How to Play Piano For Beginners (The ONLY Video You'll Need!)

For this video, I wanted to create the ultimate guide on how to play piano for beginners!

It's a little long, but I wanted to make sure you had everything you needed to get started... Including melodies, chords, technique, arranging, music theory, and more.

So if you've ever wanted to learn piano but didn't know where to start, I've got you.

Learning how to play piano should be a fun experience, so I tried my best to balance being thorough with keeping the lesson engaging as well.

Enjoy!
- Corey

🎹 My Keyboard Recommendations

Lesson Timestamps
*Intro*
0:00 Topics We’ll Cover
0:46 Pianist Mindset
2:13 The Song Equation

*Section 1 - Orientation*
2:42 Piano Orientation
3:56 Don’t Label the Keys
4:17 The Best Orientation Exercise
6:27 Orientation Action Step
6:50 Sharps & Flats

*Section 2 - My Biggest Shortcut*
9:45 My Biggest “Shortcut”

*Section 3 - Major & Minor*
11:41 Major & Minor Intro
13:05 Intervals
13:40 Chord Construction
14:18 Major & Minor Explanation
17:33 Major & Minor Examples
19:41 Chord Symbols
20:09 Major & Minor Action Steps

*Section 4 - Learning Songs Pt. 1*
21:08 Learning Songs Pt. 1: Chords
22:31 Simplifying Other Chords
24:21 Learning Songs Action Step

*Section 5 - Sounding Professional*
25:28 Sounding More Professional Than You Are

*Section 6 - Melodies*
28:11 Melodious Melodies
28:44 Piano Man
31:01 Piano Man Action Step
31:16 Don’t Stop Believin’
32:44 Don’t Stop Believin’ Action Step

*Section 7 - Technique*
33:01 How to Have Perfect Technique
35:36 Best Technique Exercise
36:29 Technique Action Step
36:35 Bonus Challenge Exercise

*Section 8 - Hands Together*
37:16 Putting Hands Together
37:35 How to Choose Your Own Difficulty
42:27 Applying Arranging
43:16 Hand Synching Action Step

*Section 9 - Learning Songs Pt. 2*
45:16 Learning Songs Pt. 2: Melody+Chords
45:45 Sheet Music
46:28 YouTube Tutorials
46:48 Lead Sheets
47:24 Playing by Ear

*Section 10 - Scales*
48:00 Music Theory Intro
48:50 Why Do We Care About Scales?
51:46 How to Make Scales
51:59 The Golden Scale Formula
55:20 Sharp Vs. Flat Keys
56:22 Biggest Scale Mistake
56:48 Scales Action Step
58:19 Scales For Technique
58:47 Correct Fingers for Scales

*Section 11 - Diatonic Chords*
1:01:25 The Magic of Diatonic Chords
1:04:36 Diatonic Chords Action Step

*Section 12 - Chord Progressions*
1:05:36 Fun With Chord Progressions
1:06:18 The Legendary Chord Progression
1:07:32 The Bad & Good News About Different Keys
1:09:57 Chord Progressions Action Step

*Section 13 - Inversions*
1:11:29 Inversions
1:12:20 Voice Leading

*Section 14 - Minor Scales*
1:14:36 Minor Scales
1:15:12 How to Find Minor Scales

*Section 15 - Q&A*
1:16:59 Miscellaneous Beginner Topics
1:17:09 What Kind of Piano/Keyboard to Get
1:19:14 Best Lesson Book
1:19:45 Are Lesson Books Worth It?
1:20:29 How Long Does it Take to Learn Piano?
1:21:48 Closing Thoughts

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[segiaalapati]

I've just bought myself a keyboard because I've wanting to play piano for so long. Everytime I hear a piano sound or someone playing piano I get excited by it's sound, weird but it's true. I'm in my sixties and I do enjoy your lesson. It's so much knowledge and you're such a patient teacher. Thank you. My reason for learning is to play worship songs. I love worshipping The Lord and I really want to sing and play lots of melodies for The Lord. God bless everyone watching this video. 🙏 for more knowledge and fast learning of new skills and techniques. 😊

[mr.irizarry]

I'm 58 and a total newbie at piano, this video is the only one that actually makes sense to me. Thank you . I'm hooked.

[CrinaPenteleychuk]

This is, by far, the easiest to understand and totally enlightening for beginners. I was so frustrated that I couldn’t understand what to do, but with your video everything becomes easy and clear. I will for sure get your 30 days course as well. Thank you!

