{"id":14771,"date":"2023-10-29T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-29T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=14771"},"modified":"2024-04-23T14:40:11","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T21:40:11","slug":"best-piano-books-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/best-piano-books-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Piano Books for Beginners &#8211; Adult Piano Method Book Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Want to learn how to play piano? A piano method book can help! In this post, I&#8217;ll review the best piano books for beginners for adult learners who want to learn how to play piano. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ve chosen the most well-known names like Faber, Bastien, and John Thompson. These method books have been used in piano teaching for years and can be found at most music retailers and Amazon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For best results, we recommend using a piano method book combined with a teacher, course, or online program like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pianote<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><p><strong>Table of Contents:<\/strong><\/p><nav><ol><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#faber-adult-piano-adventures-all-in-one-course-book-1\">Faber: Adult Piano Adventures All-In-One Course Book 1<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#bastien-piano-for-adults-book-1\">Bastien: Piano for Adults &#8211; Book 1<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#alfreds-basic-adult-all-in-one-course-book-1\">Alfred&#8217;s Basic Adult All-in-One Course &#8211; Book 1<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#john-thompsons-adult-piano-course-book-1\">John Thompson&#8217;s Adult Piano Course \u2013 Book 1<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#hal-leonard-student-piano-library-adult-piano-method-book-1\">Hal Leonard Student Piano Library: Adult Piano Method &#8211; Book 1<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-classical-piano-method-method-book-1\">The Classical Piano Method &#8211; Method Book 1<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#piano-for-dummies-3rd-ed\">Piano For Dummies (3rd ed.)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#other-great-books-for-adult-beginners\">Other Great Books for Adult Beginners<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h3 style=\"font-size: 22px;\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 For Piano Players, By Piano Players<\/b><\/h3><p>Love more guides like this? Subscribe to <i>The Note<\/i> for more quick tips, cheat sheets, explainers, and other stuff piano players love. Delivered to your inbox for free.<\/p><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">*This article contains affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission from the product seller if you make a purchase. For more info, check out our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/privacy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">privacy page.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-use-a-piano-method-book\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Why use a piano method book?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, there are tons of ways to learn piano. But despite our love for all things digital, books remain popular. Some advantages of books include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Flexibility. <\/strong>Learn at your own pace. Spend more time on topics that interest you. Read your book between lessons or use it as a supplement to your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pianote+ Membership<\/a>!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Affordability. <\/strong>Books are way cheaper than hiring a teacher, and you can even get them for free from the library.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Palpablility. <\/strong>While YouTube tutorials, eBooks, and iPad sheet music are all the rage these days, there\u2019s something nice about being able to hold and flip through a physical book.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-x-large-font-size\" id=\"best-piano-books-for-beginners-adult-method-books\" style=\"color:#f61a30\"><strong>BEST PIANO BOOKS FOR BEGINNERS: METHOD BOOKS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faber-adult-piano-adventures-all-in-one-course-book-1\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Faber: Adult Piano Adventures All-In-One Course Book 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong>Authors: <\/strong>Randall Faber and Nancy Faber<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>List Price<\/strong>: US$19.99<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Multimedia:<\/strong> QR codes link you to play-along and instructional videos. There&#8217;s also a Piano Adventures app and the website has tons of resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best For:<\/strong> Adult beginners who want an in-depth and well-rounded introduction to piano, ideally with a teacher or mentor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a rel=\"sponsored noopener\" class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1616773022?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_JDFMHDNZ9R1QGCG14BAS&#038;_encoding=UTF8&#038;tag=musora-20&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;linkId=6c9b011d5d0be10e315ae75ea278b874&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325\" target=\"_blank\">BUY NOW ON AMAZON<\/a><\/center>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03110653\/faber-cover-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Turquoise book cover with text Adult Piano Adventures and drawing of a grand piano.\" class=\"wp-image-14783\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03110653\/faber-cover-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03110653\/faber-cover-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03110653\/faber-cover.jpeg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image source: <a href=\"https:\/\/pianoadventures.com\/product\/adult-piano-adventures-all-in-one-course-book-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Faber Piano Adventures<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Pros<\/th><th>Cons<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><ul><li>All-encompassing modern method: you&#8217;ll learn technique, theory, intervals, scales, and chords.