Learn piano, step by step.

A free, interactive piano course for complete beginners: 72 lessons, exercises on a MIDI or on-screen keyboard, note reading, chords and song accompaniment.

Free: no subscription, no credit card.

Start lesson 1 · See the course

The course

1. Discovering the piano – Low and high, the black keys, the fingers, the beat
2. The notes of the keyboard – C, D, E… the musical alphabet, all over the keyboard
3. C position – Five fingers, five notes, right hand, left hand, then together
4. Reading the treble clef – The staff, landmark notes and reading by intervals
5. The bass clef and the grand staff – Reading the left hand, then both hands
6. Rhythm in detail – Rests, eighth notes, 3/4 time, dotted notes
7. Sharps, flats and intervals – Whole and half steps, new positions, major and minor
8. Chords – Major, minor, inversions, accompanying a melody
9. Scales and technique – Thumb crossing, scales, legato and staccato
10. Play, improvise, create – Arpeggios, blues, improvisation, pedal and recital
11. Accompanying a song – Reading a chord chart, the chords of each key, bass lines and rhythms
12. Accompanying like a pro – Chord colors, moving bass lines, 6/8, grooves, ear training and transposing

A proven method

• Listen before you read: Every idea is heard and played before it is written, like a language: the heart of the Suzuki and Kodály methods.
• Landmarks, not tricks: A few landmark notes and reading by intervals, as in the Faber methods: you read fast, without counting lines.
• Review at the right time: The notes and chords you learned come back in the daily practice, just before you would forget them (spaced repetition).
• Play from day one: Improvisations, nursery rhymes, then real pieces: every lesson ends in music, on your MIDI keyboard or the one on the screen.

Free tools to make progress

• The piano chord dictionary
• Piano scales
• Guides to learn piano

Your favorite song? Get its piano sheet music.

Import a Guitar Pro, MIDI or MusicXML score and play it in falling notes. Coming soon: an MP3 will do, Pianamo will isolate the piano and write its sheet music.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pianamo really free?

Yes. The 72 lessons, the 40 pieces in the repertoire and the daily practice are free: no subscription, no credit card, no ads. The first 6 lessons even open without an account; after that, all you need is a free Google account, which saves your progress.

Do I need to read music to start?

No. The course starts from scratch: you first play by ear and with your fingers, on the black keys and then in C position. Reading notes comes next, step by step, with landmark notes.

Do I need a piano or a keyboard?

A MIDI keyboard plugged in over USB (in Chrome or Edge) lets the app hear and check every note. Without a keyboard, you can follow the lessons and do the exercises on the on-screen keyboard or with your computer keys.

How much time should I spend on it?

Each lesson takes 10 to 15 minutes. A little every day beats one long session a week: the day streak and the daily practice are made for exactly that.

What will I be able to do by the end of the course?

After the 72 lessons: read treble and bass clef, play with both hands, know the basic chords, scales and rhythms, improvise, and accompany a song from its chord chart.

Can I learn my own songs?

Yes: import a Guitar Pro, MIDI or MusicXML score and play it with falling notes, with your MIDI keyboard. Soon you’ll also be able to import a song (MP3, WAV…): Pianamo will isolate the piano and turn it into a score.

Is my progress saved?

Yes: stars, points, day streak and concepts to review stay in your browser. With an account, your progress is also saved online and follows you across your devices.