Free piano lessons for beginners

45 short lessons in order, from finding middle C to playing Für Elise. Each lesson adds one new skill. Connect your digital piano with a USB cable and Pianolus checks every note you play, waits for you when you need time, and remembers your progress on your device.

▶ Start lesson 1

Unit 1: First notes

1. Find middle C and read notes Play
   Middle C is the white key just left of the two black keys in the middle of your piano. Get 10 notes right to finish.
2. C, D and E Play
   Thumb (finger 1) on middle C, fingers 2 and 3 on D and E. Keep your fingers curved, like holding a ball.
3. Hot Cross Buns Play
   Your first song uses only three notes: E, D and C.
4. Five-finger warm-up: right hand Play
   One finger for each key from C to G. This is called C position.
5. Mary Had a Little Lamb Play
   Learn the right hand first, then add the long left-hand notes.

Unit 2: The left hand

6. Read left-hand notes Play
   The left hand reads the bass clef. Get 10 notes right to finish.
7. Five-finger warm-up: left hand Play
   The left hand counts the other way: finger 5 is on C, the thumb is on G.
8. Five-finger warm-up: hands together Play
   Go slowly. Both hands play the same notes, one octave apart.
9. Slow Breath Play
   A calm piece for both hands. Breathe in for one long note, out for the next.
10. Ode to Joy Play
    A famous melody that never leaves C position.

Unit 3: Rhythm

11. Counting whole, half and quarter notes Play
    A whole note lasts 4 beats, a half note 2 and a quarter note 1. Count out loud.
12. Frère Jacques Play
    Hold the left-hand notes for the whole bar while the right hand moves.
13. Eighth notes Play
    Two eighth notes fit in one beat. Say "1-and, 2-and" as you play.
14. London Bridge Is Falling Down Play
    A dotted note lasts half as long again. Feel the long-short pattern.
15. Going Home (New World Symphony) Play
    A slow, calm melody by Dvořák. Hold the long notes for their full count.
16. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Play
    Your right thumb jumps from C up to G and back.

Unit 4: New places on the keyboard

17. Jingle Bells Play
    Keep a steady beat. Use the wait mode until it feels easy.
18. Black Key Rain Play
    Only black keys: the group of three under your right hand, the low F♯ and D♯ in your left.
19. G position: both hands Play
    Move both hands so the thumbs rest on G. Same shape, new place.
20. We Wish You a Merry Christmas Play
    The F has a sharp in this key: play the black key just right of F.
21. 3/4 time: a little waltz Play
    3/4 time has three beats in a bar. The left hand goes oom-pah-pah.
22. Happy Birthday Play
    The song starts before the first full beat. Your hand jumps up for the high notes.
23. Row, Row, Row Your Boat Play
    6/8 time swings in groups of three: ONE-two-three FOUR-five-six.
24. Lullaby (Wiegenlied) Play
    Play softly and smoothly, connecting the notes.
25. Morning Mood Play
    Five notes, one position, and a beautiful sunrise.

Unit 5: Scales and chords

26. C major scale: right hand Play
    After E, tuck your thumb under to play F. Keep your wrist level.
27. C major scale: left hand Play
    After G, finger 3 crosses over the thumb.
28. C major scale: hands together Play
    The hands mirror each other, so both use the same fingers at the same time.
29. First chords: C, F and G Play
    Press all three notes together, landing them at exactly the same moment.
30. Broken chords in the left hand Play
    A broken chord plays the same notes one at a time.
31. Prelude in C (easy) Play
    Bach repeats one broken-chord shape in every bar. Find the shape, then just change the notes.
32. Silent Night Play
    The left hand plays open fifths: little finger and thumb together.
33. Amazing Grace Play
    Let each long note ring for its full length.
34. Canon (easy, in C) Play
    The same eight bass notes repeat while the melody changes above them.

Unit 6: Minor keys

35. A minor and your first sharp Play
    A minor uses the white keys from A, plus G sharp to lead back home.
36. Greensleeves Play
    An old English song with a gentle long-short rhythm.
37. Korobeiniki Play
    The tune everyone knows from Tetris. Start slowly, then speed up.
38. In the Hall of the Mountain King Play
    Creep up the scale, then go faster as you learn it.
39. Swan Lake theme (easy) Play
    Make the long notes sing and the short notes light.

Unit 7: Famous pieces

40. Für Elise (easy) Play
    Learn the E–D♯ turn first: it comes back again and again.
41. Eine kleine Nachtmusik (opening) Play
    Mozart’s famous opening: short, crisp notes and quick jumps.
42. Wedding March Play
    Start with the trumpet call, then the grand theme.
43. Gymnopédie No. 1 (easy) Play
    Slow and dreamy. The left hand rocks between a low note and a soft chord.
44. The Entertainer Play
    Ragtime: a bouncy left hand and a jumping right hand.
45. Minuet in G Play
    A real Baroque dance. Keep the eighth notes even.

Note reading practice

Besides the lessons, a note reading game shows a note on the staff and waits for you to press the right key, for the right hand (treble clef), the left hand (bass clef) or both.