<\/li><li>Encourages improvisation.<\/li><li>Beautifully designed and spiral-bound.<\/li><li>Lots of supplemental digital resources.<\/li><li>Very detailed and gradual approach to concepts.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><td><ul><li>Best to do with a teacher or mentor. I couldn&#8217;t find an answer key for the worksheets and there are teacher accompaniment parts.<\/li><li>Song selection isn&#8217;t the best.<\/li><li>Amount of information can be overwhelming. Gradual approach may feel too slow for some students.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s start with one of the most popular method book series: the Faber <em>Piano Adventures<\/em>. Written by a husband-and-wife team, this is a well-written and beautifully designed book divided into 16 units. Each unit has a technique exercise and a theory quiz. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/21155654\/Faber-Sample-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Sample page and sheet music from Faber Piano Adventures book.\" class=\"wp-image-15445\" style=\"width:464px;height:618px\" width=\"464\" height=\"618\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/21155654\/Faber-Sample-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/21155654\/Faber-Sample-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/21155654\/Faber-Sample.jpeg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 464px) 100vw, 464px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Page previews available <a href=\"https:\/\/pianoadventures.com\/product\/adult-piano-adventures-all-in-one-course-book-1\/\">here.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Faber is detailed and comprehensive. Topics include posture, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-pianos-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how a piano works<\/a>, chords, and scales. This is perfect for those who aren&#8217;t in a rush and want to build a solid foundation. (And if you find it too slow, you can check out the Faber <em>Accelerated<\/em> series for teens.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a modern method and you&#8217;ll even learn how to read and play with lead sheets! However, I was a little disappointed with the song selection\u2014arrangements don&#8217;t start sounding good until around Unit 11. I also find that the Bastien book (which is a similar length) progresses to a higher level by the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bastien-piano-for-adults-book-1\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Bastien: Piano for Adults &#8211; Book 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong>Authors:<\/strong> Jane Smisor Bastien, Lisa Bastien, Lori Bastien<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>List Price:<\/strong> US$19.99<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Multimedia: <\/strong>You can download an Interactive Practice Studio that lets you play along with Jane Bastien, set the tempo, loop, and record. There\u2019s also a version with a CD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best For: <\/strong>Ambitious learners who enjoy challenge and being quizzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a rel=\"sponsored noopener\" class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0849773008?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_XNKPDMS53QZKZNGJCY8N&#038;_encoding=UTF8&#038;tag=musora-20&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;linkId=8ac1e8cf723a49893bc79cd99e7fb848&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325\" target=\"_blank\">BUY NOW ON AMAZON<\/a><\/center>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"662\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03085616\/Bastien-Cover.jpeg\" alt=\"Best piano books for beginners: green book cover with text Bastien Piano for Adults and image of grand piano plus smaller images of keyboard, pinblocks, and pedals.\" class=\"wp-image-14772\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03085616\/Bastien-Cover.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03085616\/Bastien-Cover-227x300.jpeg 227w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image source: <a href=\"https:\/\/kjos.com\/bastien-piano-for-adults-book-1-book-2-cd.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kjos<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Pros<\/th><th>Cons<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><ul><li>Bold text and spiral binding make it convenient for music stands.<\/li><li>Activities and review assignments are integrated seamlessly into the book.<\/li><li>You&#8217;ll learn both standard notation and chord symbols.<\/li><li>Challenging technical exercises.<\/li><li>Decent music.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><td><ul><li>Written exercises may not be everyone&#8217;s cup of tea.<\/li><li>Lack of blues, jazz, and pop until semitones are introduced on p. 109.<\/li><li>Initially, can be a lot of information for beginners at once.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/research\/2011\/110120KarpickeScience.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">science<\/a>, the best way to remember what you learn is to test yourself. This is what Bastien\u2019s method book does. There are reviews, exercises, and quizzes woven throughout the book. Add to that a \u201cchallenge piece\u201d at the end of each chapter and some technical exercises, and this book really wants you to progress.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03101034\/Bastien-sample-page.png\" alt=\"Sample page with sheet music of Bastien book.\" class=\"wp-image-14776\" style=\"width:436px;height:630px\" width=\"436\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03101034\/Bastien-sample-page.png 581w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03101034\/Bastien-sample-page-208x300.png 208w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 436px) 100vw, 436px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Page previews available <a href=\"https:\/\/kjos.vo.llnwd.net\/o28\/pdf\/KP1_SP.