The 50 Best Dueling Piano Songs to Request at a Piano Bar

What are the best songs to request at dueling pianos?

"Piano Man" by Billy Joel is the most requested dueling piano song, followed closely by "Sweet Caroline", "Don't Stop Believin'", "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Friends in Low Places". The best requests are songs the whole room knows, with a big chorus everyone can shout back at the stage.

The classic crowd singalongs

1. "Piano Man", Billy Joel: the anthem of every piano bar.
2. "Sweet Caroline", Neil Diamond: built for the crowd to shout the horn parts.
3. "Don't Stop Believin'", Journey: the piano intro gets an instant cheer.
4. "Bohemian Rhapsody", Queen: a showpiece for both players.
5. "American Pie", Don McLean: eight minutes of group singing.
6. "Brown Eyed Girl", Van Morrison: an easy, happy singalong.
7. "Livin' on a Prayer", Bon Jovi: the key change is the moment of the night.
8. "Mr. Brightside", The Killers: the modern room-shaker.
9. "Take Me Home, Country Roads", John Denver: everyone knows the chorus.
10. "Hey Jude", The Beatles: the long ending turns into a full-room chant.

Piano rock classics

11. "Great Balls of Fire", Jerry Lee Lewis: the original wild piano showpiece.
12. "Crocodile Rock", Elton John: built for audience participation.
13. "Bennie and the Jets", Elton John: a slinky crowd favorite.
14. "Tiny Dancer", Elton John: the big chorus every bar sings.
15. "Rocket Man", Elton John: a soaring late-night pick.
16. "Only the Good Die Young", Billy Joel: fast and fun to play.
17. "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant", Billy Joel: a multi-part epic for the regulars.
18. "Don't Stop Me Now", Queen: pure piano-driven joy.
19. "Let It Be", The Beatles: a moment of calm before the next party song.
20. "Clocks", Coldplay: that famous piano riff.

80s and 90s favorites

21. "Total Eclipse of the Heart", Bonnie Tyler: the dramatic duet moment.
22. "Africa", Toto: the singalong that never gets old.
23. "Summer of '69", Bryan Adams: nostalgia for every age.
24. "Jessie's Girl", Rick Springfield: a classic 80s shout-along.
25. "You Shook Me All Night Long", AC/DC: rock night essential.
26. "Love Shack", The B-52's: a party starter.
27. "I Want It That Way", Backstreet Boys: the 90s kids' anthem.
28. "Wannabe", Spice Girls: a bachelorette favorite.
29. "Ice Ice Baby", Vanilla Ice: everyone knows the bassline.
30. "Mambo No. 5", Lou Bega: the players swap in names from the crowd.

Country songs for dueling pianos

31. "Friends in Low Places", Garth Brooks: the most requested country song at any bar.
32. "Wagon Wheel", Darius Rucker: the modern country singalong.
33. "Tennessee Whiskey", Chris Stapleton: a slow, soulful showcase.
34. "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!", Shania Twain: a bachelorette must.
35. "Chicken Fried", Zac Brown Band: a feel-good chorus.
36. "Fishin' in the Dark", Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: an easy-going crowd pleaser.
37. "Sweet Home Alabama", Lynyrd Skynyrd: the opening riff works on piano too.
38. "Margaritaville", Jimmy Buffett: for the beach crowd.

Modern hits that work on piano

39. "Uptown Funk", Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars: a dance-floor jolt.
40. "Shut Up and Dance", Walk the Moon: an instant crowd pleaser.
41. "Shallow", Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper: the big duet moment.
42. "Someone Like You", Adele: a quiet, emotional break.
43. "Party in the U.S.A.", Miley Cyrus: a guaranteed singalong.
44. "Let It Go", from Frozen: for the kids at heart.

Party starters and finales

45. "Shout", The Isley Brothers: the classic call-and-response party song.
46. "Twist and Shout", The Beatles: the classic dance break.
47. "Hallelujah", Leonard Cohen: the goosebump closer.
48. "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", Aerosmith: a power ballad to belt.
49. "Happy Birthday": every dueling piano show plays it, usually with the guest on stage.
50. "Rocky Top", The Osborne Brothers: a bluegrass favorite, especially in Tennessee.

