The past 100 years have gifted the world several remarkable piano composers. From the modernism of John Cage and Philip Glass to the cinematic style of soundtrack genius Ludovico Einaudi, these composers write music that moves millions of people, heard during weddings, iconic films, television series, and everything in between. Aphex Twin, an experimental music producer not particularly known for piano music, also belongs in such company

Aphex Twin, born Richard D. James, is the musician behind "Avril 14th," a two-minute piano piece once dubbed "the most stolen song in history." James's brief composition is among the beloved piano pieces of the past few decades, having been streamed more than 180 million times on Spotify alone. Released on James's lauded Drukqs album in 2001, "Avril 14th" has since inspired hundreds of covers, with versions on harp, guitar and banjo drawing millions of listeners of their own.

In addition to these covers, James's famous piano tune has influenced countless artists, from rappers and pop icons to classical pianists and experimental musicians. Its dreamy melody has appeared in blockbuster films like Four Lions and Her, and was controversially sampled by Kanye West for the song "Blame Game" on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, a hip-hop album often dubbed one of the genre's best.

Much of the background behind "Avril 14th" remains a mystery. No one knows what exactly its title (meaning "April 14th" in French) refers to, as several major events are associated with the date, including the sinking of Titanic and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Even so, countless couples have chosen this day to get married and, of course, play the song prominently at their wedding.

"Avril 14th" is an outlier in James's catalogue of otherwise experimental music productions. His albums are full of high-energy, chaotic songs dubbed IDM, or "intelligent dance music," where high tempos collide with out-there samples and wacky synthesizer melodies. With track titles like "Come to Daddy" and  "Pissed Up in SE1," James isn't the kind of musician one would typically associate with a hit piano song.

What makes "Avril 14th" so special?

The romantic sound of "Avril 14th" brings to mind Erik Satie, a composer whose breezy pieces helped lay the groundwork for modern ambient music. Like much of Satie's work, "Avril 14th" is minimalist and subtle, with simple, repetitive patterns that evoke a real sense of emotion. 

James made the piece with a Yamaha Disklavier, a standard acoustic piano linked with digital MIDI technology. This allows musicians like James to compose music with, say, a computer, and have the piano play it back to them with razor-sharp precision – even if the composition is too difficult for a real human to play. As such, many listeners say "Avril 14th" sounds somewhere between human and machine. In fact, if you listen carefully enough, you can hear the Disklavier's mechanics clicking.

As a composition, "Avril 14th" is also unique. It's full of arpeggios and broken melodic patterns that end phrases with unexpected shifts in tension. There are 9th chords, much like in the music of Claude Debbusy and Erik Satie, composers believed to have inspired "Avril 14th." There are changes in pitch and rhythm, and an unresolved ending.

How to learn Avril 14th on piano

"Avril 14th" is an advanced piano piece, so learning it will take some dedication. As always, we recommend beginning to learn with one hand at a time. It's up to you to choose which hand. Once you feel confident playing with each hand separately, combine them.

Because of the many arpeggios, the left hand part requires the most attention. There are also many chord changes, with every measure containing two chords.

Those with a piano pedal should use it for this piece, otherwise the lowest note in each arpeggio will disappear too quickly. Using the sustain pedal will ensure you retain the piece's flowing sound, which goes a long way in creating its emotional mood. For more information about how pedals enrich a song's sound, check out this article. (There's also a full course on the sustain pedal in the flowkey app.)

Rhythmically, there some interesting moments, such as the occasional 16th notes, which create an off-beat phrase. The piece's final five measures are especially complex. As the left hand plays arpeggios, the right plays a complicated rhythm, with many syncopations in the melody. There are also octave jumps up and down the keyboard.

Before starting to learn this piece, ask yourself: what is my goal? If your goal is to learn the song as completely as possible, you could begin by learning the final five measures, as these will require the most time. On the other hand, if you're happy with playing the gorgeous opening section, which is instantly recognizable to countless people around the world, start at the beginning.

Regardless of where you begin, make use of flowkey's Loop Function to replay the section you're working on before moving onto the next. By learning with flowkey, you'll learn one hand at a time, or slow the music down – both essential tools for learning a piece as complex as "Avril 14th". Follow this link to start playing the piece with flowkey.

Keep learning with the flowkey app

flowkey uses modern technology to make learning the piano fun and easy. You'll get instant feedback on every note you play, helping you quickly learn new songs and concepts. flowkey's courses cover proper technique, reading sheet music, and playing with both hands. You will also learn your favorite songs, with thousands of tutorials created by professional musicians. Get started with flowkey today to start learning.