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Reading music is introduced through simplified contour notation (see the <a href=\"#hal-leonard\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#hal-leonard\">Hal Leonard screenshot<\/a> for an example of what this looks like) and you&#8217;re encouraged to memorize where notes are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best thing about this book, though? <em>The songs sound good!<\/em> Which is SO important in keeping students motivated. There are beautiful arrangements of &#8220;Fantasie Impromptu&#8221; (Chopin), Sonata in A Major (Mozart), and even a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/fur-elise-piano-sheet-music-tutorial\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;F\u00fcr Elise&#8221;<\/a> excerpt that\u2019s almost identical to the first section of the original. Which gives you a good idea of how far you can progress with this book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"alfreds-basic-adult-all-in-one-course-book-1\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Alfred&#8217;s Basic Adult All-in-One Course, Book 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong>Authors: <\/strong>Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus, and Amanda Vick Lethco<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>List Price:<\/strong> Comb-bound book &#8211; US$19.99<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Multimedia:<\/strong> Book + DVD costs US$24.99. Comb-bound book + CD costs US$24.99. CD has accompaniment\/rhythm in left channel and piano in right channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best For:<\/strong> Those who want the most comprehensive foundation possible, including detailed theory and technique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a rel=\"sponsored noopener\" class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07G4TW59B?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_X69ZDVQH37EN3GXGQ4C6&#038;_encoding=UTF8&#038;tag=musora-20&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;linkId=7e2ea591c28d14c08b0a67b536780d77&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325\" target=\"_blank\">BUY NOW ON AMAZON<\/a><\/center>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"552\" height=\"736\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03113839\/alfred-cover.jpeg\" alt=\"Book cover with text &quot;Adult All-In-One Course: Lesson, Theory, Technic&quot; in yellow tones with grand piano in living room next to lamp.\" class=\"wp-image-14784\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03113839\/alfred-cover.jpeg 552w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03113839\/alfred-cover-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 552px) 100vw, 552px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alfred.com\/alfreds-basic-adult-all-in-one-course-book-1\/p\/00-5753\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alfred<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Pros<\/th><th>Cons<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><ul><li>Detailed information about hand technique, hand health, and many technical exercises, including Hanon.<\/li><li>Comprehensive information on chording and chord progressions.<\/li><li>Good introduction to blues and jazz.<\/li><li>Lots of theory.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><td><ul><li>Many written exercises, which may\/may not be your preference.<\/li><li>Songs are so-so.<\/li><li>Despite length and depth, introduces basic concepts rather quickly and may be too fast for some.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Well-written and comprehensive, this is a content-packed 143-page book with a lot of emphasis on theory and technique. The book even discusses hand anatomy and introduces Hanon exercises and the Leschetizky Solution, which aims to strengthen the fourth and fifth fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/25141845\/alfred-samples-pg-3-768x1024.png\" alt=\"Page sample from Alfred's book.\" class=\"wp-image-15728\" style=\"width:439px;height:584px\" width=\"439\" height=\"584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/25141845\/alfred-samples-pg-3-768x1024.png 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/25141845\/alfred-samples-pg-3-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/25141845\/alfred-samples-pg-3-1152x1536.png 1152w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/25141845\/alfred-samples-pg-3-1536x2048.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Page previews available <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alfred.com\/alfreds-basic-adult-all-in-one-course-book-1\/p\/00-5753\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.alfred.com\/alfreds-basic-adult-all-in-one-course-book-1\/p\/00-5753\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Students will learn how to read music by writing note names and reading note letters inside the notehead. This contrasts with the more intuitive approach that other books use, such as simplified contour notation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I like that this book covers a good deal of chord theory, including primary chords, chord progressions, and even the 12-bar blues form. There&#8217;s a decent amount of jazz and blues content. The last unit introduces students to D minor, which is typically out of a level 1 book&#8217;s scope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"box-snippet\">\n<div class=\"shadow\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div><i class=\"fas icon fa-piano\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n<b>It takes more than reading a book&#8230;<\/b> \n<p>Books should be seen as a <i>companion<\/i> to learning, not the main course.<\/p><p>So what fits as a main course? The 10-step Pianote Method is a good contender! Unlike other online programs, you&#8217;ll learn with real teachers who can answer your questions and give personalized feedback.<\/p><p>What&#8217;s more, our method is designed for the modern player in mind. You&#8217;ll learn all about chords and harmony, which are essential tools to write songs, improvise, and unlock your own creativity. This learning method remains relatively uncommon in traditional method books.