Piano Method Books for Adult Beginners: How to Choose Your First Book

Short answer: The two adult courses you'll hear about most are Faber Adult Piano Adventures (reading, technique and theory together, with publisher videos for each piece) and Alfred's Adult All-in-One (chords and full-sounding accompaniments early). Bastien Piano for Adults is an all-in-one alternative. If you already have a teacher, start with the book they teach from.

This guide is for adults starting piano from scratch, adults coming back after years away, and parents of teens who are too old for a children's primer. It compares the main adult courses fairly, explains how each one changes when you have a teacher, and ends with what to buy first: one book, not a stack.

A note on fairness: we sell some of the books mentioned (marked "our store carries"); we don't sell the Alfred or Faber adult courses. That doesn't change how we describe them. The book your teacher uses, and the music you want to play, should decide.

Why adults need an adult method (not a kids' Level 1 book)

Children's courses are written for young children: big notes, cartoons, short pieces and a slow first year built around small hands and short attention spans. You can learn from them, but an adult course is written for you:

• Adult pacing. Adult courses are written to move through the basics faster than a children's primer, because adults can read instructions, count and follow theory quickly. Your hands still need time; the book just doesn't spend it on things you already understand.
• Music adults recognise. Folk songs, classical themes, blues, hymns, and simple arrangements of tunes you've heard before.
• All-in-one format. The adult courses compared here combine lessons, theory and technique in one book, so you aren't juggling four books from day one.
• An adult look. No cartoon characters, which matters more than people expect when you're practising for months.

Choosing for a child instead? See our Faber vs Alfred vs Bastien comparison for kids' Level 1 books.

The adult method books at a glance

Faber Adult Piano Adventures

Faber's adult course is two all-in-one books. The publisher says it teaches reading, technique and theory, with learning videos for each piece, and describes it as suitable both for a beginning adult and as a refresher for a returning adult. Companion books at each level (Christmas, Classics, Popular, Disney and Literature) let you add pieces in the style you enjoy without changing course. After Adult Books 1 and 2, the publisher says students move into the main Basic Piano Adventures series at Level 3B; its FAQ adds that Level 3A works if you need some review.

What it feels like. Small, regular steps. Each piece is a little harder than the one before, and several adults in r/pianolearning threads describe that gradual climb as encouraging. Compared with Alfred's adult book, the hands tend to move out of a single position sooner (the content analysis below and some teachers on forums note this), which encourages reading by interval rather than by finger number.

Who it suits. Self-directed learners, adults who want to read music properly, and anyone who wants a balance of classical and popular styles with steady technique.

The honest downside. The start can feel slow if you pick things up quickly, and some adults find the song choices hit-and-miss. Adults on forums also mention that moving from the all-in-one adult books into the regular Piano Adventures series means switching to a multi-book format, which not everyone enjoys.

Alfred's Adult All-in-One Course

Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Course, by Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus and Amanda Vick Lethco, comes in three books. Alfred says it is "designed for use with a piano instructor", combines lesson, theory and technique in one book, is an expanded version of Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course, and offers "a thorough explanation of chord theory and playing styles", with folk, classical and contemporary songs.

Watch the name: the Adult All-in-One is not Alfred's Premier or Basic children's courses. If you order "Alfred Level 1", you may end up with a children's book.

What it feels like. You start playing left-hand chords under melodies early, so pieces sound full quickly. That's satisfying, and it's useful if you want to accompany singing or play songs from chord symbols later. Adult learners on r/piano and r/pianolearning often describe Book 1 as chord-heavy, with the hands staying in fixed positions early on. Some also mention a few sudden jumps in difficulty.

Who it suits. Adults who want songs to sound complete soon, who like pop, folk, hymns or singalongs, and who'd like chord fluency early. It works especially well with a teacher, as the publisher intends.

The honest downside. Because the hands stay in position for a while, moving out of that "position mindset" later can be frustrating, and the content analysis below found Faber covers more technique. Some adults find the early pieces a bit old-fashioned. Faber's adult books lead into its main series; with Alfred, adults on forums describe moving on to repertoire after Book 3.

One comparison worth knowing. A 2020 conference paper by J. Zakaria and A.M. Mahzair, comparing the Alfred and Faber adult all-in-one books for non-piano-major university students in group classes in Malaysia, found Alfred's chord approach stronger and its pace quicker (the authors linked that to the students already having a musical background), while Faber covered more technique, such as transposition, improvisation and sight-reading. It reviewed what's on the pages, not how fast students learned, so treat it as a description of the books rather than a verdict.

Bastien Piano for Adults and other Bastien options

Bastien (published by Kjos) has three different routes for older learners. They're easy to mix up, so here's what each is for.

Bastien Piano for Adults, Book 1

The product page describes it as a course designed specifically for adult beginners, combining lessons, theory, technic and sight reading in one book and "gradually paced". The music includes classic themes, folk songs, spirituals, ragtime, blues, boogie and jazz. The current edition includes a code for Kjos's online Interactive Practice Studio, with a digital book and accompaniment recordings, which helps if you're practising on your own. A Book 2 follows. Our store carries Bastien Piano for Adults, Book 1.

One forum discussion described it as straightforward and structured, with a lot of I–IV–V chord work, and less variety than Faber. Pick it if the music appeals to you or if your teacher uses Bastien.

