Learning to play the piano can be a rewarding experience, but finding the right resources to help you get started can be hard. Many piano books are available for beginners, each with its own approach and style, but what are the best beginner piano books?

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 piano books for beginners based on our research of various sources.

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The Best Beginner Piano Books In 2024 (Top 10)

1. Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course

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. This course is most effective when used under the direction of a piano teacher or experienced musician.

This series is designed for adult beginners and covers everything from basic music theory to technique and repertoire. It is a comprehensive course that can be worked on alone or with the help of a teacher. Some songs included in this book:

• Amazing Grace
• At Last
• Au Claire de la Lune
• The Ballad of Gilligan’s Island
• Beautiful Brown Eyes
• Chiapanecas
• The Entertainer
• A Friend Like You
• Got Those Blues
• Greensleeves
• Happy Birthday to You!
• Singin’ In The Rain

2. Piano Book for Adult Beginners

Recommended by Rolling Stone Magazine as the best beginner piano book, this book and streaming video course is all that you will ever need to get started playing the most famous and cherished piano classics!

Piano Professor, Damon Ferrante guides you through how to play the piano with step-by-step lessons for beginners and 20 streaming video lessons.

This easy-to-follow method, used by thousands of piano students and teachers, is designed to be interactive, engaging, and fun.

3. Piano Adventures

This series is designed for all ages and includes a primer-level lesson book that covers basic concepts such as rhythm and note reading. It also includes fun songs and activities to keep beginners engaged.

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.

Students’ musicianship is built up 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.

4. Piano Scales, Chords, and Arpeggio Lessons

This book is designed to help beginners learn the basics of music theory while also learning scales, chords, and arpeggios. It includes exercises and practice tips to help beginners master these concepts.

Piano Professor Damon Ferrante guides you through 140 step-by-step lessons (for beginner to advanced levels) and 30 streaming video lessons.

This easy-to-follow method, used by thousands of piano students and teachers, is designed to be interactive, engaging, and fun.

The lessons will greatly improve your piano technique, creativity, and understanding of music. Whether you are teaching yourself piano or learning with a music instructor, this book and streaming video course will take your piano playing to a whole new level!

Some areas covered in this book:

• How to Read Music
• Music Theory
• Major Scales in All Keys (One and Two Octaves)
• Natural Minor Scales in All Keys (One and Two Octaves)
• Harmonic Minor Scales in All Keys (One and Two Octaves)
• Melodic Minor Scales in All Keys (One and Two Octaves)
• Major Chords in All Keys
• Minor Chords in All Keys
• Chromatic Scales
• Dominant 7th Chords in All Keys
• Minor 7th Chords in All Keys
• Major 7th Chords

5. Little Pianist. Piano Songbook for Kids: 55 Songs

This book includes 55 beginner piano songs for kids. All the songs have been arranged especially for young learners. This means that all complex chords and rhythms have been simplified.

Also, all the pieces are kept relatively short, only one or two pages long. This will allow your child to enter the magic world of the piano without frustration.

6. How To Play Keyboard

This great beginner’s guide also provides an easy introduction to reading and playing music.

Whether you have no previous musical experience OR are simply new to the keyboard, this clear and concise guide will have you playing tunes on your new keyboard in no time!

* Easy-to-follow instructions and illustrations
* Simple exercises to follow and practice
* Learn at your own pace
* Fun and easy songs, chords, and tunes to play
* Simply follow the lessons in the book and you will be playing Keyboard in no time!

7. Jazz Piano for the Young Beginner 

Jazz Piano for the Young Beginner is designed for beginning piano students looking for fun and modern music material.

It begins with chapters on how to find notes on the piano, hand positioning, and an introduction to rhythm and musical notation. It discusses posture, explains how to select an appropriate instrument, and includes a simple glossary of musical terms.

Jazz Piano for the Young Beginner consists of 30 fun piano pieces including Chatter Rag, Friday Boogie, Max’s Trot, and Blue All the Way, composed by Mel Bay, ‘author of Jazz Piano Chords and Jazz Piano Scales’.

The online audio download allows students to enjoy the music and to hear how the pieces should be performed.

8. Bastien Piano Basics

Piano is the main lesson book in the Bastien Piano Basics course. The carefully graded, logical learning sequence assures steady, continual progress. Original music by the Bastiens includes a stimulating mixture of pop, folk, classical, and contemporary styles.

Full-color illustrations throughout entertain and reinforce musical concepts along the way. The gradual multi-key approach takes students through all 12 keys, 3 in each of Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Each page is carefully correlated page-by-page with Theory, Performance, and Technic. All in all, a dynamic way to introduce students to the marvelous world of music!

9. Hal Leonard Student Piano Library

• Exceptional orchestrated accompaniments
• Improvisations threaded throughout the series
• MIDI-enhanced book/CD packs available for all Lessons, Solos, and Technique books
• Variety of musical styles and moods
• Realistic pacing

This series is designed for all ages and includes a primer-level lesson book that covers basic concepts such as rhythm and note reading. It also includes fun songs and activities to keep beginners engaged.

From the very first lessons in Book 1, students are making music as they explore the piano keyboard through fun improvisation pieces called My Own Song.

The beginning of the book introduces finger numbers, the black-key and white-key groups, and basic rhythm patterns. Directional reading is taught first by finger number, then by note name, and then by interval (stop, skip, and repeat).

Once the students are introduced to the staff, they learn reading guides Bass F and Treble G and read by interval in several different hand positions.

The Hal Leonard Student Piano Library has great music and solid pedagogy delivered in a truly creative and comprehensive method. It’s that simple.

10. Piano and Keyboard All-in-One For Dummies

This indispensable resource combines the best of Piano For Dummies, Keyboard For Dummies, Music Theory For Dummies, and Piano Exercises For Dummies. It includes practice strategies, and access to downloadable audio to help guide your progress.

In addition to becoming acquainted with the latest in music theory, you’ll learn to develop your sight-reading skills and performance techniques―until you can reproduce pieces flawlessly on request!

• Choose and care for your keyboard
• Practice until perfect
• Compose your own songs
• Hook up to speakers, computers, and more

Learning to play the keys is a never-ending journey of new discoveries and joy, and there’s no better companion on your voyage than this friendly, erudite, and comprehensive guide.

See also:

Complete Guide to Jazz Drumming: Best Drums & Drum Books

The Best Piano Exercises for Beginners

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many great piano books available for beginners. The right book for you will depend on your age, skill level, and personal preferences. We hope this list has helped you find a book that will help you on your journey to becoming a pianist!