In 1700, Bartolomeo Cristofori invented the piano. He based his design off the already invented 'Harpsichord', but was unhappy with its volume. This then led to the development of what we would recognise as the modern piano.
The modern piano is an acoustic, percussion instrument that creates music through strings that are hit by wooden hammers within the piano. It is the most popular form of instrument and it is estimated that around 21 million Americans can play the piano.
If you are a beginner to learning the piano, you are going to want to start learning songs that are great for beginners. We have compiled the following list of songs that you should attempt as a learner. We have given you the option to pick from a video tutorial and a written one, depending on which form is best for you.
Easy piano songs for beginners
As a beginner, you should already have basic knowledge of the piano keys and anatomy of the piano before you start to learn songs. In this case, the following songs are a great way to make that transition.
Easy Piano Tutorial: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Whilst this is more of a nursery rhyme than a song, it is still a great way to start piecing together notes and build it into a foundation of something that resembles a song. It is very easy and should not be difficult for a beginner.
Click here for the video: Easy Piano Songs
Click here for the written tutorial: Easy Piano Songs
4 Songs That Are Perfect For Beginners (Piano Lesson)
This video, created by Pianote, features for songs, which are the following:
- Cups (When I'm Gone) by Anna Kendrick
- Hello by Adele
- Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars
- Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi
They are great for beginners and the instructor will take you through each one, teaching you how to play.
Click here for the video: Easy Piano Songs
Written Tutorials:
Anna Kendrick - Cups (When I'm Gone)
Adele - Hello
Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are
Lewis Capaldi - Someone You Loved
Adele - Easy On Me / Easy Piano Tutorial
This is a nice slow song that makes for an easy transition into your first time playing a piece on the piano. It shows you the keys as they should be pushed in time with how you should be playing too. It is a slow and easy tutorial which makes learning it that much easier.
The creator of this video is PHianonize.
Click here for the video: Easy Piano Songs
Click here for the written tutorial: Easy Piano Songs
Super Mario Theme / Beginner Piano Tutorial + Sheet Music by Betacustic
This video, created by Betacustic, is a very slowed down version of the Super Mario theme song, something most of us, if not all, are familiar with. It provides a clear, labelled piano on screen that mimics that movements you should be making on your own piano.
You are able to access the sheet music for this song in the description box of the video.
Click here for the video: Easy Piano Songs
Click here for the written tutorial: Easy Piano Music
Happy Birthday To You/ Beginner Piano Tutorial + Sheet Music by Betacustic
This is another creation of Betacustic and happy birthday is a popular song that can be a great song to know how to play on the piano. It is easy and simple to learn and the video offers a great tutorial. You are also able to access the sheet music through the description box.
Click here for the video: Easy Piano Songs
Click here for the written tutorial: Easy Piano Songs
Dance Monkey Easy Piano Tutorial (Slow Version)
This is a very slow version on the song and it is perfect for a beginner. When you become more confident, you are able to play the song quicker and start to play a slightly harder version of the song. This video offers a labelled piano that mirrors the keys that you should be pressing on your own piano. This video was created by Musicisfun1.
Click here for the video: Easy Piano Songs
Click here for the written tutorial: Easy Piano Songs (note this might be a bit more difficult than the video version)
Elton John - I'm Still Standing (Slow Easy Piano Tutorial)
This video is incredibly popular and has gained over 3 million views (2022) since its release in 2019. Like most videos it mimics the piano keys and movements. This is a slightly harder song to learn, but the video slows down the song and shows it an easy pace that is recommended for learners. This video was created by Slow Easy Piano Tutorials by Dario.
Click here for the video: Easy Piano Songs
Click here for the written tutorial: Easy Piano Songs
Billie Eilish - "Ocean Eyes" 100% Easy Piano Tutorial
This is a great video for beginners who are looking to make an easy transition into some more intermediate songs. This is the perfect video. It shows each key as you need to push them, but slowly so that you are able to effectively learn. This video was created by EasyPiano.
Click here for the video: Easy Piano Songs
Click here for the written tutorial: Easy Piano Songs
Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley / Beginner Piano Tutorial + Sheet Music by Betacustic
This is another creation of Betacustic and it features a great tutorial on how to learn Elvis Presley's Can't Help Falling In Love. You are able to access the sheet music for this song in the description box of the video.
