Piano music has added so much to popular music that it’s almost hard to see its full impact. It’s an instrument that can be found in nearly every style and genre of music, so knowing how important the piano is to pop music is sort of like asking how important eggs are in cooking. If you’re looking to get more familiar with this incredible instrument, learning some easy piano covers is a great place to start. We’ve got five incredible piano cover songs to show you that are friendly to beginners. Instead of sheet music, we’ve provided simple chord charts here to help show you how to play these songs. The covers here are somewhat simplified to make them easier to play for beginner piano students. Ready to get started?
“Stay With Me,” by Sam Smith
Released in 2014, this ballad about a lover begging his one-night-stand not to leave him made Sam Smith an instant international superstar. It’s a gospel-inspired song because of its powerful backing vocals and syncopated rhythms. A lesser-known fact about this song is that Tom Petty received a songwriting credit due to the song’s similarity to Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.”
[Opening]
Am7 F C
Am7 F C
[Verse 1]
Am7 F C
Guess it’s true, I’m not good at a one-night stand
Am7 F C
But I still need love cause I’m just a man
Am7 F C
These nights never seem to go to plan
Am7 G C
I don’t want you to leave, will you hold my hand?
[Chorus]
Am F C
Won’t you stay with me?
Am F C
Cause you’re all I need
G Am F C
This ain’t love it’s clear to see
G#dim Am F C
But darling, stay with me
Am7 F C
Why am I so emotional?
Am7 F C
No it’s not a good look, gain some self-control
Am7 F C
And deep down I know this never works
Am7 Gsus C
But you can lay with me so it doesn’t hurt
[Chorus]
Am F C
Won’t you stay with me?
Am F C
Cause you’re all I need
G Am F C
This ain’t love it’s clear to see
G#dim Am F C
But darling, stay with me
[Bridge]
Am F C
Oh….
Am F C
Oh…
G Am F C
Oh…
G#dim Am F C
Oh…
[Chorus]
Am F C
Won’t you stay with me?
Am F C
Cause you’re all I need
G Am F C
This ain’t love it’s clear to see
G#dim Am F C
But darling, stay with me
Am F C
Oh, won’t you stay with me?
Am F C
Cause you’re all I need
G Am F C
This ain’t love it’s clear to see
G#dim Am F C
But darling, stay with me
“Elastic Heart,” by Sia
Don’t let this song’s dizzying production and bombastic instrumentation fool you. This song features simple chord progressions that can easily be played on the piano. Since there are only four chords to learn this may be the best place to start from this list of five easy piano covers. Written for a 2013 movie from The Hunger Games series, this song features vocals from The Weeknd and production by Diplo. The song became an international hit, but was soon overshadowed by its controversial music video.
Intro:
D A E F#m
D A E
And another one bites the dust
F#m D
But why can I not conquer love
A E
And I might have got to be with one
F#m D
Why not fight this war without weapons
And I want it and I want everything
But there was so many red flags
Now another one bites the dust
And let’s be clear, I trust no one
D A E F#m
You did not break me
D A E F#m
I’m still fighting for this
D A E
Well I’ve got a thick skin and an elastic heart
F#m
But your blade it might be too sharp
D A E
I’m like a rubberband until you pull too hard
F#m
But I may snap when I move close
D A E F#m
But you won’t see me move no more
D A E F#m
Cause I’ve got an elastic heart
D A E F#m
I’ve got an elastic heart
D A E F#m
Yeah, I’ve got an elastic heart
And now I step through the night
Let’s be clear, won’t close my eyes
And I know that I can’t survive
I walked through fire to save my life
And I want it, I want my life so bad
I’m doing everything I can
Then another one bites the dust
It’s hard to lose a chosen one
Prelude:
D A E F#m x2
D A E
Well I’ve got a thick skin and an elastic heart
F#m
But your blade it might be too sharp
D A E
I’m like a rubberband until you pull too hard
F#m
But I may snap when I move close
D A E F#m
But you won’t see me move no more
D A E F#m
Cause I’ve got an elastic heart
D A E
I’ve got an elastic heart
“Our Lips Are Sealed,” by The Go-Go’s
In 2000, this song was listed as one of the 100 greatest pop songs of all time by Rolling Stone. The song was written by The Go-Go’s guitarist Jane Wiedlin and The Specials and Fun Boy Three singer Terry Hall. Inspired by an affair between the two songwriters on a 1980 tour, the song tells the story of what it feels like to be the subject of rumors and suspicion.
[Intro]
Ab Gb Db x 2
[Verse 1]
Ab
Can you hear them?
Gb
The talk about us,
Db
Telling lies,
Db
Well, that’s no surprise.
[Verse 2]
Ab
Can you see them?
Gb
See right through them,
Db
They have no shields,
Db
No secrets to reveal.
[Chorus]
E Db
It doesn’t matter what they say
A Eb Ab
In the jealous games people play, he-he-hey!
Db Ab
Our lips are sealed.
[Verse 3]
Ab
There’s a weapon
Gb
We must use
Db
In our defense:
Db
Silence.
[Verse 4]
Ab
When you look at them,
Gb
Look right through them,
Db
That’s when they’ll disappear,
Db
That’s when you’ll be feared.