<\/p>\n<p><b>> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Try Pianote for Free<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"john-thompsons-adult-piano-course-book-1\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>John Thompson&#8217;s Adult Piano Course \u2013 Book 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong>Author:<\/strong> John Thompson<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>List Price: <\/strong>US$10.99<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Multimedia:<\/strong> No<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best For:<\/strong> Those with teachers, or those using a more step-by-step method who want more beginner repertoire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a rel=\"sponsored noopener\" class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1423405803?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_PS9JWQBM3HKW7YMN6HFG&#038;_encoding=UTF8&#038;tag=musora-20&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;linkId=bb1c4c28928501fc37fcb35da99c79e6&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325\" target=\"_blank\">BUY NOW ON AMAZON<\/a><\/center>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03114305\/John-Thompson-cover.jpeg\" alt=\"Red book cover with text &quot;Book 1: John Thompson's Adult Piano Course&quot; with hands on piano keyboard.\" class=\"wp-image-14786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03114305\/John-Thompson-cover.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03114305\/John-Thompson-cover-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.willispianomusic.com\/product\/viewproduct.action?itemid=412639&amp;lid=10&amp;seriesfeature=&amp;menuid=14324&amp;subsiteid=264&amp;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Willis Piano Music<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Pros<\/th><th>Cons<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><ul><li>Beautiful pieces\u2014probably the best-sounding pieces on this list.<\/li><li>Strong emphasis on developing musicality and artistry.<\/li><li>Cheapest option on this list.<\/li><li>Beautifully designed and written.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><td><ul><li>Best to have a teacher guide you through the book and play the accompaniments.<\/li><li>No multimedia.<\/li><li>Concepts are introduced rather quickly.<\/li><li>Chords are only briefly mentioned; very little chord theory.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>John Thompson books are classics. In fact, I, the author of this list, used his <em>Easiest Piano Course<\/em> for kids as my first piano book! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thompson&#8217;s approach is a little different; it&#8217;s somewhat old-fashioned in its writing style and takes a &#8220;melody first&#8221; approach. \u201cMusic is a great art and an exact science,&#8221; writes Thompson. &#8220;By using the Melody Approach, the student is led to think of music first as an art.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/04102905\/john-thompson-sample.jpeg\" alt=\"Sample page from John Thompson book.\" class=\"wp-image-14797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/04102905\/john-thompson-sample.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/04102905\/john-thompson-sample-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Page previews available <a href=\"https:\/\/www.willispianomusic.com\/viewCloserLook.action?itemId=412639&amp;lid=-1&amp;seriesfeature=&amp;menuid=14324&amp;subsiteid=264&amp;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Phrasing, articulation, and dynamics receive a lot of attention. &#8220;In the early examples the wise teacher is not too insistent about technical principles,&#8221; writes Thompson. &#8220;Rather, every effort is made to have the student <em>think <\/em>and <em>feel <\/em>musically, even if it is at the expense of ideal playing conditions.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Notation is introduced immediately\u2014 the grand staff, note values, and time signature are explained by page 3. So, it&#8217;s best to use this book with a teacher or more experienced pianist who can explain the concepts and play the accompaniment parts. And there are detailed instructions for teachers, teaching them how to teach!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The strongest aspect of this book? Thompson is a brilliant composer and the pieces are <em>beautiful<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hal-leonard-student-piano-library-adult-piano-method-book-1\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Hal Leonard Student Piano Library: Adult Piano Method &#8211; Book 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong>Authors:<\/strong> Fred Kern, Phillip Keveren, Barbara Kreader, Mona Rejino<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>List Price: <\/strong>US$17.99<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Multimedia: <\/strong>Yes. There&#8217;s an online library with full orchestral accompaniment! You can loop and set tempo too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best For:<\/strong> Those who prefer an intuitive and creative approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a rel=\"sponsored noopener\" class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0634066269?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_5BB0JWPNSCC8C3CYJETM&#038;_encoding=UTF8&#038;tag=musora-20&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;linkId=d11ac329d91021de1734c4ccda933790&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325\" target=\"_blank\">BUY NOW ON AMAZON<\/a><\/center>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03101300\/hal-leonard-cover-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Blue book cover with text &quot;Adult Piano Method&quot; and images of keyboard, dynamic markings, and sixteenth note.