The 8 Best Piano Books for Beginners
Piano books that help children and adults start strong and stay motivated
Rose Park
updated 9/13/25 • 4 min read
For Young Piano Beginners (Ages 6 to 12)
Faber Basic Piano Adventures is one of the most popular piano book series for beginners, especially kids ages 7–11. The journey starts at the Primer Level, which comes with four core books: the Lesson Book, Theory Book, Performance Book, and Technique & Artistry Book.
What makes Faber stand out is how fun and approachable it feels. The books use colorful illustrations, simple directions, and short concept summaries with creative questions to spark a student’s imagination.
In the Primer Lesson Book, students start with the basics: key names, note values, and reading notes on the Grand Staff. They also learn the C 5-finger scale, practice steps and skips, and explore dynamics with the pedal. We also recommend pairing the Theory Book with the Lesson Book to reinforce music reading and theory skills.
For children under 6, the My First Piano Adventures series offers easy songs and rhythmic games that keep learning playful and engaging.
The Alfred’s Music brand has been publishing piano books since 1922 and is loved by students of all ages for breaking concepts into clear, step-by-step lessons.
The series begins with Lesson Book 1A, along with Theory 1A, Recital 1A, Notespeller 1A, and Technic 1A. Once students master Level 1A, they move to 1B, followed by Lesson Book 2 and Lesson Book 3. Many young beginners, including our own students, start with Lesson Book 1A and Theory Book 1A.
- Lesson Book 1A
: Introduces the layout of the keyboard and helps students recognize white keys in relation to black keys. It also builds comfort with simple rhythms and songs that prepare students for reading intervals and lines. Later lessons introduce the bass and treble clefs, along with sharps and flats. - Theory Book 1A
: Features games and quizzes that reinforce the concepts from the Lesson Book, giving students fun ways to practice and review even when they’re away from the keyboard.
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Most beginners start with the Primer Piano Book, which introduces new keys step by step. Students begin reading in the C five-finger position, and each page focuses on just one idea at a time, making it easy to follow along without feeling overwhelmed. The books also feature bright, colorful illustrations and short practice tips that keep learning fun and encouraging.
For young students under 7, we recommend their pre-level series called “Piano for the Young Beginner” (Primer A and Primer B). These books are designed with the right pacing and activities that help little ones stay engaged.
This piano course is a great fit for young beginners ages 5 to 7. The four-part series uses a clear, simple layout with minimal text, colorful images, and fun worksheets to help kids practice reading and writing notes.
In Part 1 Book, students start by finding middle C on the keyboard and then gradually explore new notes, meters, and rhythms at an easy pace.
For children under 7, we recommend starting with their Teaching Little Fingers to Play: A Book for the Earliest Beginner. It’s designed for absolute beginners learning notes for the first time, with short, refreshing melodies that fit comfortably under small hands.
For students age 7 or 8 and up, John Thompson’s Modern Course for the Piano (First Grade) is a great choice. It builds a solid foundation in piano playing, and encourage students to think and feel the music. This series works especially well for learners who are ready to read longer instructions and want to progress quickly.
Bonus: John Thompson’s piano series is also available in Spanish editions.
This book works especially well for students over age 8 who pick up concepts quickly. The layout is clear and organized, so it’s easy to follow along. While it doesn’t include lots of colorful illustrations, the explanations and directions are easy to understand.
The series has six levels, so students can keep building skills as they go. Adding the theory books alongside the lesson books is also a fun way to strengthen their understanding and confidence at the piano.
The “A Dozen A Day” series is a classic set of short warm-up exercises made just for beginners. They’re meant to be played at the start of each practice, helping students get their fingers moving and ready for any piece of music. The best part? There are lots of little exercises to choose from, so practice stays fresh and never boring!
For Beginning Adults (Ages 18+)
Written by the creators of Faber Piano Adventures, this All-in-One piano book brings together lessons, technique, and theory in a single volume.
The series includes two books, perfect for adult beginners or anyone returning to piano after a short break. In Book 1, students learn the basics of music notation, chord playing, and musical form, while enjoying a variety of familiar songs along the way.
This All-in-One piano book covers a wide range of topics, so it may take a little longer to work through. Taking the time to really learn and review each concept helps build a strong foundation for playing piano with confidence.
The course includes 3-Minute Theory and Technique pages that give adults a quick, clear way to learn the fundamentals of music notation, chord playing, and musical form. With these skills, you’ll be ready to play hundreds of melodies.
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you can branch out into the many supplemental books the series offers, from Christmas songs to Popular Hits and timeless classics.
To strengthen your understanding of chords and keys, we recommend adding the Basic Adult Theory Book Level 1. It gives extra theory support and makes the core concepts easier to understand and apply at the piano.
This all-in-one course is an expanded version of Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course, combining lessons, theory, and technique into one convenient book. It includes helpful extras like hand exercises, finger strengthening drills, and written assignments to reinforce each lesson.
Since this course blends lesson, theory, and technique together, it can take a little more time to work through than the standard Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use multiple piano method books simultaneously?
Are piano books the main tool for learning piano?
Piano books aren’t the only way to learn, but they’re one of the best tools when paired with a teacher’s guidance. Online lesson courses and YouTube videos can be great supplements, too. The only thing to watch out for is self-learning apps since they can’t give real-time feedback or personalized guidance, piano experts usually don’t recommend relying on them alone.
Can adults use the same piano method books as children?
Adult beginners can use the same piano books as kids if they’re all-in-one style, but it’s usually better to choose books written specifically for adults. Adult piano books give clearer explanations, move at a steady pace, and often cover a wider range of topics in one place which makes them a better fit for grown-ups.
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Rose Park
Rose Park is a graduate of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where she studied Piano Performance and Arts Administration, receiving both Bachelor's and Master's degrees before co-founding Lesson With You. As a pianist, Rose was a prizewinner in many international piano competitions and performed at various summer programs and festivals across the United States, Italy, and Japan.