Beginner Easy Listening Piano Songs That Are Actually Fun to Play
Discover the best beginner easy listening piano songs — from Coldplay to ABBA. Color-coded guides, no sheet music needed. Start playing today!
Why Easy Listening Is Perfect for Beginners
There's a reason piano teachers have always gravitated toward easy listening material for new students. These songs tend to have smooth, predictable chord progressions, singable melodies, and a relaxed feel that gives your hands time to find their way around the keys. You're not racing against a breakneck tempo or wrestling with complex rhythms — you're just making music.
What makes this collection especially useful is the variety. You'll find peaceful ballads, upbeat classics, romantic pop songs, and even a few funky numbers. They all share one thing in common: they've been arranged so that beginners can play them with color-coded notes, no sight-reading required.
Whether you're a total newcomer or someone returning to the piano after years away, these songs will help you build confidence, strengthen your hands, and — most importantly — have a great time doing it.
The Songs: A Walkthrough
Relaxed and Peaceful Picks
Let's start with the songs that feel like a deep breath. These are the ones you'll reach for when you want something calm and rewarding.
BbGeorge Ezra · Key Bb · 92 BPMPlayGeorge Ezra's "Don't Matter Now" is one of the simplest songs in this entire collection — just three chords. The relaxed 92 BPM tempo and octave bass pattern give it a gentle, swaying feel that's incredibly satisfying to play. If you're brand new to the piano, this is an excellent first song to try.
CColdplay · Key C · 128 BPMPlayColdplay's "Midnight" is atmospheric and dreamy, built on a pedal bass that anchors the harmony while your right hand floats through five simple chords. The peaceful mood makes it forgiving — slight hesitations between chord changes actually add to the ethereal quality rather than sounding like mistakes.
GXavier Rudd · Key G · 92 BPMPlayXavier Rudd's "Follow The Sun" has that unmistakable feel-good warmth. With just four chords in the key of G and a steady octave bass, it's wonderfully approachable. The song sits in a comfortable mid-range on the keyboard, so your hands won't need to travel far. A beautiful one to play on a sunny morning.
CBryan Adams · Key C · 128 BPMPlayBryan Adams' "Summer of '69" keeps that peaceful, easygoing energy while adding a bit of brightness. Four chords, a pedal bass, and a tempo that moves along without ever feeling rushed. It's a crowd-pleaser, too — play this at a gathering and people will start singing along immediately.
Songs with a Romantic Touch
These arrangements have a warmth and intimacy that make them perfect for quieter moments.
GOne Direction · Key G · 108 BPMPlayOne Direction's "Little Things" is a lovely fingerpicking-style ballad, and the piano arrangement uses an Alberti bass pattern — a broken-chord technique that sounds far more sophisticated than it is. Six chords might sound like a lot, but they flow into each other naturally in the key of G. This is an excellent song for developing left-hand independence.
GOne Direction · Key G · 120 BPMPlayAlso from One Direction, "Stole My Heart" takes a slightly different approach with its block bass and four straightforward chords. The romantic mood and the accessible G-C-D-Em progression make this one of those songs that sounds polished almost immediately. Great for building your confidence.
CNat King Cole · Key C · 94 BPMPlayNat King Cole's "Unforgettable" is a timeless classic, and this beginner arrangement captures its elegance with just four chords and a block bass. At 94 BPM, it gives you plenty of breathing room to savor each chord change. Playing a jazz standard as a beginner feels like a real milestone — this song delivers that experience.
Upbeat and Energetic Favorites
Easy listening doesn't have to mean slow. These songs bring energy and groove while staying completely accessible.
DJames Brown · Key D · 142 BPMPlayJames Brown's "I Got You (I Feel Good)" is pure joy at the piano. With only four chords — all dominant sevenths and ninths — it has a bluesy, funky character that's unlike anything else in this collection. The oompah bass pattern gives it a bouncy, swinging feel. It's faster at 142 BPM, so take it slowly at first and gradually build up to tempo.
BbDavid Bowie · Key Bb · 128 BPMPlayDavid Bowie's "The Jean Genie" is a rock classic distilled down to its essence: just three chords. The pedal bass keeps things grounded while the Bb-C-F progression drives the song forward. It's a fantastic pick if you love classic rock and want something with a bit of swagger.
GABBA · Key G · 120 BPMPlayABBA's "Does Your Mother Know?" is playful, punchy, and irresistibly catchy. Six chords with a block bass pattern — the Csus4 adds a nice bit of color that makes the arrangement sound richer than its beginner difficulty might suggest. A wonderful song for practicing rhythmic confidence.
BbABBA · Key Bb · 126 BPMPlayAnother ABBA gem, "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" brings a darker, more dramatic energy with its minor-key tonality and octave bass. The Dm-Gm foundation gives it that iconic moody drive. Despite its emotional intensity, the six-chord structure is very manageable, and the repetitive sections mean you'll memorize the pattern quickly.
Something a Little Different
CJulie London · Key C · 74 BPMPlayJulie London's "Cry Me A River" is a jazz torch song that absolutely drips with emotion. The walking bass line is a wonderful introduction to a more sophisticated left-hand technique — your bass hand moves stepwise through the harmony rather than just holding chords. At 74 BPM, it's one of the slowest songs here, giving you plenty of time to nail each note. A real gem for anyone who loves vintage jazz.
BbABBA · Key Bb · 132 BPMPlayABBA's "Lay All Your Love On Me" rounds out our selection with a dramatic, synth-pop-inspired arrangement. Eight chords make it one of the more harmonically adventurous songs in the collection, but the pedal bass simplifies the left hand considerably. The romantic intensity and driving rhythm make it incredibly satisfying once you've got it under your fingers.
Tips for Playing These Songs Well
Start Slower Than You Think
Every song in this collection has a suggested tempo, but there's no rule saying you have to play at that speed right away. Start at half tempo if you need to. The goal is smooth, confident chord changes — speed comes naturally with repetition. This is especially important for the faster songs like "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "The Jean Genie."
Pay Attention to Bass Patterns
You'll notice different bass styles across these songs — block, pedal, octave, walking, Alberti, and oompah. Each one creates a different feel:
- Block bass (like in "Stole My Heart") plays all the notes at once. Simplest to execute. - Pedal bass (like in "Midnight") repeats one note while chords change above it. Great for building independence between hands. - Octave bass (like in "Don't Matter Now") alternates between low and high versions of the same note. Adds depth without complexity. - Walking bass (like in "Cry Me A River") moves stepwise. More challenging, but incredibly musical. - Alberti bass (like in "Little Things") breaks chords into rolling patterns. Sounds elegant and develops finger agility.
Understanding these patterns helps you know what your left hand is doing and why — which makes learning each song faster.
Use the Color-Coded Notes to Your Advantage
The color-coded system removes the barrier of reading traditional notation, but it's still worth looking ahead as you play. Try to glance at the next note or chord before you need it. This trains the same anticipation skill that experienced sight-readers use, and it will make your playing sound much smoother.
Group Songs by Key
Several of these songs share the same key — for example, "Follow The Sun," "Stole My Heart," and "Does Your Mother Know?" are all in G major. Practicing songs in the same key back-to-back helps your fingers internalize the scale and chord shapes, making each subsequent song easier to learn.
Don't Skip the Songs You Don't Know
You might not recognize every title on this list, and that's actually a gift. Learning an unfamiliar song forces you to listen more carefully and rely less on memory, which strengthens your musicianship in ways that playing your favorite hit for the hundredth time simply can't.
Ready to start playing?
Put it into practice with thousands of color-coded, slow-down-able songs, free in your browser.