The 12 Best Piano/Keyboard Books for Beginners (2023)
The piano is one of the most popular instruments in the world. As a result, the number of piano tuition books can be overwhelming. To narrow it down, a selection of the best piano/keyboard books is in order.
Even though there are tons of online courses, buying a book is a great way to help you focus. It helps you supplement other types of tuition, such as one-to-one lessons. It’s extremely effective, especially beginner keyboard books and the way they can help starting pianists.
Of course, this is not a definitive list, but it’s a great starting point for anyone that wants to learn piano.
1. How To Play Keyboard: A Complete Guide for Absolute Beginners
Starting this list with something for absolute beginners. Ben Parker’s How to Play Keyboard is a nice beginner's tutorial book that will help you learn the basics of piano playing.
Since this book is meant for people with no music experience whatsoever, it might be worth skipping if you already have some experience playing, but it may still be useful if you feel you need to go back over the basics again.
This book will help you learn the basics of music and piano playing, allowing you to move on up once you’re done with it.
It's a good starting point to consider. The level of detail that this book has is incredibly helpful for beginners!
Since this book is meant for people with no music experience whatsoever, it might be worth skipping if you already have some experience playing, but it may still be useful if you feel you need to go back over the basics again.
This book will help you learn the basics of music and piano playing, allowing you to move on up once you’re done with it.
It's a good starting point to consider. The level of detail that this book has is incredibly helpful for beginners!
2. Piano Master for Everyone Level I
Another beginner's book, this one is meant to be used mostly by adults or teenagers at best. This is a comprehensive book that will teach you how to play through popular, easy songs.
Whilst playing them, you’ll learn something new through each lesson, allowing for a really nice, gradual learning curve to happen in your playing.
Also, the book allows you to practice your knowledge from the beginning to the end since it gives you the option to play some tunes you played in the beginning in some more complex arrangements.
That is one of the things that separate this book from others, the gradual progression is what propels you to improve faster and more effectively.
Whilst playing them, you’ll learn something new through each lesson, allowing for a really nice, gradual learning curve to happen in your playing.
Also, the book allows you to practice your knowledge from the beginning to the end since it gives you the option to play some tunes you played in the beginning in some more complex arrangements.
That is one of the things that separate this book from others, the gradual progression is what propels you to improve faster and more effectively.
3. WunderKeys Intermediate Pop Studies For Piano 1
WunderKeys came out with a book that's great for teaching contemporary piano.
Practicing music theory and learning scales in a traditional way really can boring. This book, on the other hand, is perfect for those that want to get starting playing pop songs on their piano, which is generally quite a lot easier to play than classical music.
It teaches music theory and different techniques in a fun, modern way. The most important thing is that this book is full of modern, pop music sounds that people enjoy and listen to and can easily connect to.
If you don't want to take up the daunting nature of classical tunes right away and want to focus on something a bit more relaxing and care-free, this book will do just that.
Practicing music theory and learning scales in a traditional way really can boring. This book, on the other hand, is perfect for those that want to get starting playing pop songs on their piano, which is generally quite a lot easier to play than classical music.
It teaches music theory and different techniques in a fun, modern way. The most important thing is that this book is full of modern, pop music sounds that people enjoy and listen to and can easily connect to.
If you don't want to take up the daunting nature of classical tunes right away and want to focus on something a bit more relaxing and care-free, this book will do just that.
4. Piano Book for Adult Beginners
This is one of the best-selling books for piano beginners and for a very good reason.
It’s a classical beginner's tutorial book that will teach you both the basics of music theory and piano playing through playing some of the most well-known and loved tunes in the world.
The great thing about this book is that it comes together with accompanying videos through which you can see exactly what the lesson is about and how to perform it to get better.
Visual representation is key when learning, we all know this, that is why this book is so effective with beginners. Great content and extremely useful!
It’s a classical beginner's tutorial book that will teach you both the basics of music theory and piano playing through playing some of the most well-known and loved tunes in the world.
The great thing about this book is that it comes together with accompanying videos through which you can see exactly what the lesson is about and how to perform it to get better.
Visual representation is key when learning, we all know this, that is why this book is so effective with beginners. Great content and extremely useful!
5. Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Course, Book 1
A comprehensive guide through the piano lessons world. Alfred’s All-In-One Course is a great book for adults to start with. Written in plain and understandable language, this book will help you grasp the basics of piano playing.
One more great feature of this book in its paperback edition is that it has spiral binding. This is important if you’re looking to place the book on your piano holder and read notes, without having to fold it and struggle with reading the notes in the folds.
It's no wonder that there are many courses, lessons, issues by Alfred, seeing that this one was such a smash hit, all the others are as well. And all for an affordable price.
One more great feature of this book in its paperback edition is that it has spiral binding. This is important if you’re looking to place the book on your piano holder and read notes, without having to fold it and struggle with reading the notes in the folds.
It's no wonder that there are many courses, lessons, issues by Alfred, seeing that this one was such a smash hit, all the others are as well. And all for an affordable price.
6. Piano Lesson Book: Complete Level 1
This is one of the classic piano learning books that’s meant mostly for children aged 8 or over.
In it, they will find all of the information they need and the drills they need to do to get better with time.
Even though this is a bit older book, it’s still valuable and can be used in modern times as well. You should note that this book is best used with a piano tutor, as they can present ways in which the instrument should be played the best.
