When you shop through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. This educational content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice.
A self teaching piano book is a great way to learn piano without having to take expensive lessons. You can learn at your own pace and go at your own level. The book will teach you the basics of playing piano and will give you the opportunity to practice what you have learned.
20 Best Self Teaching Piano Book
Product Image
Product Name
Features
Price
Alfred's Self-teaching Adult Piano Course: The New, Easy and Fun Way to Teach Yourself to Play [Book]
Continuing the incredible popularity of Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course, this new book adapts the same friendly and informative style for adults who wish to teach themselves. With the study guide pages that have been added to introduce the music, it’s almost like having a piano teacher beside you as you learn the skills needed to perform popular and familiar music.
There are also five bonus pieces: At Last * Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas * Laura * Over the Rainbow * Singin’ in the Rain. Included is a recording containing the piano part and an engaging arrangement for each of the 65 musical examples.
I purchased this book after researching best books for adult beginners, and I’m very satisfied. I couldn’t read a single note of music a few weeks ago and I’ve already learned to play some simple songs using both hands.
First let me qualify that many years ago I studied music but forgot most of what I’ve learned. However, my experience gives me a qualification to judge good instruction for a beginner course. In an easy simple way, this book teaches notes, theory, and sight reading with small one topic lessons anyone can follow and understand.
The exercise make the piano feel natural quickly, and each small lesson teaches a new concept as you advance in your learning. The book is very well done. The only thing needed to reach your goal to play, is to follow the book, and practice.
I’d say this course covers the basics very well, like you might see in a semester of piano in a junior college, or maybe 2-3 months with an instructor.
Yes this book is great, I would love to search more books in this area to buy more and recommends to my friends about this great online bookshop Booktopia. Thank you!
As the name suggests, this book has been written for the absolute beginner and assumes no prior musical knowledge – just the desire to do it! Items covered include: ● Buying your first keyboard or piano; ● Reading music from scratch; ● Easy, effective finger exercises which require minimal reading ability; ● Important musical symbols; ● Your first tunes; ● Audio links for all tunes and exercises; ● Key signatures and transposition; ● Pre-scale exercises; ● Major and minor scales in keyboard and notation view; ● Chord construction; ● Chord fingering; ● Chord charts in keyboard view; ● Arpeggios in keyboard and notation view; ● Arpeggio exercises; ● Playing from a Fake book with and without auto accompaniment; ● Plus more! Please note that the Paperback version is in monochrome only.
Wasn’t really engaging enough for my pre teen child. A good buy for people wanting a school type book but i wanted something a bit brighter, lighter and fun for my child.
This used book is in Like New condition. Wish you could sit down at the piano and effortlessly play without years of lessons? Now you can Many people wish they could sit down at the piano and simply play, their hands flying over the keys as melodies pour out.
With this simple, achievable program that’s possible. in just six weeks. Using Dan Delaney’s innovative chord playing techniques, as opposed to more classical methods, musical newcomers and lapsed musicians can quickly and easily gain skills.
Each of the six weeks’ worth of lessons contains several exercises. The classes build on each other, becoming progressively more difficult as the player’s ability improves, and every lesson includes sheet music, practice advice, and an evaluation at the end.
Plus, MP3 audios of the lessons will be available for free on Delaney’s website. By Union Square & Co. [ 9781402731563 ].
I was looking for a refresher course to relearn playing the piano. I took lessons as a child but have long ago forgotten what I was taught. Looking forward to investing into a new hobby that will add great enrichment to my life.
My sister recently started using this program in order to learn piano so she could fill the spot at her church. At first we were both really hesitant to see results, but if you need an open mind, it is certainly possible.
On top of getting it for a great price, this product really does help one understand the basic fundamentals of piano playing as well as fun tips and tricks that makes it easy for users to engage and understand piano playing to its fullest potential.
This book is super easy to learn from. I’ve never touched a musical instrument in my life but always wanted to play the piano, this book has been wonderful. Highly recommend!!! Also in great condition!!.
