10 Best Piano Books for Beginners – Reviews & Buying Guide
Whether you are learning piano from a teacher, online or by yourself, you should always have several beginner piano books on your bookshelf. These books enhance your basic knowledge and understanding while strengthening your core skills.
Piano books are not as abstract as you would think. A lot of people mistakenly believe piano books are useless because you can’t learn music notes by reading. That concept is not entirely true. Piano books serve as a fantastic foundation to build on. They revisit any skills you might already have, elaborate on theories, and provide exercises to practice.
Having piano books are essential for all piano learners, particularly for beginners. You may feel overwhelmed by the sea of piano books out there. To save your time, read on to find out the best beginner piano books you should get.
Our Recommendations for Beginner-Friendly Piano Books
1. How To Play Keyboard: A Complete Guide for Absolute Beginners by Ben Parker
- Very high-quality book
- Most comprehensive on the market
- Easy to follow
The master name of Ben Parker is the trademark of high-quality piano books. Being the best-selling music author on Amazon, Parker has been producing superb music exercises and notes for beginners.
In this book, you will learn everything about the keyboard. From easy instructions to smart hacks, the book is the most comprehensive guide for beginners.
2. Disney – Super Easy Songbook
- Fun disney songs you recognize
- Great for understanding rhythms
- Help with finger coordination
There is nothing more fun than learning the piano with some well-loved Disney songs. It just brings back some long-lost childhood memories. The book is organized and categorized in a strategic way to help newbies familiarize themselves with the music rhythms and finger coordination.
The difficulty progresses as the chapters advance. There are simplified versions of some difficult Disney songs. Students can easily follow the sheets and play the tunes they have known their entire life.
3. Piano Book for Adult Beginners: Teach Yourself How to Play Famous Piano Songs, Read Music, Theory & Technique (Book & Streaming Video Lessons) by Damon Ferrante
- Rolling Stone-recommended
- Includes video lessons
- Fun & methodical
Recommended by Rolling Stone Magazine, this book is your step-by-step guide to mastering the piano. Verified by thousands of students, this book has methodical techniques that help you understand the meaning behind every note.
The book is interactive and fun with the video lessons, which is perfect for people more sensitive to visuals. You can easily pick up on the theories and skills by watching the video lessons.
4. Big Book of Beginner’s Piano Classics: 83 Favorite Pieces in Easy Piano Arrangements by Bergerac and David Dutkanicz
- Classic piano pieces
- Simplified structure to follow for beginners
- You can advance to original songs
Every beginner starts by learning about the classics. Each piece is meticulously picked and rearranged to create a simplified and easy version for students to follow with ease. You can choose to play the normal version of the same song once you feel ready and have practiced the easy version enough.
5. A First Book of Christmas Songs for the Beginning Pianist: with Downloadable MP3s by Bergerac and David Dutkanicz
- Festive christmas songs
- Easy to follow
- Includes downloadable MP3s
Again by this incredible dual, this book should be your essential Christmas collection. Students can learn the most festive songs in the easiest way by following the instructions and notes. The expert settings allow any beginner to quickly grasp the knowledge and skills to play some beautiful tunes.
6. The Disney Collection (Easy Piano Series)
- Disney songs are fun to play
- Includes full and simplified versions
- Great for beginners
If you like vintage, you are going to love this 1992 version of the Disney collection. Every piece is raw and untouched. It takes you down memory lane of your favorite childhood tunes. Now, you can learn how to play them all with this easy-to-follow guide.
The collection only contains the classic versions. In some chapters, you will find both the complete and simplified versions of the same song. That way, you can start by practicing the easy version. Once you are familiar with the tunes and coordination, you can jump to the master level with the complete version. It is a fantastic way to enjoy learning the piano while revisiting your favorite childhood tunes.
7. Alfred’s Basic Piano Course Lesson Book Level 1A (Alfred’s Basic Piano Library) by Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus, Lethco, and Amanda Vick Lethco
- Simple book for beginners
- Special universal version
- You can carry on the series as you improve
Interested in learning something international? This universal version specifically made for all English-speaking countries is the best one that connects you to other artists. You will get a feel of how world artists crafted their pieces and how the piano has shaped the world.
8. Easy Keyboard and Piano Pieces: 30 Easy-to-play Pieces for Beginners by John Jester
- Fun, popular songs
- Extra notes for learning
- 30 pieces
Notes are added to each piece for better understanding and highlighting important skills. This book has 30 easy-to-play popular songs that students would be familiar with. You can play until you are comfortable with each, then move on to the next one with an increase in difficulty.
Each piece is rather simple. For those with basic skills, you can do one piece each day as a challenge for 30 days. You are guaranteed to master the whole book with some dedication and effort.
9. Piano Scales, Chords & Arpeggios Lessons with Elements of Basic Music Theory: Fun, Step-By-Step Guide for Beginner to Advanced Levels(Book & Streaming Video) by Damon Ferrante
- Great for technical skills
- Rolling stone-recommended
- Streaming video available
As the number one selling author for piano books for beginners, Ferrante presented this book with lots of fun twists for aspiring musicians. This book is recommended by Rolling Stone Magazine for beginners. Not only will you find invaluable piano insights, but you will also find tips for other musical instruments like guitars.
