For people new to the piano, learning to play songs with both hands can be challenging. But that shouldn't stop you from learning the songs you love. There are plenty of songs that sound great with one hand, especially those with catchy melodies. By focussing on that part of a piece, usually played with the right hand, you'll develop a range of musical skills, including note-reading and recognizing rhythms. And by learning on the right-hand part first, you'll be doing it like the pros, who also learn new songs one hand at a time.

For this article, we've selected six songs that sound great with the right hand. You can play them with one hand as standalone pieces, or use them a starting point before learning the left-hand part and, finally, both hands at once. By learning with the flowkey app, you'll be able to listen to and learn the left- and right-hand notes separately.

Once you've mastered playing these melodies with your right hand, you can take the next steps towards finally playing the songs with both hands. Following the steps from our article on how to learn a piano song, we suggest practicing the left-hand part until it feels just as comfortable as the right-hand part.

For now, though, check out the list below and find a song to start learning.

6. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Perfect for a sing-along

Since most people can still recall its famous melody from childhood, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" is a great song to play with one hand. And if you remember the lyrics, singing along to the piece helps you play the right notes. 

This song is particularly beginner-friendly because it's in C major, so you don't have to worry about any sharps or flats – you'll just focus on the white keys. The rhythms are also very straightforward. Only quarter notes and half notes feature in the right-hand part, so you can play at a smooth, steady pace.

5. Johannes Brahms - Brahms' Lullaby

Learn a new time signature

Published in 1868, Johannes Brahms' "Lullaby" is one of the German composer's most elegant pieces. And while it's one of the best-known classical compositions of all time, it still sounds great with just the right hand. Play it tenderly, and it might be enough to put a baby to sleep.

flowkey's easiest version is suitable even for brand-new players, but it also allows them to get a feel for the 3/4 time signature, which will help when learning more advanced pieces. Once again, the right hand is also focussed entirely on the white keys, making this one of this list's easier options.

4. Tetris

A video game classic

Though it's based on a traditional Russian folk song, this tune is best known for being the Tetris theme song. Japanese musician Hirokazu Tanaka rearranged the piece for the new Nintendo Game Boy version of Tetris in 1989, which is the version best known today. If you practice the right hand part as many times as you've heard the melody over the years, you'll master it in no time.

Unlike the other pieces on this list, "Tetris" features some tricky syncopated (off-beat) rhythms, but with some perseverance, you'll be able to add it to your repertoire of one-hand songs. The piece is a blast to play on piano, but a word of warning – even with one hand, it's a total earworm.

3. Edvard Grieg - In the Hall of the Mountain King

A familiar melody from the 1800s

"In the Hall of the Mountain King" was originally composed in 1875 for the play Peer Gynt. However, the theme music was so memorable that it became more famous than the play itself. Although the left-hand accompaniment adds some intensity to the tune, plenty of music fans should recognize the song with just the right-hand part.

This piece features simple rhythms but it is definitely a note-reading challenge – there are quite a few sharps and flats to look out for, so you'll need to familiarize yourself with the black keys. For more on the black keys, check out this guide for beginners.

2. Happy Birthday

Surprise your loved ones on their special day

Learning "Happy Birthday to You" with your right hand is a great way to dip your toes into playing slightly more complex notes and rhythms. It's in the scale of G major and features one sharp – F♯. It also has some dotted rhythms, which give the piece a syncopated, uneven feel.

Regardless of language, culture, or even continent, "Happy Birthday" has one of the most recognizable melodies in the world. For this reason, it's incredibly useful to learn. Even if with one hand, you can happily perform it at celebrations and have your friends and family sing along.

1. Hedwig's Theme - Harry Potter

A modern classic in 3/4 time

"Hedwig's Theme" from Harry Potter is one of the most beloved songs in film music, conjuring the world of magic wands and wizards. By playing the dreamy right-hand melody, even the muggles among us will feel themselves drifting off to Hogwarts, the famous wizarding school at the heart of the Harry Potter universe.

Playing this song requires some of the skills needed to play other songs on this list. Not only is "Hedwig's Theme" in 3/4 time, but it also features dotted rhythms and various accidentals. If you'd like to go straight for the most advanced option on this list, here's where you should start.

Keep learning with the flowkey app

You'll be able to practice each hand separately using flowkey. Once you work on playing hands together, use flowkey's Loop feature to learn the song in chunks. When you have one section covered, you can move onto the next. While you're learning, adjust the speed to practice at a slower tempo. As you advance through flowkey's courses, you'll move through exercises designed to improve your coordination when playing with both hands, and learn about scales and arpeggios. Get started with flowkey today to continue learning.