A web magazine to help you enjoy the piano even more

[For Beginners] Play on the Piano! A Collection of Songs Using the Canon Progression

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

Are you familiar with the so-called “canon progression” in chord progressions?

The progression used in Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D—widely known as Pachelbel’s Canon—has been quoted in many J-pop hits.

Even if you don’t understand chord theory, you’ve almost certainly heard this golden chord progression at least once.

In this article, we’ve compiled a selection of famous songs that use the “canon progression,” focusing on pieces that are easy for beginners to play on the piano.

We’ve included both Japanese and Western music, chosen across different eras—so try playing these classic canon-progression songs on the piano!

[For Beginners] Play on the Piano! A Collection of Songs Using the Canon Progression (11–20)

Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuro

“Christmas Eve” by Tatsuro Yamashita [How to Play on Piano – Absolutely Playable for Beginners!] ☆3

Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuro

Tatsuro Yamashita’s “Christmas Eve” is a quintessential J-pop song that uses the canon progression! In the interlude, where the mood changes dramatically, it directly employs the chord progression from Pachelbel’s Canon.

The melody also has a somewhat Baroque feel—toward the latter half it’s practically Pachelbel’s Canon! Even though it reaches back over 300 years, it somehow matches the atmosphere of the song perfectly.

Because variations of the canon are also used in the chorus and the A section, it may create a sense of cohesion.

To master the interlude cleanly, I also recommend practicing the original Canon!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

In conclusion

Because the canon progression is the most classic of classics, it’s especially familiar to Japanese listeners, and it has the advantage of being relatively easy to picture when playing the piano. The pieces introduced this time range from simple canon progressions to various transformed versions, so please enjoy playing the piano while savoring the relationship between melody and chords!