The Older Beginner Piano Course (age 12 and up)

The publisher describes this course as for beginners age 12 and up, using a chord approach: you play and harmonize melodies from the beginning. It's a good fit for teens, and for adults who want chords early. Our store carries The Older Beginner Piano Course, Level 1. An optional companion, Musicianship for the Older Beginner, Level 1 (our store carries it too), adds theory, technic and reading practice that follows the lesson book unit by unit. The product page says students can start it when they reach page 5 of the course book.

Beginning Piano for Adults

This one is different. The product page says it's designed for college-level students (music majors or non-majors) and is divided into four sections: Pre-Reading; Reading; Functional Piano; and Piano Literature, Technique and Style. It's a thorough, academic course of 224 pages, and the product page says its literature section alone has enough material for four semesters. It's best with a teacher and isn't the casual-hobby pick. Our store carries Beginning Piano for Adults.

Teens and "older beginners"

Teens are often too old for a children's primer but don't share adult tastes either. Two courses are written for them:

• Faber Accelerated Piano Adventures for the Older Beginner. Faber says it's for students ages 11 to high school and lets older beginners move through the basics quickly. It uses separate lesson, theory, technique and performance books rather than one all-in-one book. After Accelerated Books 1 and 2, the publisher says students move to Basic Piano Adventures Level 3A.
• Bastien's The Older Beginner Piano Course, for beginners age 12 and up, with its chord approach (see above).

Starting at 12, 14 or 16 is fine. See our guide on what age to start piano lessons.

Which book fits you? A quick decision guide

Learning on your own? Some adults start alone with a book, and the videos and recordings that come with these courses help. A book can't see your hands, though. Tension, wrist position and rhythm habits are hard to notice yourself, so even occasional lessons can help. Our guide to teaching yourself piano covers the trade-offs.

50 or older? Our guide can I learn piano at 50? covers realistic expectations, hands and practice routines.

Buying for a child? That's a different decision. Use our comparison of children's method books.

Returning after years away: Book 1 or Book 2?

If you had lessons as a child or teen, you may not need to start from the very first page. Faber's own advice is to look through both adult books to find the best fit; its FAQ suggests a returning player check out Book 2 and go back to Book 1 for review if it's a struggle. That approach works for any series. Before you buy, ask yourself:

1. Can I still read notes in both treble and bass clef without counting up from a landmark every time?
2. Can I play simple pieces hands together?
3. Do I remember key signatures with one or two sharps or flats?
4. Can I play basic chords (like C, F and G) in the left hand?
5. Can I count dotted rhythms and eighth notes steadily?

If you answered yes to most of these, look at Book 2 and use its first pages as a check. If several were no, start with Book 1. It moves quickly at first, so review won't take long, and filling gaps now saves frustration later. A teacher can usually place you within a lesson or two by hearing you play.

How a method book works with a private teacher

A method book is a map, not a teacher. With a teacher, the same book becomes much more flexible:

• Pacing. A teacher speeds you through pages you already understand and slows down where you need it.
• Skipping and adding. They may skip pieces that don't serve your goals and add supplements: a pop book, a classical collection, sight-reading practice.
• Technique. Hand position, wrist height, arm weight and tension are things a teacher can see and a book can't.
• Songs alongside the book. Teachers often mix method pages with music you actually want to play, which helps keep practice going.
• Practice planning. A teacher can help you set a realistic routine; our guide to how long to practise piano every day has ideas by age and level.

Ask your teacher which method they use before you buy. Many teachers have a favourite and plan lessons around it. Weighing a class against one-to-one lessons? See group vs private piano lessons.

What to buy first (and what can wait)

Buy one core book. That's all you need to start: the adult courses here already include theory and technique. If you have a teacher, buy the book they name. If you don't yet, pick from the decision guide above.

Wait a few weeks before adding anything. Once you know you like the course, a companion book of pieces in your favourite style can add variety. Faber publishes companion books for each adult level, and Bastien publishes supplementary books for the Older Beginner course.

Have something to play on. A full-size keyboard or digital piano with weighted or touch-sensitive keys makes method-book technique easier to apply. See our guide to choosing a digital piano keyboard.

From our store, if Bastien fits: our store carries Bastien Piano for Adults, Book 1, The Older Beginner Piano Course, Level 1 and Beginning Piano for Adults (linked in the Bastien section above). Check with your teacher first if you have one.

After the adult books: what comes next

• Faber: the publisher says students move into Basic Piano Adventures, starting at Level 3B (or 3A for more review), plus companion repertoire books.
• Alfred: after Book 3, you move on to repertoire, ideally chosen with a teacher for your level and taste.
• Bastien: Piano for Adults Book 2 continues the adult course, and The Older Beginner Piano Course has a Level 2.

How long it takes depends on practice time, goals and whether you have a teacher, so there's no standard timeline, and taking longer than you expected is normal. Our guide to how long it takes to learn piano gives a realistic picture.

Ready to start?

Pick one book that suits the music you want to play, or the book your teacher uses, and open it this week. If you'd like help choosing, send a lesson request. It's free. It's free for students, and we'll pass your request to independent teachers who may fit.

Piano teacher who loves working with adult beginners? List your studio on The Best Piano Teachers so adults can find you.

Which adult method book did you start with, and would you pick it again? Tell us in the comments.

Know a friend who keeps saying they'll "finally learn piano this year"? Send them this.