Sheet music
Piano sheet music: 71 pieces by difficulty
For every piece: how hard it really is, which key it is in and which instrument suits it. Sorted by level, not by popularity.
71 pieces18 in the public domain29 for beginners
Beginner
Sweden (Minecraft)C418 (Daniel Rosenfeld)The four chords a whole generation associates with evenings at the screen – plain and instantly recognisable.
Für EliseLudwig van BeethovenThe best-known piano melody there is – and one of the few pieces almost anyone can start playing within weeks.in the public domain
Pokémon ThemeJohn Siegler, John Loeffler“Gotta catch ’em all” – the tune millions know by heart before they ever sit at a piano.
All of MeJohn LegendThe wedding piece of the 2010s – an accompaniment pattern you learn once and then carry.
Jingle BellsJames Lord PierpontThe first Christmas piece almost every child can play – five notes are enough for the melody.in the public domain
ImagineJohn LennonProbably the best-known piano accompaniment in pop history – and one of the friendliest for beginners.
City of Stars (La La Land)Justin HurwitzThe melody that carried the film – calm, plain and without a single hard passage.
HallelujahLeonard CohenThe song played at weddings and funerals alike – with a chord progression the lyrics themselves describe.
Let It BePaul McCartneyFour chords everyone knows – the piece many people play their first accompaniment with.
Someone Like YouAdeleAdele’s arpeggio pattern – one of the most rewarding pieces for a first performance of your own.
Zelda's LullabyKoji KondoThe melody millions know from the game – short, calm and ideal as a first game piece.
Sadness and Sorrow (Naruto)Toshio MasudaThe melancholy flute melody from Naruto – one of the most played anime pieces on the piano.
Ode to JoyLudwig van BeethovenThe European anthem – and in almost every piano method the first piece that sounds like music.in the public domain
Silent NightFranz Xaver GruberThe Christmas carol – written in Oberndorf in 1818, sung today in more than 300 languages.in the public domain
CreepRadioheadFour chords repeated ninety times – and never boring.
A Thousand YearsChristina Perri, David HodgesThe most played wedding song of the 2010s – calm, even and without a single hard passage.
Avatar: The Last Airbender – Main ThemeJeremy ZuckermanThe short, ceremonial theme of the series – told in a few bars and quickly learnt.
Viva la VidaColdplayFour chords at marching tempo – one of the most rewarding pop pieces for the left hand.
Last ChristmasGeorge MichaelThe Christmas song half of Europe argues about every year – and everyone sings along anyway.
Gymnopédie No. 1Erik SatieSatie’s study in slowness – technically one of the easiest concert pieces, musically anything but.in the public domain
Bella CiaotraditionalAn old Italian song that a TV series turned into a worldwide earworm.in the public domain
PerfectEd SheeranSheeran’s wedding waltz – the six-eight metre makes it softer than most pop ballads.
Prelude in C majorJohann Sebastian BachBach’s best-known prelude – a single broken-chord pattern that transforms over 35 bars.in the public domain
Shape of YouEd SheeranThe most streamed pop song of its time – four chords, one rhythm, done.
Speak Softly Love (The Godfather)Nino RotaThe waltz melody that sounds like Sicily at once – slow, plain and within reach in days.
Gravity Falls – Main ThemeBrad BreeckThe short, mysterious title theme – quickly learnt and instantly recognisable.
DespacitoLuis Fonsi, Erika EnderThe summer hit that broke every streaming record – on the piano four chords with a Latin rhythm.
Way Back Then (Squid Game)Jung Jae-ilThe innocuous-sounding tune that is anything but innocuous in the series.
Mad WorldRoland OrzabalIn the quiet 2001 version a pure piano piece – four chords, a great deal of effect.
Intermediate
Interstellar – Main ThemeHans ZimmerOrgan textures building over minutes – film music that lives on patience rather than dexterity.
Hedwig's Theme (Harry Potter)John WilliamsThe celesta theme everyone recognises after two notes – in triple time, with a left hand that reaches far.
River Flows in YouYirumaThe most searched-for modern piano piece – often mistaken for a Twilight theme, in fact written in 2001.
Moonlight Sonata (1. Satz)Ludwig van BeethovenBeethoven’s most famous Adagio – slow, dark and technically surprisingly approachable.in the public domain
Canon in DJohann PachelbelThe most famous chord progression in music history – the basis for weddings and for half of pop music.in the public domain
Carol of the BellsMykola LeontowytschFour notes, endlessly repeated – and still the most driving Christmas piece of them all.in the public domain
Stranger Things – Main ThemeKyle Dixon, Michael SteinThe rising synthesiser figure that conjures up a whole series in three seconds.