[Chorus]
E Db
It doesn’t matter what they say
A Eb Ab
In the jealous games people play, he-he-hey!
Db Ab
Our lips are sealed.
E Db
Pay no mind to what they say,
A# Eb Ab
It doesn’t matter anyway, he-he-hey!
Db Ab
Our lips are sealed.
Ab… [slower]
[Bridge]
(play Ab):
Hush, my darling
Don’t you cry.
Quiet, angel,
Forget their lies.
[Back to normal rhythm]
[Verse 1]
Ab
Can you hear them?
Gb
The talk about us,
Db
Telling lies,
Db
Well, that’s no surprise.
[Verse 2]
Ab
Can you see them?
Gb
See right through them,
Db
They have no shields,
Db
No secrets to reveal.
[Chorus]
E Db
It doesn’t matter what they say
A Eb Ab
In the jealous games people play, he-he-hey!
Db Ab
Our lips are sealed.
E Db
Pay no mind to what they say,
A Eb Ab
It doesn’t matter anyway, he-he-hey!
Db Ab
Our lips are sealed.
Db Ab
Our lips are sealed.
Db Ab
Our lips are sealed.
“Eye of The Tiger,” by Survivor
This iconic song was written for the film Rocky III at the request of actor and director Sylvester Stallone. Stallone was famously turned down by the band Queen when he asked for the rights for their song “Another One Bites The Dust,” so he turned to the band Survivor to write his movie’s theme song. The result is a catchy anthem that remains well-known in popular culture more than 30 years later. As far as easy piano covers go it’s a great one to break out at any party or gathering since most people know it.
[Intro]
Cm – Cm – Bb – Cm –
[Verse]
Cm Ab
Risin’ up, back on the street
Bb Cm
Did my time, took my chances
Cm Ab
Went the distance, now I’m back on my feet
Bb Cm
Just a man and his will to survive
Cm Ab
So many times, it happens too fast
Bb Cm
You trade your passion for glory
Cm Ab
Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past
Bb Cm
You must fight just to keep them alive
[Chorus]
Bb – Cm7 Fm Eb Bb
It’s the, eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Bb – Cm7 Fm Cm – Bb
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
Bb – Cm7 Fm Eb Bb
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
Bb – Cm7 Fm Eb Ab Cm
And he’s watchin’ us all with the eye of the tiger…
[Verse]
Cm Ab
Face to face, out in the heat
Bb Cm
Hangin’ tough, stayin’ hungry
Cm Ab
They stack the odds still we take to the street
Bb Cm
For the kill with the skill to survive
Cm Ab
It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Bb Cm
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
Cm Ab
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
Bb Cm
And he’s watchin’ us all with the eye of the tiger…
Cm Ab
Risin’ up, straight to the top
Bb Cm
Had the guts, got the glory
Cm Ab
Went the distance, now I’m not gonna stop
Bb Cm
Just a man and his will to survive
[Chorus]
Bb – Cm7 Fm Eb Bb
It’s the, eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Bb – Cm7 Fm Cm – Bb
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
Bb – Cm7 Fm Eb Bb
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
Bb – Cm7 Fm Eb Ab Cm
And he’s watchin’ us all with the eye of the tiger…
[Outro]
Ab Cm
The eye of the tiger…
Ab Cm
The eye of the tiger…
Ab Cm
The eye of the tiger…
Ab Cm
The eye of the tiger…
“Hallelujah,” by Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen’s song “Hallelujah” has been covered by so many artists that some readers might be surprised to learn that he was responsible for writing it. When it was released in 1984 it received little success until it was covered by Jeff Buckley years later. Some readers might find Cohen’s version of the song to be a little odd, but it can easily be adapted to the piano.
[Intro]
C Am C Am
[Verse]
C Am
Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord
C Am
That David played and it pleased the Lord
F G C G
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
C F G
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth,
Am F
The minor fall, the major lift,
G E Am
The baffled king composing, Hallelujah.
[Chorus]
F Am F
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
C G C Am C Am
Hallelu – jah.
[Verse]
C Am
Your faith was strong but you needed proof,
C Am
You saw her bathing on the roof:
F G C G
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya.
C F G
She tied you to a kitchen chair,
Am F
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair,
G E Am
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah.
[Chorus]
F Am F
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
C G C Am C Am
Hallelu – jah.
[Verse]
C Am
You say I took the name in vain,
C Am
Though I don’t even know the name,
F G C G
But if I did, well really, what’s it to ya?
C F G
There’s a blaze of light in every word,
Am F
It doesn’t matter which you heard:
G E Am
The holy or the broken Hallelujah.
[Chorus]
F Am F
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
C G C Am C Am
Hallelu – jah.
[Verse]
C Am
I did my best, it wasn’t much,
C Am
I couldn’t feel so I tried to touch.
F G C G
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool ya.
C F G
And even though it all went wrong
Am F
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
G E Am
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah.
[Chorus]
F Am F
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
C G C Am C Am
Hallelu – jah.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning these easy piano covers. If you’re having trouble learning on your own, working with an experienced piano teacher can help give you the skills and confidence you need to master songs like the ones we’ve taught you in this article.
