Learn How to Easily Play the Piano with the #1 Online Piano Course!

This course has been strategically designed to take students from complete beginners to proficient pianists. There is no timeline that you must adhere to in this course. Instead, I implore you to work at your own pace and only move on to the next lesson insofar as you truly grasp all of the material within it.

At first glance, the keys on the piano appear to be both randomly placed and abundant in quantity. In this lesson, you will improve your understanding of how the 88 keys on the piano are structured and why they are positioned in the way that they are. Think of this lesson as the very beginning intro to the piano.

Now that you understand how the 88 keys are structured, it's now time to dive into the white keys. As you can see below, the majority of the keys on the piano are white and each key has a designated letter assigned to it. These letters are actually notes, which repeat at every 8th note (called an octave). You need not memorize every white key from left to right, but instead just learn each letter in 1 octave as each octave repeats across the piano.

Now that you know all about the white keys, let's discuss the black keys. While there are 52 white keys on the piano, there are only 36 black keys. Why the discrepancy? To put it simply, the black keys help to break up the tone of the piano by allowing for more depth and range. Black keys allow for a "half-step" or "semitone" to occur, which allows for more musical expression and pitch differentiation. This is also where we start to see sharps (♯) and flats (♭).

What would the piano be with out pedals? Not much! In this lesson, you'll learn all about the 3 most popular pedals on the piano, such as why they're so important, how they function, how they alter the sound produced by the piano, as well as getting to practice using the pedals for yourself on your own piano.

Here, you'll review what you've learned so far in this lesson, as well as take a test, which covers the main takeaways from each lesson. You'll need to get at least 50% correct to move on to the next chapter. And you can take the test as many times as you'd like!

Like atoms are the building blocks of matter, so to are scales the building blocks of music. Indeed, this extends far beyond just piano music as scales are the bedrock of music theory. Want to create a new song? Well, you're going to need to first choose a scale to play that music in. Don't worry if this sounds confusing now as by the end of this chapter you'll be a scale pro!

Now that you know what scales are, how you can best utilize them, as well as why they are so integral to music creation, now let's talk about the most common types of scales, Major Scales. When you hear any sort of scale or chord with the word "Major" in front of it, then you can rest assure that the melodies that come from said scale are going to sound "bright" and "happy." This is the most noticeable aspect of major scales and something you'll get quite accustomed to the more you play.

In stark contrast to Major Scales, which sound "bright" and "happy," Minor Scales sound "brooding," "emotional," and even "sad." These types of scales are perfect for anyone wanting to create a song with a more melancholic or serious feel to it. Check out the Minor Scales chart below to see which keys are in each scale.

Now that you've learned about major and minor scales, it's time to discover even more scales. Yes, that's right! There are even more scales that you can choose from far beyond the traditional two major and minor scales which most Western music utilizes. In this lesson, we'll learn about Sharp Scales. What is a sharp you may ask? It is simply a symbol (♯) placed next to a note which let's you know that you need to sharpen the key. This simply means that you play the key directly to the right of whichever key you're starting from (aka one half step or one semitone to the right). Check out the chart below for a clearer explanation.

Now that you've learned about Sharp Scales, it's time to discover even more scales. Introducing Flat Scales. What is a flat you may ask? It is simply a symbol (♭) placed next to a note which let's you know that you need to flatten the key. This simply means that you play the key directly to the left of whichever key you're starting from (aka one half step or one semitone to the left). Check out the chart below for a clearer explanation.

Here, you'll review what you've learned so far in this lesson, as well as take a test, which covers the main takeaways from each lesson. You'll need to get at least 50% correct to move on to the next chapter. And you can take the test as many times as you'd like!

Now that you understand what scales are and have played them, let's see the forest for the trees and pick individual keys from each scale which sound absolutely beautiful when played together. These, as you may have guessed, are called chords. And as you will soon discover, playing chords throughout a composition is virtually always an amazing idea, that is, if you want to create and play beautiful music!

