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Best Halloween songs to learn and play on piano

halloween-songs-on-piano

Halloween is approaching and what better way to get into the spirit of this holiday season than to learn some Halloween songs on piano. There are certain sounds that, through popular culture, we can’t help but associate with Halloween. These iconic sounds come from movie and TV soundtracks,, ranging from The Addams Family theme music, to classical pieces like Greig’s Hall of The Mountain King.

Whether you’re looking for a spooky chord progression, easy piano halloween songs or want to know what keys are used to make spooky music, we have you covered. In this article, we’ll delve into our picks for the top 15 Halloween songs and how to make the most out of this season with your piano skills. Skoove can help guide you through these halloween classics and hopefully introduce you to a few new favorites, let’s get started!

Table of Contents:

  1. “Jaws” – John Williams
  2. “In the Hall of The Mountain King” – Edvard Grieg
  3. “Thriller” – Michael Jackson
  4. “I Put a Spell on You” – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
  5. Mystical moments and atmosphere
  6. “Symphony No. 5” – Ludwig van Beethoven
  7. “Funeral March” – FrĂ©dĂ©ric Chopin
  8. “Hells Bells” – AC/DC
  9. “Werewolves of London” – Warren Zevon
  10. “Evil Woman” – Electric Light Orchestra
  11. “Monster Mash” – Bobby Picket
  12. “Ghostbusters” – Ray Parker Jr.
  13. “The Addams Family” – Vic Mizzy
  14. “Spooky Scary Skeletons” – Andrew Gold
  15. “This Is Halloween” – The Nightmare Before Christmas

Top 15 spooky piano songs to learn on Halloween

Let’s start by looking at some classic halloween songs and iconic pieces for piano you can learn through the Skoove app. 

“Jaws” – John Williams 

One of the easiest scary songs to play on the piano is the theme from “Jaws” by John Williams. It only consists of two alternating notes a minor second apart. As with most Skoove lessons, you also get to play with accompaniment in the last part of this lesson.

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In the Hall of The Mountain King” – Edvard Grieg

No piece by Edward Grieg has been referenced in pop culture as many times as “In the Hall of The Mountain King”. From movies, to TV shows, to video games, this piece has become a true trademark of Halloween music. The Skoove lesson for this song will help you learn a very friendly and approachable arrangement of this Halloween song.

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“Thriller” – Michael Jackson

A perfect song to learn for both kids and adults. This pop classic is probably the most famous Halloween song of all time. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” makes use of funky grooves and spooky sound effects. It’s a must know for any piano player looking to impress at a Halloween party.

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“I Put a Spell on You” – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

This song is a great example of blending jazz and blues with a bit of theatre. The dramatic harmony and interesting chords of “I Put a Spell on You” make it ideal for playing on piano. The 6/8 time and more sophisticated style makes it one of the best Halloween songs for adults. 

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Mystical moments and atmosphere

A great place to start for beginner level piano players. It’s not a song per-se, however Skoove’s Mystical moments and atmosphere lesson provides a foundational understanding for making spooky tunes. In this lesson, the first thing you learn is to play the whole-tone scale, which has a quite evocative sonority, characteristic of many Halloween piano songs. It’s a great way to practice a scale that comes up in lots of Halloween music.

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“Symphony No. 5” – Ludwig van Beethoven

Although not a Halloween song, Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5” is often thought of as having a somber, dramatic tone, which makes it suitable for Halloween. With its big dramatic themes this piece is a great way to set a menacing tone for a Halloween movie night.

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“Funeral March” – FrĂ©dĂ©ric Chopin

Another classical piece that works well as Halloween piano music is Chopin’s “Funeral March”. Its gloomy and dark character make it the perfect atmospheric piece to set the mood for a spooky gathering. 

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“Hells Bells” – AC/DC

Although “Hells Bells” wasn’t written as a Halloween song it has all the hallmarks and fits in well with any holiday playlist. The bell tolls and dramatic chords make it a great piece for creating a spooky atmosphere.

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“Werewolves of London” – Warren Zevon

With its howling chorus and tongue in cheek lyrics “Werewolves of London” had to make our list. It makes a fun sing along at any Halloween party.

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“Evil Woman” – Electric Light Orchestra

Electric Light orchestras “Evil woman” has a brilliant but sinister edge. Although it’s not as obviously Halloween themed as some of our other entries we couldn’t leave it out. It’s a great piano song for adults with its interesting harmonies.

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Top Halloween songs for kids

Our list wouldn’t be complete without including some popular Halloween songs for kids. These pieces are perfect for both younger and more advanced learners who are full of the Halloween spirit.

“Monster Mash” – Bobby Picket

This one has been a favorite for decades. Its campy lyrics and fun danceable beat make it an exciting tune to learn to play and sing along to. Who knows you may even get people up dancing! It’s a great one for kids due to its fun theme, simple melody and catchy rhythm. 

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“Ghostbusters” Ray Parker Jr.

An instantly recognisable tune has to be included on our list. The “Ghostbusters” theme works brilliantly on piano. The movie is loved by adults and kids alike. The repetitive theme and interactive lyrics make it a great choice for teaching or playing with younger learners. 

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“The Addams Family”Vic Mizzy

Let’s get clicking! “The Addams Family Theme” is a staple of TV music and Halloween itself. The finger snaps and catchy melody make it an easy, fun choice for kids Halloween songs on piano.

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“Spooky Scary Skeletons” – Andrew Gold 

The song “Spooky Scary Skeletons” was originally a novelty tune. It became a beloved hit and a very popular tune among kids at Halloween. The jaunty melody and fun lyrics make it a great piano song to learn for all ages.

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“This Is Halloween” – The Nightmare Before Christmas

This one is a standout Halloween piano song. From Tim Burton’s “Nightmare before Christmas”, this Halloween staple is perfect for playing as a treat at a Halloween movie night. With its playful rhythms and eerie lyrics you can’t help but get in the Halloween spirit.

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No tricks, just more piano treats with Skoove

That’s it, our favorite 15 Halloween piano songs. If you’ve been looking for a fun way to entertain your guests at this year’s Halloween party, now you have all you need. Spend some quality time with Skoove and make the most out of this Halloween. Have a spooky holiday season, and happy spooky learning, until next time! 

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Author of this blog post:

Felipe Tovar-Henao is a Colombian composer, developer, and researcher, whose work focuses on algorithmic creativity, sound perception, memory, and recognition. His music has been performed and commissioned by international artists and ensembles such as Alarm Will Sound, Grossman Ensemble, Sound Icon, NEXUS Chamber Music, and Quatuor Diotima, and featured in many festivals around the world, including WOCMAT (Taiwan), SICMF (South Korea), SEAMUS and SCI (US). He’s currently based in Medellín, Colombia, where he’s Professor of Music theory at EAFIT University.

 

Edited and fact-checked by Matthew Dickman, composer, arranger, educator and multi-instrumentalist whose works have been performed by orchestras around the world.
Published by the Skoove team

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