It’s safe to say that The Beatles have had more influence on music and cultures over the past half-century than some entire countries have had. In 2017, just shy of 50 years after the band’s famous breakup, The Beatles remain one of the world’s most popular and impactful bands. If you’re trying to find fun and memorable pop songs to help you learn how to play keys, checking out some incredibly written and surprisingly simple Beatles piano songs is a great place to start.
Though the band was only together for eight years, the amount of music written and the styles explored by the Beatles is astounding. The group blended together and borrowed sounds from genres in pop, folk, blues, psychedelic, rhythm and blues, and country western music to create songs that were completely new and original. The Beatles are widely regarded as being the largest influence in rock music of all time.
But don’t let all that intimidate you. Part of the key to the band’s remarkable success is due to the fact that they knew how and when to keep things simple. Today we have five incredible Beatles piano songs to teach you. Instead of sheet music, we’re going to provide you with simple piano chord charts to help you learn these songs. The chords here are simplified a bit to make things easier. Ready to get started?
“Let It Be”
Photo credit: neftali / Shutterstock.com
Released as a single in 1970, this song was the title track from the album of the same name. This song was written and sung by Paul McCartney, and it was the last single he wrote before leaving the band later in 1970. The idea for the song came to McCartney in a dream he had about his mother in 1968. His mother had died when he was just 14, and McCartney later said in interviews how comforted he was to be visited by her in the dream where he heard her tell him that everything was alright and to just “let it be.”
[Verse 1]
C G Am Fmaj7 F
When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
C G F C Dm C
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
C G Am Fmaj7 F
And in my hour of darkness, She is standing right in front of me
C G F C Dm C
Speaking words of wisdom, Let it be
[Chorus]
Am C F C
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
C G F C Dm C
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
[Verse 2]
C G Am Fmaj7 F
And when the broken hearted people, Living in the world agree
C G F C Dm C
There will be an answer, let it be
C G Am Fmaj7 F
But though they may be parted, There is still a chance that they may see
C G F C Dm C
There will be an answer, let it be
[Chorus]
Am C F C
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
C G F C Dm C
There will be an answer, let it be
Am C F C
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
C G F C Dm C
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
[Instrumental]
F C Dm C Bb F G F C (x2)
[Solo]
C G Am F
(x2)
C G F C
[Chorus]
Am C F C
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
C G F C Dm C
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
[Verse 3]
C G
And when the night is cloudy,
Am Fmaj7 F
There is still a light that shines on me
C G F C Dm C
Shine on till tomorrow, let it be
C G Am Fmaj7 F
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
C G F C Dm C
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
[Chorus]
Am C F C
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
C G F C Dm C
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
[Outro]
F C Dm C Bb F G F C
“Hello Goodbye”
Written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon in 1967, this song’s lyrics explore a certain duality found in common things in the world that surrounds us. The song was inspired by an actual experience that happened when a representative of the band answered questions a fan asked about songwriting on stage while McCartney stood by her and replied with completely opposite answers.
[Verse]
Dm C
You say yes, I say no
G7 Am G7
You say stop and I say go, go, go
Am G7
Oh, no
G7 G F C
You say goodbye and I say hello
[Chorus]
Hello, hello
F G#
I don’t know why you say goodbye
C
I say hello
Hello, hello
F G#
I don’t know why you say goodbye
C
I say hello
[Verse]
Dm C
I say high, you say low
G7 Am G7
You say why, and I say I don’t know
Am G7
Oh, no
G7 G F C
You say goodbye and I say hello
[Chorus]
Hello, hello
F G#
I don’t know why you say goodbye
C
I say hello
Hello, hello
F G#
I don’t know why you say goodbye
C
I say hello
C G7
Why, why, why, why, why, why
Am
Do you say good bye
G Am
Goodbye, bye, bye, bye, bye
Am G7
Oh, no
G7 G F C
You say goodbye and I say hello
Hello, hello
F G#
I don’t know why you say goodbye
C
I say hello
Hello, hello
F G#
I don’t know why you say goodbye
C
I say hello
[Verse]
Dm C
You say yes, I say no
G7 Am G7
You say stop and I say go, go, go
Am G7
Oh, no
G7 G F C
You say goodbye and I say hello
[Chorus]
Hello, hello
F G#
I don’t know why you say goodbye
C
I say hello
Hello, hello
F G#
I don’t know why you say goodbye
C
I say hello
Hello, hello
F G#
I don’t know why you say goodbye
C G# F
I say hello hello o
C
helllloooo
[Outro]
C
Hela, heba helloa
C
Hela, heba helloa
“Oh! Darling”
Photo credit: neftali / Shutterstock.com
Appearing as the fourth song on the incredible album Abbey Road, this next entry on our list of Beatles piano songs, “Oh! Darling,” was written by Paul McCartney in 1969. McCartney sang the song over and over again before recording his vocals because he thought his voice sounded too clear. It’s also rumored that he smoked packs of cigarettes to make his voice sound more weathered and distinct.
