20 of the Easiest Pop Songs to Play on Piano: A Beginner’s List

6 min readJul 25, 2024

Learning to play pop songs on the piano can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience, especially for beginners. Pop songs often have catchy melodies, repetitive chord progressions, and simple structures that make them accessible to novice pianists. In this article, we will explore 20 of the easiest pop songs to play on the piano. These songs are chosen for their simplicity, popularity, and the joy they bring when played.

20 of the Easiest Pop Songs to Play on Piano

1. “Let It Be” by The Beatles

“Let It Be” is a classic song by The Beatles that is perfect for beginner pianists. The song features a simple chord progression of C, G, Am, and F, which repeats throughout the song. The melody is straightforward and easy to follow, making it a great starting point for those new to the piano.

2. “Clocks” by Coldplay

Coldplay’s “Clocks” is another excellent choice for beginners. The song is built around a repetitive arpeggio pattern that is both mesmerizing and easy to play. The chords involved are simple, and the left-hand accompaniment is minimal, allowing beginners to focus on the arpeggio.

3. “Someone Like You” by Adele

Adele’s “Someone Like You” is a beautiful ballad that is relatively easy to play on the piano. The song features a repeating chord progression of A, E, F#m, and D. The right-hand melody is slow and expressive, making it a perfect piece for beginners to practice their phrasing and dynamics.

4. “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith

“Stay With Me” by Sam Smith is a soulful ballad with a simple and repetitive chord progression. The chords C, Am, F, and G are used throughout the song, making it easy to memorize and play. The melody is straightforward and complements the chords beautifully.

5. “All of Me” by John Legend

“All of Me” is a heartfelt love song by John Legend that is ideal for beginner pianists. The song uses a repetitive chord progression of E, C#m, A, and B. The right-hand melody is lyrical and easy to follow, making it a popular choice for piano players of all levels.

6. “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” is a romantic ballad that is simple to play on the piano. The song features a repetitive chord progression of G, Em, C, and D. The melody is slow and expressive, making it a great piece for beginners to practice their timing and expression.

7. “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is a timeless song that is surprisingly easy to play on the piano. The song features a simple chord progression of C, Am, F, and G. The right-hand melody is slow and repetitive, making it a great piece for beginners to practice their chord changes and melody playing.

8. “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

“Shallow,” from the movie “A Star Is Born,” is a beautiful duet that is relatively easy to play on the piano. The song features a repetitive chord progression of G, D, Em, and C. The melody is simple and complements the chords perfectly, making it a great choice for beginners.

9. “Imagine” by John Lennon

John Lennon’s “Imagine” is a classic song that is perfect for beginner pianists. The song features a simple chord progression of C, F, G, and Am. The right-hand melody is slow and expressive, making it a great piece for beginners to practice their phrasing and dynamics.

10. “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself” is a catchy pop song that is easy to play on the piano. The song features a repetitive chord progression of C, G, Am, and F. The melody is straightforward and complements the chords beautifully, making it a popular choice for beginner pianists.

11. “Let Her Go” by Passenger

“Let Her Go” by Passenger is a beautiful ballad that is simple to play on the piano. The song features a repetitive chord progression of C, G, Am, and F. The right-hand melody is slow and expressive, making it a great piece for beginners to practice their timing and expression.

12. “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” is a romantic ballad that is easy to play on the piano. The song features a repetitive chord progression of D, G, and A. The melody is slow and expressive, making it a great piece for beginners to practice their phrasing and dynamics.

13. “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic

OneRepublic’s “Counting Stars” is an upbeat pop song that is surprisingly easy to play on the piano. The song features a repetitive chord progression of Am, C, G, and F. The right-hand melody is straightforward and complements the chords perfectly, making it a great choice for beginners.

14. “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran

“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran is a catchy pop song that is simple to play on the piano. The song features a repetitive chord progression of Em, C, G, and D. The melody is straightforward and complements the chords beautifully, making it a popular choice for beginner pianists.

15. “Hello” by Adele

Adele’s “Hello” is a powerful ballad that is relatively easy to play on the piano. The song features a repetitive chord progression of Fm, Ab, Eb, and Db. The right-hand melody is slow and expressive, making it a great piece for beginners to practice their timing and expression.

16. “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri

Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” is a romantic ballad that is simple to play on the piano. The song features a repetitive chord progression of Bb, F, Gm, and Eb. The melody is slow and expressive, making it a great piece for beginners to practice their phrasing and dynamics.

17. “Firework” by Katy Perry

Katy Perry’s “Firework” is an empowering pop song that is easy to play on the piano. The song features a repetitive chord progression of G, Em, C, and D. The right-hand melody is straightforward and complements the chords perfectly, making it a great choice for beginners.

18. “Happy” by Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” is an upbeat and cheerful song that is simple to play on the piano. The song features a repetitive chord progression of F, C, Dm, and Bb. The melody is straightforward and complements the chords beautifully, making it a popular choice for beginner pianists.

19. “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri

Christina Perri’s “Jar of Hearts” is a powerful ballad that is relatively easy to play on the piano. The song features a repetitive chord progression of C, G, Am, and F. The right-hand melody is slow and expressive, making it a great piece for beginners to practice their timing and expression.

20. “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are” is a romantic pop song that is easy to play on the piano. The song features a repetitive chord progression of F, Dm, Bb, and C. The melody is straightforward and complements the chords perfectly, making it a great choice for beginners.

Tips for Learning Pop Songs on Piano

Start Slow: When learning a new song, start by playing it slowly to get comfortable with the chord changes and melody. Gradually increase the tempo as you become more confident.

Practice Chord Changes: Focus on smooth chord transitions. Practice switching between chords without pausing to ensure a seamless performance.

Use Sheet Music: Sheet music can be incredibly helpful for beginners. It provides a visual representation of the notes and rhythms, making it easier to learn the song.

Listen to the Original Song: Listen to the original recording of the song to get a feel for the tempo, rhythm, and dynamics. This can help you understand how the song should sound and guide your practice.

Break it Down: Break the song into smaller sections and practice each section individually. Once you’re comfortable with each part, start putting them together.

Be Patient: Learning a new song takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself and enjoy the learning process.

Conclusion

Playing pop songs on the piano is a great way for beginners to build their skills and confidence. The songs listed in this article are chosen for their simplicity and popularity, making them ideal for novice pianists. With practice and dedication, you’ll be able to play these songs with ease and enjoy the satisfaction of making beautiful music.

Whether you’re a beginner looking for easy songs to start with or an intermediate player seeking enjoyable pieces to add to your repertoire, these 20 pop songs are sure to provide you with hours of musical enjoyment. Happy playing!