How long does it take to go from zero to playing a simple song?

With a regular 15 to 20 minutes of practice per day, most beginners can play a simple song with both hands within 3 to 6 months. This figure is an estimate because it depends on practice frequency, age, and the difficulty of the song chosen. Children and adults can both learn; only the pace differs from person to person.

What is the ideal age to start learning piano?

Many children are ready to start piano around ages 5 to 7, because finger coordination and the ability to focus are sufficiently formed. Even so, piano can be learned at any age, including as an adult. What drives progress most is consistent practice and the right guidance, while the starting age matters far less.

Do I need an acoustic piano to start learning?

No. Beginners can start with a touch-sensitive keyboard of at least 61 keys or a digital piano with weighted keys. A digital piano is the most balanced because its touch is close to an acoustic piano, allows headphone use, and needs no tuning. An acoustic piano is ideal for those who want to pursue the grade path seriously.

Is it better to learn piano self-taught or with a teacher?

Self-teaching suits the early stage of getting to know the piano and keeps costs low. A teacher helps correct hand position before wrong habits set in, sequences material in stages, and sustains motivation through regular targets. Many beginners start on their own, then switch to a teacher when they want clean technique or want to prepare for a grade exam.

What is the ABRSM curriculum and do beginners need to follow it?

ABRSM is an international music exam board with nine practical piano levels, from Initial Grade up to Grade 8. Its exam covers three pieces, scales and arpeggios, sight-reading, and aural tests. Beginners do not have to take exams straight away, but the grade structure gives a clear map of progress and a measurable practice target.

How do I train both hands without getting confused?

Master each hand separately until smooth, then combine gradually. Break the song into chunks of one to two bars, play the right hand alone, then the left hand alone, then combine slowly at a slow tempo. Raise the tempo only after both hands together feel comfortable with few mistakes.

How to Learn Piano for Beginners: A Step by Step Guide

Learning piano for beginners starts by getting to know where the keys sit and setting up a correct seating and hand posture, then training each of the five fingers before reading sheet music slowly. Beginners who build technique first play their first song far more comfortably than those who chase difficult pieces straight away.

Build correct hand and finger position from day one
Practice each hand separately before combining them
A daily 15 to 20 minute routine beats long, occasional sessions

What You Need

An acoustic piano, digital piano, or a touch-sensitive keyboard with at least 61 keys
A beginner method book or simple songbook suited to the learner's age

7 Steps to Learn Piano as a Beginner

These seven steps follow the order experienced piano teachers use. Finish each step until it feels comfortable before moving up to the next.

Set up your seating, bench height, and distance to the piano

Before touching a single key, arrange where you sit. Sit at the centre of the piano with a relaxed upright back, feet flat on the floor, and the bench adjusted so the elbows roughly line up with the keys. The right distance lets the hands reach both the left and right ends without leaning. A comfortable position prevents shoulder and wrist strain, the two most common complaints from beginners who start playing without setting up.

Tips

For children, use a cushion or a dedicated bench so the arms do not dangle
Keep the wrists relaxed and level; avoid bending them up or down

Map the keys: the groups of two and three black keys

The keyboard looks crowded, yet it is only a repetition of the same twelve notes. The key to reading it lies in the black keys grouped in twos and threes. The note C always sits just to the left of a group of two black keys. From one C to the next is called an octave, and the pattern repeats across the whole keyboard. Once this pattern clicks, the eyes find any note quickly without counting from the end.

Tips

Use note-name stickers for the first week, then peel them off once memorised
Practise naming notes as you press them, from one C to the next

Avoid memorising songs through sticker colours forever. Stickers are a temporary aid; the real goal is reading note positions on your own.

Build hand position and finger numbering

Correct hand position resembles holding a small ball: fingers gently curved, pressing keys with the fingertips. Each finger has a number: thumb 1, index 2, middle 3, ring 4, little finger 5, the same for both hands. This numbering appears in almost every method book and score, so learning it early speeds up reading fingerings later. Place the right hand in a five-finger position on C-D-E-F-G and feel each finger press one key.

Tips

Press the keys with curved fingertips; keep the fingers supple and avoid a flat or stiff hand
Lift and drop each finger in turn so the ring and little fingers grow stronger

Train five-finger control and each hand separately

Before both hands play together, strengthen each hand on its own. Play a five-finger run up and down (C-D-E-F-G-F-E-D-C) with the right hand alone until it is even and steady, then repeat with the left hand. This drill trains finger independence, especially the ring and little fingers, which are naturally the weakest. An even sound, with no note louder or lagging, signals that finger control is forming.

Tips

Play slowly first and prize an even sound over speed
Count the beats (1-2-3-4-5) so each finger keeps the same rhythm

Read sheet music slowly and connect it to the keys

Piano sheet music is written on two staves. The upper stave with a treble clef is usually for the right hand, the lower stave with a bass clef for the left. Beginners can start with just a few notes around middle C, then add range little by little. Practise reading one short line, say the note names, then play. Reading while playing feels slow at first, and that is normal because the brain is building a new link between the eyes, ears, and fingers.

Tips

Master the five notes around middle C before widening to other octaves
Use simple children's songs with notes close together as reading material

Memorising songs entirely by ear without ever reading the score will hold you back as pieces grow longer. Balance ear training with reading practice.

Practise with a metronome to build steady rhythm

Rhythm is the frame of music. Beginners often speed up the easy parts and slow down the hard ones without noticing, so the piece sounds uneven. A metronome trains a consistent pulse. Start at a slow tempo you can play without mistakes, then nudge it up a few beats once it is smooth. Practising at a controlled tempo is far more effective than forcing a fast tempo full of errors.

Tips

Set the metronome slow, play three times in a row without mistakes, then raise the tempo
Practise the hard section on its own at a slower tempo than the rest

Combine both hands and play a complete first song

Once each hand is steady, combine them gradually. Break the song into small chunks of one to two bars, then play the right hand alone, the left hand alone, and finally combine slowly. Pick a first song that is simple and genuinely enjoyable, because motivation keeps practice going. Finishing one whole song from start to end brings a sense of satisfaction that pushes beginners to keep moving on to new material.

Tips

Practise the hardest chunk more often than the parts already smooth
Record yourself now and then to hear which sections need work

Aspect	Self-Taught	With a Teacher
Hand position correction	Hard to spot your own mistakes	Corrected before habits set in
Order of material	Easy to skip and leave gaps	Staged to match your level
Motivation	Relies on personal discipline	Targets and regular feedback
Starting cost	Cheaper	Market estimate IDR 80,000 to 250,000 per session
Grade exam preparation	Very challenging without guidance	Aligned with the ABRSM or Trinity syllabus

How to Learn Piano for Beginners: A Step by Step Guide

Start Learning Piano with the Right Teacher

Numbers Worth Knowing Before You Start Piano

Why technique matters from the start

7 Steps to Learn Piano as a Beginner

Set up your seating, bench height, and distance to the piano

Map the keys: the groups of two and three black keys

Build hand position and finger numbering

Train five-finger control and each hand separately

Read sheet music slowly and connect it to the keys

Practise with a metronome to build steady rhythm

Combine both hands and play a complete first song

Instrument Choices for Beginners at Home

Acoustic Piano

Digital Piano

Keyboard

Self-Taught vs Learning with a Teacher

A Beginner's Daily Practice Checklist

Questions About Learning Piano as a Beginner

Sources & References