\" class=\"wp-image-14778\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03101300\/hal-leonard-cover-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03101300\/hal-leonard-cover-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03101300\/hal-leonard-cover.jpeg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halleonard.com\/product\/296441\/adult-piano-method-book-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hal Leonard<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Pros<\/th><th>Cons<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><ul><li>Encourages improvisation, exploration, and creativity.<\/li><li>Little-bit-of-everything approach gives a holistic overview without being overwhelming.<\/li><li>Emphasis on keyboard geography and physical comfort before reading music.<\/li><li>Clear and concise writing.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><td><ul><li>Book design and writing style are more on the bland side.<\/li><li>Best to have someone play accompaniment to get the most out of the book.<\/li><li>Song selections aren&#8217;t the best-sounding.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hal Leonard is a megahouse of music education and publishing, so I definitely had to review this book. And it&#8217;s solid! You\u2019ll do cool stuff right off the bat, like ad-libbing with the black keys right after they\u2019re introduced. For the entirety of Unit 1, you\u2019ll play with notes that are not on the staff but arranged in a general contour of the music. Numbers and a keyboard diagram show you which keys to play.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03102703\/hal-leonard-sample-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Sample page of Hal Leonard book.\" class=\"wp-image-14779\" style=\"width:477px;height:636px\" width=\"477\" height=\"636\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03102703\/hal-leonard-sample-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03102703\/hal-leonard-sample-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03102703\/hal-leonard-sample.jpeg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 477px) 100vw, 477px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halleonard.com\/product\/296441\/adult-piano-method-book-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hal Leonard<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s a big emphasis on keyboard geography, technique, and physical comfort before you\u2019re introduced to standard notation in Unit 2. You\u2019ll also learn a little bit of everything including intervals, articulation, and elements of different musical styles. It\u2019s a gentle and gradual approach that builds confidence with special attention paid to improvisation that is rare in other books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"box-snippet\">\n<div class=\"shadow\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div><i class=\"fas icon fa-piano\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n<b>Why do songs in method books suck?<\/b>\n<p>A common complaint among method book users is that their songs tend to be boring. These songs tend to be folk songs and nursery rhymes, with maybe a few classical melodies. That&#8217;s because authors are limited to music they are licensed to publish; pop songs are excluded because they&#8217;re copyrighted.<\/p><p>But learning by playing music you actually like makes a <i>huge<\/i> difference. We recognize that, which is why the Song Library in the Pianote Members&#8217; Area is licensed by Hal Leonard. That means we have transcriptions of your favorite songs, from Bee Gees to Billie Eilish, <i>Inception<\/i> to <i>The Legend of Zelda<\/i>. Try a Pianote+ Membership to access Songs today!<\/p>\n<p><b>> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Try Pianote for Free<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-classical-piano-method-method-book-1\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>The Classical Piano Method &#8211; Method Book 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<p><strong>Author: <\/strong>Hans-Guenter Heumann<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>List Price: <\/strong>\u20ac11.99 (US$16.99 on Amazon.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Multimedia:<\/strong> Yes. The attached CD includes professional recordings of all pieces and some play-along tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best For:<\/strong> Beginners with a particular interest in classical music, who want to learn by playing iconic classical melodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a rel=\"sponsored noopener\" class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1847615023?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_QDYRV89PM61FD32FBV50&#038;_encoding=UTF8&#038;tag=musora-20&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;linkId=0ed6e12cd7c14416cdbd0251d8885673&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325\" target=\"_blank\">BUY NOW ON AMAZON<\/a><\/center>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:30%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/04104543\/Heumann-cover.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14799\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/04104543\/Heumann-cover.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/04104543\/Heumann-cover-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/04104543\/Heumann-cover-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/04104543\/Heumann-cover-120x120.jpeg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.schott-music.com\/en\/the-classical-piano-method-noc272953.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Schott Music<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Pros<\/th><th>Cons<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><ul><li>Clean and sophisticated design with clearly numbered lessons. Hard cardboard cover makes it easy to lay flat on music stand.<\/li><li>Both British and American terms.<\/li><li>Lots of detailed focus on technique and theory.<\/li><li>Periodic &#8220;Theory Check&#8221; quizzes that can be delightfully challenging!<\/li><li>Informative bits about music history and composers, including more obscure ones like Rameau and Diabelli.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><td><ul><li>Only classical music\u2014no jazz or pop.<\/li><li>Very little info on chord theory and improvisation.<\/li><li>Progresses quite quickly\u2014a lot of information in a short amount of time. Last few pieces aren&#8217;t easy!