Best Songs On Keyboards: 25 Iconic Performances That Defined Rock and Pop

The keyboard has shaped some of the most unforgettable moments in music history.

From thunderous Hammond organ solos to delicate piano introductions, the best songs on keyboards showcase the instrument’s incredible range and emotional power. Whether it’s Rick Wakeman’s progressive rock wizardry, Ray Manzarek’s mesmerizing organ work, or Stevie Wonder’s soulful Clavinet grooves, these performances prove that keyboards are essential to the sound of popular music.

This list of 25 iconic keyboard songs spans classic rock, progressive rock, pop, jazz, and blues genres. I’ve spent years analyzing these performances, studying what makes each keyboard part special, and understanding why these songs continue to resonate with musicians and listeners alike.

What Makes a Great Keyboard Song?

A great keyboard song features a memorable piano, organ, or synthesizer part that defines the track’s character and makes it instantly recognizable.

The best keyboard performances combine technical skill with emotional impact. They might introduce a song with an unforgettable riff, deliver a show-stopping solo, or provide the harmonic foundation that carries the entire composition. From the opening notes of “Light My Fire” to the climatic organ solo in “Whiter Shade of Pale,” these keyboard parts aren’t just background music—they’re the heart of the song.

Iconic Keyboard Intros That Defined Rock

1. Light My Fire – The Doors (1967)

Ray Manzarek’s spiraling organ introduction is one of the most recognizable openings in rock history. Using a Vox Continental organ, Manzarek created a Bach-inspired motif that grabs listeners from the first note and never lets go.

The keyboard part drives the entire song. Manzarek plays both the bass line on a Fender Rhodes piano bass and the melodic organ part simultaneously, creating a layered sound that gives The Doors their distinctive no-bass-guitar approach.

Key Technique: The rotating Leslie speaker effect creates the swirling, hypnotic quality that makes this organ intro so mesmerizing. Manzarek’s finger work showcases how keyboard can serve as both rhythm and lead instrument simultaneously.

2. Baba O’Riley – The Who (1971)

Pete Townshend’s synthesizer introduction defined an era. Using an ARP 2500 synthesizer and a Lowrey Berkshire organ, Townshend programmed the iconic repeating pattern that opens this rock masterpiece.

The keyboard marimba pattern creates a hypnotic foundation. The organ chords that enter later provide the harmonic bed for Daltrey’s vocals. The synthesis of electronic and organic sounds was revolutionary for its time.

Key Technique: This track demonstrated how synthesizers could create entire musical landscapes. The Lowrey organ’s “marimba repeat” setting created the distinctive rhythmic pattern that opens the song.

3. Hungry Like the Wolf – Duran Duran (1982)

Nick Rhodes’ atmospheric synth intro defined the new wave sound. Using a Roland Jupiter-8 synthesizer, Rhodes created a pulsing, arpeggiated pattern that became instantly identifiable.

The keyboard work here isn’t about flash—it’s about texture and atmosphere. Rhodes layers multiple synth sounds to create a sonic environment that perfectly frames Simon Le Bon’s vocals.

Key Technique: Arpeggiated synthesizer patterns create rhythmic interest while maintaining harmonic simplicity. This approach influenced countless synth-pop and new wave recordings throughout the 2025 and beyond.

4. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac (1977)

Christine McVie’s gentle electric piano intro sets the perfect mood for this timeless classic. Using a Fender Rhodes, she crafted a simple yet unforgettable melody that floats above Stevie Nicks’ ethereal vocals.

The Rhodes part is masterful in its restraint. Rather than drawing attention to itself, it provides the warm, bedrock foundation that allows the song’s vocal harmonies to shine.

Key Technique: The bell-like tone of the Fender Rhodes combined with subtle vibrato creates a dreamy quality that perfectly matches the song’s title and lyrical content.

Legendary Keyboard Solos

5. Carry On Wayward Son – Kansas (1976)

Kerry Livgren’s organ solo in the bridge section is a progressive rock masterpiece. Using a Hammond B3 organ, Livgren delivers a rapid-fire, technically dazzling solo that builds tension and releases it in a wave of musical euphoria.

The keyboard work throughout this song is exceptional. From the layered synth intro to the organ-driven verses, Livgren and keyboardist Steve Walsh created a sound that defined progressive rock’s keyboard aesthetic.

Key Technique: The Leslie speaker modulation creates the swirling Hammond organ sound that builds in intensity throughout the solo. The rapid-fire runs showcase the organist’s virtuosity while maintaining melodic coherence.

6. School’s Out – Alice Cooper (1972)

Bob Ezrin’s piano work drives this rebellious anthem. The rolling piano intro and subsequent keyboard fills add a classical sophistication to this rock track about breaking free from academic constraints.