It’s Never Too Late To Play Piano is perfect for those who wished they’d learnt to play the piano when they were younger or those who wish they hadn’t given up! At last a truly grown-up approach to learning the piano.
Pam Wedgwood, author of many popular piano series, takes you through the rudiments of piano technique and music theory in her own friendly style that’s guaranteed to get results. The book is organized into clearly structured progressive units with a fabulous array of music to get you playing straight away, including Pam’s own jazzy pieces, plenty of well-known classics and a smattering of pop and show tunes.
Help and information is included at every step with top playing tips, technical boxes, fact files, general advice noticeboards, crosswords, recommended listening and boxes of fascinating musical history.
The accompanying CD is packed with over 90 backing tracks as well as interactive activities to help you practice optional extras such as a teacher’s accompaniment parts can be found below! This is an extensively revised and updated new edition for a new generation of beginners – proving it really is never too late.
Download the free Teacher’s Accompaniment parts at the bottom of this page.
As a piano teacher, I have found this to be one of the best adult tutors. I use it for anyone over the age of 10years and it moves as quickly as you want it to. Highly Recommended.
This easy step-by-step method emphasizes correct playing habits and note reading through interval recognition. Lesson Book Level 1A begins by teaching basic keyboard topography and fluent recognition of white key names in relation to black keys.
It focuses on simple rhythms and prepares students for intervallic reading with entertaining songs that focus on “same,” “stepping up” and “stepping down. ” It then introduces lines and space notes in treble and bass clefs, melodic and harmonic intervals of 2nds, 3rds, 4ths and 5ths, and graduates to reading on the grand staff.
It also introduces the flat and sharp signs. This course is most effective when used under the direction of a piano teacher or experienced musician. Songs Include: Balloons * Batter Up! * The Donkey * A Friend Like You * Hand-Bells * A Happy Song * Horse Sense * Totem Pole Song * It’s Halloween! * Jingle Bells! * Jolly Old Saint Nicholas * July the Fourth! * Just a Second! * Rockets * Rockin’ Tune * Rock Song * Sailing * Sea Divers * See-Saws * Skating * Who’s on Third? * Willie and Tillie * Wishing Well * The Zoo.
There is nothing bad about this product. The book is simple and easy to understand and teach from. The pictures made it even better for the person learning to play.
The Waterman/Harewood Piano Series has been devised jointly by the world famous piano teacher Fanny Waterman and the cofounder of the Leeds International Piano Competition, Marion Harewood, and is established as one of the foremost piano methods.
This book, and its two follow-up volumes, are the central course-books of this highly successful piano methods and is aimed at the older beginner. Technical material is skillfully and imaginatively presented, while each chapter guides the young player towards the successful performance of a comprehensive selection of pieces and studies.
Piano Lessons Book 1 includes easy pieces by Purcell, Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and Schumann, as well as a large and indispensable note-learning chart.
This book is intended more for the younger readers but can be used by older readers for the purposes of learning to sight read. I use it in conjunction with other books (or a teacher) because a single book is not adequate for learning from scratch in my view.
Too many of the learning pieces have matching bass and treble lines – great for easy learning but a shock to the system when they differ as they do in the classical pieces at the end. The few classical pieces at the end are good and worth trying to learn especially Bach’s Minuet in G from which The Toys derived their 60’s hit “Lovers Concerto” from.
Although not absolutely perfect, it’s the best one. It’s gradual enough and doesn’t get students into bad habits. Always something different and useful on each page
The 2nd Edition Level 1 Lesson Book introduces all the notes of the grand staff, elementary chord playing, and the concept of tonic and dominant notes. Students play in varied positions, reinforcing reading skills and recognizing intervals through the 5th.
Musicianship is built with the introduction of legato and staccato touches. This level continues the interval orientation to reading across the full range of the Grand Staff. The 5-finger approach is presented here in a fresh, musically appealing way.