Now that you know what chords are, how you can best utilize them, as well as why they are so integral to music creation, now let's talk about the most common types of chords, Major Chords. Just like with major scales, major chords are going to sound "bright" and "happy." Check out the Major Chords Chart below to see which keys are in each chord.

In stark contrast to Major Chords, which sound "bright" and "happy," Minor Chords sound "brooding," "emotional," and even "sad." These types of chords are perfect for anyone wanting to create a song with a more melancholic or serious feel to it. Check out the Minor Chords Chart below to see which keys are in each chord.

Thought traditional major and minor chords sounded pretty? Think again! 7th chords are the same as triad chords except you add a 4th note at the end. This added note gives even more "umph" to the chord, making it sound more voluminous and profound.

One of the most beautiful sounding things you can do on the piano is arpeggiating a chord. What does this mean exactly? Well, arpeggiating a chord simply means playing the notes of the chord one after the other, instead of playing them all in unison. Check out the illustration below for a clear visual of what an arpeggio looks like.

Here, you'll review what you've learned so far in this lesson, as well as take a test, which covers the main takeaways from each lesson. You'll need to get at least 50% correct to move on to the next chapter. And you can take the test as many times as you'd like!

Music theory is the study of how music works—the rules, concepts, and structures behind the sounds we hear. It explains elements like notes, scales, chords, rhythm, harmony, melody, and form, helping musicians understand and communicate music more clearly. In short, music theory turns random sounds into meaningful music.

Rhythm is defined as the timing of musical sounds and silences, including beats, note durations, and patterns. Rhythm is important in piano music as it helps with timing, phrasing, and playing in sync with others. Read the article below to learn the ins and outs of this invaluable music theory concept.

Pitch is the term used to describe how high or low a note sounds. As you know, the piano has 88 keys, offering a very wide range of pitches. Understanding how pitch works not only allows you to better understand sheet music, but also to improve your "ear," a training concept we will cover in Chapter 6.

One of the most important concepts in music theory is Harmony. Defined as the combination of two or more notes played simultaneously to create a pleasing sound, harmony adds depth and richness to music, making it pretty and pleasing to hear.

Dynamics can be defined as the volume of music, ranging from soft (p) to loud (f), and everything in between. Dynamics add emotion and variation to your playing. Pianists (like you!) must control touch and pressure to execute dynamic changes.

Articulation is the way a note is played, such as staccato (short), legato (smooth), or accented (emphasized). It shapes the character and texture of your playing and is an extremely important music theory concept to understand.

Expression can be defined as directions within music that guide the emotional delivery of the composition. It can also be thought of as the ability to convey emotion, mood, and meaning through musical performance beyond simply playing the notes in the correct pattern.

Here, you'll review what you've learned so far in this lesson, as well as take a test, which covers the main takeaways from each lesson. You'll need to get at least 50% correct to move on to the next chapter. And you can take the test as many times as you'd like!

Reading sheet music is a foundational skill for pianists and musicians of any instrument. It serves as a universal language for music, allowing you to learn, create, and communicate your musical ideas effectively. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an advanced player, developing the ability to read notation opens doors to countless opportunities.

Learning to read sheet music can feel overwhelming at first, especially for beginner piano players. All those lines, notes, and symbols may seem like a secret code. But once you understand the structure and logic behind it, reading sheet music becomes a powerful and rewarding skill that opens up a whole world of musical possibilities.

Now that you have a solid understanding of the basics of music theory and of sheet music, let's now try to play some measures directly from sheet music! The song you'll play is Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie. It's a truly beautiful song and is also extremely beginner friendly. Watch the video above and let's play the first grand staff together!

Congrats! You played the first measure in Gymnopédie No. 1! Now, let's continue our way through the sheet music by playing the second grand staff. Just as we did in the last lesson, follow along with me in the video above and let's play these new measures together!

Now that you've played the first two grand staffs in the song Gymnopédie No. 1, let's combine them together and play them from the first note to the last. No worries, you got this!

