First song I ever played all the way through with both hands was "Lean on Me." February 2020. About four months into learning. I'd been grinding on it for weeks. One random Tuesday night around 11pm, I played it start to finish without stopping. No mistakes. Both hands working together. Actually sounded like music.
I sat there staring at my hands. Like, wait. I did that? That was me?
That moment is why people learn piano. The first song that actually sounds like something. This guide will help you get there – what songs to learn, when to attempt them, and how to actually make it happen.
Before we talk songs: forget your dream pieces for now. I tried to learn Coldplay on day two. Bad idea. You need fundamentals first or you'll just frustrate yourself. At minimum: know where notes are, basic finger control, simple chord shapes. Usually 1-2 months of basics before attempting real songs.
What makes a song beginner-friendly: Simple melody that moves mostly by step (not jumping around). Slow tempo. Simple left hand pattern (whole notes, basic chords). Short and repetitive. Familiar tune so you know how it should sound.
The progression I'd recommend:
True beginner level (months 1-2): Mary Had a Little Lamb. Ode to Joy (simplified). Twinkle Twinkle. Heart and Soul. I know, they feel childish. But they teach fundamentals – steady tempo, basic coordination, finger placement. Play them well before moving on.
Early beginner (months 2-4): Lean on Me by Bill Withers. This was my first "real" song. Simple chord progression (C, Em, F, G). Slow tempo. Melody stays mostly in one position. Let It Be by The Beatles. Four chords (C, G, Am, F). The famous I-V-vi-IV progression. Slow, forgiving. Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. Arpeggiated chords in left hand, simple melody in right.
Late beginner (months 4-8): Imagine by John Lennon. That iconic intro is surprisingly approachable. Good for building left hand independence. A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. Clocks by Coldplay – that repeating piano riff is addictive and not too hard. Someone Like You by Adele – mostly arpeggiated chords.
Crossing into intermediate (months 8-12+): River Flows in You by Yiruma. I tried this at month two and failed hard. Came back at month six and got it. Beautiful arpeggiated patterns. Comptine d'un Autre Ete from Amelie. Sounds impressive, mostly repetitive patterns. Canon in D (simplified). Fur Elise opening section.
For classical specifically, see my classical pieces that don't bore you. And for a full list of accessible songs, check out easy piano songs.
Where to find beginner arrangements: MuseScore has tons of free user-uploaded arrangements. Search "[song name] easy piano" and look for ones with good ratings. Musicnotes has quality paid arrangements labeled by difficulty level – worth the few dollars for a good arrangement.
How to actually learn a song: Listen first. A lot. Get it in your head so you know what it should sound like. Right hand alone. Learn the melody first. Slow. Get it solid before adding left hand. Left hand alone. Learn the accompaniment part. Practice until it's automatic. Hands together, stupid slow. Like embarrassingly slow. 40 BPM with a metronome. Speed up gradually, only when it feels comfortable. Sections, not the whole thing. Master 4-8 measures, then move to the next section, then chain them together.
The timeline varies wildly. I spent three weeks on "Lean on Me." First song usually takes longer than you expect. Don't get discouraged. Each new song gets faster as you build skills.
For the broader context of how songs fit into learning, see my complete beginner's guide. And for maintaining consistent practice, check out building a practice routine.