Linkin Park piano songs are some of the most rewarding pieces you can learn — and not just because the band is everywhere right now. From the iconic intro of Numb to the raw solitude of My December (a song Chester Bennington actually wrote and played himself), piano is structural to their catalog in a way most listeners don’t fully register until they sit down and try to learn it.
With the band back on the road in 2025 with Emily Armstrong and a new chapter underway, there’s never been a better time to pick up these songs. This is the most complete guide to learning Linkin Park on piano — every available arrangement ranked by difficulty, with sheet music and MIDI files linked throughout. And to answer the most common question upfront: the easiest LP songs to start with are Numb and In The End. Both are beginner-friendly, immediately recognizable, and genuinely satisfying to play.
Jump to: Beginner Songs | Intermediate Songs | Which Song First?
Can a Beginner Learn Linkin Park on Piano?
Yes — and honestly, LP is one of the better catalogs to start with if you’re coming from a rock or metal background and need music that keeps you motivated.
Here’s why it works so well for new pianists: most of the piano parts in Linkin Park songs are melody-driven, not technically dense. The chord progressions are emotionally powerful but structurally simple. The tempos tend to be slow to mid-range. And the melodies are so burned into your memory that your ear guides you through the hard parts before your fingers even get there.
Every song in this article is classified using a two-tier system based on what I actually encountered when arranging and recording each one:
| Level | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Beginner | Both hands, simple chord patterns, slow tempo — 6 months to 1–2 years of experience |
| Intermediate | More active right-hand work, wider chord voicings, or increased coordination demands — 1–2+ years |
The full catalog here sits in the beginner-to-intermediate window, which is part of what makes LP such a strong choice for developing pianists.
Beginner & Easy Linkin Park Piano Songs
These songs work well if you’ve been playing for roughly six months to two years. The chord patterns are manageable, the tempos give you time to think, and every single one of them delivers that emotional payoff that makes all the slow practice worth it.
Numb
If you’ve ever wondered whether Numb is hard to play on piano — it isn’t. That four-note descending intro riff is one of the most recognizable moments in modern rock, and it’s well within reach for a beginner. The left-hand pattern stays repetitive throughout most of the song, which means you can focus your energy on getting the phrasing and dynamics right rather than scrambling to keep up. The song is in A minor, and that key sits comfortably under the hands for most beginners.
Estimated learning time: A clean, playable run-through in 2–4 weeks with daily practice. Getting the dynamics and phrasing right — making it actually sound like Numb — takes longer and is worth the patience.
🎵 Watch Numb arrangement on YouTube → Get the Numb sheet music at ralky5.com
In The End
The opening piano line of In The End is one of those moments where nailing it feels completely disproportionate to how hard it actually is. The left hand follows a predictable pattern that’s great for building hand coordination, and the melody sits in a comfortable range for most beginners.
This is one of the best songs on this list for developing a sense of rhythm between both hands — the interplay is simple enough to grasp quickly, but musical enough that it doesn’t feel like an exercise. The arrangement incorporates the vocal melody into the right-hand writing, so the full emotional arc of the song comes through even when you’re playing solo.
Estimated learning time: Most beginners can get a recognizable version together within 3–5 weeks. The MIDI file (available to Patreon supporters) lets you hear exactly how that vocal melody integrates into the right-hand part before you dive in.
🎵 Watch In The End arrangement on YouTube → Get the In The End sheet music at ralky5.com
Crawling
Crawling moves slowly, and that’s a genuine advantage for learners. The atmospheric, melancholic feel means this arrangement rewards sensitivity over speed. There’s no complex fingerwork — the challenge here is musical, not mechanical: letting the song breathe the way it needs to.
For anyone drawn into Linkin Park through Chester’s vocal performances specifically, this one hits differently. It’s also a great choice if you’re working on sustain pedal technique, because held chords suit the mood perfectly and the resonance becomes part of the instrument.
Estimated learning time: 2–3 weeks to a clean basic version. A few more to really settle into the dynamics.
