Piano Blog by Skoove – Piano Practice Tips
Skoove has a wide range of easy piano songs to play for beginners. Whether you enjoy classic soul and rock hits or more contemporary pop songs and RnB, Skoove has many sheet music options that are suitable for beginning pianists. Take a look at our list of songs and dive in!
Start with easy piano songs
It can be daunting to find a perfect song that fits your level, many songs you might want to play might feel “out-of-reach.” After all, you don’t want to overwhelm yourself and get discouraged. It’s very important to start with songs that are easy and comfortable to learn within minutes. This is because learning to play the piano is a journey and a process. At every step of the way, you want to feel good and keep motivating yourself. Build your confidence in your playing by choosing an easy song to play on piano that you can manage well. After your practice session, you’ll feel good and want to come back for more!
How to recognize easy piano pieces
However, how can you learn to recognize an easy piano song when you have barely begun to play the piano? As you learn to play, you will find that there are several characteristics that help us narrow down our search to start playing.
Level of hand independence
A quick way to gauge the difficulty level of a piece of music is to investigate the level of hand independence in the piece. If both the right hand and left hand have a lot of notes and rhythms that are the same, then the piece will probably be easy to play. An example of a song like this might be “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, “Jingle Bells”, or “Happy Birthday.”
However, if the left hand and the right hand are more complicated with many different piano notes and rhythms and maybe even some challenging chords, then the piece will probably be more difficult to learn. An example of a song like this might be “Fur Elise” by Beethoven or Bach’s Prelude in C major.
Range of hand movement
Another test we can use to gauge the difficulty level of a piano song is the relative range of movement in the hands. For example, if the right hand plays passages that extend many octaves up the keyboard on the grand staff, you might have found a more difficult song to learn. However, it is not a fool proof system as the notes could be simply repeated octaves higher.
Check the rhythm
We can also take a look at the rhythm of a song we want to learn how to play. For example, if the melody we want to learn only features one note, then it will probably be easy to learn. However, if the rhythm is more complicated and requires the coordination of many fingers, then the tune will probably be a little more difficult and will require more practice.
Watch the tempo
Finally, we can look at the tempo markings of songs to learn as a gauge of their difficulty. Tempo is a musical term for the speed of a piece of music. Whether we are playing classical music or a pop song, faster tempos are generally more difficult. However, who doesn’t want to impress their friends with some blazing piano songs? When we start learning the piano, it is best to practice piano songs at a slower tempo until we feel comfortable.
Easy songs to play on piano
Hallelujah
“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen is one of the greatest piano songs for beginners. The tune is in the key of C major and is composed of a few basic piano chords that anyone can learn how to play.
Don’t worry, be happy
“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin was originally released in 1988. It was the first acapella song to reach the number 1 spot on the Billboard Top 100 Charts. While it was originally composed for voice, the song is a perfect choice for an easy piano song.
Fly me to the Moon
“Fly Me to the Moon” was originally composed in 1954 by the songwriter Bart Howard and made famous by the singer Frank Sinatra in 1964. The iconic sounds of this song include great chords that are sure to enhance your piano playing.
Mary had a little lamb
“Mary Had a Little Lamb” is one of the most beloved melodies of all time and often is a basic melody that beginners learn in the first lessons. The path to becoming a great piano player always starts somewhere, so do not be afraid or ashamed to learn melodies that seem too basic or easy. The more you practice, the better you get and the more your confidence will grow.
Smoke on the water
One of the most instantly recognizable rock riffs of all time – “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple is a great start. The song uses only 4 notes and does not change hand position. It is also a great way to learn multiple-handed coordination using the same 4 notes for both hands. Sit back and let Skoove guide you, you’ll be up and running in minutes!
Lean on me
“Lean on Me” by Bill Withers is an excellent song to help you sound great in no time. Both hands follow the same melody movement, but instead of using the same notes, the song uses intervals. This gives the music a more full sounding harmony which can be quite exciting at the beginning stage of your piano playing journey! It is short and fun, try it!
My heart will go on
The theme song from the cinematic sensation Titanic, “My Heart Will Go On” by Céline Dion is a beautiful melody to play on the piano. This song is somewhat longer than the previous suggestions and you will begin to feel like you’re playing a real “song.” It’s also the challenge in itself to keep your focus and concentration throughout the length of the song.
Stand by me
This timeless classic, “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King brings focus to the bass line as well as a new rhythmic coordination aspect for both hands. Master each step of the way and be sure to take plenty of time.
Perfect
“Perfect” by Ed Sheeran has a unique feel because of the 6/4 time signature. It is a great start for those looking to take their piano skills to the next level. Follow the lesson steps and be sure to practice each portion firmly.
Take the next steps
Learning how to identify easy songs for beginners on the piano can be a challenge when you don’t know what to look for. When you are on the search for beginner piano music, remember to keep these ideas in mind:
The level of hand independence
The range of motion in the hands
The difficulty of the rhythm
The tempo or speed of the piece
If you pay attention to these aspects, you should have no problem finding sheet music for easy piano songs!
Additionally, Skoove is a great resource to get started with some easy piano songs. Whether you want to build your abilities with chords or melodies, learn Bach or the Beatles, or just enhance your life in general, online lessons with Skoove can help you learn to play the piano easily and efficiently. Why not give Skoove a try today?
Author of this blog post:
Eddie Bond is a multi-instrumentalist performer, composer, and music instructor currently based in Seattle, Washington USA. He has performed extensively in the US, Canada, Argentina, and China, released over 40 albums, and has over a decade experience working with music students of all ages and ability levels.
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