30 Easy Piano Songs for Beginners (With Difficulty Ranking)
Learning piano is easier when you're playing songs you actually enjoy. Here are 30 songs perfect for beginners, organized from easiest to more challenging.
How to Use This List
Each song is rated on a 5-point difficulty scale:
- ⭐ - Absolute beginner (1-2 weeks of playing)
- ⭐⭐ - Beginner (1-3 months)
- ⭐⭐⭐ - Early intermediate (3-6 months)
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Intermediate (6-12 months)
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Advanced (1+ year)
This list focuses on ⭐ to ⭐⭐⭐ songs.
Absolute Beginner Songs (⭐)
Perfect for your first weeks at the piano.
1. "Mary Had a Little Lamb"
Difficulty: ⭐ Why it's great: Uses only 3 notes, teaches basic finger positioning Keys used: E-D-C (right hand only to start)
2. "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
Difficulty: ⭐ Why it's great: Introduces both hands, familiar melody Keys used: C-G range, simple left hand
3. "Hot Cross Buns"
Difficulty: ⭐ Why it's great: Only 3 notes, very short Keys used: B-A-G
4. "Ode to Joy" (Simple Version)
Difficulty: ⭐ Why it's great: Classic melody, steady rhythm Keys used: C major, right hand melody
5. "Jingle Bells" (Single Hand)
Difficulty: ⭐ Why it's great: Fun, seasonal, repetitive patterns Keys used: E-F-G range
Beginner Songs (⭐⭐)
Ready to use both hands more?
6. "Heart and Soul"
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Why it's great: Fun duet potential, classic movie song Keys used: C-G, simple chord progression
7. "Chopsticks"
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Why it's great: Builds coordination, satisfying to play Keys used: Mostly G position
8. "Happy Birthday"
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Why it's great: Useful for parties, everyone knows it Keys used: C major, simple bass notes
9. "Can Can" (Offenbach)
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Why it's great: Energetic, teaches tempo control Keys used: C major, alternating hands
10. "A Thousand Years" (Christina Perri) - Simplified
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Why it's great: Beautiful modern song, slow tempo Keys used: C major simplified arrangement
11. "Let It Be" (Beatles) - Intro
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Why it's great: Iconic intro, chord-based Keys used: C-G-Am-F progression
12. "Perfect" (Ed Sheeran) - Simplified
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Why it's great: Popular wedding song, gentle rhythm Keys used: G major simplified
13. "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen) - Intro
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Why it's great: Arpeggiated chords, emotional depth Keys used: C major, finger picking pattern
14. "River Flows in You" (Yiruma) - Theme Only
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Why it's great: Beautiful melody, achievable excerpt Keys used: A major, right hand focus
15. "Lean on Me" (Bill Withers)
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Why it's great: Great bass line, soulful feel Keys used: C major, steady left hand
Early Intermediate Songs (⭐⭐⭐)
Time to tackle more complex arrangements.
16. "Für Elise" (Beethoven) - Opening
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Classic piece, impressive sounding Keys used: A minor, alternating hand melody
17. "Clocks" (Coldplay) - Main Riff
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Recognizable riff, builds hand independence Keys used: Eb major pattern
18. "Someone Like You" (Adele)
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Emotional song, arpeggiated accompaniment Keys used: A major, broken chords
19. "All of Me" (John Legend)
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Wedding favorite, expressive dynamics Keys used: Ab major (easier in G)
20. "Canon in D" (Pachelbel) - Simplified
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Builds pattern recognition Keys used: D major, repeated chord progression
21. "The Entertainer" (Scott Joplin) - Theme
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Fun ragtime feel, syncopation intro Keys used: C major, swing rhythm
22. "Imagine" (John Lennon)
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Meaningful lyrics, steady rhythm Keys used: C major, sparse arrangement
23. "Yesterday" (Beatles)
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Beautiful melody, teaches expression Keys used: F major (often taught in G)
24. "Moonlight Sonata" (Beethoven) - Opening
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Stunning piece, manageable tempo Keys used: C# minor, triplet arpeggios
25. "Stay With Me" (Sam Smith)
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Gospel-influenced chords Keys used: Am-F-C-G progression
26. "Comptine d'un autre été" (Amélie Soundtrack)
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Hauntingly beautiful, builds coordination Keys used: E minor, flowing pattern
27. "Mad World" (Gary Jules Version)
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Simple but emotional Keys used: Fm/Ab, sustained chords
28. "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Queen) - Intro
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Impressive opener, chord-based Keys used: Bb major, dynamic control
29. "A Whole New World" (Aladdin)
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Disney classic, teaches phrasing Keys used: D major, melodic playing
30. "Viva La Vida" (Coldplay)
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Why it's great: Energetic, builds confidence Keys used: Ab major, rhythmic patterns
Practice Tips for Beginners
1. Start Slow
Always begin at half speed. Speed comes with accuracy.
2. Hands Separately First
Master each hand alone before combining them.
3. Small Sections
Break songs into 4-8 measure chunks. Perfect each before moving on.
4. Use a Metronome
Even for slow practice, a metronome builds rhythm sense.
5. Practice the Hard Parts More
Don't just play through — focus on trouble spots.
Practice with Isolated Tracks
Want to play along without the original piano? Use StemSplit's stem splitter to remove piano from recordings and practice with just the band.
FAQ
What's the easiest song to learn on piano?
"Mary Had a Little Lamb" or "Hot Cross Buns" — both use only 3 notes and can be learned in minutes.
How long does it take to learn piano?
You can play simple songs in weeks, sound decent in 6 months, and feel comfortable in 1-2 years. Mastery takes decades — but that's true for every instrument.
Should I learn to read music?
Eventually, yes. But many beginners start with tutorial videos and letter notes. Reading music opens up far more songs, though.
Can I learn piano without a teacher?
Yes, especially with today's online resources. However, a teacher helps prevent bad habits and provides structured progress.