The EntertainerScott JoplinThe ragtime everyone can whistle – with a left hand that constantly jumps between bass and chord.in the public domain
My Heart Will Go On (Titanic)James HornerThe flute melody that came out of every radio in 1997 – calmer on the piano, just as recognisable.
Super Mario Bros. ThemeKoji KondoProbably the best-known game melody in the world – fast, bouncing and harder than it sounds.
ClocksColdplayThe descending quaver figure that identifies Coldplay within two bars.
Wednesday – Cello Theme (Paint It Black)Chris Bacon (nach The Rolling Stones)The cello arrangement that turned a whole series into a trend in 2022 – dark and gripping on the piano.
Fly Me to the MoonBart HowardThe jazz standard everyone knows – and a good way into chords beyond major and minor.
Nuvole BiancheLudovico EinaudiEinaudi’s most played piece – it starts almost like a beginner’s exercise and ends at concert level.
Game of Thrones – Main ThemeRamin DjawadiThe series’ cello theme, surprisingly idiomatic on the piano – a short motif that builds on itself.
White ChristmasIrving BerlinThe best-selling single in history – on the piano a calm standard with jazz harmony.
Arabesque No. 1Claude DebussyDebussy’s friendliest piece – flowing, bright and considerably more approachable than Clair de Lune.in the public domain
Kiss the RainYirumaYiruma’s second big piece – calmer than River Flows in You, but with more sharps.
ExperienceLudovico EinaudiEinaudi’s crescendo piece – a single figure that builds over minutes into something overwhelming.
Merry Christmas Mr. LawrenceRyuichi SakamotoSakamoto’s most famous melody – sparse, floating, with a theme that never quite resolves.
Hikaru Nara (Your Lie in April)Goose houseThe anime about playing the piano – its title song is played back accordingly often.
SkyfallAdele, Paul EpworthAdele’s Bond song – dark, measured and remarkably effective on the piano.
Dune – Main ThemeHans ZimmerZimmer’s desert sound – less melody than texture, a study in colour on the piano.
How Far I’ll Go (Moana)Lin-Manuel MirandaThe song that runs on repeat in children’s rooms – and asks more of the pianist than it sounds.
Comptine d'un autre étéYann TiersenAmélie’s theme – eight notes in the left hand, a melody in the right, and unmistakable all the same.
Merry-Go-Round of Life (Howl’s Moving Castle)Joe HisaishiHisaishi’s waltz – the best-known Ghibli melody and a perennial favourite on the piano.
Doctor Who – Main ThemeRon GrainerThe first electronic television theme in history – on the piano a driving bass under a floating upper voice.
Time (Inception)Hans ZimmerFour notes that build into a wall over five minutes – Zimmer’s most played piano piece.
O Holy NightAdolphe AdamThe Christmas carol with the widest range – written for singers, correspondingly far-reaching on the piano.in the public domain
One Summer’s Day (Spirited Away)Joe HisaishiThe quiet melody from Spirited Away – restrained and one of the most beautiful pieces on this list.
Advanced
Rush ESheet Music BossThe piece that began as a joke and is searched for millions of times anyway – barely playable by human hands …
Megalovania (Undertale)Toby FoxThe battle track every player recognises at once – driving, loud and surprisingly demanding in the original.
Bohemian RhapsodyFreddie MercurySix minutes in four styles – the opening ballad is within reach, the rest is a project.
Clair de LuneClaude DebussyDebussy’s moonlight – sounds floating and light, yet is the most demanding piece on this list.in the public domain
He's a Pirate (Pirates of the Caribbean)Klaus Badelt, Hans ZimmerThe march everyone can hum – though the original is an endurance run.
Nocturne op. 9 Nr. 2Frédéric ChopinChopin’s best-known nocturne – the melody sounds freely improvised but is precisely notated.in the public domain
Turkish March (Rondo alla Turca)Wolfgang Amadeus MozartMozart’s rondo – the earworm everyone wants to play faster than they can.in the public domain
La CampanellaFranz LisztThe little bell – one of the most notorious études in the repertoire, famous for leaps across two octaves.in the public domain
Romantic Flight (How to Train Your Dragon)John PowellThe flight over the cliffs as a piano version – the most concert-like film music on this list.
Guren no Yumiya (Attack on Titan)Revo (Linked Horizon)The most driving anime opening there is – on the piano a question of stamina.
L’s Theme (Death Note)Yoshihisa HiranoThe dark theme of the series – almost baroque in feel, with a left hand that never rests.
Flight of the BumblebeeNikolai Rimski-KorsakowThe Bumblebee – the piece by which speed has been measured for as long as pianos have existed.in the public domain