🎵 Watch Crawling arrangement on YouTube → Get the Crawling sheet music at ralky5.com
One More Light
Chester’s most intimate ballad. The left hand is minimal — almost sparse — and the arrangement keeps the focus entirely on the melody, which is exactly as it should be. This is the arrangement I’d point a complete beginner to first if they’re coming for emotional connection rather than iconic riffs.
The MIDI file for this arrangement (available to Patreon supporters) is particularly useful for understanding the voicing — load it into a learning app or DAW and you can see every note mapped out before you play a single one.
Estimated learning time: 1–2 weeks for a complete beginner. One of the fastest songs on this list to get to a satisfying level.
🎵 Watch One More Light arrangement on YouTube → Get the One More Light sheet music at ralky5.com
Leave Out All The Rest
Gentle and flowing, Leave Out All The Rest is ideal for working on legato — the smooth, connected touch that separates pianists who play notes from pianists who play music. The melody sings naturally under the fingers, and there are no sudden tempo changes or technical surprises.
If you’ve got In The End under your belt and want something equally approachable but with a more reflective feel, this is the next logical step.
Estimated learning time: 2–4 weeks.
🎵 Watch Leave Out All The Rest arrangement on YouTube → Get the Leave Out All The Rest sheet music at ralky5.com
The Messenger
One of the most underrated piano arrangements in the catalog. The original track is acoustic and sparse, and this arrangement honors that — the piano stays front and center with nothing to hide behind. That makes it a strong choice for players who want to develop confidence in their tone, since every note matters when there’s nothing else filling the space.
Estimated learning time: 2–3 weeks. Technically accessible; the real work is musical.
🎵 Watch The Messenger arrangement on YouTube → Get The Messenger sheet music at ralky5.com
Valentine’s Day
This is the hidden gem on the list. Valentine’s Day gets overlooked because it’s not one of the obvious singles, but it’s one of the most emotionally rich LP tracks in this catalog — and it has essentially zero competition as a piano tutorial target online. If you want to play something that fellow Linkin Park fans will immediately recognize but haven’t heard on piano before, this is it.
Estimated learning time: 2–3 weeks.
🎵 Watch Valentine’s Day arrangement on YouTube → Get the Valentine’s Day sheet music at ralky5.com
My December
Here’s something most people don’t know: Chester Bennington actually played piano on My December himself. It was his composition, his performance — one of the few times in LP’s catalog where the piano part came directly from Chester, not the band’s broader production. That context changes how the song feels when you’re learning it.
The arrangement stays true to that original solo-piano character, which makes it one of the most personal pieces in this catalog. It’s also excellent for working on dynamic control — the song moves between delicate and intense passages in a way that teaches you a lot about touch and how to phrase a line.
A separate arrangement exists for the live version, which had a more expansive, open quality compared to the studio recording — slightly looser, with more room for personal expression. Having both in the catalog gives you two perspectives on the same piece, which is a genuinely useful learning tool.
The MIDI file (available to Patreon supporters) is a great reference for dynamics if you want to hear exactly how the phrases should shape before you commit them to muscle memory.
Estimated learning time: 3–5 weeks for the studio version. The live version may take slightly longer due to the phrasing freedom it requires.
🎵 Watch My December arrangement on YouTube → Get the My December sheet music at ralky5.com
🎵 Watch My December (Live) arrangement on YouTube → Get the My December (Live) sheet music at ralky5.com
Over Each Other
From the From Zero album (2024), this is a genuine surprise for fans who haven’t dug this deep into the catalog yet. Over Each Other has a melodic gentleness that makes it immediately accessible, and it’s well-positioned for players who want to move beyond the obvious choices without jumping to something technically demanding.
Estimated learning time: 2–3 weeks.
🎵 Watch Over Each Other arrangement on YouTube → Get the Over Each Other sheet music at ralky5.com
Heavy Is The Crown
This is the 2025 LP entry — the new era, Emily Armstrong on vocals, and one of the first piano arrangements of this track available online. It’s at the beginner level, but there’s a forward energy to it that feels distinct from the slower, more atmospheric pieces in this section. Search traffic for this track is high right now, and the arrangement reflects that urgency. If you’re a fan of the new lineup and want to play something that connects to where Linkin Park is right now, this is the one.