I like the product, that’s why I ordered it. The cosmetics of the workbook are acceptable, but, I certainly did not expect that a theory workbook in “GOOD” condition would have 11 of the 44 pages with the answers already completed.
According to the listing: “GOOD” is: “A book that has been read but is in good condition. Very minimal damage to the cover including scuff marks, but no holes or tears. The dust jacket for hard covers may not be included.
Binding has minimal wear. The majority of pages are undamaged with minimal creasing or tearing, minimal pencil underlining of text, no highlighting of text, no writing in margins. “.
Level 1 Lesson Book follows Primer Level. We will continue with this series of piano lesson books. Well written and nice progression toward piano mastery.
Part of a brilliant series of piano tutor books, enjoyed by all my students, easy to follow, varied material, informative, progresses at a good pace and encourages sound reading and technical skills and familiarity with the keyboard.
“Anyone who can dial a telephone can learn to play popular piano quickly and easily. ” His no-frills, no-drills method will have you playing simple tunes within thirty minutes—even if you don’t know one note from another.
The secret? Learning the basic chords and how to adapt them. With lots of clearly illustrated chord examples, keyboard diagrams and practice pieces ranging from “Silent Night” to “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” Monath teaches you: -the basic structure of music -how to alter the basic chords for creative accompaniment -how to read tunes from sheet music -how to improvise -how to play by ear -how to create your own playing style—whether you lean toward pop, blues, jazz or rock For everyone from rank beginner to experienced virtuoso, this step-by-step, uncomplicated guidebook makes learning to play popular piano the easy and enjoyable experience it should be.
This easy step-by-step method emphasizes correct playing habits and note reading through interval recognition. Lesson Book Level 1A begins by teaching basic keyboard topography and fluent recognition of white key names in relation to black keys.
It focuses on simple rhythms and prepares students for intervallic reading with entertaining songs that focus on “same,”stepping up” and “stepping down. ” It then introduces lines and space notes in treble and bass clefs, melodic and harmonic intervals of 2nds, 3rds, 4ths and 5ths, and graduates to reading on the grand staff.
It also introduces the flat and sharp signs. This course is most effective when used under the direction of a piano teacher or experienced musician. The Universal Edition uses the British system of terminology.
Arrived on time and exactly as described. I am a complete piano amateur and am struggling with it. I was hoping to teach myself a little bit so I could teach my grandchildren a tiny bit, but so far have not succeeded teaching myself, because it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be.
Am going to get some lessons and I am sure it will be of great benefit!.
This book starts basic and makes sure the learner has the opportunity to become confident with timing, before moving on to notes on the stave. I am using this to teach my 11 year old son who is near the end of the book, and have just started teaching an 8 year old girl using this book also.
Description: This easy step-by-step method emphasizes correct playing habits and note reading through interval recognition. Lesson Book 1B begins by reviewing the concepts taught in Lesson Book 1A, then introduces new concepts such as incomplete measures, tempo markings, eighth notes and rests, using the damper pedal, half steps and whole steps.
It also introduces the major scale through the concept of tetrachords.
My son is 9 and started with Book 1A. This next book continues with the same motivating short pieces. He loves the titles, and loves that many of the songs are familiar. He has not had to work very long on any of the pieces before he masters them and can go right on to the next one.
John Thompson’s Easiest Piano Course has been preferred by more than 12 million students since 1955. This comprehensive boxed set assembles Books 1-4 of this classic method. The books feature colorful, amusing characters and illustrations, and the four accompanying CDs contain backing tracks to make learning and practicing even more fun.
I love this whole system. The progression is logical and cumulative- new skills and information build on previously learned. The accompaniments make even the most basic little melodies sound like a ‘real song’ and give great satisfaction to students.
Parents are pleased that they can support learning with the accompanying CDs.
I really enjoyed the books. They were a great way to refresh my left hand skills. It will make reading music so much fun again. Now that I am retired, I will have enough time to thoroughly enjoy going through the books and learning all over again.
