Most of us want to learn to play an instrument, but sometimes it’s hard to have patience to learn complex pieces of music, which is why this list of 16 easy piano songs that sound complicated is a great source.
I play a little bit of piano, but not enough to sit there and play an intricate jazz piece without wanting to tear off my legs. I think pianos are cool, though, and I’d love to be able to play something super complicated and impress all the people around me. My life could be like Glee. I could be Brad who’s always coming in the clutch to play whatever song Santana wants. That’s really all I’d want to know how to play the piano well for.
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If you’re new to the piano, you probably have other priorities, which is why you’re checking out this list. You probably want to impress your friends without a ton of work (relatable content). There are plenty of songs out there that are easy to play even though they sound like they’re hard. We came up with a dazzling selection from some trusted sources: TakeLessons, ListVerse, and Quora. If you’re determined, you’ll have no problem mastering this list.
For those not quite familiar with sheet music or piano keys yet, take a look at our list of 10 Popular Piano Songs For Beginners With Letters. There are a lot of great songs on that list, but for those of you who want something a little more challenging, keep reading to find out 16 easy piano songs that sound complicated.
16. “All That Jazz” — Chicago
Any list with piano tracks would be dull without a jazz song. What better way to start than with a song from the iconic musical Chicago. This is a pretty easy song to play and it sounds great, especially during the ending.
15. “The Heart Asks Pleasure First” — Michael Nyman
One of Michael Nyman’s masterpieces composed for the movie The Piano creates a lasting impression on the listener. The piece combines arpeggios and simple melodies to perfection. It’s not as recognizable as some other pieces on this list, but it’s not hard to play.
14. “Comptine d’un Autre Été – L’apres-Midi” — Yann Tiersen
Learning how to say the title of this song will be a feat in itself. This is a beautiful piece of music and was composed for the film Amèlie. There isn’t anything intricate about the technique for playing this song, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t sound great.
13. “Clair de Lune” — Debussy
This piece is comparatively slower, but it’s quite popular. The technique to pull this off will be to avoid heaviness. You should also be fluid with the irregular harmonies. When practiced, this plays a smooth and flowing image. It’s not hard to learn either!
12. “Gymnopédie No.1” — Erik Satie
Erik Satie’s masterfully woven melody is a top pick at any dinner event. This is the first of his tree set piece. Satie himself referred to his music as “furniture music,” which means it’s perfect for setting an ambiance for any occasion. The slow tempo makes this easy to learn.
11. “In a Landscape” — John Cage
This slow-going, simple yet complicated melody comes from another master of ambient music, John Cage. If you’re familiar with his works, you probably understand what I mean when I say that. This gently-paced melody is sure to win over the hearts of your audience. Moreover, the melody utilizes sustained pedal throughout, so you don’t have to move your feet from the pedal, which gives you more opportunity to focus on the rest of the playing.
10. “The Alcotts” — Charles Ives
This song sounds this complicated simply because of unusual harmonies. Even so, this song is pretty easy to learn and to master. You will notice soon enough that Ives used some bits here that are the same as Beethoven’s 5th symphony in this song, which is a plus of course. If you know Ives’ works, then you already know that he is well known for his use of pastiche in his works.
9. “Für Elise” — Beethoven
If you look up any list of piano songs, as well as our list of easy piano songs that sound complicated, you’re definitely going to find this one. Despite how complex this sounds upon first listen, it’s quite easy to play if you take your time. There aren’t any hard passages in the entire piece, except the end may take some more practice.
8. “What a Wonderful World” — Louis Armstrong
You can’t go wrong with this song, which is why it made our list of 16 easy piano songs that sound complicated. Needless to say, the song sounds very complicated to pull off on the piano, but on the other hand, it is really easy to execute with some practice. The song is full of peaks and climaxes, where you are able to show off your mastery of your new craft.
7. “Prelude to the Well Tempered Clavichord” — Bach
If you wish to learn and, most importantly, practice dynamics, then this is the perfect song to do it. The song sounds very difficult, but keeping with our criteria it is actually very easy to learn. Also, since it is Bach, you can expect most of your audience to be familiar with this piece. All in all, it’s a great piece to learn for beginners.
6. “Ave Maria” — Shubert
This amazing ballad piece is perfect for practicing your arpeggios and chords. This is a very famous song, and since the song keeps pretty much same pattern throughout, it is quite easy to learn. Now, let’s see (hear) what’s next on our list of easy piano songs that sound complicated.
5. “Cannon in D” — Pachelbel
Throughout the song there are easy chords and simple bass lines. The song fits perfectly as ambient music for a formal occasion. Mastering this is fairly effortless.
4. “The Entertainer” — Scott Joplin
This is a classic to show off your finger work. There are quite a lot of piano variations out there, so if you find one that suits your style it should be easy to learn.
3. “Heart and Soul” — Hoagy Carmichael
The number three on our list of easy piano songs that sound complicated you can play solo without a problem, but in a duet, the song has even more life. The song is very easy to learn as it has a simple piano rhythm for the left hand and a fun melody in the right hand. When done right, the song sounds really complicated to the listeners. Only you’ll know it’s easy to play.
2. “Bohemian Rhapsody” — Queen
This melody gives you full control over as hard or as easy you want to make it. Of course, it sounds absolutely amazing, as many pianists have it in their repertoire. The song is filled with slow and fast tempo, and is a great choice to master your dynamics.
1. “Moonlight Sonata” — Beethoven
Without a shred of doubt, this is one of the most recognizable piano pieces of all time. Playing it is pretty easy, which aligns with our criteria for this list. For at least the first movement, you can start playing this song easily. Expect your audience to recognize this piece within seconds.
That concludes our list of 16 easy piano songs that sound complicated. Hopefully, you now have 16 amazing songs to add to your repertoire.