[kieranmonaghan]

Hey Corey, I’m Kieran, about to have our 9th child, I love the piano, as a music producer using fruity loops, I’ve never really understood the piano, , , until this video, you’ll literally took the shackles from my feet, I’m now using progressive chords, scales and have a vast understanding. It was basically the way you explained it as nobody else ever did, what a legend, thankyou

[usmcmsgt]

I have watched a ton of YT videos for just got my new and 1st electric piano a Yamaha P-225. A Christmas present to my self but it just got here Dec 28th found this YT video and I'm feeling encouraged.

[UNREDACTEDTRUTH]

WOW! FINDING the major & minor chords this way is MIND BLOWING! THANK YOU! I've just tried to memorize them but this is SO SIMPLE!

[Philip---pip]

I'm 65 years of age, and I had never been near a piano till 2 months ago.
My favourite style inspirstion is blues and boogie woogie.
So having retired with time to filI, I started looking at types of keyboards.
I bit the bullet strsight away and brought a Roland digital fp 30. with fully weighted 88 keys. This was an expensive risk, but I didnt care.
After just 2 months, I find I can already produce melodic patterns, including a basic blues bass riff, and now there is an inner desire to learn more.
Then last week, after a lot of you tube surfing, I stumbled on this video.
Its the perfect tool, Ive wstched it from start to finish a couple of times, and now I dip in at random on bits I think I need to work on.
You see, I think a lot of people who self teach in this way become put off by the thousands of videos and methods out there, as they all concentrate on one aspect at a time.
People get bored and they hop over to another video, and realisticslly its becsuse they cannot fathom how it all fits together to make them become the type of player that they yearn to be.
In my view, this video suns up in one go how the keyboard works, and it gives you all the tools for the job straight away so you can decide for yourself where you need to go with your skills.
To know how scales, keys and chord progressions work are all essential skills from the start.
Im not really bothered about just learning tunes parrot fashion, as without the theory to back it up, that will be all you can play.
Im already loving my new hobby, and wish id started years ago.
This video is priceless.
Well done.

[Nobby]

Wow, I am watching this 6 am on Christmas Day
I have recently retired and have started to learn piano. I bought my keyboard three weeks ago, and in that time I have watched hundreds of videos on how to play.
I’m so glad I found this one it is by far the best and easiest to follow.
Thank you for taking the time to do this.

[skymarkmedia]

I have no music background whatsoever so I just spent the last three months piecing together information so that I could just START learning piano and this guy covered all the basics that anyone needs to know to get started in one video. Wish I found it three months ago. lol. The course looks pretty good too. I think I'm going to give it try. Thanks!

[wilhelminathomas]

Nothing relaxes me more than listening to you play the piano. I'll continue to watch the video again & again. Thank you for making it so simple so anyone can learn. God bless you.❤

[rich]

I'm a recent subscriber and am glad I found you! I'm 80 and have loved music all my life. However, I've never been able to find a way to express it. The way you teach has me excited that I may finally be able to make/play music. After watching a couple of your videos I can see what you've been talking about ..the similarities between songs....etc.
Like I said, I'm excited!

[sherrisaltz]

I have watched YouTube videos for 10 years on playing piano. This is the most insightful ONE video you will ever watch! I am ready to play now!! Thank you Corey. And I will check out your course!

[richardchristensen]

This is revolutionary!
Hope others realize what you've actually put together here as there is so much content!
Back in the VHS tape days this would be deliberately spralled out over a lengthy series that would cost big time!!
You deserve millions of subscribers
I plan to contribute!

[dhienztrack]

I watch your video 3 times.and I will never tire of watching it again

[qicfssu]

Just ordered a keyboard this afternoon, and thought I should check out a ‘first lesson’ video. The first top three from the search were awful; so glad I skipped down the list and found yours. I was riveted from start to finish; playing the practice notes on my knee as you explained them. You have me genuinely excited about the next 1-3 years. Thank you so much.

[babsonbockarie]

Thank you so much sr..
I'm learning piano for the 1st time all the way from sierra Leone, West Africa

[loreliealechner]

I have been playing piano but never understood how to progress. I prayed to God to help me understand piano playing and wallah! .. He led me to this video… and I have watched so many videos but this video explains so much more. I love you for sharing this video. Thank you Sir.

[aDistractedGuy]

Dude, I've learnt more about music an playing piano in an afternoon following through the video than I've learnt in the last 6 months since I've started this journey! Thanks so much for putting this together!

[trudialcala]

best teacher ever! first thing i did was take the note stickers off my keys and it was the best thing i ever did! thank you so much!

[Lexiedoodled]

This video has helped me immensely. Your instruction is simple and easy to follow. The practice prompts are timed in intervals that keep me engaged.