When I first started playing the piano, I remember I was very excited about learning my favorite rock songs. I would have the classical pieces assigned by my piano teacher that I had to practice. However, I would always try to learn a piano rock song apart from my assigned classical pieces. Looking back now, I’ve realized that those easy piano rock songs I was learning just for fun back then, in fact, improved my piano playing in a way that wouldn’t be possible if I played only classical music.
Why is that?
- Because it is crucial to include the songs into your repertoire that you will enjoy playing. If you don’t do so, you will end up getting bored and exhausted.
- Piano rock songs teach you the chords that are commonly used in other musical genres such as pop and jazz.
- By playing piano rock songs, you will also learn to play a basic left-hand accompaniment, a skill you will need for almost anything you will play in the future.
To minimize the time you will spend on deciding which songs you should learn to get the most benefit from, I’ve gathered 6 easy piano rock songs to help you get started. Among many rock songs I played throughout the years, I’ve selected the best ones for a beginner piano player.
They are easy and impressive, plus very popular!
Imagine-John Lennon
Imagine is one of the best and easy rock songs to play on the piano. It will immediately draw everybody’s attention wherever you play. The reason I put Imagine on the top of this list is that it introduces you to very basic yet important techniques.
The song is in C major, which makes it easy for a beginner to play. C major contains no accidentals (black keys). By staying only in the white keys, you will better be able to understand the chord transitions within C major. Though in the chorus there is E major, which has one black key, it is not difficult to make the transition.
Luckily, Pianote has an easy piano tutorial on Imagine. The video teaches you the whole song step by step!
Yellow Brick Road-Elton John
Since we are talking about rock piano, I couldn’t miss Elton John on this list. Elton John is a legend when it comes to rock piano, which means it’d be better if you can include at least one song by Elton John in your repertoire.
Yellow Brick Road is one of the best piano rock songs in history. By learning the easy version of the song, you will be able to play the simple left-hand accompaniment the right-hand melody line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ1aJCvbxnU
Bohemian Rhapsody-Queen
Along with Elton John, Queen is another legendary band that makes use of piano in most of their songs. I can’t emphasize enough the benefits of playing Queen if you are a beginner piano player.
Bohemian Rhapsody is one of the most famous and impressive piano rock songs to play. Learning this song, you will have the chance to see a different kind of texture and harmony.
Check out the other Queen piano songs you can easily learn!
Right Here Waiting-Richard Marx
I remember I was a teenager when I first learned to play this song on the piano. I was playing it all the time without getting bored because I was in love with the main piano riff of Right Here Waiting. This song is so lovely and emotional that every beginner will enjoy it.
It features a very common chord progression in both rock and pop music, which is I–V–vi–IV. By learning this easy chord progression, you will able to play many of your favorite pop and rock songs!
November Rain-Guns N’ Roses
November Rain is a rock classic that features the piano as its main instrument. Guns N’ Roses is a band that has beautiful rock piano songs, though not as many as Elton John or Queen does. Still, you should give this song a try if you are a beginner. This version is absolutely easy and fun to learn!
She’s a Rainbow-The Rolling Stones
I want to conclude this list with a song that is quite uplifting and fun. She’s a Rainbow is famous for its iconic piano riff that repeats throughout the song.
Learning this easy piano rock song, you will improve your right-hand technique and strength. I recommend that you practice this song by starting with a slow tempo. After you feel comfortable with your right-hand playing, you can gradually increase the speed until you reach the original tempo.
Don’t forget to use a metronome while practicing this piano rock song!
Conclusion
These were my top recommendations of 6 easy rock piano songs for beginners! I tried to include the easiest but also famous ones so that your audience would be more impressed with your playing!
Which songs out of this list you think you will learn first?
Let me know in the comments section below!
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