Practice
How long does it take to learn piano?
With fifteen to twenty minutes of daily practice, most adults can play a simple two-hand tune within four to eight weeks, read music reasonably fluently within six to twelve months, and play recognisable intermediate pieces within two years. Your first recognisable melody takes about five minutes. The variable that matters most is consistency, not talent or age.
Click any key to hear it. Your computer's A to K row works too.
What can I expect in the first month?
You will find your way around the keyboard without counting, play several simple melodies with one hand, begin joining both hands on easy pieces, and start recognising notes on the stave. That is a realistic first month for someone practising most days. It is also the month with the steepest visible progress, which is worth knowing before it slows down.
Am I too old to start?
No. Adults learn differently from children rather than worse: slower on the physical side, considerably faster on the understanding side. Adults grasp patterns, keys and structure quickly, which children mostly acquire by repetition. The real difference is that adults are harder on themselves and quit sooner.
Why do people plateau after a few months?
Usually because they keep playing what they can already play. Progress comes from the specific bars you cannot yet manage, and those are uncomfortable, so it is easy to avoid them without noticing. This is also where apps that reward you for hitting falling blocks stop helping, because you can keep scoring well while learning nothing new.
How do I know I am actually improving?
Measure something that cannot be faked. On this site your notes, your timing and your reading are scored separately, so a high note score with a flat reading score tells you plainly that you are memorising positions rather than learning to read.
Keep going
Read next
A simple daily routine: warm up, technical work, the hard bars, then play something for fu Open → ♪ How to use a metronome for piano
What BPM means, where to start, and how to use a metronome without fighting it. The tool m Open → ♪ A beginner piano roadmap
A clear order for the first six months: keys, hand position, first tunes, both hands, read Open → ♪ Piano notes chart
An interactive chart of every white and black key with its note name. Click any key to hea Open →
Put it into practice in the practice room, or start at the beginning with the five minute walkthrough.
Questions
Common questions
Can I learn piano in 3 months?
You can play several simple pieces with both hands and read basic music in three months of daily practice. You will not be playing advanced repertoire.
Is piano harder than guitar?
Easier at the start, because every note is laid out in front of you and nothing hurts your fingers. Harder later, because you are reading two staves and coordinating two independent hands.
Can I learn without a teacher?
Yes, though a teacher catches physical habits you cannot see yourself. A few occasional lessons alongside self study is a good compromise.