[Verse]
E+ A E
Oh___ darling please believe me
F#m D
I’ll never do you no harm
Bm7 E7
Be-lieve me when I tell you
Bm7 E7 A
I’ll never do you no harm
[Instrumental]
A – D – A – E
[Verse]
E A E
Oh___ darling if you leave me
F#m D
I’ll never make it alone
Bm7 E7
Believe me when I beg you
Bm7 A
Don’t ever leave me alone
[Instrumental]
A – D – A – E
[Chorus]
A7 D F7
When you told me you didn’t need me anymore
A
Well you know I nearly broke down and cried
B7
When you told me you didn’t need me anymore
E7 F7 E7 E+
Well you know I nearly fell down and died___
[Verse]
E+ A E
Oh darling if you leave me
F#m D
I’ll never make it alone
Bm7 E7
Believe me when I tell you
Bm7 E7 A
I’ll never do you no harm
[Interlude]
A – D – A – A7
(Spoken) Believe me, darling
[Chorus]
A7 D F7
When you told me you didn’t need me anymore
A
Well you know I nearly broke down and cried
B7
When you told me you didn’t need me anymore
E7 F7 E7 E+
Well you know I nearly fell down and died___
[Verse]
E+ A E
Oh darling please believe me
F#m D
I’ll never let you down
(spoken) oh believe me darling
Bm7 E7
Believe me when I tell you
Bm7 E7 A
I’ll never do you no harm
[Outro]
A – D – A – Bb7 – A7
“Baby, You’re a Rich Man”
This song was the result of two unfinished songs by Lennon and McCartney. Written in 1967 during the height of the hippy movement, the song’s narrator is said to be asking Beatles manager Brian Epstein how it feels to be one of the “beautiful people.” “Beautiful people” was a term that hippies often used to describe themselves.
[Intro]
G7 C 4X
[Verse]
G C G7
How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people?
G F G7 C
Now that you know who you are, What do you want to be?
G7 F G7 C
And have you traveled very far? Far as the eye can see
[Chorus]
G C G7
How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people?
G F G7 C
How often have you been there? Often enough to know
G7 F G7 C
What did you see when you were there? Nothing that doesn’t show
G C
Baby you’re a rich man, baby you’re a rich man
G C G G7
Baby you’re a rich man too. You keep all your money in a
C G7 C
big brown bag inside a zoo, what a thing to do
G C G C
Baby you’re a rich man, baby you’re a rich man, baby you’re a rich man too
G C G7
How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people?
G F G7 C
Happy to be that way
G7 F G7 C
Now that you’ve found another key, What are you going to play?
G C
Baby you’re a rich man, baby you’re a rich man
G C G G7
Baby you’re a rich man too. You keep all your money in a
C G7 C
big brown bag inside a zoo, what a thing to do
G C G C
Baby you’re a rich man, baby you’re a rich man, baby you’re a rich man too
G C G C
Baby you’re a rich man, baby you’re a rich man, baby you’re a rich man too 2x
“Hey Jude”
This song sounds joyful and triumphant, but it was written from a place of loss, heartbreak, and sadness. In 1968, John Lennon and his wife Cynthia separated because John was caught having an affair with Yoko Ono. After the breakup, McCartney visited Cynthia and her son Julian at their home and he wrote what would later become the ballad of “Hey Jude” in the car while driving. He wrote the song to comfort the young boy during the painful separation of his parents.
[Verse 1]
F C
Hey Jude don’t make it bad
C C7 F
take a sad song and make it better
Bb F
Remember to let her into your heart
C F
and then you can start to make it better
[Verse 2]
F C
Hey Jude don’t be afraid
C C7 F
you were made to go out and get her
Bb F
The minute you let her under your skin
C F Fmaj7 F7
then you begin to make it better
[Chorus]
Bb Gm
And anytime you feel the pain hey jude refrain
Gm7 C F Fmaj7 F7
don’t carry the world upon your shoulders
Bb Gm
For well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool
Gm7 C F
by making his world a little colder
[Interlude]
F F7 C F C7
Da da da da da Da da da da
[Verse 3]
F C
Hey Jude don’t let me down
C C7 F
You have found her now go and get her
Bb F
Remember to let her into your heart
C F Fmaj7 F7
then you can start to make it better
[Chorus]
Bb Gm
So let it out and let it in hey Jude begin
Gm7 C F Fmaj7 F7
you’re waiting for someone to perform with
Bb Gm
And don’t you know that it’s just you hey jude you’ll do
Gm7 C F
The movement you need is on your shoulders
[Interlude]
F F7 C F C7
Da da da da da da da da da
[Verse 4]
F C
Hey Jude don’t make it bad
F C7 F
take a sad song and make it better
Bb F
Remember to let her under your skin
C F
and then you’ll begin to make it better
[Outro]
F F7 Eb
Na na na na na na na
Bb
Na na na na
F
Hey Jude
F F7 Eb
Na na na na na na na
Bb
Na na na na
F
Hey Jude
We hope you’ve had fun learning these Beatles piano songs. For more helpful articles, lessons and instructional videos, check out the Musika Lessons blog.
thank you for this amazing article this is very helpful
I love it. I was trying for long time to play " in my life" for long time well. But with this web page with the chords is more helpful to play it. Thanks.