A good beginner book set. High quality printing. Has several limitations: 1. Does not come with CD. You need to go online. 2. Requires adult supervision/explanation.
This book begins with an extensive review of the chords and keys previously studied, using fresh and interesting material that will provide enjoyment as well as reinforcement. Particularly noteworthy is the systematic presentation of chords in all positions in both hands.
Titles: America the Beautiful * Arkansas Traveler * The Battle Hymn of the Republic * Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair * Brahms Lullaby * Canon in D (Pachelbel) * Deep River * Down in the Valley * Farewell to Thee (Aloha Oe) * Fascination * A Festive Rondeau * Frankie and Johnnie * The Hokey-Pokey * The House of the Rising Sun * Introduction and Dance * La Cucaracha * La Donna E Mobile * La Raspa * Light and Blue * Loch Lomond * Lonesome Road * The Marriage of Figaro * Morning Has Broken * Musetta’s Waltz * Musette * Night Song * Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen * Polyvetsian Dances * Pomp and Circumstance No.
1 * The Riddle * Rock-a My Soul * Roman Holiday * Sakura * Scherzo * Space Shuttle Blues * Swingin’ Sevenths * Theme from Symphony No. 6 (Tchaikovsky) * Tumbalalaika * Village Dance * Waves of the Danube * When Johnny Comes Marching Home * You’re in My Heart.
I don’t think there is a better series for learning to play piano. I went through all the adult books. They figure I’m on my way to explore with my new proficiency. The content is just so enjoyable. You never go wrong with these instructionals the only thing you need to add is your time to practice.
Is there a six star rating??? There is a series for kids as well.
Easy Keyboard and Piano Pieces is the perfect companion for those starting out to learn the keyboard or piano. The book uses simple, popular and familiar tunes which helps the player feel more comfortable as they learn the easy-to-play pieces.
All notes have their letters printed above them in a large easy-to read font, to help those who are yet to learn how to read music. Also included are some blank music sheets, so you can have fun creating your own compositions.
Easy Keyboard and Piano Pieces is the ideal first music book. Twinkle, Twinkle Are You Sleeping? Baa, Baa, Black Sheep The Wheels on the Bus London Bridge Good Morning to All I’m a Little Teapot Polly Put the Kettle On Ring a Ring of Roses The Grand Old Duke of York Old McDonald Oranges and Lemons Three Blind Mice Hickory, Dickory, Dock Hot Cross Buns Happy and You Know It The Muffin Man The Mulberry Bush Sing a Song of Sixpence Row Your Boat Kumbaya Itsy Bitsy Spider Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer Humpty Dumpty Girls and Boys Pop goes the weasel Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes Nellie the Elephant Round the Mountain I Am the Music Man Write Your Own Composition.
I needed a beginners book for an adult. I do not use books that give the names of the notes above each note. My pupils have to know the names of the notes and recognize them without help. If you have any piano books that fit that category I would be happy to purchase one.
Good book for young kids starting out. Has nursey rhymes and small songs for them to learn with letters so would recommend gettin letter stickers for your keyboard/piano. It’s helped my daughter alot
What doesn’t work is that the book presumes the user knows the keyboard and which fingers play specific notes. The 4 year old to whom I gave the book doesn’t know any of it.
The Michael Aaron Piano Course Lesson books have been completely re-engraved, expanded (adding more definitions of musical terms and more musical pieces), updated (with modernized artwork), and re-edited (with less emphasis on fingerings and more on note-reading).
This is a great starter book, and I was using it for my grandson when I had him for a while before school, using my son’s 1980s copy. I ordered this so he could have his own copy, but this one was very tatty, although a later edition, hence 4 stars.
The lessons are superbly set out. The only thing I would want changed is the American language: Measures, not bars, quarter notes, half notes, not quavers, minims. My son romped through it when he was 8, my grandson, now not able to come for lessons, can work quite well on his own with this, at 10.
