Playing popular piano songs can be an impressive way to wow friends and family, while simultaneously honing problem-solving and communication skills.
Dark Horse by ABBA boasts one of the most gorgeous pop piano melodies ever written and is easy for novice pianists to learn within weeks of starting to play piano.
1. “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees
This iconic dance song is always a crowd favorite. Recognizable for beginners, but also difficult due to the rhythm and chord progression, it provides the ideal opportunity to practice ignoring distractions while practicing playing in noisy environments.
When you’re ready to advance to more complex piano songs, give Fallin by Alicia Keys a try. It features an emotive melody with simple chords that should come quickly to you.
Coldplay fans should check out Clocks, an enjoyable pop song with an easy progression of Fm – Cm – Gm which makes learning it accessible even for new pianists. Furthermore, Clocks serves as an example of using both major and minor triads in one piece.
2. “Wuthering Heights” by Christina Perri
if you want an accessible yet crowd pleasing song to learn for an upcoming wedding or simply impress friends and family members. the tempo is slow, chords are simple and melodies repeat themselves throughout. this song would make an excellent addition to any repertoire!
This pop tune is an easy, enjoyable song to learn that’s perfect for both novice and experienced players alike. With its slow tempo and repetitive piano chords, this tune provides ample opportunity for practicing finger independence and rhythm skills while building rhythm skills over time. Plus, its familiar lyrics make this tune sure to please audiences worldwide; its uplifting vocals ensure a positive reaction.
3. “Imagine” by John Lennon
John Lennon’s classic piano tune “Imagine” has long been one of the most beloved piano melodies, conveying feelings of peace and love with its soft melody that’s easy for anyone to learn – often featured at wedding receptions.
John Lennon wrote “Imagine” during one morning in early 1971 as an expression of his vision of a world without war or poverty.
Working Class Hero), he created music that would soothe and uphold. This style was key in helping his listeners relax and let go of their troubles – this talent of his was evident with “Imagine”, one of his masterpieces that speaks directly to all audiences.
4. “Mary Had a Little Lamb” by Bruno Mars
If you’re a beginner pianist looking for easy piano songs to learn, popular pieces such as “Nuvole Bianche” by Ludovico Einaudi and “River Flows in You” by Yiruma are great places to start. Both pieces feature catchy melodies that beginners should find easy to pick up on their instruments.
Bruno Mars’ “Mary Had a Little Lamb” provides another excellent option. With its straightforward notes and chord progressions, this song can easily be learned within weeks of starting your apprenticeship.
Examples of easy pop piano songs include Alicia Keys’s “Fallin” and Gwen Stefani’s “Piece by Piece,” both featuring simple melodies and chord progressions that novice piano players can pick up quickly. Both songs also provide an introduction to some of the patterns encountered while playing piano; for instance, “Fallin” features 12/8 time signature which helps break newcomers out of playing only in 4/4 timeframe.
5. “Havana” by Camilla Cabello
Pianists often go unappreciated in the music world despite possessing equal skill to drummers or guitarists. We’ve compiled this list of 30 easy popular piano songs to honor this unsung hero!
Pop songs provide an excellent starting point for beginners who are learning piano. While classical melodies can often be challenging to grasp, most pop songs use an accessible pattern which makes learning piano easy and enjoyable.
Camilla Cabello’s “Havana” is an ideal song for beginner pianists to practice their rhythm and chord progressions, using only a few chords that make for a very straightforward rhythm and use of standard I-vi-IV-V progression familiar from movies or kids’ shows; similarly it can also be found in Fats Waller’s popular jazz standard “Ain’t Misbehavin.”
6. “Mary Had a Little Lamb” by Bill Withers
As beginners embark on their musical journeys, many discover they’re drawn to contemporary pop songs that just won’t leave their minds. From classic hits from the ’70s and ’80s like Billie Eilish to modern artists like Sheppard or Drake – learning popular piano songs can be an incredibly enriching experience that provides new ways of enjoying this instrument.
No song from the 1970s captures its spirit like “Stayin’ Alive,” by The Bee Gees, with its instantly-recognized melody. Beginner pianists may find its chord progressions easy to learn; more advanced pianists might add licks between chord changes for added effect.
7. “Clocks” by Coldplay
Modern pop songs provide an ideal environment for learning piano as they allow you to put into practice what you have already learned and apply your chords to real songs with rhythm that you can practice using metronomes or backing tracks.
Clocks by Coldplay is an ideal song to learn on piano as its chord progression is simple enough for beginners to follow and understand. Additionally, Clocks provides an ideal opportunity to practice arpeggiated triads – three note chords played one note at a time instead of all together at once – as well as arpeggiated triads (three note chords played separately instead of all simultaneously).
The main piano riff of this song is widely-renowned for its mesmeric repetition of notes that add to its mesmerizing quality. This makes it an excellent song to learn by rote; simply focus on getting rhythm down before diving deeper into learning individual notes.
8. “Mary Had a Little Lamb” by Bill Withers
Modern songs are welcomed by students as a refreshing break from more challenging classics. This pop tune will become instantly familiar to everyone while using a chord progression found frequently in piano music.
This song is great for beginners because of its slow tempo, repetitive piano chords, and minimal hand movements required. Additionally, this track can help strengthen focus to enable you to continue playing even when distractions like television shows, radio stations or nearby construction works become apparent.
Learn the tune with Mr. Hoffman’s Popular Hits for Piano book on Amazon; this comprehensive resource comes complete with demonstration tracks and backing tracks! A must-have for beginning pianists.
9. “Mary Had a Little Lamb” by Camilla Cabello
From Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” to Nick Drake’s “Anecdotes,” piano music speaks directly to our human emotions and that’s why so many of us appreciate it so much!
Bill Withers’ classic anthem for support, “One Step at a Time”, is sure to please a crowd. With its slow pace and repetitive melody, this song can easily become part of anyone’s repertoire – perfect for beginners to learn. Plus, its chord voicing means only minor adjustments to reach each note!
Beginner piano students will especially enjoy learning “Geronimo” by Sheppard, included in Mr. Hoffman’s Popular Hits for Piano along with its demonstration tracks. Order your copy now to discover this easy pop piano classic and more!
10. “Mary Had a Little Lamb” by Bill Withers
This classic jazz tune has long been a crowd pleaser, making it an excellent starting point for beginners to piano. With an accessible melody and repetitive piano chords, this tune helps novice players build finger independence as they learn both left- and right-hand parts independently. Mr. Hoffman’s Popular Hits for Piano offers this tune along with demonstration tracks and video tutorials for this song.
Learning popular songs on piano is an enjoyable way to expand your musical repertoire and impress friends! These easy-to-follow piano lessons will get you started on this path; once you master these hits there will be many more thrilling and enjoyable songs waiting to be learned! Check out Skoove for our complete selection of beginner piano songs!