The piano is one of the most accessible musical instruments in the world. With every note laid out in front of you — in simple black and white — you can play chords and melodies to your heart’s content. Just like other instruments, however, practice is needed to get great results. If you’re looking for easy songs to learn on the piano, you’ve come to the right place. From classical tunes to pop ballads and folk arrangements, the following songs are a great first step toward mastering the keys.
Discover 20 easy songs to play on the piano:
Let It Be – The Beatles
Released in 1970, “Let It Be” is a beloved pop classic. This Beatles song is well-suited to beginner piano players, with the C major scale and 72 BPM tempo both widely accessible. The chords are C, G, Am, and F — the standard I-V-vi-IV progression heard on many pop and classical recordings. Knowing your inversions will also help, and like always, practice makes perfect.
Clocks – Coldplay
Coldplay has created lots of piano-friendly songs over their long career, and there’s none better than this. “Clocks” was originally written by Chris Martin on piano, with the band joining in later on. It features a memorable ostinato, and a descending scale in the key of E♭ mixolydian over a chord progression of E♭, B♭m, and Fm.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star – Traditional
This is one of the best easy piano songs for new players. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is a timeless classic, and it only requires five — all white — piano keys. The melody is easy to follow, with one hand repeating a refrain of C, G, A, G; F, E, D, and C; before adding G, F, E, and D times two. If you’re looking for easy songs to learn on the piano, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is an absolute gem.
You Belong with Me – Taylor Swift
There are lots of easy Taylor Swift songs to play on the piano, including “You Belong with Me.” It features a typical verse–chorus structure, in a standard diatonic I-V-ii-IV chord progression. There are four chords in total, with F♯, C♯, g♯, and B maintained for two measures each against a simple 4/4 time signature.
Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel (Simplified)
If you want to dip your toes into the world of classical music, “Canon in D” by Pachelbel is the perfect introduction. The simplified version of this piece is designed for easier playing, with a repeating bass line interweaved with a pretty melody. The left hand plays the bass, which is D, A, Bm, F#m, G, D, G, and A. The right hand loops the melody, which is A, B, C#, D, E, F#, and G.
Perfect – Ed Sheeran
Another simple pop song, “Perfect” is loved by piano newbies. This song is written in A♭ major, at the relaxed tempo of 95 BPM. Interestingly, this track can be notated in 4/4 when using triplets, or in non-standard 12/8 time when not using triplets. The chord progression is A♭5, Fm7, D♭sus2, and E♭, and the vocals span over an octave from E♭3 to A♭4.
Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
This majestic song by Leonard Cohen sounds great on piano, guitar, or any other instrument. Whether you love the original or prefer the 1994 recording by Jeff Buckley, “Hallelujah” is one of the best songs of the 20th century. This song is written in 12/8 in the key of C major, and the chord progression is a very standard C, F, G, Am, and F.
Fur Elise (Intro) – Ludwig van Beethoven
The first few measures of “Fur Elise” by Beethoven offer a glorious introduction to the world of classical piano. This piece is a five-part rondo, which starts gently with a flowing melody and arpeggiated accompaniment. The relationship between the dominant E and chromatic D# is one of the most recognized openings in the history of music. Easy classical piano songs are rarely this beautiful.
River Flows in You – Yiruma (Simplified)
The simplified version of “River Flows in You” by Yiruma has become something of a modern classic. On this piece, the Korean composer builds a vi-IV-I-V chord progression in A major with F#m, D, A, and E. This progression is common in many popular pop and classical recordings, and this piece is a great way to understand how it works.
All of Me – John Legend
“All of Me” comes from John Legend’s fourth studio album, Love in the Future. It’s a piano ballad inspired by his love for Chrissy Teigen, written at the steady tempo of 63 BPM in the key of F#. While this track can be played with lots of inversions and altered chords, you’ll get where you want to go with Em, C, G, and D; and G, Em, Am, and D.
A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
It may not be the most famous song in the world, but it’s a huge favorite among new piano players. “A Thousand Years” is written in non-standard 6/8 time, with the piano playing in B♭ major and the vocals ranging from F3 to C5. This song is famous for good reason — it was the soundtrack to Edward’s and Bella’s love in the much-loved Twilight films.
Stay with Me – Sam Smith
“Stay With Me” from Sam Smith comes from his 2014 album, In the Lonely Hour. This gospel soul ballad is ideal for new piano players, being written in C major at the slow tempo of 84 BPM. The most used chord progression is Am7, F, and C, with additions of G, Gsus, and G#dim adding emotional color. This is one of the best easy popular songs to play on the piano for beginners.
Imagine – John Lennon
“Imagine” by John Lennon is a favorite sing-along tune, often accompanied by an acoustic guitar. It’s a bona fide modern classic, and it sounds just as good on piano as it does on six strings. This magnificent ode to peace was written in C major, with chord shapes moving from F to G and C while a piano riff ascends chromatically from A to B.
Counting Stars – OneRepublic
Another surprise inclusion, “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic has become a huge favorite among piano players. It’s composed in the unusual key of C#, with the tempo accelerating from 107 BPM to 122 BPM against a chord progression of C#m, E, B, and A. This beloved folk pop track is about staying optimistic in a world gone wrong.
My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
The iconic Celine Dion wrote lots of great music over her career, including some easy piano songs. “My Heart Will Go On” is the theme song to Titanic, and it brings all the emotion of the film to the piano keys. This song was written in E major, with the two most important chord progressions being E, Bsus4, Add9, E, and B; and C#m, B, A, and B.
Believer – Imagine Dragons (Easy Version)
Imagine Dragons has recorded and released lots of catchy music over their career, including the smash song “Believer.” This track is about painful life experiences, and it was written in 12/8 at 125 BPM. “Believer” was composed in B♭ minor with a typical chord progression of B♭m, G♭, and F.
No Time to Die – Billie Eilish (Simplified)
The wonderful Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas have written lots of great music together. “No Time to Die” is among the most special, having been recorded for the James Bond film of the same name. The orchestral pop vibes of this track work great on the piano, and the E minor key at 74 BPM adds to the dramatic feel.
Happy Birthday – Traditional
You can’t learn piano without first mastering the classics. We’re not talking about Mozart, Beethoven, or even Bach — but the simple songs that make up our collective folk traditions. “Happy Birthday” is one of the best easy piano songs for kids, but the basic G, D, C, G refrain is perfect for new players of any age.
Yesterday – The Beatles
“Yesterday” by The Beatles is one of the first pop songs many people learn to play on piano. It features two contrasting sections, with the main melody lasting a very untypical seven bars. The first section moves from F to Em, A7, and Dm, and the second section moves from Em7 to A, Dm, B♭, and F. If you’re looking for easy popular songs to play on piano for beginners, this song is hard to beat.
Do-Re-Mi – The Sound of Music
This novelty song from The Sound of Music is the perfect way to learn piano. Based on the musical solfège system, it goes over all of the notes in a standard major scale. While “Do-Re-Mi” doesn’t have the deep musical structures or emotional pull of other songs on this list, it’s a great way to learn the basics.
Final Thoughts
Learning the piano is incredibly rewarding and lots of fun — as long as you have the right music. Whether you’re looking for Disney easy piano songs, classic rock tunes, or jazz standards, there are lots of great songs to help you get started. Once you’ve mastered these easy songs to play on the piano, you can move forward with complex chords and longer pieces. If you’re also a guitar player, check out these other easy songs to learn on guitar, too. The whole world of music is at your doorstep.
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