It is a 5 star product because all the music pieces that are in my older version of this book, which I have had for many years, are in the new version. Also, there are some new additional scale lessons which are very much appreciated.
I have been playing since I was a kid, however I needed to brush up on my reading music skills more so, my mum taught me with this when I was a kid, so I bought it to relive the old days. Some very good music pieces in this book, definitely recommend for learners.
Alfred’s Basic Adult All-in-One Course is a greatly expanded version of Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course that includes lesson, theory, technic and additional repertoire in a convenient, “all-in-one” format.
This comprehensive course adds such features as isometric hand exercises, finger strengthening drills, and written assignments that reinforce each lesson’s concepts. The accompanying DVD includes introductions to the lesson material in the book and performances of most of the pieces by well-known teacher, Gayle Kowalchyk.
Book titles include: Alouette * Alpine Melody * Amazing Grace * Au Claire de la Lune * Aunt Rhody * Auld Lang Syne * Aura Lee * The Bandleader * Beautiful Brown Eyes * Blow the Man Down! * Blues for Wynton Marsalis * Brother John * Caf? Vienna * The Can-Can * Chasing the Blues Away * Chiapanecas * Cockles and Mussels * The Cuckoo * Day is Done * Dueling Harmonics * The Entertainer * A Friend Like You * Go Down, Moses * Good King Wenceslas * Good Morning to You! * Good People * Got Those Blues * Greensleeves * Happy Birthday to You! * Harmonica Rock * Harp Song * Here’s a Happy Song! * He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands * I’m Gonna Lay My Burden Down * Jericho * Jingle Bells * Joy to the World! * Kum-ba-yah! * Scarborough Fair * Shoo, Fly, Shoo! * Skip to My Lou! * Standing in the Need of Prayer * The Stranger * Tisket, a Tasket * Waltzing Chords * Waltz Time * What Can I Share * When the Saints Go Marching In * Why Am I Blue?.
This is a great method to start without any music knowledge at all. Each page teach you something new and you have this feeling of step by step accomplished. The DVD is really a great bonus as you can see the teacher showing and explaining you the concepts.
The repertoire is very rich and versatile, it encourages you with lots of popular songs, christmas and church songs, birthday, folk. I really love the blues introduction because it’s not always the case to find blues in a method for beginners, the introduction very early to chords, then 7th chords etc.
as well. It’s really great if you want to play later blues, jazz, pop etc. However if you want to play classical pieces later too it’s perfectly possible too, that’s what is great with this method. Finally the comb binding is perfect to let the book open without having to hold the pages with something.
Alfred’s All-in-One Basic Adult Piano Course books were recommended on u-tube by the delightful Allysia (pianoTV), an experienced Canadian piano teacher as a chord-based method – useful for playing popular music, & also by a beginner, The Piano NOOB, for a solid base in reading notes & chords.
I love Faber Adult Piano Adventures but on beginning their Book 2 felt that I needed a more solid foundation. This method does that – it gives you homework – & gradual progress. Good DVD to show you how to play is included.
Easy to follow for a beginner. Lessons have you playing songs from the beginning. Good blend of theory and practical lessons. The DVD is a nice addition.
A time-honored tradition just got better! Schaum Piano Course has been newly revised with 100 percent new engravings and typesetting, color highlighting for concept emphasis, updated song titles and lyrics, and full-color illustrations.
I used the Schaum Green Pre-A book when I took lessons in the late 1940’s. Saved the book and my daughter used it. Eventually the original book was lost and we purchased this as a replacement for my daughter to use with her daughter.
It appears that the book has not been changed too much. And that is a good thing.
This John W Schaum piano course is made for higher elementary students. The Green Book is a great introductory book but, before you know it theyre playing the 9 beginning notes. To accent The Green Book, I like to pair it with John W Schaum, Fingerpower Book.