Here, you'll review what you've learned so far in this lesson, as well as take a test, which covers the main takeaways from each lesson. You'll need to get at least 50% correct to move on to the next chapter. And you can take the test as many times as you'd like!

Learning to play the piano involves more than just reading sheet music or practicing finger exercises. One of the most powerful yet often overlooked skills a pianist can develop is ear training—the ability to identify musical elements such as pitch, intervals, chords, and rhythms by listening.

Practicing ear training every day, even for just 10–15 minutes, can dramatically improve your ability to hear and understand music. In this Part 2 lesson on ear training, I'll show you even more ways you can improve your ability to clearly and easily decipher the pitches of certain individual keys, chords, and melodies.

When you think of a great pianist, what likely comes to mind is someone whose fingers dance effortlessly across the keys, producing music that flows with grace, power, and emotion. While talent, ear training, and musical understanding are crucial components of piano playing, one physical skill stands at the heart of it all: finger dexterity.

In this Part 2 of Finger Dexterity Training, we'll go over 10 daily finger dexterity exercises specifically designed for beginner pianists. You can rotate through these during your warm-up or technical practice time each day. These exercises will help you build control, strength, speed, and independence.

Speed is one of the most exciting and impressive elements of piano playing. When you see a pianist glide across the keys at lightning pace—playing fast arpeggios, intricate runs, or high-energy rhythms—it often looks effortless. But in reality, that level of control and precision comes from consistent, focused speed training.

In this lesson, we'll go over 10 speed training exercises designed to help you play faster with greater control and confidence. Perfect for daily practice, these techniques will help you build the foundation needed for more advanced and expressive piano playing.

Here, you'll review what you've learned so far in this lesson, as well as take a test, which covers the main takeaways from each lesson. You'll need to get at least 50% correct to move on to the next chapter. And you can take the test as many times as you'd like!

Many people who want to learn how to play the piano do so because they want to learn how to play a piano song from a famous pianist, like Beethoven, or to play a cover of their favorite pop song. Additionally, there are also people who desire to create their own melodies and even their own songs. In this chapter, I'll show you how to do just this!

One of the most important aspects of composing your own piano music is understanding how to structure a song. If you’re just getting started, it can feel a little overwhelming—do you need to follow a set formula? Is there a right or wrong way to organize your melodies? The short answer is: no, there are no strict rules. But there are common patterns and helpful ideas that can guide you as you build your own musical creations.

While not always the first step, for beginners, when working on creating your own original melodies, it's advised that you start by choosing a scale. Why is this important? Well, once you choose your scale, you'll then have a defined set of keys that you can play (in any octave) to create your unique melodies.

The next step you should take when creating your first melodies, while not mandatory, is to find your chosen scale's chords, specifically the triad and 7th chords, respectively. Doing this will allow you to greatly simplify the music creation process by giving you a set of keys that sound beautiful together, giving you the freedom to create melodies from the chords themselves if desired.

Improvisation on the piano isn’t just for jazz musicians or advanced players—it’s one of the most rewarding and effective tools for songwriters at any level. If you’ve ever sat down at your keyboard and started freely playing around with notes and chords, you’ve already touched on the magic of improvisation. It’s spontaneous, emotional, and, more often than not, leads to unexpected bursts of creativity that can turn into full-fledged songs.

Now that you have created at least one melody, you can take this time to fine tune it by practicing it or if you have ambitions to create a full song, then go ahead and use this lesson to work on creating new melodies to complete your song.

Here, you'll review what you've learned so far in this lesson, as well as take a test, which covers the main takeaways from each lesson. You'll need to get at least 50% correct to move on to the next chapter. And you can take the test as many times as you'd like!

This Final Piano Exam is a comprehensive knowledge test of everything you've learned throughout this course from the first lesson all the way to the last. You need to get at least 50% correct in order to complete the course and to then receive your Course Completion Certificate.