In the U.S., it is estimated that around 21 million Americans can play the piano. But the piano is more than just a pretty-sounding musical instrument. It can be a teaching tool, too.
For children who play an instrument, it can provide cognitive benefits that will help nurture their overall learning process. Playing the piano also offers a multitude of benefits for adults, such as memory improvement. The piano serves as a creative outlet for managing stress and anxiety.
Whether you are looking to start your child with lessons to learn the piano or you want to play piano yourself, it can be intimidating at first. Luckily, there are some easy songs to learn on the piano that can help you get started.
If you are interested in discovering more about the easiest songs to learn on the piano, keep reading.
Seven Easy Songs to Learn on the Piano
Before you start, we recommend labeling your piano keys with stickers or dry erase board markers while you learn the piano. Set aside a little time each day to work on your skills. And remember, practice makes perfect.
1. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” primarily uses the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. 6 of the keys are the notes that are also used in the 7 note scale.
“Twin-kle, Twin-kle, Lit-le Star” uses C-C G-G A-A G. Twin(C)-kle(C) Twin(G)-kle(G) Lit(A)-le(A) Star(G).
“How I Won-der What You Are” will use F-F E-E D-D C, breaking the word Wonder into two parts. How(F) I(F) Won(E)-der(E) What(D) You(D) Are(C).
“Up Above The World So High” and “Like A Diamond In The Sky” both use the same key structure: G-G F-F E-E D.
Up(G) A(G)-bove(F) The(F) World(E) So(E) High(D). Like(G) A(G) Dia(F)-Mond(F) In(E) The(E) Sky(D).
Then it goes back to “Twin-kle, Twin-kle Lit-le Star” C-C G-G A-A G format. And finishes with “How I Won-der What You Are” in F-F E-E D-D C.
2. Chopsticks
For “Chopsticks,” you will use your index fingers on both hands. Place your left index finger above the black F key and your right index finger over the black G key in the middle of the keys. You will hit these keys for a count of 6.
Shift your left finger to the white E and keep your right finger on the black G key. Play these two notes simultaneously for another 6 counts.
Then move your left finger to the white D key and your right finger to the white B key. Play these notes 6 times.
Move your left finger down to a white C key and your right finger to the adjacent white C key. Play these two notes for a count of 4.
Then start back at the F and G keys and play them again 6 times. Repeat with the E and G keys and the D and B keys. Play the C keys twice to end the song.
This song is easy to learn because of its repetition. It’s ideal for younger children to practice notes and counting while they learn the piano.
3. Happy Birthday to You
It starts on the G note. For this song, you need to break “Happy Birthday to You” into pieces.
“Hap-py Birth-day to You.” The first part uses a GGAGCB format. Hap(G)-py(G) Birth(A)-day(G) to(C) You(B).
The next part is GGAGDC. Hap(G) py(G) Birth(A) day(G) to(D) You(C).
The third part of the song will leave a blank to insert the person’s name at the end. It uses the notes GGGECBA.
Hap(G)-py(G) Birth(G)-day(E) Dear(C) [Name](B)(A).
And then you finish it with FFECDC. Hap(F)-py(F) Birth(E)-day(C) to(D) You(C).
4. Mary Had a Little Lamb
“Mary Had a Little Lamb” is one of the easiest songs to learn on the piano because it only uses 4 notes in the key of C.
Start with the verse “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Break the words Mary and Little into two pieces, just like you do with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
“Ma-ry Had a Lit-le Lamb.” ‘Ma’ starts with the E key. The first line follows the format of E-D C D E-E E. Ma(E)-ry(D) Had(C) a(D) Lit(E)-le(E) Lamb(E).
For the next line, you will use the words ‘Little Lamb’ twice with the world “little” broken up into two sections again. The notes are DDDEGG. Lit(D)-le(D) Lamb(D) Lit(E)-le(G) Lamb(G).
Then start back at the beginning again with “Mary Had a Little Lamb” in EDCDEEE.
Finish the song with the verse “His Fleece was White as Snow” with the keys of EDDEDC. His(E) Fleece(D) was(D) White(E) as(D) Snow(C).
5. Jingle Bells
“Jingle Bells” is another of the great songs to learn on the piano. All of the instances of “Jingle Bells” in the song are played with the E keys. “Jingle” plays two notes as “Jin-gle Bells.”
So, for the first part, it would be E-E E E-E E. Jin(E)-gle(E) Bells(E) repeated twice.
The next verse is “Jingle all the way.” Again, Jingle becomes Jin-gle.
It uses the keys EGCDE, Jin(E)-gle(G) all(C) the(D) way(E).
For the next part, “Oh, what fun it is” uses all F keys, and “to ride” uses the E keys. Oh(F) what(F) fun(F) it(F) is(F) to(E) ride(E).
“In a one-horse op-en sleigh hey” is E E E-D D-E D G. Repeat “Jingle Bells (x2), Jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride.”
Finish it with “In a one-horse op-en sleigh” with EEGGFDC.
6. If You’re Happy and You Know It
“If You’re Happy and You Know It” is a simple song to play on the piano. It uses the keys C, F, E, G, A, D, and B flat (Bb) and relies on repetition as well. The word “happy” is broken into two parts “hap-py.”
The first part, “If you’re hap-py and you know it” follows C C F-F F F F F. The second verse “Clap your hands” is E F G.
The second “If you’re hap-py and you know it” is C C G-G G G G G. “Clap your hands” is F G A.
The next “If you’re hap-py and you know it” is going to use the B flat or Bb scale. If(F) you’re (F) Hap(Bb)-py(Bb) and(Bb) you(Bb) know(D) it(D).
“And you real-ly want to show it” Bb Bb A-A A G F F. “If you’re hap-py and you know it” A A G-G G F E E.
“Clap your hands” ends with D E F.
7. The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The “Itsy Bitsy Spider” only uses G, C, D, E, and F to play.
The beginning starts with G C-C C-D E-E, with the words “Itsy,” “Bitsy,” and “Spider” broken into two parts.
The(G) It(C)-sy(C) Bit(C)-sy(D) Spi(E)-der(E). To the next line, Went(E) up(D) the(C) wat(D)-er(E)spout(C).
Down(E) came(E) the(F) rain(G) And(G) washed(F) the(E) spi(F)-der(G) out(E).
The next two lines switch back to C, D, E keys. Out(C) came(C) the(D) sun(E) and(E) Dried(D) up(C) all(D) the(E) rain(C), and(C).
The end of the song goes back to G, ending with C. The(G) It-(C) sy(C) Bit-(C) sy(D) Spi(E)-der(E) Climbed(E) up(D) the(C) spout(D) a(E)-gain(C).
Its simple note structure starts with center G closest to your left pinkie and plays across the middle of the keyboard.
Piano Lessons in San Antonio
Now that you know some of the easiest songs to learn on the piano, maybe you will want to take music lessons to become a pro.
Sign up for piano, voice, guitar, and more at the Musical Arts Center of San Antonio. We believe in Building a Foundation for Lifelong Music.
Use our easy Interested in Lessons Form on our website to get started at MACSA today.