<\/li><li>Despite focus on classical music, selections are often more obscure pieces and composers. I had expected more iconic pieces.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only does <em>The Classical Piano Method<\/em> teach you how to play piano, it&#8217;s also a history lesson on composers and musical forms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students start with simplified notation, then repetition, steps, skips, and the contour of music before reading the grand staff. There&#8217;s a lot of focus on technique, such as relaxing your muscles and breathing. There are also regular theory pop quizzes, practical practice tips, and a handy glossary and theory reference guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As suggested by the title, this book is aimed at classical music enthusiasts, so there is no jazz or pop at all. The teaching style is also quite traditional. Fingering &#8220;should always be followed precisely,&#8221; and while improvisation is mentioned briefly, we don&#8217;t learn much in terms of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/chord-theory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">chord theory<\/a>, which is fundamental to improvisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the song selection should keep classical enthusiasts busy, I was a little surprised that there aren&#8217;t more iconic pieces. Still, those who love classical music are bound to have fun. There&#8217;s <em>a lot<\/em> of information in this book, so take your time with it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>You can find a full preview of this book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.schott-music.com\/en\/preview\/viewer\/index\/?idx=NTUzNTc2&amp;idy=553576&amp;dl=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"piano-for-dummies-3rd-ed\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Piano For Dummies (3rd ed.)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong>Authors: <\/strong>Adam Perlmutter, Hal Leonard Corporation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>List Price:<\/strong> US$29.99<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Multimedia: <\/strong>Yes. The book occasionally directs you to www.dummies.com\/go\/piano for audio tracks and video clips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best For:<\/strong> Use as a supplementary and more detailed how-to book alongside a more practical method book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a rel=\"sponsored noopener\" class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1119700973?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_C7D8J9FY0Q8Q5CFAXC2Z&#038;_encoding=UTF8&#038;tag=musora-20&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;linkId=b06d5a4d419c33ae0ec4cd24ae987d5b&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325\" target=\"_blank\">BUY NOW ON AMAZON<\/a><\/center>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"319\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03104503\/piano-for-dummies-cover.jpeg\" alt=\"Piano for Dummies book cover, black and yellow.\" class=\"wp-image-14780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03104503\/piano-for-dummies-cover.jpeg 319w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/03104503\/piano-for-dummies-cover-239x300.jpeg 239w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 319px) 100vw, 319px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dummies.com\/book\/academics-the-arts\/music\/instruments\/piano\/piano-for-dummies-3rd-edition-282473\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dummies.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Pros<\/th><th>Cons<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><ul><li>Well-written, humorous tone; very enjoyable to read!<\/li><li>Well-organized information hierarchy.<\/li><li>Holistic: covers how to buy a piano and how to find a piano teacher.<\/li><li>More advanced example pieces (especially the blues and R&amp;B ones) sound pretty good.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><td><ul><li>Long (361 pages); reads more like a textbook.<\/li><li>More intellectual than practical.<\/li><li>Organized by topic, not difficulty, so can be overwhelming for beginners who should learn concepts bit by bit.<\/li><li>Emphasizes traditional notation, which may not be the preference of pop and jazz students.<\/li><\/ul><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Piano For Dummies<\/em> is a little different from the other books we&#8217;ve discussed. It&#8217;s organized by topic, so, rather than introducing a concept bit-by-bit over the entirety of a book, one chapter on chords will include everything from basic triads to complex <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/understanding-7ths\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">7th chords<\/a>. This can be overwhelming for a beginner, so I recommend using this book as a companion to another method book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This book succeeds in how fun it is to read. There are legitimate laugh-out-loud moments! The frequent references to online resources that you must type out on your browser can be a little distracting, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Verdict<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Piano books are subjective. If you&#8217;re undecided, see if you can borrow several different methods from the library and try them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing the right book also depends on your personal goals. In my humble opinion, I believe the following books from the list are best for the following purposes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>If you like classical music,<\/strong> consider <em>John Thompson&#8217;s Adult Piano Course<\/em> or <em>The Classical Piano Method<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you like pop or jazz,<\/strong> <em>Alfred&#8217;s Basic Adult All-In-One Course<\/em> provides a good chording foundation while the Hal Leonard <em>Adult Piano Method<\/em> teaches improvisation and creativity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you just want an all-around foundation,<\/strong> the Faber