That’s an amazing book for beginners. After the student know the fundamentals like rhythm, finger numbers, clef. etc This is the best book to start playing hands together and getting to know the notes.
Every page (song) it introduces a new idea and new skill in an interesting and easy way.
A beginning course for adults who prefer a chord approach. It teaches chords for both hands so that the student can play more than single note melodies. It contains outstanding songs such as ”The Entertainer,” ”Scarborough Fair,” ”Greensleeves” and ”Amazing Grace.
” This course is most effective when used under the direction of a piano teacher or experienced musician.
I have used this book for 30 years. It is superior in the way it introduces moving the fingers to form the basic chords over any other book that I have seen. I use this book for adults and children and have enjoyed great success.
(Lesson * Theory * Technic). For piano. Method/Instruction; Piano – Alfred’s Basic Adult All-in-One Course. Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course. Learn To Play and Play Along. Beginner. Instructional book (spiral bound) and accompaniment CD.
Introductory text, instructional text, easy piano notation, fingerings, illustrations and lyrics (on some songs). 144 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing.
My teacher recommend this book and I find it absolutely amazing! I an now at the second book and I enjoy it a lot. I wanted to teach my little sister also but this book was too hard for her so I used the Mango Piano Method instead.
They are very similar as technique but the mango book is much easier to grasp for children. She is 7.
I have returned back to step one to get a better start so I can move forward faster. This series has been time proven. Sam Ash has an extensive line of instruments and the learning books and lessons to support them.
I am informally teaching an older teenager and this moves fast enough to keep her interest, but provides all the necessary basics of theory and technique. The CD makes even exercises delightful to her.
I just wish Alfred had kept the ACE Groups (used in beginner children’s books) in this book. It is a valuable tool.
The A Dozen A Day Songbook series contains wonderful Broadway, movie and pop hits that may be used as companion pieces to the memorable technique exercises in the A Dozen A Day series. The A Dozen A Day Songbook series contains wonderful Broadway, movie and pop hits that may be used as companion pieces to the memorable technique exercises in the A Dozen A Day series.
This was labeled “Acceptable” with “possible writing in the margins”. There was extensive markings and writing in the workbook. 100% of the workbook was completed. Although the book itself is in good condition, it is useless if the workbook completed.
Original stuff and good quality! Just what we needed. Comes with CD which we didnt need but can be useful for the self learner. Quick postage and well packaged.
The John Thompson’s Easiest Piano Course is designed to present the easiest possible approach to piano playing, complete with an amusing family of characters and illustrations to help emphasise the information being taught.
Part one is devoted to developing fluency in reading by note, the biggest hurdle for most young children. The range is purposely limited. Only five notes up and five notes down from middle C are presented and time values do not go beyond crotchets.
Each book of the course contains its own writing exercises, sight-reading drills, review work and later, technical studies. Accompaniments for teacher or parent are supplied with most of the examples.
I am using this book in conjunction with other resources for teaching a 6 year old beginner piano student with limited, yet emerging reading skills. The book is sequential, attractive, and fun.
This book really breaks things down well, the characters will make it more fun for children, and it has interactive exercises, like workbook pages, to help with retention. Very pleased.
Assuming you would like a conclusion for a book on self-teaching piano:
One of the great things about learning piano is that it provides a sense of accomplishment that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether you are a beginner or have been playing for years, there is always something new to learn.
The piano is a versatile instrument that can be used for a wide range of genres, from classical to jazz to pop.
If you are thinking about teaching yourself piano, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, be patient and consistent with your practice. It takes time to learn anything new, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately.
Second, find a method or book that works for you and stick with it. There are a lot of different resources out there, so find one that you are comfortable with and stick with it. Third, make sure you are having fun.
Learning something new should be enjoyable, so if you find yourself getting frustrated, take a break and come back to it later.
Overall, self-teaching piano can be a rewarding experience. Just remember to be patient, consistent, and have fun, and you’ll be playing the piano in no time.