Click here for the video: Easy Piano Songs
Click here for the written tutorial: Easy Piano Songs
Jingle Bells Slow Easy Piano Notes - Right Hand
This is a great song for beginners. Piano Keyboard Guide offers a slow and easy tutorial that can be performed with just your right hand. This is a great festive song that is always fun to know how to play!
Click here for the video: Easy Piano Songs
Click here for the written tutorial: Easy Piano Songs
What are the easiest instruments to learn?
If you are looking to learn a new instrument, you might be wondering what the easiest instrument to learn actually is.
Keyboard
Keyboard is one of the easiest instruments to learn. Through the keyboard, you are going to be able to learn how to read sheet music and how to note harmonies.
You might think that piano and the keyboard are similar, so that should mean the piano isn't that hard to learn. However, there are some key differences, the primary difference is that the piano is acoustic instrument, but the keyboard is an electric one.
With that being said, you are able to learn how to play the piano through the keyboard. Note that they will both produce different sounds and the way they produce them is different. The reason why you can use the keyboard to learn how to play the piano is because the keys are identical on both instruments.
The way that you learn how to play songs on the keyboard uses the same method that you can use on the piano. You can transfer them, so if you learn a song on the keyboard, you can apply this method and use it on the piano. This will require some differences such as key pressure and the size of the keys. A piano has 88 keys and the keyboard can have around 49 keys.
It is also worth noting that a piano and a keyboard will not always sound this same. This is because keyboard will often have the feature that allows you to produce different sounds with each key. Sometimes this can replicate a piano, but other times it can mimic another instrument.
Piano
Piano is another one of the easiest instruments to learn. With such a high volume of people knowing how to play the instrument, it is understandable as to why this instrument is labelled as one of the easiest. It is a great starter instrument for children to introduce them to music and the method of creating it.
The keys feature a simple layout and easy songs can be introduced early into the journey of learning. You can label the keys which make learning easier for visual learners. Many other instruments, particularly string instruments, cannot be labelled, making the learning process harder.
It is also important to consider the actual process of playing the piano. The keys are easy to press, much easier than strumming a guitar, and they are clearly displayed in front of you. The hardest part of learning the piano is to use both of your hands at the same time to play different notes.
Easy Instruments to Learn
Whilst we have outlined that either a keyboard or a piano is the easiest instrument to learn, there are other instruments that are also easy. We have outlined below a list of some easy instruments to learn.
Ukulele
A ukulele is a great instrument to learn. It is inexpensive and produces a happy and fun sound when played. This upbeat instrument is easily accessible and quick to learn. It features four strings and this makes it easy to pick up songs and chords.
Additionally, this is a great way to eventually advance onto the guitar. With a ukulele, you are likely to gain the skills used on a guitar. If you are wanting to learn how to play string instruments, this is the best way to ease yourself into it.
If you are wanting to learn how to play the ukulele, click here: Ukulele Lesson 1 - Absolute Beginner? Start Here! [Free 10 Day Course]
Bongos
The bongos are a form of drum and they consist of two drums connected. It is a smaller version of the drums and provides a simple alternative. You are able to learn the basics of drumming on a bongo and develop beats, techniques and other forms of skills needed when and if you want to upgrade to a drum kit.
Bongos are great in the sense that they are portable and perfect for children to develop their sense of rhythm.
Recorder
This is a great instrument for children. This is perfect for their first introduction to musical instruments. It is arguably the easiest instrument to learn. It is often introduced to children at a young age to develop their sense of rhythm.
However, this is a small time instrument and doesn't have a great range, so it may not be the best instrument to stick with as you advance further into music.
Banjo
This is another easy string instrument to learn. It does not have many strings, and if you are perhaps upgrading from a ukulele, but are not quite ready for the guitar, then this provides a great transitional instrument. It has more strings that a ukulele, but less than a guitar.
Like a guitar, you can find simple songs to learn for the banjo and slowly increase the experience level and gradually learn the more advanced songs.
Flute
The flute is fairly similar to the recorder but think of it as an advanced version. It is a form of wind instrument that produces different sounds when you cover or uncover the holes in the instrument. Wind instruments are much easier to learn in comparison to string instruments and drums or pianos. Flutes can be much more advanced. They can come in a range of different sizes and styles. Smaller glutes are easier and more basic for beginners.
Tambourine
This is a very simple instrument and can be very effective if played properly. It is often thought that you just hit a tambourine and a it produces a sound. However, they can make different noises depending on how they are shaken or hit and knowing how to do this is where the skill comes from.
It is thought that teaching children how to play the tambourine is great for teaching them the basics of percussion instruments.