and Bastien books are solid choices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you want to go beyond learning how to read music and play songs,<\/strong> immerse yourself in the world of piano with <em>Piano for Dummies<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember: you can mix and match methods! If you need a little extra support, consider becoming a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pianote Member<\/a>. That way, you&#8217;ll get real advice from real teachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color\" id=\"other-great-books-for-adult-beginners\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Other Great Books for Adult Beginners<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Again, method books are just one part of the equation. Songbooks, technical exercises, and reference books can be useful too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/shop\/chords-scales-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Piano Chords and Scales:<\/a> <\/strong>This handy chord and scale reference book is a bestseller. Beautifully designed and spiral-bound, you can quickly flip to a diagram of any chord or scale.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0793525446?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_DWRH6PAK8HQ1FT436SZ2&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=musora-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;linkId=8cee4ff64a0da8367932b971203ea750&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow sponsored\">The Virtuoso Pianist (Hanon):<\/a><\/strong> A classic since 1873, Hanon&#8217;s exercises remain a favorite collection of technical exercises. You can also download individual exercises <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hanon-online.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">online<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/shop\/classical-piano-pieces\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Most Beautiful Classical Piano Pieces:<\/a><\/strong> Both original and simplified arrangements of famous classical pieces including &#8220;Clair de lune,&#8221; the &#8220;Moonlight&#8221; Sonata, Gymnop\u00e9die No. 1, and more.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/shop\/christmas-songbook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Pianote Christmas Songbook:<\/a><\/strong> This collection contains all your favorites, from &#8220;Jingle Bells&#8221; to &#8220;Joy to the World,&#8221; in both a traditional and simplified arrangement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/shop\/practice-planner\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/shop\/practice-planner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Pianote Practice Planner:<\/a><\/strong> Designed by piano players, for piano players. Stay on top of your goals with this handy practice diary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>More articles on similar topics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/classical-piano-lessons-vs-modern\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Classical Piano Lessons vs. Modern Piano Lessons<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/best-way-to-learn-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What\u2019s the Best Way to Learn Piano? (Online, Teachers &amp; More)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-piano-by-yourself\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Learn Piano By Yourself<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"tve-leads-shortcode tve-leads-triggered tve-tl-anim tl-anim-instant tve-leads-track-shortcode_16128\"><div class=\"tl-style\" id=\"tve_tcb2_blank\" data-state=\"53\" data-form-state=\"\"><style type=\"text\/css\" class=\"tve_custom_style\">@import url(\"\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css?family=Bebas+Neue:400&subset=latin\");@import url(\"\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css?family=Open+Sans:400,400i,700,700i,600,600i,800,500&subset=latin\");@media (min-width: 300px){[data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85de\"]{--tve-border-radius: 6px;overflow: hidden;border-radius: 6px !important;background-color: rgb(255,228,230) !important;--background-color: rgb(255,228,230) !important;--tve-applied-background-color: rgb(255,228,230) !important;background-image: none !important;--background-image: none !important;--tve-applied-background-image: none !important;margin-bottom: 1px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}[data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e0\"]{margin-bottom: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;margin-top: 10px !important;}[data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e1\"]{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 10px !important;padding-top: 1px !important;}:not(#tve) [data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e2\"]{--g-regular-weight: 400;--g-bold-weight: 700;color: var(--tcb-color-3) !important;--tcb-applied-color: var$(--tcb-color-3) !important;--tve-applied-color: var$(--tcb-color-3) !important;font-family: \"Open Sans\" !important;font-size: 22px !important;}:not(#tve) [data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e2\"] strong{font-weight: 700 !important;}[data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e3\"]{padding-top: 8px !important;margin-bottom: 1px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;}:not(#tve) [data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e4\"]{--g-regular-weight: 400;font-family: \"Open Sans\" !important;font-weight: var(--g-regular-weight,normal) !important;color: var(--tcb-color-3) !important;--tcb-applied-color: var$(--tcb-color-3) !important;--tve-applied-color: var$(--tcb-color-3) !important;font-size: 16px !important;}[data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e5\"] .tcb-button-link{border-radius: 100px;overflow: hidden;letter-spacing: var(--tve-letter-spacing,2px);background-color: var(--tcb-local-color-394d4) !important;padding: 18px 30px !important;}:not(#tve) [data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e5\"] .tcb-button-link{font-family: var(--tve-font-family,\"Bebas Neue\");font-size: var(--tve-font-size,16px) !important;}[data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e5\"]{--tve-font-size: 