Easy Beauty and the Beast Piano Sheet Music

Want to play the music of a tale as old as time? In this short article, we will teach you fun and easy ways to play the Beauty and the Beast theme on piano.

There is nothing that humans find more moving than when love wins against all odds. The story of a passionate and forbidden love between beauty and beast truly is a tale as old as time. And the music from the Disney animated feature film has impressed this story upon the hearts and memories of generations. 

Keep reading to learn an accessible version of the main musical theme from Beauty and the Beast. We’ll tell you the song’s history, teach you the chords, and show you the sheet music. You’ll be playing songs as old as rhyme by the time you’re done. 

The history of the Beauty and the Beast theme song.

Howard Ashman and Alan Menken wrote the musical score for the Beauty and the Beast feature film. The film premiered in 1991 and is a Disney classic until this day. 

The Beauty and the Beast main theme song was initially recorded by Angela Lansbury, whose voice plays the role of Mrs. Potts in the film. 

This song was in the film’s opening credits and then reprises in a scene where the Beauty and the Beast dance together in the ballroom. 

Later in ‘91, a pop version of the song was recorded as a duet by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson, gaining major popularity. Both versions of the song received Grammy and Golden Globe awards, which majorly contributed to Celine Dion’s successful career as a performing and recording artist. The American Film Institute ranked the song number 62 in their list of the greatest songs in American film history. 

Are you ready to start playing the Beauty and the Beast main theme?

What are the chords of this song?

If you’re a beginner at the piano, the Beauty and Beast theme is a great place to start. It only has four chords! You can play this song at all levels. We’ve decided to give you two variations on the chords.

Beginner’s chords:

F major – F, A, C

C major – C, E, G

Bb major – Bb, D, F

A minor – A, C, E

Intermediate chords:

Fsus2 – F, G, C

C7sus – C, F, G, Bb

Bbmaj7 – Bb, D, F, A

Am7 – A, C, E, G

Beauty and the Beast sheet music. 

As you can see, the chords written in the sheet music are the beginner’s versions of the chords. This is an excellent place to start, no matter what kind of player you are. If you’re feeling comfortable and familiar with these chords and want to add some flavor and color, try playing the intermediate variations on the chords. 

The sheet music suggests playing the chords in the left hand and melody in the right hand. This is a great way to learn the song, but if you are an advanced player, try rearranging it. 

One option is to play broken chords in the left hand rather than block chords. 

Check out our article on Piano Scales for Beginners to get insight into what notes you can use to create broken chords in the key of F major. 

Once you’ve got broken chords happening, try adding a harmony line to the melody in the right hand, as Riyandi Kusuma does in this piano cover. You should use major and minor 6th intervals and a perfect 4th. For example, if the notes of the opening line are A, C, E, F, and G, then the harmony line would be C, E, G, A, and D. This brings out the richness and beauty of the melody. 

Alternatively, you could also try a more symbiotic approach with the left and right hands. See if you can make the right and left hands to work together within a small range of keys. Try to play the chords and melody in a sort of overlapping dance, like in this cover (don’t be startled by some of his chord changes, jazz musicians like to get messy).

Is this an easy song for beginners?

Many musicians agree that the best songs of all time sound beautiful no matter who is playing them. That’s the magic of the Beauty and the Beast main theme – it can be played at a beginner level or as a super advanced jazz reharmonization, but its essence will always shine through. If you’re a beginner at the piano, this song has many versions (like the one in the sheet music), which will be friendly and accessible for you. 

Examples of Beauty and the Beast piano interpretations.

Do you want to get to know a couple more versions of the main theme of Beauty and the Beast on piano? Here are a couple that we loved:

This cover got our attention (and not just cause of the red velvet suit). The performance really enhances the drama of the song. He plays the melody in octaves high up on the keys and the bass notes of the chords in heavy low octaves in his left hand. 

We liked it because he remains true to the original song but adds his touch to the harmony. Listen carefully; you’ll notice that he replaces the C major chord with a 2-5-1, going to C minor, F dominant seven, and resolving on the fourth degree of the scale, Bb.

Wow! This is not something you hear every day. Did you notice how he plays the first few phrases of the song rubato? This means there isn’t any clear groove or time to the melody, making it sound like a cloud floating past. But then the pace picks up, and he plays all of the chords as complicated and elongated broken chords – so much so that eventually, he plays a different note on every sixteenth note! Of course, he winds it down again at the end, slowing down the tempo and simplifying the broken chords, ending the song with something simple and sweet. 

Be our guest.

If you feel like some of this information went over your head, please, be our guest! Check out our other blogs on music theory to gain knowledge and skills on various topics. And, of course, to make a real start on your piano journey, download our Simply Piano app, which offers interactive and step-by-step guidance on learning piano. 

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