Easy Piano Lullabies for Beginners
Lullabies are ideal first piano pieces: slow tempo, simple left-hand chords, and a melody gentle enough to play with just one finger at a time while you’re learning. Here are the only chords you need and six real songs to start with tonight.
Your first 3 chords
A huge number of lullabies — including several on this site — use only these three chords. Learn to find these three shapes on the keyboard and you can already play whole songs.
The next 6 essentials
Once Am, Dm and E7 feel natural under your fingers, these six will unlock the rest of the lullabies on this site — and most simple songs anywhere.
Getting from chord shapes to a real song
Learn the chords as simple “block” shapes
You don’t need to read sheet music to start. Just find each chord’s three notes on the keyboard (shown above) and play them together with your right hand, held down like a soft block, while your left hand rests on the tonic note.
Keep a steady, unhurried pulse
Because lullabies are naturally slow, you have plenty of time to move your hand between chords. Play each chord for a full four counts before switching — there’s no need to rush, and a steady pulse matters more than speed.
Break the chords for a softer sound
Once block chords feel easy, try playing the notes of each chord one at a time instead of together (low to high) — a simple broken-chord pattern. It’s a small change that instantly makes any lullaby sound gentler and more like a real bedtime piece.
6 lullabies to try first
All six use nothing but the “first 3 chords” above — Am, Dm and E7 — so you can play a complete, real song from day one.
A, A, A, Kotki Dwa
A gentle, rocking Polish classic — a great first song to learn the Am–Dm–E7 switch.
Ba Ba Mo Leanabh
A Scottish Gaelic lullaby with a simple, singable melody that sits easily over these three chords.
Andean Lullaby
An Andes-inspired melody built on the same three-chord foundation, with a slightly different feel.
Australian Lullaby
An original arrangement inspired by the outback — simple, warm, and easy to sing along to.
Dandini Dandini Dastana
A beloved Turkish lullaby with a rocking rhythm that’s very forgiving for a first attempt at block chords.
Itsuki no Komoriuta
A gentle, well-known Japanese lullaby — a lovely one to add once the chord changes feel smooth.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. All nine chords above are simple three-note “block” shapes with no need to read sheet music — just find the highlighted keys and play them together.
A basic keyboard works fine for learning these chords. You just need enough keys to comfortably play across one octave with your right hand.
Many beginners can play a slow, simple version of a 3-chord song within their first week of practice, especially starting with block chords before trying broken-chord patterns.
Every song page on this site includes a complete chord diagram set (guitar and piano) and, once you’re logged in, a free downloadable chord sheet.
Ready to play a whole song?
Browse handplayed lullabies from more than 60 countries, each with full guitar & piano chords and a free chord sheet.
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