Are you a pianist looking to expand your repertoire with captivating pieces that will impress your audience? Or perhaps you're a music lover searching for beautiful melodies to enjoy? Then you've come to the right place! This list dives deep into the world of the best songs for piano covers, exploring a diverse range of genres and skill levels. From timeless classics that lend themselves perfectly to solo piano arrangements to modern hits begging to be reinterpreted, we've curated a selection that caters to both experienced pianists and enthusiastic beginners. Choosing the right piece can transform a simple practice session into a breathtaking performance, allowing you to showcase your skills and share your passion for music. Whether you're aiming for a soulful ballad, a lively jazz piece, or a dramatic classical rendition, discovering the perfect song can ignite your creativity and elevate your musical journey. Let's explore the captivating world of piano covers and find your next masterpiece!
| Song | Artist | Album | Listens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Thinking out Loud | Ed Sheeran | x (Deluxe Edition) | 4B+ |
| 2. Perfect | Ed Sheeran | ÷ (Deluxe) | 4B+ |
| 3. a thousand years | Christina Perri | ARTPOP | 2B+ |
| 4. Love Me Like You Do | Ellie Goulding | 2B+ | |
| 5. Someone Like You | Adele | 21 | 2B+ |
| 6. Bohemian Rhapsody | Queen | A Night At The Opera (Deluxe Remastered Version) | 2B+ |
| 7. Shallow |
Lady Gaga Bradley Cooper | A Star Is Born Soundtrack | 2B+ |
1. Thinking out Loud (2014)
Melody: Thinking Out Loud boasts a memorable and easily adaptable melody, making it perfect for showcasing pianistic skill and emotional expression.
Chords: The song's chord progression is relatively simple yet effective, providing a strong foundation for both beginner and advanced piano arrangements.
Emotional Depth: Its heartfelt lyrics and gentle rhythm lend themselves well to creating a beautiful and moving piano cover, allowing for expressive interpretation.
2. Perfect
Simple Melody: Perfect's melody is beautifully straightforward, making it an excellent choice for pianists of varying skill levels. The song's structure is easily adaptable to different interpretations.
Emotional Depth: The song's heartfelt lyrics and gentle progression lend themselves well to expressive piano playing, allowing for a nuanced and emotionally resonant performance.
Lyrical Focus: The focus on the vocal melody in the original makes it ideal for a piano arrangement that prioritizes showcasing the lyricism and emotional power of the song.
3. a thousand years (ARTPOP)
Melodic Simplicity: Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years" features a memorable melody that's surprisingly easy to adapt for piano, making it accessible to pianists of various skill levels.
Emotional Depth: The song's soaring vocals and poignant lyrics create an emotionally resonant experience, perfect for conveying a wide range of feelings through a piano interpretation.
Arranging Potential: Its relatively simple structure allows for creative freedom in arranging, encouraging pianists to explore different styles and add their own personal touches.
4. Love Me Like You Do (2015)
Melodic Simplicity: "Love Me Like You Do" features a memorable melody that's surprisingly easy to adapt for piano, making it accessible for pianists of various skill levels.
Emotional Depth: The song's soaring vocals and heartfelt lyrics translate beautifully to a piano arrangement, allowing the emotional core to shine through.
Effective Arrangement Suggestions: Consider focusing on the song's dynamic range when arranging it for piano; explore contrasting soft and powerful sections to highlight the emotional journey.
5. Someone Like You (Adele - 2025)
Emotional Depth: Adele's vocals in "Someone Like You" are raw and emotionally resonant, making it perfect for conveying a wide range of feelings through a piano cover.
Melodic Simplicity & Impact: The song's melody is both simple and memorable, lending itself well to piano arrangements while still retaining its emotional power. Its structure allows for creative improvisational embellishments.
Dynamic Range: The song's dynamic range, from quiet verses to powerful crescendos, provides ample opportunity for showcasing pianistic skill and expression.
6. Bohemian Rhapsody - A Night At The Opera (Deluxe Remastered Version)
Vocal Range and Complexity: Bohemian Rhapsody's iconic vocal performance showcases Freddie Mercury's incredible range and control, offering pianists a challenging yet rewarding piece to interpret.
Harmonic Richness: The song's layered harmonies and chord progressions create a dynamic and captivating soundscape, perfect for showcasing piano skills and creating a dramatic performance.
Structure and Variation: The song's diverse sections—from the operatic passages to the hard rock finale—provide a wide array of technical and expressive opportunities for pianists to explore.
7. Shallow (Lady Gaga ft Bradley Cooper - 2025)
Emotional Depth: Shallow boasts a powerful and moving melody, perfect for showcasing a pianist's expressive range and control.
Melodic Simplicity/Complexity: The song's structure, while seemingly simple, offers opportunities for pianists to explore intricate harmonies and embellishments.
Vocal-Instrumental Balance: Adapting the vocal melody for piano provides a chance to highlight the song's intimate and vulnerable core.
8. The Scientist (Coldplay - 2025)
Lyrical Complexity: "The Scientist" boasts a deceptively simple yet emotionally resonant melody, making it ideal for showcasing interpretive piano skills.
Chord Progressions: The song's memorable chord structure provides a strong foundation for impressive piano arrangements, allowing for both straightforward and inventive interpretations.
Dynamic Range: The piece's dynamic shifts, from quiet introspection to powerful crescendos, offer pianists ample opportunity to demonstrate their expressive capabilities.
9. Stay With Me (In The Lonely Hour - 2025)
Melodic Structure: Stay With Me boasts a simple yet incredibly effective melodic structure, perfect for showcasing pianistic interpretation and improvisation.
Emotional Depth: The song's raw emotional vulnerability translates beautifully to the piano, allowing for nuanced expression and dynamic range.
Technical Challenges/Rewards: While accessible to intermediate pianists, the song offers opportunities for advanced players to explore sophisticated chord voicings and embellishments.
10. You Are The Reason
Melodic Simplicity: "You Are The Reason" features a deceptively simple melody that translates beautifully to the piano, allowing for both intimate and expressive interpretations.
Emotional Depth: The song's heartfelt lyrics and soaring vocals provide ample opportunity for pianists to showcase emotional nuance and dynamic range.
Technical Accessibility: While emotionally rich, the song's chord structure and progression are relatively straightforward, making it a manageable yet rewarding challenge for pianists of various skill levels.
11Memories
Maroon 5
2019
JORDI (Deluxe)
12Flowers
Miley Cyrus
2023
Endless Summer Vacation
13Say Something
Christina Aguilera,A Great Big World
2013
14Time After Time
Cyndi Lauper
1983
She's So Unusual
15Can't Help Falling in Love
Elvis Presley
1961
Blue Hawaii
16Chasing Cars
Snow Patrol
2006
Eyes Open
17Imagine
John Lennon
1971
Imagine
18Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen
1984
Various Positions
19River Flows In You
Yiruma
2001
First Love (The Original & the Very First Recording)
20Let It Be
The Beatles
1970
Let It Be (Remastered)
21Clair de Lune
Claude Debussy
1905
22Gravity
John Mayer
2006
Continuum
23Kiss The Rain
Yiruma
2003
From The Yellow Room (The Original & the Very First Recording)
24Comptine d'un autre été: L'après-midi
Yann Tiersen
2001
25Angel Baby
Troye Sivan
2021
26Skinny Love
Bon Iver
2007
For Emma, Forever Ago
27Until I Found You
Stephen Sanchez,Em Beihold
2023
÷ (Deluxe)
28All of Me
Hunter Hayes,John Legend,Jennifer Nettles
2013
Wild Blue, Part I