piano accompaniment buoying an intimate vocal line. Let the delicate melodies transport you to your romantic daydreams.
6. ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’
Whether in your mind you hear Elvis singing or whether you are more familiar with the “Book of the Dead” version, this romantic song by George Weiss, Hugo Peretti, and Luigi Creatore is a crowd pleaser. You’ll be singing along to this soulful song in no time. Its straightforward chord changes have made this song a karaoke favorite for decades. Feel free to embellish with blues-inspired grace notes as you harmonize with one of rock and roll’s founding legends for added enjoyment.
7. ‘In Christ Alone’
For Christian music lovers, “In Christ Alone” is available in easy arrangements for piano students. It’s a moderately paced song and the bass hand is generally simple single notes or chords, making it straightforward to learn. Though originally penned in 2001, its universal themes and soaring resolutions make it a modern-day staple at churches everywhere. Master this moving anthem as part of your spiritual journey.
8. ‘Sweet Caroline’
“Sweet Caroline” is another of many easy piano songs for beginners. In 1969 Neil Diamond released this amazing classic. It has a quicker tempo but the bass hand is fairly repetitive and rhythmic, letting the pianist focus more on the treble clef. Maintain the buoyant bounce in your left hand while nailing Diamond’s vocal tones on the piano. You’ll have people gleefully shouting “so good, so good, so good!” on every upbeat.
9. ‘You Raise Me Up’
Brendand Graham and Rolf Lovland wrote this song and was originally performed by Secret Garden, and in 2003 Josh Groban included it in his album “Closer”. If you like inspiring piano music, this is a great song to work on. It is more of a high beginner level, but also has a slow tempo, so intermediate beginners may also be able to handle it. Embrace the challenge of playing both the sweeping accompaniment and vocal melody simultaneously to fully immerse yourself in this ballad’s empowering message.
10. ‘He’s a Pirate’
This well-known “Pirates of the Caribbean” song is a fun challenge for beginning piano students. There are even single-note versions. German film composer Klaus Badelt expertly captured a sense of oceanic wonder with his Academy Award-nominated score. While this brisk tune may seem daunting for newer students, simplified single-hand versions retain the sense of drama that’s made it a modern classic. Since this song has a quick tempo, beginners should look for a single-note version before moving on to versions with chords or that use both hands.
Final Words
As you can see, there is no shortage of easy piano music out there for every level of player and listening taste—from pop and rock to religious and movie soundtracks. By practicing these fundamental techniques through approachable songs you already enjoy, you’ll start noticing considerable improvements in movements, sight-reading abilities, and confidence.
Remember that consistency is key when cultivating piano skills, so be sure to practice daily, even if only 15-30 minutes at a time. Mastering these fun beginner songs will provide a strong foundation as you continue advancing on the piano. Stay motivated by learning other songs you love while also mixing in new pieces to continue expanding your abilities. With passion and dedication, you’ll be playing challenging pieces sooner than you think!
