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Lower difficulty: Not as hard as it sounds!? Debussy’s piano pieces

Claude Debussy, the French composer who left unforgettable works with a composition style that defied traditional forms and emphasized free, resonant sound.

Debussy’s music is often seen as intimidating because of its complex harmonies, but in fact, there are pieces with relatively low difficulty that are quite approachable even for beginner pianists!

In this article, we’ll introduce piano works that allow you to fully savor Debussy’s unique world while being comparatively easier to play.

“If Debussy’s pieces are beautiful, it still feels too early for me to try…” If that’s what you’ve been thinking, you might be surprised at how smoothly you can actually play some of them!

Playlist

Lower difficulty: Not as hard as it sounds!? Debussy’s piano pieces
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastdreamClaude Debussy
dreamClaude Debussyplay_arrow
Clau… who represents French Impressionist music…
2eastSuite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy
Suite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneClaude Debussyplay_arrow
Among Claude Debussy’s works, the most fa…
3eastChildren’s Corner No. 6: “Golliwogg’s Cakewalk”Claude Debussy
Children's Corner No. 6: “Golliwogg's Cakewalk”Claude Debussyplay_arrow
A piece where a lively melody overlays a cakewalk rhythm
4eastArabesque No. 1Claude Debussy
Arabesque No. 1Claude Debussyplay_arrow
A pleasantly light, beautiful melody is the charm of Fran...
5eastBergamasque Suite No. 4: PassepiedClaude Debussy
Bergamasque Suite No. 4: PassepiedClaude Debussyplay_arrow
An elegant piano piece based on a passepied
6eastVideo, Episode 1: “Reflections of Water”Claude Debussy
Video, Episode 1: “Reflections of Water”Claude Debussyplay_arrow
Debussy's beautiful piano piece that depicts water
7eastBergamasque Suite: No. 1, PreludeClaude Debussy
Bergamasque Suite: No. 1, PreludeClaude Debussyplay_arrow
Known as a French composer of Impressionist music...
8eastPreludes, Book I: The Sunken CathedralClaude Debussy
Preludes, Book I: The Sunken CathedralClaude Debussyplay_arrow
A fantastical piano piece themed around a cathedral in the mist
9eastsmall black personClaude Debussy
small black personClaude Debussyplay_arrow
A piano piece based on cakewalk
10eastSuite bergamasque: I. PréludeClaude Debussy
Suite bergamasque: I. PréludeClaude Debussyplay_arrow
Comparatively, among the works of Claude Debussy…
11eastPréludes, Book I: Sails/VeilsClaude Debussy
Préludes, Book I: Sails/VeilsClaude Debussyplay_arrow
Debussy's impressionist piano pieces
12eastPréludes, Book I, No. 8: “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair”Claude Debussy
Préludes, Book I, No. 8: “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair”Claude Debussyplay_arrow
This piece was composed by Debussy, who was inspired by Leconte de...
13eastSlower than LentoClaude Debussy
Slower than LentoClaude Debussyplay_arrow
While it has a relaxed tempo, playful touches appear throughout…
14eastChildren’s Corner No. 4: “The Snow Is Dancing”Claude Debussy
Children's Corner No. 4: “The Snow Is Dancing”Claude Debussyplay_arrow
A snowy scene depicted from a child's perspective
15eastVideo, Episode 2: “And Then the Moon Falls on the Abandoned Temple”Claude Debussy
Video, Episode 2: “And Then the Moon Falls on the Abandoned Temple”Claude Debussyplay_arrow
Debussy’s piano piece depicting a ruined temple in moonlight
16eastElegyClaude Debussy
ElegyClaude Debussyplay_arrow
A piano that draws you into a mysterious world…
17eastChildren’s Corner No. 5: The Little ShepherdClaude Debussy
Children's Corner No. 5: The Little ShepherdClaude Debussyplay_arrow
Claude Debussy for his beloved daughter, Emma…
18eastRomantic WaltzClaude Debussy
Romantic WaltzClaude Debussyplay_arrow
Claude, known as a pioneer of Impressionist music...
19eastPréludes, Book I, No. 6 “Footprints in the Snow”Claude Debussy
Préludes, Book I, No. 6 “Footprints in the Snow”Claude Debussyplay_arrow
Layered over the same repeated left-hand rhythm...
20eastChildren’s Corner No. 3: Serenade for the DollClaude Debussy
Children's Corner No. 3: Serenade for the DollClaude Debussyplay_arrow
Claude Debussy’s beloved daughter, Chouchou, ...
21eastPrints, No. 3: ‘Gardens in the Rain’Claude Debussy
Prints, No. 3: 'Gardens in the Rain'Claude Debussyplay_arrow
Completed by Claude Debussy in 1903…
22eastBergamasque Suite No. 2 “Minuet”Claude Debussy
Bergamasque Suite No. 2 “Minuet”Claude Debussyplay_arrow
Claude Debussy's Suite bergamasque...
23eastPreludes, Book II, No. 5: The Heath-Covered WastelandClaude Debussy
Preludes, Book II, No. 5: The Heath-Covered WastelandClaude Debussyplay_arrow
Claude Debussy, the French composer...
24eastTwo Arabesques No. 2Claude Debussy
Two Arabesques No. 2Claude Debussyplay_arrow
Characteristics of Debussy’s Arabesque No. 2 and tips for performance
25eastChildren’s Corner No. 1: “Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum”Claude Debussy
Children’s Corner No. 1: “Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum”Claude Debussyplay_arrow
A lively piano miniature dedicated to Debussy’s beloved daughter
26eastForgotten Images: No. 2, “Memories of the Louvre”Claude Debussy
Forgotten Images: No. 2, “Memories of the Louvre”Claude Debussyplay_arrow
The three-piece work Forgotten Images is clo…
27eastPreludes, Book II, No. 6: “General Lavine — eccentric”Claude Debussy
Preludes, Book II, No. 6: “General Lavine — eccentric”Claude Debussyplay_arrow
Among the works of Claude Debussy, ...
28eastChildren’s Corner No. 2: Lullaby of the ElephantClaude Debussy
Children’s Corner No. 2: Lullaby of the ElephantClaude Debussyplay_arrow
Claude Debussy’s beloved daughter, E...
29eastLullaby of a HeroClaude Debussy
Lullaby of a HeroClaude Debussyplay_arrow
The glamorous image carried by the word “hero”…