16px;--tve-font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight,bold);--tve-letter-spacing: 2px;--tcb-local-color-1bda9: rgb(19,114,211);--tve-color: rgb(255,255,255);--tve-alignment: center;float: none;--tve-font-family: \"Bebas Neue\";--g-regular-weight: 400;--tcb-local-color-394d4: var(--tcb-color-0) !important;margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}:not(#tve) [data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e5\"] .tcb-button-link span{font-weight: var(--tve-font-weight,var(--g-bold-weight,bold));color: var(--tve-color,rgb(255,255,255));--tcb-applied-color: rgb(255,255,255);}:not(#tve) [data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e5\"]:hover .tcb-button-link{background-color: var(--tcb-local-color-394d4) !important;background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(255,255,255,0.06),rgba(255,255,255,0.06)) !important;background-size: auto !important;background-position: 50% 50% !important;background-attachment: scroll !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;}[data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e5\"].tve-state-active .tcb-button-link{background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(0,0,0,0.4),rgba(0,0,0,0.4)) !important;background-size: auto !important;background-position: 50% 50% !important;background-attachment: scroll !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;--background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(0,0,0,0.4),rgba(0,0,0,0.4)) !important;--background-size: auto !important;--background-position: 50% 50% !important;--background-attachment: scroll !important;--background-repeat: no-repeat !important;--tve-applied-background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(0,0,0,0.4),rgba(0,0,0,0.4)) !important;}:not(#tve) [data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e5\"].tve-state-active .tcb-button-link{background-color: var(--tcb-local-color-394d4) !important;--background-color: var(--tcb-local-color-394d4) !important;--tve-applied-background-color: var$(--tcb-local-color-394d4) !important;}:not(#tve) [data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e7\"]{font-size: 22px !important;}}@media (max-width: 1023px){[data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e3\"]{padding-left: 1px !important;padding-right: 1px !important;}}@media (max-width: 767px){[data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e0\"]{padding: 2px !important;margin-bottom: 10px !important;margin-top: 20px !important;}[data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e3\"]{padding: 2px 0px !important;}}<\/style><style type=\"text\/css\" class=\"tve_user_custom_style\">.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_heading h1,.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_heading h2,.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_heading h3{margin:0;padding:0}.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_text_element p,.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_text_element h1,.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_text_element h2,.tve-leads-conversion-object .thrv_text_element h3{margin:0}<\/style><div class=\"tve-leads-conversion-object\" data-tl-type=\"shortcode_16128\"><div class=\"tve_flt\"><div id=\"tve_editor\" class=\"tve_shortcode_editor\"><div class=\"thrv-leads-form-box tve_no_drag tve_no_icons thrv_wrapper tve_editor_main_content thrv-leads-in-content tve_empty_dropzone\" style=\"--tve-border-radius: 6px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 6px !important;\" data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85de\"><div class=\"thrv_wrapper thrv_contentbox_shortcode thrv-content-box tve-elem-default-pad\" data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e0\" style=\"\"><div class=\"tve-content-box-background\"><\/div><div class=\"tve-cb\"><div class=\"thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element\" data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e1\"><h3 class=\"\" data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e2\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Learn Your Favorites, Step By Step<\/b><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element\" data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e3\" style=\"\"><p data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e4\" style=\"text-align: left;\">As a Pianote+ Member, you\u2019ll get access to our 10-step Method, 1000+ song library, real teachers, world-class Coaches, and a growing community of piano players just like you.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"thrv_wrapper thrv-button thrv-button-v2 tcb-local-vars-root tve_ea_thrive_animation tve_anim_grow\" data-button-style=\"btn-tpl-58447\" data-tcb_hover_state_parent=\"\" data-button-size-d=\"s\" data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e5\" style=\"\"><div class=\"thrive-colors-palette-config\" style=\"display: none !important\"><\/div>\t\t<a href=\"\/trial\" class=\"tcb-button-link tcb-plain-text tve_evt_manager_listen tve_et_tve-viewport\" style=\"\" target=\"_blank\" data-tcb-events=\"__TCB_EVENT_[{&quot;t&quot;:&quot;tve-viewport&quot;,&quot;config&quot;:{&quot;anim&quot;:&quot;grow&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:1},&quot;a&quot;:&quot;thrive_animation&quot;}]_TNEVE_BCT__\">\t\t<span class=\"tcb-button-texts\" style=\"\"><span class=\"tcb-button-text thrv-inline-text\" style=\"\" data-css=\"tve-u-18c4b1a85e7\">Try Pianote for 7 Days<\/span><span class=\"tcb-secondary-text thrv-inline-text tve-froala fr-box fr-basic\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/span>\t<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We reviewed the best piano books for beginners including Faber, Alfred, Bastien, and more! Learn with the best adult piano method.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":15765,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1132],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14771"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14771\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17095,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14771\/revisions\/17095"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}