Estimated learning time: 2–4 weeks.
🎵 Watch Heavy Is The Crown arrangement on YouTube → Get the Heavy Is The Crown sheet music at ralky5.com
Intermediate Linkin Park Piano Songs
These arrangements require more coordination between hands, wider chord voicings, or faster melodic passages. They’re the right call after one to two years of consistent practice — when your hands are starting to work together more naturally but you still want a real challenge.
Good Things Go
The right-hand work in this arrangement is notably more active than anything in the beginner section, and the dynamic range is wider — the song asks you to move between soft and full-band energy in a way that requires real control. It’s one of those pieces that sounds harder than it is once you crack it, but it will push you in the right direction.
Estimated learning time: 4–8 weeks to a clean, musical version.
🎵 Watch Good Things Go arrangement on YouTube → Get the Good Things Go sheet music at ralky5.com
What I’ve Done
What I’ve Done has a driving, forward momentum that’s genuinely exciting to play, but the chord movement is more complex than the beginner arrangements. This is a fan favorite in live settings for a reason — there’s an intensity to it. If you want something with physical energy, something you can actually feel in your hands while you’re playing it, this is where to go.
Estimated learning time: 4–6 weeks.
🎵 Watch What I’ve Done arrangement on YouTube → Get the What I’ve Done sheet music at ralky5.com
Which Linkin Park Song Should You Learn First?
If you’re staring at the list above wondering where to actually start, here’s a decision table:
| Your situation | Start here |
|---|---|
| Complete beginner (< 6 months) | One More Light or The Messenger |
| Know some chords, want something iconic | Numb or In The End |
| Chester fan, want something emotionally deep | My December |
| New LP fan, 2025 era | Heavy Is The Crown |
| Ready for a real challenge | Good Things Go or What I’ve Done |
| Want a deep cut fans will be impressed by | Valentine’s Day |
Every path through that table ends at a real, purchasable sheet music arrangement — not a transcription from a MIDI file or a simplified pop arrangement. These are my arrangements, built from the recordings, available as PDF downloads, with piano voicings that actually work rather than just mapping chords onto a staff.
If you also play video game music, the Final Fantasy VI–X catalog at ralky5.com covers a similar difficulty range and is worth exploring alongside this one.
What Linkin Park Songs Actually Have Piano In Them?
Worth addressing, because the answer matters for how you approach learning these pieces.
Several LP songs have genuine piano parts in the original recordings: Numb (Mike Shinoda on keys), My December (Chester himself), One More Light, The Messenger, Leave Out All The Rest, and Heavy Is The Crown all feature real piano or keys at the core of the production — not as texture, but as structural elements.
In The End famously opens with a piano riff that Mike Shinoda wrote and played, and it drives the song’s emotional arc from the first note.
This matters because the arrangements at ralky5.com aren’t “piano versions” of guitar songs — they’re built on source material that was always meant to be heard this way. The piano was there first in most of these cases. These arrangements are honoring something that was already there.
Get the Sheet Music + MIDI Files
All sheets are available as PDF downloads directly from each product page.
| Song | Difficulty | Sheet Music | MIDI (Patreon) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numb | Beginner | Get it on ralky5.com | Get it on Patreon |
| In The End | Beginner | Get it on ralky5.com | Get it on Patreon |
| Crawling | Beginner | Get it on ralky5.com | Get it on Patreon |
| One More Light | Beginner | Get it on ralky5.com | Get it on Patreon |
| Leave Out All The Rest | Beginner | Get it on ralky5.com | Get it on Patreon |
| The Messenger | Beginner | Get it on ralky5.com | Get it on Patreon |
| Valentine’s Day | Beginner | Get it on ralky5.com | Get it on Patreon |
| My December | Beginner | Get it on ralky5.com | Get it on Patreon |
| My December (Live) | Beginner | Get it on ralky5.com | Get it on Patreon |
| Over Each Other | Beginner | Get it on ralky5.com | Get it on Patreon |
| Heavy Is The Crown | Beginner | Get it on ralky5.com | Get it on Patreon |
| Good Things Go | Intermediate | Get it on ralky5.com | Get it on Patreon |
| What I’ve Done | Intermediate | Get it on ralky5.com | Get it on Patreon |
🔒 = MIDI + MP3 files available to Patreon supporters. Patreon also includes discounts on sheet music and early access to new arrangements.