The book focuses on way more than just the piano. It is about finding the tunes, cords, and music theories in general. It broadens your horizon and encourages students to study more about music history, which is highly beneficial to understanding other great musicians. In turn, you are able to create some masterpieces yourself.
10. Primer Level – Lesson Book: Piano Adventures by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber
- Best for beginners with a little experience already
- Lots of info included
- Helps lay technical foundations
This book presents the higher skillsets at the beginner level. You will need to be at least a few lessons into the music world to follow the flow. It is a useful bridge to take beginners to the next level. You will learn about the notes, grand staff, and keyboard in-depth. You are developing some major skills that will be practical in your future studies.
How to Choose the Right Piano Books for You?
Choosing the right piano book is difficult. There is no one answer for all, unfortunately. What works 100% for your friend doesn’t mean it will work out for you. It all depends on your needs and what you are looking for.
Some piano books emphasize knowledge and theories. They aim to build a broader understanding of the instrument so students can know about the history and true value behind it. This practice is absolutely noble and yields long-term benefits. Musicians who learn about the history of their beloved instrument tend to stay in the industry longer as they have also built a connection to the country and this instrument. It is not just a work tool, but a passion, a belief, and a hobby.
For other piano books, they focus solely on following and playing the sheets. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it is undeniably accurate that practice makes perfect. The ones who spend the time playing the same song over and over again are the ones who will stay a pianist forever. Always do it for your passion and not for something else.
As you can see, there is no one magic solution for all. It all depends on what you might need. That being said, having a diverse collection definitely helps you navigate around what you might like.
What Are the Benefits of Learning the Piano by Yourself?
It is not always easy to find a good piano teacher that you are compatible with. Having a bad teacher is worse than throwing your money into the sea. The good thing about learning everything by yourself is that you can start and stop whenever you want. There is no time pressure. You are your own boss. A lot of people think this is the freest way they can do it all without compromising their other free time.
But the most important and possibly the one reason everyone is thinking about is the affordable cost. Learning the piano by yourself means either online lessons or physical books. Both are great options and significantly cheaper.
Besides, you get to study whatever you want. If there is something you don’t enjoy learning, move on to the next level. If there is something you can pick up in 10 minutes, you don’t have to spend three lessons practicing it. If there is something you like, play it for a whole month straight. You can be the master of your choice.
Related Reading – How Long Does It Take to Learn Piano?
When Can You Move On To The Next Level?
As mentioned before, the best part about learning the piano by yourself is that you get to decide on your own progress. If something doesn’t fit, don’t force it to be. Each piano book comes with some exercises and mini-quizzes that access your skills and knowledge. Follow the guide and try to finish each exercise and quiz after completing the sheets.
The exercises are the benchmark to determine how ready you are for something more advanced. Usually, at the end of each chapter, there is the hardest music sheet. If you can play the notes with ease, then you should move on to the next level.
It will sometimes happen that you struggle to master one chapter but you seem to be a genius at the next level. It can be confusing. Keep in mind that every beginner possesses different skills. The book is a guide for you to build up some basic concepts and knowledge.
If you feel stuck at a level, it is perfectly fine to move on without completing it, especially if you blossom in the chapters that come next. Revisit the chapters that you got stuck in later. Every artist needs a break. There is no one solid path to success. The journey to learning piano is as fluid as your creative mind.
Related Reading – How To Memorize Piano Music Notes Fast?
How Often Should You Practice?
Since you are not following a teacher, you set your own schedule in practicing the piano. In general, you should always spend at least one hour a day practicing it in the beginning. It helps you familiarize yourself with the keyboard and read the sheets.
Commit more hours if you can. Two hours a day is perfectly fine. You need more time to get started and read each note so expect the progress to be fairly slow at the start.
But also, do not spend too much time every day overworking your brain and passion. People tend to spend 9 hours practicing when they get started because of their passion. Unfortunately, if that is the case, your passion is likely to wear off soon. Nothing works out if you invest so heavily right from the start. Even out your time and investment. At a point, if you are stuck, you are stuck. T
here is no point playing more. It will not help with your skills. Then, the only thing you can do is to take a break and let your brain and coordination recover.
Set a schedule for each day. Set aside time for practice. Usually, practicing in the morning works the best as your brain is the freshest after waking up. Give yourself a rest day once a week. Keep your mind off the piano so you can come back loving it like day one.
Summary
Learning the piano is the most exciting thing. A lot of people have mastered this harmonious musical instrument by themselves. There are so many ways you can learn it. To help with your journey, get several beginner piano books. They are fun and easy. You get to play your favorite tunes. These top 10 books are just what you need in your practice room!
About the Author Linda Ritter
Linda Ritter is a passionate pianist and a songwriter for more than 7 years. With a Masters in Music, she has explored the world of music and has collaborated with several musicians and brands like Roland, Tune Core, and plenty of blogs.
