Many people wish to learn popular piano songs, yet these pieces can seem intimidating for novice players due to being often complex with multiple parts and features.
There are simplified versions of popular songs available for beginners to practice on piano more quickly and to develop their piano skills faster.
Clocks by Coldplay
Coldplay’s Clocks is an iconic piano song from their album A Rush of Blood to the Head, full of amazing tracks like this one. The piano riff in Clocks is catchy yet emotional; coupled with a powerful rhythm that compels listeners to dance!
Chris Martin contributed to writing “Push It”, their second single from their album which reached number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number nine in the UK charts. Additionally, this song won them their fourth Grammy for Record of the Year against songs such as Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” and Beyonce & Jay Z’s “Crazy in Love”.
Many versions have been created from this song, including by Norwegian duo Royksopp who created a dance version which they released as limited-edition 12″ vinyl for sale through their website. Furthermore, this song can also be heard as part of Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party’s soundtrack.
This song is ideal for beginners as its chords are straightforward and piano playability easy. However, practicing frequently to avoid errors is essential to success and understanding its lyrics will provide insight into its significance and meaning behind its music.
All My Life by KC & Jo Jo
K-Ci and JoJo first got their start performing together as members of Little Cedric and the Hailey Singers, before going solo or joining Jodeci as band members. All My Life from 1998 spent twenty weeks as #1, earning them numerous Grammy Award nominations.
This song is an iconic classic, with tender lyrics and emotive harmonies that conjure emotions of hope, sadness and longing. Written to commemorate their young daughter Kayla’s life but easily translating as an anthem for all types of love.
Musically, this track recalls an earlier age of R&B when songs were more traditionally structured and laidback. A drum machine drives the melody forward while K-Ci and JoJo’s harmonies blend beautifully into its arrangement.
Over time, they have proven immensely popular with fans and continue to release new material. Most recently they released X, an album which combined some classic sounds with more contemporary production styles. Furthermore, they star in their own reality show that chronicles their life and family life.
Respect by Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin’s piano-backed “Respect” will have your body responding immediately, whether you’re singing it while driving in your car or dancing at a party – with hands pointing, head tilting backwards, neck rolling forward and waist bopping all coming into play as part of an automatic response mechanism.
Aretha Franklin’s rendition of Otis Redding’s timeless “Respect” song stands as one of the most powerful and iconic recordings ever. She took what had originally been an emotive plea from men for their love to become an empowerment anthem for women everywhere – changing gender roles and adding spelling lessons (“R-E-S-P-E-C-T”) were just two ways Aretha used her voice, talent and soul to transform this classic tune.
Consider Aretha’s turbulent relationship at the time she recorded this song, and its powerful lyrics become even more poignant today. Her powerful performance of it was sure to evoke strong reactions in listeners of all types – not least Aretha herself who sang it with both exasperation and anticipation for maximum impact.
The song has become so iconic that it has been featured in movies and TV shows such as Platoon, Forrest Gump and Mystic Pizza, earning Aretha two Grammy awards and becoming one of her greatest works. Actor Jennifer Hudson will take on the immense task of portraying Aretha’s life for an upcoming film called Respect; according to Jennifer she found embodying Aretha similar to learning piano!
All of Me by John Legend
Beginners often find this song to be one of the easiest songs to learn on piano. Its melodic beauty primarily requires your right hand. Additionally, use of the sustain pedal may be necessary; just make sure not to leave it depressed all of the time as this could make your sound muffled.
John Legend returned to his piano-driven roots with All of Me, an emotional ballad dedicated to Chrissy Teigen he wrote as a wedding present at their Lake Como wedding in 2013. Nabil Elderkin directed its video; other clients include Kanye West, Bon Iver, and Frank Ocean.
The song has quickly become a favorite for couples everywhere, its powerful lyrics and romantic melody inspiring many fans to share their own tales of romance and devotion. Additionally, its message about accepting all aspects of someone even their flaws or imperfections have received accolades from mental health advocates.
John Legend made waves with All of Me, which became his first number-one single since 2004’s Get Lifted album featuring Ordinary People and Used to Love You – his breakthrough success at that time was followed by Evolver in 2008 and Love in the Future two years later. Additionally, Legend is well known for both acting and musical work and delivered an emotional performance of Glory at this year’s Oscars with Common.
If I Ain’t Got You by Etta James
Beginners to piano may benefit from learning this song as its melody is very easy to remember and its advanced technique, including triplet riff in the right hand, can help develop technique. Start off slowly before increasing tempo for optimal results – perfect for weddings or special events!
This song’s memorable riff and melody have made it an instant pop hit for many listeners. Additionally, its introduction to chord progressions will come in handy later for other popular piano pieces like Imagine or All My Life.
If I Ain’t Got You is an exciting piano song with a funky flair. This tune can be learnt quickly for those wanting to show off their musical prowess; any instrument may be used, however vocal accompaniment is recommended for maximum impact.
This song’s beat makes it perfect for dancing and has made it an ever-popular dance tune. The verse features simple back and forth between C and F chords while its chorus provides more complex harmonies.
I Will Always Love You by Alicia Keyes
I Will Always Love You was one of the most beloved piano songs ever, reaching No.1 for both Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys as No.1 hits. A timeless duet, the song explores the powerful chemistry between lovers as it serves as a poignant reminder that it’s important to move on after relationships end.
Alicia Keys has taken the pop music world by storm with her incredible piano talents. This song from her second album showcases this talent by seamlessly merging genres together; additionally, its music video depicts Keys performing piano alongside an ensemble of women dressed in Victorian-era dresses.
Keys released the soulfully sensual track “Tell Me Why” as a heartfelt tribute to her blended family comprised of hip-hop producer Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean and Mashonda Tifrere – Dean was previously married to Blend author Mashonda Tifrere and Tifrere. The romantic piano ballad comes complete with an emotional black-and-white music video starring Michael B. Jordan and Zoe Saldana.
This 2002 track is a moving tribute to women, celebrating their strength and reminding them of their worth. Additionally, it challenges the idea that their worth should be measured solely based on physical appearance. This soulful tune features elements from R&B and soul music genres with jazzy piano melodies providing classic sounding accompaniment while Keys vocals also add powerful emotion that make this track timeless classic worth listening to for every woman!