10 Emotional Songs to Learn on Piano and Guitar
Playing music can accomplish many things: express an idea, tell a story, or evoke strong emotions in people. The piano and guitar are two of the best instruments for evoking a heartfelt reaction to that last goal.
Learning to bring emotion out of an audience starts with mastering the instrument but also requires picking the suitable composition to play. If you're ready to express your feelings through music, here are some of the most emotional songs to try on the piano or guitar.
5 Emotional Songs for Piano
The piano is a perfect platform for playing music full of deep emotions. The percussive nature of the hammers striking home creates a unique and resonant sound, one that can naturally convey melancholy and despair. Skilled players can also use the piano's wide range of notes and textures to build emotional layers in the music. To tap into this power, try your hand at some of these most emotional songs to play on the piano.
1. "River Flows In You" by Yiruma
This peaceful piano piece by Yiruma is a great emotional song that will touch the hearts of audience members. The melody flows smoothly and mingles with gentle harmonies, evoking a feeling of longing and peace. The song makes you think about unrequited love or wanting, unexpectedly making it one of the most emotional love songs.
To get the most out of this piece, which is simple and repetitive, players should focus on using the song's dynamics to add emotional impact and gravity. When done correctly, "River Flows In You" can be moving and alluring.
2. “Gymnopedie No.1" by Erik Satie
Satie's "Gymnopedie No.1" has a slow tempo that is haunting and ethereal, bringing out a somber and meditative mood that is quite emotional. The melody has a sad and melancholy feel that makes you think of missing something or someone you can't have.
The song's bones are relatively minimalistic, relying on the player to carefully execute each note. Timing and a precise touch are essential for the pianist to let each note linger just the right amount to achieve the song's total emotional weight and resonance.
3. “Clair de Lune" by Claude DeBussy
"Clair de Lune" by Debussy is a popular and well-loved song and one of the most emotional songs to play or listen to on piano. From its name to its carefully chosen notes, the song gives you the feeling of being in nature on a moonlit night. The music takes you from intense moments of passion to serene tranquility.
Getting this song right involves mastering the dynamics. Players must learn to handle the delicate passages while adding emotion to the big crescendos. Nuance is vital to fully expressing the emotional depth of "Clair de Lune."
4. "Tears In Heaven" by Eric Clapton
"Tears In Heaven" by Eric Clapton is a double musical treat: the original was made for the guitar, but the emotional song is well adapted for the piano. "Tears In Heaven" is a song about grief, and the haunting tones of the piano are perfect for conveying the sadness felt throughout the composition. While the lyrics explain the narrative of a father grieving his son, the piano notes have enough emotional weight to carry the feeling.
Like many of the most emotional songs to play on the piano, this selection has simple parts that come together profoundly. The melody isn't overdone, allowing space for the listener to feel and reflect as they move through the story.
5. "I'll Never Love Again" by Lady Gaga
Soundtrack songs are often created to reflect a big emotion from the accompanying film, and this number for the movie A Star Is Born is the perfect example. Lady Gaga's ballad "I'll Never Love Again" is about losing a loved one and struggling to move on. The piano accompaniment expresses this idea gracefully and beautifully while supporting the lyrics. The notes create a sense of angst and hurt that tugs on the heartstrings.
The song includes several crescendos and decrescendos that pianists must master to convey the waves of grief it expresses. Balancing the dynamics is critical to getting the right effect.
5 Emotional Songs for Guitar
Like the piano, the guitar has a unique ability to elicit emotions. The twang of each note offers catharsis, allowing the audience to connect any sense of sadness with the angst that comes through the music. Add these songs to your guitar rotation when you want to touch people's hearts.
1. "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley
Many artists have tried their hand at "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen because of the song's ability to draw people in and make them feel. Jeff Buckley's rendition is a standout for anyone learning to express emotion through guitar thanks to its delicate guitar picking and haunting melody.
"Hallelujah" is a great song to play on an acoustic guitar in an intimate setting. With or without the vocals, audiences leave with deep feelings about love, loss, and hope after listening to this moving piece.
2. "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan
This song by Bob Dylan is a classic, attracting plenty of fans and cover artists. Its simple chord progression is deceiving, carrying much more emotion and nuance than the notes on the sheet music might indicate. That simple composition allows artists to add their flare to build layers of emotion.
Guitarists can use the repetitive chorus and quiet melody to create a sense of resignation and sadness, giving the audience themes to connect with.
3. "Mad World" by Gary Jules
"Mad World" is one of the most emotional songs to play on guitar, so it's no surprise that it has been popular for decades. In the Gary Jules version, the song is sad and despairing. The stripped acoustic notes make the song feel haunting, with a sense of worry permeating the melody. The guitar whispers in the song, giving a feeling of unease and disconnection.
Expressing the emotion in this song requires restraint; players need to let the music ebb and flow in the right spots to emphasize the sense of sadness. It's important not to overdo this song as you play it.
4. "Hurt" by Johnny Cash
When Johnny Cash released his version of "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails, the song took on a new emotional gravity. The original was always raw and despairing, but Cash's acoustic version had more profound poignancy.
Like many of the most emotional guitar songs, the notes from the guitar are simple and easy to connect with. If a guitarist is playing without an accompanying vocalist, they should pay extra careful attention to the dynamics to make sure the emotional ups and downs are conveyed.
5. "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac
"Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac proves that less is more when using the guitar to evoke emotion. The song is about the difficulty of change and vulnerability as new things come your way. The guitar is gentle, played with a finger-picking style that creates a mood of introspection for the listener. The guitar notes' fragility echoes life's fragility and the things surrounding you.
Carefully tracking this song's tempo helps convey the feelings of uncertainty and reflection. It moves slowly enough to let the listener think but speeds up in spots to ramp up the tension.
While this is a small sampling of the most emotional songs you can play on piano or guitar, it's a versatile list from which artists can draw inspiration. Many of these songs are available with arrangements for both instruments, so if you play one or the other, there are plenty of options.
How To Play Music With Emotion
To make audiences feel your music, you need more than just a playlist of the most emotional love songs or something similar. Those emotions have to be conveyed through your playing. Most pianists and guitarists spend plenty of time learning the technical aspects of their instrument, but emotive playing can be more challenging. Here are some tips:
- Understand the song and the emotions behind it. Take time to learn about the song's themes, what elements convey those themes, and how you can connect to the song.
- Practice phrasing to enhance emotion. Your tempo and dynamics can change the phrasing of notes and, therefore, their impact.
- Perform with vulnerability. Let your audience see that you are connected to the music, and it will be easier for them to connect.
Play the Most Emotional Songs for Yourself
Music has been a vehicle for emotional expression for centuries, and more songs than ever tap into the human experience. Using the piano or guitar to bring the most emotional songs to life is a challenge but one with a great reward. Start playing with sheet music from Musicnotes.
Sources:
- https://www.wanderingtunes.com/easy-sad-piano-songs/
- https://enthu.com/blog/piano/emotional-piano-songs/
- https://rockguitaruniverse.com/sad-guitar-songs/
- https://www.treesidemusicacademy.com/features/why-is-piano-music-sad
- https://swaay.com/why-the-guitar-can-be-your-escape-during-troubled-times
- https://guitarspace.org/tips/best-sad-guitar-songs/
- https://blog.flat.io/choose-the-right-key/