Download individual sheets from the product pages above, or join Patreon for the full library, MIDI files, and everything else.
Linkin Park is one of the most rewarding catalogs you can learn on piano — not because the technical demands are punishing, but because these are songs people carry with them. Playing them well isn’t just about hitting the right notes; it’s about doing something real with the music that’s already inside you.
Before you buy anything, watch these arrangements on YouTube. Hear what they actually sound like — not a MIDI rendering, not a generic cover, but a real pianist working through the same song you’re about to learn. That’s the best way to figure out which one you want to tackle first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest Linkin Park song to play on piano?
One More Light is the most accessible entry point for complete beginners — the left hand is minimal and the melody is straightforward. If you want something more iconic to play at a gathering, Numb and In The End are both beginner-level and immediately recognizable. All three use simple chord patterns and slow tempos that give you time to focus on expression rather than scrambling to keep up.
Can a beginner learn Linkin Park on piano?
Yes, without question. The majority of LP’s piano catalog sits firmly in the beginner-to-intermediate range. The chord progressions are emotionally driven rather than technically complex, and the tempos are forgiving enough that new players can focus on musicality from early on. Songs like Numb, In The End, One More Light, and The Messenger are all realistic targets within the first six to eighteen months of learning.
What Linkin Park songs have piano in them?
More than most people realize. Numb (Mike Shinoda), In The End (Mike Shinoda), My December (Chester Bennington himself), One More Light, The Messenger, Leave Out All The Rest, and Heavy Is The Crown all feature piano or keys as central elements of the original production — not as an afterthought. These arrangements are built on that existing foundation.
How hard is Numb to play on piano?
Not hard at all by piano standards. The intro riff uses four descending notes at a slow tempo in A minor, and the left-hand pattern stays consistent throughout most of the song. A beginner with a few months of experience can learn a clean, playable version within two to four weeks of regular practice. The real challenge — and the real goal — is getting the dynamics and phrasing right so it actually sounds like Numb and not just the correct notes in sequence.
Is In The End easy on piano?
Yes, and it’s one of the best beginner choices precisely because the opening piano line is so satisfying to nail. The left hand follows a predictable, repetitive pattern that makes it a great exercise in hand coordination. Most beginners can get a recognizable version together within a month. The arrangement at ralky5.com incorporates the vocal melody into the right-hand writing, so the full song comes through even when you’re playing solo. The MIDI file (available to Patreon supporters) lets you hear exactly how that integration sounds before you start learning it.
Is Heavy Is The Crown available as piano sheet music?
Yes — and it’s one of the first arrangements of this track available anywhere online. The sheet music is at the beginner level, reflecting the song’s accessible structure despite its driving energy. It’s the right choice if you want to connect to where Linkin Park is right now in 2025. The PDF is available directly at ralky5.com, with the MIDI file accessible to Patreon supporters.
Did Chester Bennington play piano?
Yes. My December is the clearest example — Chester wrote and performed the piano part himself, making it one of the only songs in LP’s catalog where the piano work came directly from him rather than Mike Shinoda or the broader production. It’s part of what makes the arrangement at ralky5.com feel different to learn: you’re playing something Chester sat down and played himself.
What chords does In The End use on piano?
The song revolves around a repeating progression that stays in a consistent key throughout — which is part of why it’s so learnable for beginners. The full chord voicings are in the sheet music at ralky5.com. If you want to see them mapped note-by-note before purchasing, the MIDI file (Patreon) gives you a complete view of every chord and how they’re voiced in the arrangement.