The piano part provides the song’s momentum. Ezrin’s playing combines classical training with rock energy, creating a sound that’s both sophisticated and accessible.

Key Technique: The use of major and minor seconds creates a playful, slightly discordant quality that matches the song’s rebellious spirit and adds tension to the arrangement.

7. Watching the Detectives – Elvis Costello (1977)

Steve Nieve’s Hammond organ work creates the noir atmosphere that defines this track. The spooky, tremolo-soaked organ lines evoke images of rain-slicked streets and mystery.

The keyboard part is minimal but incredibly effective. Nieve understands that sometimes the most powerful statements come from what you don’t play—using space and atmosphere to create tension.

Key Technique: Slow Leslie speaker rotation combined with drawbar manipulation creates the eerie, undulating organ sound that gives this song its distinctive character.

Progressive Rock Keyboard Masterpieces

8. Roundabout – Yes (1971)

Rick Wakeman’s piano introduction is among the most famous in rock history. The cascading piano figures that open “Roundabout” showcase Wakeman’s classical training and innovative approach to progressive rock.

Wakeman uses multiple keyboards throughout this epic track. The grand piano intro gives way to Hammond organ, Mellotron, and Moog synthesizer passages that demonstrate the full range of keyboard possibilities.

Key Technique: The rapid piano arpeggios in the introduction use parallel fifths and octaves to create a cascading waterfall effect. The Hammond organ solo section features drawbar manipulation and Leslie speaker effects that create dramatic swells.

9. In the Court of the Crimson King – King Crimson (1969)

Ian McDonald’s Mellotron work creates the album’s epic sound world. The haunting Mellotron flute and choir sounds that open this track established the template for progressive rock keyboard orchestration.

The Mellotron—an early sampler that played tape loops of real instruments—allowed keyboardists to create orchestral textures. McDonald’s innovative use of this instrument helped define the progressive rock genre.

Key Technique: Layering multiple Mellotron sounds creates a thick, orchestral texture that would have required actual orchestral musicians to perform live. The combination of flute, choir, and string sounds creates the song’s majestic atmosphere.

10. Tom Sawyer – Rush (1981)

Neil Peart’s lyrics get the attention, but Geddy Lee’s synthesizer work defines Rush’s 2025s sound. Using Moog synthesizers, Oberheim synths, and Taurus pedals, Lee created a keyboard sound that became Rush’s signature.

The solo section features one of rock’s most iconic synthesizer solos. Lee’s Minimoog solo demonstrates how electronic keyboards could match guitar pyrotechnics for excitement and intensity.

Key Technique: Pitch bend and filter modulation create expressive synthesizer lines that mimic vocal phrasing. The Oberheim OB-Xa provides the pad sounds that create the song’s spacious atmosphere.

11. The Great Gate of Kiev – Pictures at an Exhibition – ELP (1971)

Keith Emerson’s interpretation of Mussorgsky’s classical masterpiece brought progressive rock keyboard virtuosity to mainstream audiences. His Hammond organ, piano, and Moog synthesizer work throughout this suite remains unmatched in scope and ambition.

Emerson combines classical technique with rock sensibility. The organ cadenzas, piano interludes, and synthesizer soundscapes showcase every aspect of keyboard performance.

Key Technique: The use of prepared piano techniques—placing objects on piano strings to create percussive effects—demonstrates Emerson’s experimental approach. The Hammond organ solo section uses rapid manual drawbar changes to create dynamic filter effects.

12. Lucky Man – Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1970)

Keith Emerson’s Moog synthesizer solo at the end of this ballad is among the most famous in rock history. Using an early Moog modular synthesizer, Emerson created a soaring, expressive solo that builds from delicate passages to explosive peaks.

The organ parts that open the song provide gentle accompaniment to Greg Lake’s vocal. But it’s the synthesizer solo that everyone remembers—a showcase of electronic keyboard’s expressive potential.

Key Technique: Filter sweeps and pitch bending create the crying, vocal-like quality of the Moog solo. The use of portamento (gliding between notes) adds emotional expressiveness that was revolutionary for its time.

13. Frankenstein – The Edgar Winter Group (1973)

Edgar Winter’s multi-instrumental prowess includes a synthesizer performance that defined rock keyboard soloing. Using an ARP 2600 synthesizer, Winter created a solo that matches any guitar hero moment.

The song’s structure allows for extended instrumental sections. Winter trades lead lines on synthesizer with his saxophone and guitar work, but the keyboard remains the star.

Key Technique: The ARP 2600’s patchable design allows for complex sound design. Winter uses ring modulation and filter sweeps to create aggressive synthesizer tones that cut through the mix like distorted guitar.

