Funeral & Memorial Piano Songs — Pieces for Services
3,546 songs — When you're planning a memorial service or funeral, the right music carries weight. This collection holds peaceful, sad, and melancholic pieces appropriate for services — both hymns and modern pieces. Filter by difficulty if a family member will play, or note pieces for a hired pianist.
CASTLES IN THE AIR
Don McLean
COME THOU FOUNT, COME THOU KING
Gateway Worship
DEAD SEA
The Lumineers
DINDI
Antonio Carlos Jobim
DONNA
Ritchie Valens
DON'T CRY DADDY
Elvis Presley
DON'T PLAY THAT SONG
Aretha Franklin
DON'T YOU WANT ME
The Human League
DREAMS
Fleetwood Mac
FLIPSIDE
Norah Jones
FOREVER YOUNG
Glee Cast
GIMME! GIMME! GIMME!
ABBA
GIVE US CLEAN HANDS
Chris Tomlin
GLORY TO GOD FOREVER
Fee
GOLDEN SLUMBERS
The Beatles
GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES
Elvis Presley
GREEN-EYED LADY
Sugarloaf
HALF TIME
Amy Winehouse
HALLELUJAH
Neil Diamond
HEAR US FROM HEAVEN
Jared Anderson
HE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE
Willie Nelson
HOLD ME JESUS
Rich Mullins
HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO YOU
Olivia Newton-John
HOW'S IT GOING TO BE
Third Eye Blind
HURT SO BAD
Little Anthony & The Imperials
idontwannabeyouanymore
Billie Eilish
IF YOU ONLY KNEW
Shinedown
I'M A FOOL TO WANT YOU
Frank Sinatra
INTERLUDE
Paramore
ISN'T LIFE STRANGE
The Moody Blues
IT'S A HARD LIFE WHEREVER YOU GO
Nanci Griffith
I WASHED MY HANDS IN MUDDY WATER
Elvis Presley
I WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED IT FOR THE WORLD
Ronnie Milsap
JUST A GAME
Birdy
Lay Me Down
Chris Tomlin
LEMON TREE
Peter, Paul & Mary
LIGHTS
Journey
LITTLE BOAT
Buddy Kaye
LOSER
Beck
LOVE REALLY HURTS WITHOUT YOU
Billy Ocean
LULLABY
Shawn Mullins
MAYBE
Charles Strouse
MISS YOU
The Rolling Stones
MOMENT OF FORGIVENESS
Indigo Girls
MONDAY, MONDAY
The Mamas & The Papas
MY FATHER
Judy Collins
NEVER COMES THE DAY
The Moody Blues
NEVER ON THE DAY YOU LEAVE
John Mayer
Page 54 of 74 · 3,546 funeral & memorial songs
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most-played funeral piano song?
- "Amazing Grace," "Ave Maria" (Schubert), "How Great Thou Art," and "Hallelujah" (Cohen) are the four most-requested. "Time to Say Goodbye" and "Tears in Heaven" are common modern choices.
- Should I play hymns or modern songs?
- Both are appropriate. Many services mix one or two traditional hymns (familiar to older relatives) with one modern piece that meant something to the deceased. Coordinate with the family beforehand.
- Can a beginner play these confidently?
- Yes for many — "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art" use simple chord patterns. Filter by Easy difficulty. Allow 2-3 weeks of practice for a piece you'll perform under emotional pressure.
- How long should the music last during the service?
- Typically 3-5 minutes for processional/recessional, 2-3 minutes for individual reflective moments. One song per moment is standard — don't over-program.