A combined effort of a piano teacher and a willing student, no doubt that this book can help out a lot and prove itself as an excellent choice for beginners.
In it, they will find all of the information they need and the drills they need to do to get better with time.
Even though this is a bit older book, it’s still valuable and can be used in modern times as well. You should note that this book is best used with a piano tutor, as they can present ways in which the instrument should be played the best.
A combined effort of a piano teacher and a willing student, no doubt that this book can help out a lot and prove itself as an excellent choice for beginners.
7. John Thompson's Modern Course for the Piano: First Grade Book
A truly legendary piano book for beginners. John Thompson’s Modern Course For The Piano raised almost a full century of piano players and that’s no small feat.
Even though it stopped being modern by the time the 1950s rolled around, this is still a very relevant book with cute illustrations written to help children understand.
If you’re not convinced by now, just take in mind that this book was first published in 1937 and is still in use today. A timeless classic, you can’t make a mistake buying this book.
There must be a reason why it's still in use, an old but effective method that has stood the test of time!
Even though it stopped being modern by the time the 1950s rolled around, this is still a very relevant book with cute illustrations written to help children understand.
If you’re not convinced by now, just take in mind that this book was first published in 1937 and is still in use today. A timeless classic, you can’t make a mistake buying this book.
There must be a reason why it's still in use, an old but effective method that has stood the test of time!
8. Easy Keyboard and Piano Pieces: 30 Easy-to-play Pieces for Beginners
Another great book for anyone that has zero experience in music whatsoever. This is a great book with 30 easy pieces that are all written in simple tunes and with large notes and letters to help you get the grasp on things.
This is a great book for anyone looking to learn the real basics of music or teach your child some simple tunes on the piano. You should be aware that if you are interested in really learning how to play you will quickly outgrow this book, but it's a nice starting point.
As most starting points go, this one is no different but will definitely provide useful information and advice for any beginner looking to learn.
This is a great book for anyone looking to learn the real basics of music or teach your child some simple tunes on the piano. You should be aware that if you are interested in really learning how to play you will quickly outgrow this book, but it's a nice starting point.
As most starting points go, this one is no different but will definitely provide useful information and advice for any beginner looking to learn.
9. Quicklessons Piano Course Book: Learn to Play Piano by Ear
One of the best piano books out there. Quicklessons by Ozie Cargile is a great book for both beginners and intermediate players looking to improve on their playing. Since the author is a young composer, the book is written in an informal style, but it’s still really comprehensible and goes into great depth.
The great thing about it is that it doesn’t try and sell you the point that you can master the piano without studying and practicing. You have to earn it and by following this book in a reasonable amount of time, hopefully, you will.
The conversational style in which this book is written is why it's so useful and popular. An easy-to-understand content will always be a surefire and effective method.
The great thing about it is that it doesn’t try and sell you the point that you can master the piano without studying and practicing. You have to earn it and by following this book in a reasonable amount of time, hopefully, you will.
The conversational style in which this book is written is why it's so useful and popular. An easy-to-understand content will always be a surefire and effective method.
10. Accelerated Piano Adventures for the Older Beginner: Lesson Book 1
Here is yet another famous piano teacher and learning model. Accelerated Piano Adventures by Randall Faber has proven over time to be a nice and easy way to start learning the piano.
This is an easy-to-grasp book that will teach you the basics of playing the piano in a fun and easily comprehensible way.
As far as beginner material and methods go, books like this, while affordable can also provide valuable advice and effective experiences.
This is an easy-to-grasp book that will teach you the basics of playing the piano in a fun and easily comprehensible way.
As far as beginner material and methods go, books like this, while affordable can also provide valuable advice and effective experiences.
11. Piano Lessons - Book 1: Hal Leonard Student Piano Library
Probably the most affordable entry you will find on this list of beginner keyboard books. The Hal Leonard Studen Piano Library is an excellent starting point for any beginner.
With very interesting but effective methods like improvisation, this book covers a plethora of fun and exciting ways to learn the piano, plus an accompanying CD.
If you want a good starting point, this guide will only propel you further on the right track to becoming a good and well-rounded pianist someday.
With very interesting but effective methods like improvisation, this book covers a plethora of fun and exciting ways to learn the piano, plus an accompanying CD.
If you want a good starting point, this guide will only propel you further on the right track to becoming a good and well-rounded pianist someday.
12. Learn How to Play Piano / Keyboard For Absolute Beginners: A Self Tuition Book For Adults &...
When it comes to good starting point material, I think that this Self Tuition Book For Adults & Teenagers is an excellent one to consider. The book focuses on absolute beginners, meaning that even with no prior knowledge you can pick this up.
A very seamless guide that is very well written and provides useful knowledge for anyone to understand, a truly user-friendly book.
If you like learning by yourself and don't want the added stress of someone leaning over your shoulder, this book will not only help you but will effectively teach you the piano.
A very seamless guide that is very well written and provides useful knowledge for anyone to understand, a truly user-friendly book.
If you like learning by yourself and don't want the added stress of someone leaning over your shoulder, this book will not only help you but will effectively teach you the piano.
Conclusion
I hope that this list has helped you find the right book for starting on your piano/keyboard journey. As you can see, there are a lot of options out there and you should pick one by your preferences, age, and previous knowledge you might have in music.
But, the most important thing is that you should stay persistent and practice, no matter what. That’s the only way in which you will learn how to play the piano like a pro.