Hammond Organ Classics

14. Green-Eyed Lady – Sugarloaf (1970)

Jerry Corbetta’s Hammond organ work drives this classic rock staple. The organ introduction and subsequent solo showcase the Hammond B3’s power and versatility in a rock context.

Corbetta’s playing draws from jazz and blues traditions while firmly remaining in rock territory. The organ fills and solo sections demonstrate the instrument’s capacity for both subtle accompaniment and explosive leads.

Key Technique: Fast Leslie speaker rotation creates the distinctive Hammond growl during solo sections. Percussion drawbar settings add rhythmic punch to chord stabs.

15. A Whiter Shade of Pale – Procol Harum (1967)

Matthew Fisher’s Hammond organ solo is one of the most famous in rock history. Drawing inspiration from Bach’s “Air on the G String,” Fisher created a solo that became the defining moment of the Summer of Love.

The organ sound here is distinctive—a Hammond M3 spinet model running through a Leslie speaker. The combination of classical influence with psychedelic rock created something entirely new.

Key Technique: The sustained Hammond organ notes use vibrato from the Leslie speaker to create emotional intensity. The solo’s ascending lines and chordal passages demonstrate how organ can sing like a human voice.

16. Gimme Some Lovin’ – The Spencer Davis Group (1966)

Steve Winwood’s Hammond organ intro is pure energy. The driving organ riff that opens this song powers the entire track with relentless momentum.

Winwood was just 18 when he recorded this track, but his Hammond playing already showed remarkable maturity. The combination of rhythmic chords and melodic fills creates a full sound that drives the song forward.

Key Technique: The use of Hammond organ’s percussion feature adds rhythmic attack to chord stabs. The Leslie speaker’s fast rotation creates the exciting, swirling sound during the solo section.

17. Time of the Season – The Zombies (1968)

Rod Argent’s organ work creates the psychedelic atmosphere that makes this song unforgettable. The distinctive organ hook that runs throughout the track defines its character.

Argent uses both Vox Continental and Hammond organs on this recording. The combination of different keyboard sounds creates the song’s unique texture and helped define late-1960s psychedelic pop.

Key Technique: The Vox Continental’s bright, reedy tone provides the distinctive organ hook. The Hammond B3 adds depth during the chorus sections, demonstrating how different keyboard instruments can complement each other.

Piano and Electric Piano Classics

18. Tiny Dancer – Elton John (1971)

Elton John’s piano playing has defined his career, and “Tiny Dancer” showcases his gift for creating memorable keyboard parts. The rolling piano introduction and verse accompaniment demonstrate his pop sensibility.

Elton’s approach combines classical training with pop songwriting. The left-hand bass patterns and right-hand melodic figures create a self-contained accompaniment that supports Bernie Taupin’s lyrics perfectly.

Key Technique: The rolling piano arpeggios create momentum while the chordal right-hand parts provide harmonic color. Elton’s use of suspensions and resolutions adds sophistication to pop chord progressions.

19. Your Song – Elton John (1970)

The piano introduction to “Your Song” is one of the most recognizable in pop music. Its simple beauty perfectly frames one of Elton and Bernie Taupin’s most beloved compositions.

What makes this piano part special is its restraint. Elton doesn’t show off—he serves the song with simple chord voicings and gentle fills that let the melody and lyrics take center stage.

Key Technique: Simple chord inversions create smooth voice leading between harmonic changes. The left-hand octaves provide foundation while the right-hand plays the memorable melodic motif.

20. Superstition – Stevie Wonder (1972)

Stevie Wonder’s Clavinet playing on this track is among the most famous keyboard parts in history. The syncopated Clavinet riff that opens “Superstition” is instantly recognizable and endlessly funky.

The Clavinet—an electric keyboard with strings struck by rubber tips—creates the distinctive percussive sound. Stevie’s use of this instrument, combined with multiple keyboard overdubs, created a new standard for funk keyboard playing.

Key Technique: The syncopated Clavinet rhythm uses sixteenth-note patterns that lock with the drum groove. Stevie’s use of the Clavinet’s filter controls adds rhythmic dynamics to the repeating riff.

21. Golden Lady – Stevie Wonder (1973)

Stevie Wonder’s Fender Rhodes work on this track demonstrates his mastery of electric piano. The gentle Rhodes accompaniment creates a warm, intimate atmosphere that perfectly frames his vocals.

Wonder uses subtle techniques to make the Rhodes sing. His touch brings out the instrument’s natural sustain and bell-like harmonics, creating a sound that’s both sophisticated and soulful.

