Whether you’re just starting your piano journey or looking to expand your repertoire, learning to play popular songs on the piano is a fun and rewarding experience.
Even better, with the right approach—like the one taught in Harry Rios’ “Piano by Ear” course—you can quickly learn to play your favorite songs without needing to read sheet music.
In this post, we’ve curated a list of 12 easy-to-learn piano songs that feature prominent piano parts. Each song offers a chance to practice different techniques while giving you the satisfaction of playing familiar hits.
Let’s dive in!
1. “Let It Be” by The Beatles
Skill Level: Beginner
Techniques: Basic chords, simple rhythm
“Let It Be” is one of the most iconic songs by The Beatles, and its simple chord progression makes it a perfect choice for beginners. The song uses familiar chords like C, G, Am, and F, which are easy to learn and help build finger coordination. The steady rhythm and slower tempo allow you to focus on getting comfortable with transitions between chords.
With Harry’s My-Piano-By-Ear method, you’ll quickly recognize these chords and be able to play “Let It Be” without relying on sheet music, just by listening to the melody and following along.
2. “Clocks” by Coldplay
Skill Level: Intermediate
Techniques: Arpeggios, syncopated rhythm
Coldplay’s “Clocks” is famous for its piano riff, which uses repetitive arpeggios to create its distinctive sound. While the riff is relatively simple in terms of the notes involved, the challenge comes from maintaining the syncopated rhythm that drives the song.
For intermediate players, mastering this song is a great way to practice arpeggios, which are essential in many genres of music. In Harry’s course, you’ll learn how to recognize and play patterns like these by ear, helping you tackle songs like “Clocks” with ease.
3. “Someone Like You” by Adele
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Techniques: Broken chords, emotional expression
Adele’s “Someone Like You” is a powerful ballad with a simple yet expressive piano part. The song primarily uses broken chords, where the notes of the chords are played individually rather than all at once. This technique adds emotional depth to the music and is easy for beginners to pick up.
With the skills you’ll gain from Harry’s My-Piano-By-Ear Course, you’ll be able to listen closely to the structure of songs like “Someone Like You” and replicate the broken chord patterns, even without formal sheet music.
4. “Piano Man” by Billy Joel
Skill Level: Intermediate
Techniques: Melody with accompaniment, storytelling
As the title suggests, “Piano Man” is a classic piano-centric song that combines melody and accompaniment in a single performance. The song’s recognizable piano melody, paired with chords that support the vocal line, makes it a great piece for those looking to improve their ability to play both hands together.
Harry’s “My-Piano-By-Ear” course teaches students to break down songs by ear, allowing you to master this storytelling ballad at your own pace. You’ll learn how to intuitively connect the melody and harmony without needing complex sheet music.
5. “River Flows in You” by Yiruma
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Techniques: Arpeggios, dynamic control
“River Flows in You” is a beautiful, flowing piano piece by South Korean composer Yiruma. The song features intricate arpeggios and requires a good sense of dynamic control to capture the emotional range of the piece. Although it’s more challenging than some of the other songs on this list, it’s still approachable for intermediate players who are ready for a new challenge.
Harry’s approach to ear training will help you break down complex pieces like this by recognizing patterns and progressions that repeat throughout the song.
6. “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen (Jeff Buckley Version)
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Techniques: Basic chords, sustained notes
Jeff Buckley’s version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is a haunting and emotional piece that’s relatively simple to play on piano. The song’s progression uses basic chords (C, Am, F, G) with sustained notes, making it a great practice piece for beginners who want to focus on sustained sound and smooth chord transitions.
Learning this song by ear is simple when you know how to identify the repeating chord patterns, a skill that Harry’s My-Piano-By-Ear course emphasizes for playing familiar songs with ease.
7. “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers
Skill Level: Beginner
Techniques: Simple chord progression, steady rhythm
“Lean on Me” is a timeless song with an uplifting message and an easy-to-learn piano arrangement. The song uses a basic chord progression (C, F, G, Am), which makes it a great introduction for beginners who are just starting to experiment with playing by ear. The rhythm is straightforward, allowing you to focus on developing your sense of timing and finger placement.
As part of Harry’s course, you’ll learn to identify these simple progressions in songs and quickly get the hang of playing them by ear, making “Lean on Me” an excellent starter piece.
8. “Imagine” by John Lennon
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Techniques: Basic chords, arpeggiated chord progressions
“Imagine” is a piano anthem known for its simplicity and emotional depth. The song uses a basic chord progression (C, F, G) and features light, arpeggiated patterns in the verses. It’s an ideal song for beginners and intermediate players to work on arpeggios and slow, deliberate playing.
With Harry’s method, you’ll be able to learn this timeless classic by recognizing the simple structure and repeating chord progressions by ear.
9. “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton
Skill Level: Intermediate
Techniques: Rhythmic right hand, octave jumps
“A Thousand Miles” is one of the most famous modern piano songs, known for its catchy piano riff. The song involves a combination of right-hand rhythm patterns and octave jumps with the left hand, which can be a fun challenge for intermediate players.
Harry’s piano-by-ear course will teach you to pick out patterns like this, helping you to play rhythmically complex pieces with greater confidence and accuracy.
10. “All of Me” by John Legend
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Techniques: Broken chords, expressive playing
“All of Me” is a romantic ballad with a simple yet powerful piano accompaniment. The piano part largely consists of broken chords that flow beautifully alongside the vocal melody. This song is perfect for beginners or intermediate players looking to improve their ability to express emotion through their playing.
By learning to play by ear with Harry’s method, you’ll be able to pick up this song’s broken chord patterns and expressively play it without relying on sheet music.
11. “The Scientist” by Coldplay
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Techniques: Basic chords, simple rhythm
“The Scientist” by Coldplay features a simple chord progression with a repetitive and emotionally impactful piano part. The song primarily uses four chords—Am, F, C, and G—making it a great choice for beginners looking to practice chord transitions.
With Harry’s course, you’ll develop the skill of identifying such simple progressions by ear and be able to play them smoothly and confidently.
12. “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith
Skill Level: Beginner
Techniques: Basic chord progression, emotional dynamics
“Stay With Me” is a soulful ballad that features a basic chord progression of Am, F, and C. The song is simple but requires emotional depth in the performance, making it a great piece for beginners who want to work on expressing emotion through piano.
Harry’s method will help you master these simple chord progressions and develop your ability to play expressively by ear, connecting with the music on a deeper level.
Learn These Songs and More with Harry’s My-Piano-by-Ear Course
Playing your favorite songs on the piano doesn’t have to be complicated.
With the right approach, like the one Harry Rios offers in his free “Piano by Ear” course, you can quickly pick up the skills needed to play songs like these without being tied to sheet music.
By developing your ability to listen for patterns, chords, and melodies, you’ll gain the confidence to play hit songs just by listening. Whether you’re a beginner looking to get started with easy songs like “Let It Be” or an intermediate player ready to take on more complex pieces like “Clocks,” Harry’s course will guide you every step of the way.
Sign up today to unlock the joy of playing piano by ear, and before you know it, you’ll be impressing friends and family with all your favorite tunes!