How dueling pianos work

A dueling piano show has two players at two pianos, usually facing each other, who take turns and play together, sing, joke and compete for the crowd's attention. There is no set list: the audience writes requests on napkins or request slips, usually with a tip, and the players work through them all night. Piano bars like Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans' French Quarter made the format famous, and today dueling piano bars and touring shows play in cities across the country.

How to get your song played

• Write the song title and artist clearly on a request slip or napkin, and add your name if you want a shout-out.
• Requests with a tip usually get played sooner, and a bigger tip can move your song up the list.
• Many shows let you "kill" a song you can't stand by tipping more than the person who requested it.
• Pick songs with big choruses the whole room knows; obscure deep cuts are harder for the players and the crowd.
• Let the players know about a birthday, a bachelorette party or an anniversary; they will often bring the guest of honor on stage.

Songs the players love to show off on

Some requests give the pianists a chance to really play. "Great Balls of Fire", "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Don't Stop Me Now", "Bennie and the Jets" and "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" all have big piano parts, and two players can split them into a real duel, trading verses and solos and racing each other to the finish. If you want to see what they can do, request one of these early in the night, while their hands are fresh.

Slow songs for a breather

A good dueling piano night has quiet moments too. "Your Song", "Imagine", "Let It Be", "Someone Like You", "Tennessee Whiskey" and "Hallelujah" give the room a chance to catch its breath, and a slow song dedicated to a couple celebrating an anniversary is often one of the most memorable moments of the show.

Fun ways to request

• Ask for a song in a completely different style, like a pop hit played as a country ballad or a rock song played as a lounge number.
• Request a medley: TV theme songs, Disney songs and one-hit wonders are popular.
• Ask the players to work a friend's name into a song, especially on a birthday.
• Request a song for a sports team or a college fight song when a big game is on.

Dueling piano songs for a birthday

Every show plays "Happy Birthday", usually with the guest of honor pulled up on stage, but you can make it bigger: add "Birthday" by The Beatles, "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang, "22" by Taylor Swift for a young crowd or "When I'm Sixty-Four" for a milestone birthday. For more ideas, see our birthday songs.

Dueling piano songs for a bachelorette party

For a bachelorette night, request "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!", "Wannabe", "Total Eclipse of the Heart", "Shallow" and "Sweet Caroline", and tell the players who the bride is. For more, see our bachelorette party songs.

Dueling pianos at a wedding or corporate event

Many couples hire a dueling piano show for their reception instead of a DJ or band. It works best when the players get a list of must-play songs in advance, a few do-not-play songs and the couple's first dance song, so they can turn it into a moment for the whole room. "Piano Man", "Don't Stop Believin'", "Shout" and "Love Shack" are reliable wedding dance-floor fillers for every generation. For more, see our wedding dance songs.

Songs that work for karaoke and dueling pianos

The songs that work at dueling pianos are usually the same ones that work at karaoke: familiar, upbeat and easy to sing with a crowd. For more picks, see our best karaoke songs and karaoke duets.

Want to play them yourself?

If a night at a piano bar has you itching to learn, start with simpler songs and work your way up to "Piano Man". See our easy piano songs for beginner-friendly picks.

Songs about dueling pianos and piano bars

Few songs capture the piano bar better than "Piano Man", which Billy Joel based on his own months playing in a Los Angeles lounge under the name Bill Martin. "Bennie and the Jets", recorded with crowd noise added to sound like a live show, and the nostalgic "Crocodile Rock" share the same party spirit, which is why they never leave dueling piano request lists.

A song written just for them

The best moment at a dueling piano show is when the whole room sings for one person. A personalized song does the same every time it plays: their name, their story and the memories you share, in a style made for singing along. It makes a great birthday, retirement or anniversary gift.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: pop, rock, country and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three memories or details about them.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.