Piano

These pages assume no prior experience. If you are choosing an instrument, start with the buying guide; if you already have one, start with first lessons.

Getting started

• First piano lessons — What to cover in your first month.
• How many keys do you need? — 88, 76, or 61, and why action matters more.
• Best digital pianos for learners — What to buy at each budget.

Technique

• Piano fingering fundamentals — The rules that save your hands.
• Piano scales — Every major and minor, with fingering.
• Major scales on piano — All twelve, in order of difficulty.
• Minor scales on piano — Natural, harmonic, and melodic.

Reading and theory

• How to read piano sheet music — The grand staff as one system.
• Circle of fifths on the piano — Why a fifth is a fixed hand span.