Key Technique: The Rhodes’ vibrato is used subtly to add warmth. The chord voicings use extensions (ninths, elevenths) to create jazz-tinged harmonies that elevate the song beyond standard pop progressions.

22. She’s Out of My Life – Michael Jackson (1979)

Greg Phillinganes’ piano introduction sets the emotional tone for this ballad. The delicate piano figures perfectly capture the song’s heartbreak and vulnerability.

The piano part here is deceptively simple. Phillinganes uses space and sustain to create an atmosphere of loss and longing. The minimal approach proves that sometimes less is more in keyboard accompaniment.

Key Technique: Sustained pedal use creates overlapping harmonies that add emotional weight. The right-hand melodic fragments weave around the vocal line without competing with it.

23. Imagine – John Lennon (1971)

John Lennon’s piano playing on “Imagine” demonstrates how simplicity can be profound. The gentle piano accompaniment—largely just C major chords—supports one of the most famous songs ever written.

Nick Hopkins, who played the piano parts on the recording, understood that the message was more important than the technique. The piano provides a foundation that lets Lennon’s lyrics and melody carry the emotional weight.

Key Technique: The rolling piano arpeggios in the left hand create gentle motion. The right-hand uses open chord voicings that create space for the vocal melody.

Modern Keyboard Classics

24. Clocks – Coldplay (2002)

Chris Martin’s piano riff defined 2000s pop music. The repeating arpeggiated piano figure that opens “Clocks” is instantly recognizable and launched countless imitations.

The piano part’s genius lies in its simplicity. Three chords—A minor, F major, C major, G major—repeat throughout most of the song, creating a hypnotic foundation for Martin’s vocal melody.

Key Technique: The piano arpeggios use consistent rhythmic patterns that create a trance-like effect. The left-hand provides root notes while the right-hand plays the memorable chord inversions.

25. Someone Like You – Adele (2011)

Adele’s piano accompaniment on this ballad showcases how keyboard can support raw emotional expression. The simple piano patterns let her extraordinary voice take center stage.

The piano part builds gradually through the song. Sparse accompaniment in the verses gives way to fuller chordal playing in the chorus, mirroring the song’s emotional arc.

Key Technique: The piano uses arpeggiated figures in verses and block chords in choruses. The left-hand octaves provide power during the song’s climax without overpowering Adele’s vocal performance.

Honorable Mentions: More Essential Keyboard Songs

These songs deserve recognition for their outstanding keyboard contributions, even if they didn’t make the main list:

• November Rain – Guns N’ Roses: Axl Rose’s piano introduction and orchestral keyboard arrangements create this epic’s sweeping emotional landscape.
• Piano Man – Billy Joel: The accordion-like piano introduction and bluesy piano fills define Joel’s signature sound.
• Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen: Roy Bittan’s piano introduction and glockenspiel part create the song’s uplifting atmosphere.
• Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey: Jonathan Cain’s piano intro is one of the most recognizable in rock, driving this arena anthem.
• Hey Jude – The Beatles: Paul McCartney’s piano work builds from simple accompaniment to the famous “na na na” singalong section.
• Us and Them – Pink Floyd: Richard Wright’s subtle Hammond organ and piano parts create this track’s atmospheric beauty.
• Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple: Jon Lord’s Hammond organ adds distinctive texture to this rock standard beyond its famous guitar riff.

Why These Keyboard Songs Matter

Keyboard parts in these songs aren’t just accompaniment—they’re defining elements that make each track memorable. Whether it’s the Hammond organ’s soulful swell, the piano’s melodic clarity, or the synthesizer’s otherworldly textures, these keyboard performances have shaped popular music for decades.

For musicians learning keyboards, these songs offer invaluable lessons in technique, tone, and musicality. From Rick Wakeman’s virtuosic solos to Ray Manzarek’s economical organ lines, there’s something to learn from every performance on this list.

What these songs share is emotional authenticity. Each keyboard part serves the song’s emotional content, whether through virtuosic display or subtle support. That’s the true mark of great keyboard playing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Recommendations

After years of studying these performances and analyzing what makes them work, I recommend starting with the songs that match your playing level and musical interests. Beginners might find “Imagine” or “Your Song” accessible, while advanced players will appreciate the technical challenges of “Roundabout” or “Carry On Wayward Son.”

The key is to listen deeply—not just to the notes being played, but to the tone, touch, and phrasing that make each performance special. These keyboardists understood that technique serves expression, and that lesson is the most valuable thing any musician can learn from these classic songs.

Whether you’re a player seeking inspiration or a listener who appreciates great music, these keyboard songs represent some of the finest moments in popular music history. Each performance offers something unique—a lesson in tone, technique, or emotional expression that continues to inspire musicians in 2025 and beyond.