Difficult Piano Pieces: From Classical to Jazz Piano
For those with a deep appreciation for the piano, there often comes a time—once a certain level of knowledge and technique has been acquired—when they gravitate toward listening to more challenging pieces.
Among the many genres, classical and jazz piano in particular feature numerous highly demanding works that have long stood as formidable obstacles for many performers.
This time, we’ve picked out some especially difficult piano pieces.
From jazz piano that emphasizes rapid runs, to classical works with extreme leaps in the scale, and even contemporary classical pieces that combine both traits, we’ve selected from a wide range of styles—so be sure to check them out.
- [For Advanced Players] A Curated Selection of Classical Masterpieces to Tackle at Piano Recitals
- [Highest Difficulty] A selection of challenging pieces crafted by Liszt, the magician of the piano
- Cool jazz piano: from classic favorites to hidden gems.
- [2026] Jazz piano masterpieces: from standards to recent favorites
- [Ultra-Advanced] Even challenging for advanced players! A curated selection of highly difficult piano pieces
- Difficult Piano Pieces | Even Pros Can't Play Them!? Classical Works Requiring Virtuosic Technique
- [Intermediate Level] Cool Piano Pieces You Can Play [Great for Recitals Too]
- [Masterpieces of the Waltz] A comprehensive introduction to classic works written for the piano!
- For Advanced Players: Showstopping Classics to Play at a Piano Recital
- It’s so cool if you can play these on the piano! A selection of irresistibly charming masterpieces.
- [Intermediate] Recommended Piano Duets | A Curated Selection of Cool and Dazzling Pieces
- [Advanced] A Comprehensive Introduction to the Difficult Piano Pieces of Chopin, the Poet of the Piano!
- Piano Masterpieces: Music you’ll want to listen to and play—beloved classic works
Challenging Piano Pieces | From Classical to Jazz Piano (1–10)
La CampanellaFurantsu Risuto
La Campanella, a masterpiece by Franz Liszt, is known as a representative piece for advanced players.
In Japan, Nobuyuki Tsujii’s performance is especially famous.
Although this work is renowned for its extreme difficulty, that doesn’t mean it’s unplayable for pianists.
However, it is also a piece that places great emphasis on artistry.
For that reason, even professional pianists may find achieving a fully polished performance challenging.
It’s a piece that reveals a performer’s overall musicianship.
SpainChikku Koria
Chick Corea is a jazz pianist who represents the United States.
Anyone with a deep knowledge of jazz or piano will know him as a composer.
When it comes to his famous pieces, many people will think of Spain.
While it isn’t an exceptionally difficult piece, it’s more than sufficient to gauge a pianist’s skill, and as a jazz work, it offers the charm of enjoying the performer’s own arrangement.
If you’re planning to start studying jazz piano, be sure to check it out.
12 Etudes, Op. 25 No. 6Furederikku Shopan
Frédéric Chopin, the great composer who left behind numerous beautiful melodies.
I believe many people in Japan also love Chopin’s works.
Although Chopin is strongly associated with an emphasis on artistry, he in fact produced pieces of formidable difficulty that can be seen as a challenge to pianists.
Among them, one of the most famous is Étude Op.
25, No.
6.
This piece focuses on trills and chromatic passages in right-hand double thirds.
Of course, its artistry is also exceptional, so be sure to pay attention to that as well.
Challenging Piano Pieces | From Classical to Jazz Piano (11–20)
Transcendental Études No. 4 “Mazeppa”Furantsu Risuto
Franz Liszt’s masterpiece, Transcendental Étude No.
4 “Mazeppa.” It stands alongside another of Liszt’s famous works, “Feux Follets.” While both pieces are highly difficult, they differ in character: compared to “Feux Follets,” this one demands far greater stamina.
Finger agility is certainly required, but even more than that, the piece offers virtually no chance to rest, making sheer arm and finger endurance—and sustained concentration—essential.
If you’re a piano enthusiast confident in your physical stamina, why not give it a try?
Concerto for piano soloSharuru=Varantan Arukan
The piece that begins with beautiful, well-shaped chords is a solo piano work by Charles-Valentin Alkan, a French Romantic composer and pianist.
Hailed as a child prodigy, he entered the Paris Conservatory at a young age and embarked on numerous performance activities.
A contemporary of Liszt and Chopin, he was praised by Liszt as possessing the finest piano technique of them all.
Though written for piano, the work captivates listeners with a symphonic breadth reminiscent of a full orchestra.
Lasting as long as 50 minutes, it is considered a formidable piece that demands rigorous mental and physical discipline from the performer.
Etude Collection for Piano, Volume 2, No. 13: “Devil’s Staircase”Rigeti Jeruju
The composer György Ligeti, originally from Romania, is the most recent among the composers introduced here and left a major mark on contemporary classical music.
His music is experimental, and in his Études in particular he repeatedly pushed the piano to its limits with a variety of challenges.
Among his works, a particularly recommended and difficult piece is Étude No.
13 “The Devil’s Staircase” from Book 2 of the Études for Piano.
Not only does it feature an extraordinary amount of ascending and descending scales, but the performer must sustain that state for over five minutes—truly a pianist’s nightmare.
Piano Sonata No. 5Arekusandoru Sukuryābin
Alexander Scriabin, a Russian composer who had a major influence on modern music.
Despite having hands so small that he couldn’t span a tenth, he was known for being an exceptional pianist, and as a composer he leveraged that talent to produce a steady stream of highly challenging works.
Among Scriabin’s pieces, one that is especially renowned for its difficulty is his Piano Sonata No.
5.
The first theme is particularly intense and demands superb finger agility.
Because the piece also features an expansive development section, stamina is crucial as well.