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[Anisong] Easy for Piano Beginners! Recommended Practice Pieces

Representative, Elysion Philharmonic Orchestrasai-kisaragi
Heisei College of Music, Composition Course. Studied composition and conducting under Keizo Ideta, piano under Chinami Kira, and arts management under Takuma Konishi. With a focus on community and music, I work to revitalize my hometown of Saga Prefecture. While performing as a double bassist with wind ensembles and orchestras across Kyushu, I participated on double bass in the “Orchestra Without Borders” orchestra camp of the professional game and anime music ensemble Eminence Orchestra, held in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture in September 2012. During CAPCOM’s Kyushu Tour in 2016, I not only performed as an orchestra member but also served on the production staff. I currently serve as the managing representative for the game and anime performance groups Elysion Philharmonic Orchestra (Saga Prefecture) and Fukuoka Game Music Wind Orchestra (Fukuoka Prefecture), and handle conducting, arranging, and public relations.
Accompanist / Piano InstructorYuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

Good news for all the anime-and-piano lovers who think, “Up-tempo anime songs with complex rhythms seem tough for piano beginners”! It’s true that many anime songs have intricate melodies and rhythms, but by choosing sheet music with simplified arrangements of the original, and by practicing the melody in your right hand while playing just the bass notes with your left, even those new to the piano can jump in with ease.

In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of anime songs that are perfect for beginners to practice.

Once you find a favorite, give it a try right away!

[Anison] Easy for piano beginners to play! Recommended practice pieces (11–20)

Galaxy Express 999Godiego

Galaxy Express 999 by Godiego [Piano tutorial you can play even as a beginner! Learn with video] Level ★★★

Galaxy Express 999 Godiego

Godiego’s “Galaxy Express 999” was written as the theme song for the animated film Galaxy Express 999, based on Leiji Matsumoto’s sci-fi manga.

It’s an up-tempo number that truly evokes the image of a powerful steam locomotive charging ahead.

Many people who watched it in real time will know it, of course, and plenty were introduced to it through EXILE TRIBE’s 2014 cover version.

It’s also used as a departure melody on various JR lines, making it popular among railway fans.

Sheet music with a simple arrangement is available, so it’s definitely a song beginners should try!

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Aim to be a Pokémon MasterRika Matsumoto

Aim to Be a Pokémon Master / Rica Matsumoto: Piano (Solo) / Beginner

Aim to Be a Pokémon Master Rika Matsumoto

The theme song of the anime Pokémon, which depicts the adventures of the protagonist Satoshi (Ash) and Pikachu, is “Aim to Be a Pokémon Master.” It is the seventh single by Rica Matsumoto, who voiced Satoshi, and it reached No.

7 on the Oricon singles chart.

The B-melody and chorus modulate and require several black keys, so they might be a bit challenging, but the A-melody can be played using only white keys, and the two-note melody continues for a while, making it relatively approachable.

Aim for an energetic sound and give it a try!

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My Neighbor TotoroJoe Hisaishi

Joe Hisaishi 'My Neighbor Totoro' [Absolutely Playable Even for Beginners! How to Play on Piano] Level: ☆☆

My Neighbor Totoro Joe Hisaishi

This is the ending theme of the classic Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro, released in 1988.

Together with the opening theme, Sanpo, it was included on Azumi Inoue’s single, and both have become representative songs of Japanese anime music.

The melody of My Neighbor Totoro is well known, making it easy for piano beginners to learn, and it’s also approachable because the piece is in F major, which uses only one black key.

It’s a song I highly recommend tackling with a spring in your step so you can capture the original’s light, lively feel!

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strollJoe Hisaishi

Stroll / Joe Hisaishi: Piano (Solo) / Beginner

Sanpo by Joe Hisaishi

http://www.print-gakufu.com

The opening theme “Sanpo” from the film My Neighbor Totoro is a perfect piece for beginners and is frequently performed at piano recitals! In this sheet music, every note includes its letter name and finger number, and a keyboard diagram shows where to place your hands.

By following the instructions and pressing the indicated keys, you can play “Sanpo” smoothly without strain.

Once you’ve firmly learned the notes and fingering and can play with both hands, focus on the light, skipping dotted rhythm and try to recreate the lively atmosphere on the piano!

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Mephistoqueen bee

Mephisto / Queen Bee: Piano (Solo) / Beginner

Mephisto Queen Bee

http://www.print-gakufu.com

Mephisto by the rock band QUEEN BEE, which became a hot topic as the ending theme of the smash-hit anime Oshi no Ko.

Many of you probably can’t get Avu-chan’s striking, impactful vocals out of your head! Because it’s uptempo and the melody spans a wide range, you might think it’s difficult to play on the piano.

However, if you choose a simple arrangement for the left hand, following the melody isn’t all that hard.

Set aside the flashy feel of the original for now, and start by practicing slowly, one note at a time.

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Sugar Song and Bitter StepUNISON SQUARE GARDEN

Learn It All at Once! Sugar Song and Bitter Step Piano (Blood Blockade Battlefront / UNISON SQUARE GARDEN) Sheet Music ♪ Easy ♪ Beginner ♪ | K2

Sugar Song and Bitter Step by UNISON SQUARE GARDEN

“Sugar Song and Bitter Step,” written as the ending theme for the TV anime Blood Blockade Battlefront, is a quintessential 2010s anison masterpiece that brilliantly showcases UNISON SQUARE GARDEN’s exceptional pop sensibility and groovy band ensemble.

Because it’s so popular, beginner-friendly sheet music is available; however, the main melody uses lots of black keys, and expressing a groove that differs from simple J‑pop on the piano is honestly challenging—some people might feel discouraged just from looking at the score.

That said, it will definitely sharpen your sense of rhythm, so after thoroughly listening to the original, start by working hard until you can reliably play the melody with your right hand!

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[Anime Songs] Easy for Piano Beginners to Play! Recommended Practice Pieces (21–30)

I stopped being alone.Akiko Yano

I’ve stopped being all alone (from “My Neighbors the Yamadas”)...

Akiko Yano, No Longer All Alone

The theme from “My Neighbors the Yamadas” is performed here in a lovely piano arrangement.

I’ve previously introduced an orchestral version, but when this gentle depiction of everyday life is rendered on piano, it becomes even more immersive, like being drawn into a world of memories.

Everyday life is something everyone has, and it’s unique to each person—not measured by anyone else’s standards.

Yet when the everyday life that must have been mine is shown as images, a quiet feeling of “this is somehow nice” arises.

This piano version touches many people’s heartstrings and will surely brighten the listeners’ everyday lives.

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