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!
- [Intermediate Level] Cool Piano Pieces You Can Play [Great for Recitals Too]
- [Advanced] Super cool if you can play it! Selection of famous piano pieces
- 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
It would be so cool to play on the piano! A selection of irresistibly charming masterpieces (51–60)
KanadeSukima Suichi
Released in 2004, this song by Sukima Switch is one of their signature tracks, covered by many other artists.
It’s a ballad that strongly evokes feelings of loneliness and bittersweetness—sensing the pain of parting while trying to move forward.
While Sukima Switch’s sound typically centers on guitar and piano, this track gives a particularly prominent impression of the piano’s timbre.
Even performed with just the piano, the song’s gentle atmosphere could likely be faithfully conveyed.
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor, Op. 43, Variation 18Sergei Rachmaninov
One of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s signature works, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, is a set of variations on the theme from Caprice No.
24 by the legendary Italian violinist-composer Niccolò Paganini.
Comprising the theme and 24 variations, the piece’s 18th variation is often performed on its own and is frequently used as background music in films.
Although it is quite a difficult work, you’re sure to be captivated by its wistful, sweetly lyrical melodies from the very first stages of practice.
Give it a try!
Boys’ Merry-Go-RoundNiels Wilhelm Gade
This is a children’s piano piece with a bright, lively rhythm.
Its simple yet beautiful melody is striking, vividly portraying children dancing in a circle.
Included on the album “Children’s Christmas,” the piece is full of playful fun and conveys a spirited, boyish energy.
It balances educational consideration with artistry, evoking scenes of traditional European children’s games.
Also featured as a piano set piece in the ABRSM exams, it is loved worldwide as a performance piece that shines on stage.
Highly recommended for those who want a dazzling recital piece.
Fantasia Sakura SakuraHirai Kōsaburō
Let me introduce a solo piano piece that revives traditional Japanese music for the modern era.
Based on a long-loved melody, this work has been reborn as a fantasia for solo piano by Japanese composer Kozaburo Hirai.
It opens with a gentle introduction, then in the middle section adds drum-like rhythms that evoke the bustle of a festival.
Finally, it draws to a quiet close.
It’s as if scenes of spring in Japan are painted through sound.
Highly recommended for those interested in traditional Japanese music or looking to enjoy classical music from Japan.
Do give it a listen.
It’s so cool if you can play these on the piano! A selection of irresistibly charming masterpieces (61–70)
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2Franz Liszt
Hungarian Rhapsody No.
2 by Franz Liszt—the piano wizard who composed numerous fiendishly difficult pieces requiring transcendental technique—is no exception in its level of difficulty, and even professional pianists often struggle to perform it.
Beginning with a weighty atmosphere and gradually growing more brilliant, it is truly breathtaking.
Its bright, beautiful melodies and powerful rhythms have captivated piano students and enthusiasts for many years.
Mastering it demands considerable practice, but by all means, enjoy its dramatic world as you take on the challenge!
Ode to Joy (arranged by Liszt)Ludwig van Beethoven
This work is Franz Liszt’s solo piano arrangement of the final movement of Symphony No.
9, beloved as a year-end tradition.
Published in 1865 by Breitkopf & Härtel, the arrangement is an ambitious attempt to recreate the grandeur of orchestra and chorus on a single piano.
The original themes—imbued with ideals of humanism and universal brotherhood—are conveyed more intimately through the piano’s delicate timbres, offering both enveloping power and introspective depth.
Demanding a fusion of transcendental technique and spiritual insight, this piece showcases the piano’s expressive range; performed at a year-end house party or salon concert, it is sure to leave listeners deeply moved.
Songs Without Words, Book V, Op. 62, No. 6, Spring SongFelix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn’s masterpiece, “Songs Without Words, Book 5, Op.
62, No.
6, Spring Song.” The charm of this work lies in its exquisitely refined, beautiful melody and the left-hand arpeggios that evoke a warm spring breeze.
While the overall difficulty is not particularly high, it is by no means easy to play the melody smoothly while accurately catching the leaping notes in the left hand.
Don’t just line up the notes—practice with an eye toward the delicate beauty characteristic of Mendelssohn’s works.
