It’s so cool if you can play these on the piano! A selection of irresistibly charming masterpieces.
When you think of piano pieces, many people probably picture classical works, right?
But nowadays, not only classical music—J-POP, anime songs, and all kinds of tracks—are performed on the piano, and “I tried playing it” videos are gaining attention on social media and video platforms.
Some of you might be enjoying watching these videos every day, surprised to find, “Wow, this song actually goes really well with the piano!”
So this time, we’ve picked out songs that would look seriously cool if you could play them on the piano!
Alongside timeless classical masterpieces, we’ll also introduce the latest hit songs that sound great on piano.
If you’re thinking, “I want to wow everyone with my piano performance!”, be sure to use this as a reference!
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- Piano Masterpieces: Surprisingly Easy Despite Sounding Difficult!? A Curated Selection Perfect for Recitals
- Even beginners can play them easily on the piano! A curated selection of popular and latest J-POP songs.
- [Piano Recital] Recommended for Boys! A Curated Selection of Cool, Impressive, and Popular Pieces
- [Piano × J‑Pop] A curated selection of the coolest new hits and anime songs that’ll look great when you play them
- [For Elementary School Students] Brilliant, Showy Masterpieces That Sound Impressive at Piano Recitals
- [For Piano Recitals] Simple yet Cool Classical Pieces
- [Intermediate Level] A curated selection of piano masterpieces featuring strikingly brilliant melodies!
- Cool jazz piano: from classic favorites to hidden gems.
- [For Advanced Players] A Curated Selection of Classical Masterpieces to Tackle at Piano Recitals
- Masterpieces of classical piano that are too beautiful for words. A gathering of delicate tones that cleanse the soul.
- [Classical Music] All pieces under 3 minutes! A collection of short and cool piano pieces
If you can play these on the piano, you’ll look cool! A selection of irresistibly charming masterpieces (71–80)
In the ForestAlbert Ketèlbey
How about a solo piano piece by Albert Ketèlbey that brings a sense of comfort, as if you were cooling off in the shade on a hot summer afternoon? As you listen, scenes seem to come to life: the soft light filtering through the trees deep in the forest, and even the sound of leaves rustling in a gentle breeze.
Its tender, approachable melody evokes a wonderfully tranquil passage of time.
This piano work is thought to have taken shape in the 1920s.
The album “A Dream Picture” includes a 1993 recording performed by Rosemary Tuck.
It’s a piece I especially recommend when you want to step away from the hustle and bustle of daily life for a moment’s respite, or when you’d like to be enveloped in the gentle tone of the piano and spend some quiet time.
KICK BACKYonezu Kenshi
Written as the opening theme for the TV anime Chainsaw Man, this piece fuses an energetic rock sound with elements of drum and bass.
Its structure is notable for frequent key changes, delivering bold musical shifts that are strikingly engaging.
The lyrics carry deep messages, including a desire for self-realization, a pursuit of happiness, and an openness to life’s uncertainties.
Since its digital release in October 2022, it has garnered high praise both in Japan and abroad, earning RIAA Gold certification and widespread attention.
It’s highly recommended for fans of Kenshi Yonezu’s distinctive worldview and for those looking to take on a powerful song.
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride – ‘Engaging in the Flames of War’sugiyama kouichi
A staple battle theme with unwavering popularity in the world of video game music now makes its debut as a piece that shines at piano recitals.
Its powerful performance and tense development have earned strong support, especially among boys.
First released in September 1992 in Dragon Quest V, this work is characterized by a fast tempo at BPM 164 and a 4/4 meter, vividly expressing the forcefulness of its key of C minor.
The tension produced by string tremolos and the brassy, gritty chords of the wind section retains ample appeal even in solo piano form.
The piece has also been performed as a symphonic work and has been taken up by numerous orchestras, including recordings by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
It’s a perfect choice for those aiming for a dazzling recital performance or seeking to enhance their musical expressiveness.
Cool if you can play them on piano! A selection of irresistibly charming masterpieces (81–90)
Etude Collection (Studies) No. 4, Op. 10-4 in C-sharp minorFrederic Chopin
A fiercely passionate piece that grips the listener’s heart and won’t let go.
Its rapid sixteenth-note passages and continuous intricate figures in both hands create an impact like a storm.
Composed in August 1832, this work is acclaimed as having artistic value that far surpasses a mere study.
It is recommended not only for those aiming to improve their piano technique, but also for anyone who loves passionate music.
While the performance demands advanced technique, the sense of accomplishment is all the greater.
If you want to experience the appeal of classical music, why not give it a try?
Romanian Folk Dances: ‘Romanian Polka’ and ‘Fast Dance’Bartók Béla
This is a work by the composer Béla Bartók from the Kingdom of Hungary, composed using folk songs from Transylvania, which was once part of the Kingdom of Hungary that governed the region centered on present-day Hungary.
Romanian Folk Dances consists of six pieces, but the fifth piece, Romanian Polka, and the sixth, Fast Dance—both used as background music in a famous TV program—are particularly familiar to Japanese listeners.
In a brief span of time, this piece lets you enjoy a distinctive atmosphere completely different from Japanese folk music and the like.
Barcarolle, Op. 60, CT 6, in F-sharp majorFrederic Chopin
A “barcarolle” is a piano piece inspired by the gondolas of Venice, the city of water, and is said to have originated from the songs that boatmen would hum while on their boats.
Among the barcarolles composed by classical composers, Frédéric Chopin’s Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op.
60 (CT 6), is particularly famous.
Characterized by its use of 12/8 time, it creates a grand yet elegant atmosphere.
Written in Chopin’s late period, it also demands an advanced level of technique.
Why not try performing it while imagining a gondola floating on sunlit waters?
Petite Suite: I. En bateauClaude Debussy
In the heat of summer, let me introduce a piano duet by Claude Debussy that feels like a refreshing breeze for the soul.
First performed together by Debussy and his publisher’s representative in February 1889, this work opens a suite of four short pieces.
Its gentle, beautiful melody evokes a small boat gliding serenely over the water—utterly enchanting.
Though it has no lyrics, it is said to have been inspired by poems of Verlaine, and it conjures images of a boat drifting under moonlight, along with an elegant atmosphere from a distant era.
The shimmering piano timbres wrap the listener in a pleasantly cool calm.
The orchestral version is also well known, offering an even richer palette of colors, and you might even hear it as background music in public spaces.
Do give it a listen when you’re a bit worn out from the heat or when you want to settle your mind in quiet.
As Debussy intended for the salon—‘not too heavy and not too short’—it allows you to slip easily into a graceful mood.