Pianoforall is a pay once piano course that teaches chords and rhythm first and sheet music later, from pop and ballads through blues, jazz and classical pieces. For adults who want to sit down and play songs, it is one of the best value picks in our ranked list of online piano lessons.
It costs $49 as a one time payment for lifetime access, with a 7 day free trial and a 60 day money back guarantee. The catch is that nothing listens to your playing, so it suits self starters who can check their own progress.
3.5/5
- 568video lessons
- 1payment, lifetime access
- 9course sections
- 61+keys needed
- 7-dayfree trial
- 60-daymoney back guarantee
Pianoforall is a pay once, chord first piano course that has adults playing pop, ballads, blues, jazz and classical pieces before they read much music. Nothing listens to your playing, so it suits self starters who can check their own progress.
- Best for
Adult beginners and returning players who want to play by ear
- Less suited
Learners who want note by note feedback or early sight reading
- Keyboard
61+ full size, touch sensitive keys and a sustain pedal; no cable needed
- Trial
7 days with payment details; $49 charged unless you cancel
- Price
$49 one time, lifetime access
Who it’s for
Pianoforall is built mainly for adult beginners and for people who had lessons years ago and want to start again. It assumes you know nothing about piano or music and starts with simple chords.
A good fit if you
- Are an adult beginner, or a returning player who wants to play rather than read.
- Want to play popular songs, accompany a singer or improvise.
- Prefer one payment over a monthly subscription.
- Can keep a short practice routine going without reminders.
- Have, or plan to buy, a touch sensitive keyboard with a sustain pedal.
A limited fit if you
- Want an app that hears each note and tells you what went wrong.
- Need strong sight reading early in the course.
- Are buying for a young child, who will do better with a course made for children.
What sets it apart
Most piano apps charge every month and start you on notes. Pianoforall does neither, and three things shape how it feels to use.
Play first, read later
The course starts with a few chord shapes and the rhythms that sit under most popular music. Reading music comes in gradually, once you have already heard and played what is on the page.
That order means you make music in the first lessons rather than after weeks of exercises. The aim is for you to work out a song’s chords and rhythm by ear and simply play.
One payment, lifetime access
There are no monthly fees. You pay once, keep access for as long as the course is offered, and get future course updates at no extra cost.
Online or offline
Lessons play in the Pianoforall Academy course player on a computer, tablet or phone. You also get ebooks with the video and audio built in, which work without an internet connection once downloaded.
How we evaluated Pianoforall
We reviewed Pianoforall. We assessed its curriculum, teaching order, lesson format and who teaches it. We also checked the price, trial, refund and cancellation terms, and the keyboard you need.
We compared it on the four factors in how we score lesson platforms. For setup and ease of use, we assessed devices, access and keyboard needs. For quality of lessons and teachers, we looked at the teaching method and the single teacher format.
For range of content, we compared the styles and levels covered. For useful features, we weighed the course player, offline ebooks, the community and the lack of feedback on your playing.
We found that Pianoforall is strongest for adults who want to play songs by ear for a single payment, and that the lack of feedback on your playing is the main thing to weigh before buying. Commissions do not influence which products appear here or how they rank.
Our scores
- Setup and ease of use: 4/5. Access is instant in a browser, progress saves, and the ebooks work offline. Any keyboard with 61 full size, touch sensitive keys and a sustain pedal will do, with no cable or MIDI needed.
- Quality of lessons and teachers: 3.5/5. Robin Hall teaches the whole course in short steps that each add one new idea. One teacher keeps things consistent, but there is no one to check your hands.
- Range of content: 4/5. Rhythm piano, ballads, blues, jazz, improvising, classical pieces and scales in every key sit in one course. Sight reading stays lighter than in a reading first method.
- Useful features: 2.5/5. You get offline ebooks, The Piano Lounge community and email help from the creator. Nothing listens to your playing, and progress tracking stops at saved lessons.
- Overall: 3.5/5.
What you need to use Pianoforall
- A device: a computer, tablet or phone with a web browser. You can also screen share to a TV.
- A keyboard or piano: at least 61 full size, touch sensitive keys and a sustain pedal. An 88 key weighted digital piano is better if you have the budget and space, and an acoustic piano works too.
- No cables: your keyboard does not connect to the course, so MIDI is not needed.
- Time: 15 to 20 minutes of regular practice works better than one long weekly session.
Getting started
Five steps take you from checking your keyboard to the end of the trial. Take them in order so the trial week goes on playing.
First session checklist
- Check that your keyboard has touch sensitive keys and a sustain pedal.
- Choose the 7 day free trial or buy straight away. The trial asks for payment details.
- Sign in to Pianoforall Academy and start at the first lesson, even if you have played before.
- Practice 15 to 20 minutes regularly and replay any lesson as often as you need.
- Before day 7, decide whether to keep going or cancel.
Curriculum deep dive
The course runs in a set order, and each section builds on the one before. Returning players can move faster through the early parts.
Rhythm piano and ballads
You start with 15 popular rhythms, then learn ballad style broken chords with melody notes and fills. This is also where you learn to use the sustain pedal properly.
Blues and rock and roll
Left hand blues patterns and a few right hand notes are your first steps into improvising. Classic blues and rock and roll rhythms and riffs follow.
Chords, inversions and advanced chords
Inversions and a chord chart help you change chords quickly. Advanced chords come next, with extra practice progressions in the style of popular songs.
Improvising and jazz
You learn to create your own melodies over chords, then move on to jazz chord shapes, runs, riffs and blues scales. Theory is explained as you go rather than up front.
Reading and classical pieces
Reading is introduced alongside playing by ear, and the classical section covers pieces by Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, Mozart, Strauss and Brahms. You learn each piece by ear first, with the written music as support.
Scales and an advanced blues course
Scales and exercises in every key come with memory tricks to speed things up. An Advanced Blues Piano course takes improvising over blues rhythms further.
Lessons and practice tools
- 568 video lessons, short and in a set order, so you always know what comes next.
- Replay and speed control: watch, pause and replay any video, and change the playback speed.
- Ebooks with video and audio built in, plus keyboard diagrams and printable materials.
- Saved progress, so you can stop and come back where you left off.
Help and feedback
What you get
- The Piano Lounge, a community where you can ask questions and share progress, with Robin taking part.
- Email help answered by Robin.
- Simple mindfulness ideas in the course to help you stay relaxed and focused.
Pianoforall is video and ebook only: nothing listens to your playing, and there is no automatic pitch or note detection. Help is by email; there are no live lessons inside the $49 course.
What you do not get
- Note detection or a score on your playing.
- Video feedback from a teacher.
Pros and cons
Where it’s strong
- One payment of $49 with lifetime access and no subscription
- A chord first method that has you playing real music in the first lessons
- A wide style range, from rhythm piano and ballads to blues, jazz and classical
- 568 video lessons plus ebooks that work offline
- A 7 day free trial and a 60 day money back guarantee
- Email help from the creator and a student community
Where it falls short
- Nothing listens to your playing, so mistakes can go unnoticed
- One teacher throughout, with no video feedback
- Sight reading arrives later than in a reading first method
- The trial needs payment details and charges $49 after 7 days unless you cancel
Price, trial and refund
One course, one payment: $49 in the US for the complete course and lifetime access. Prices can change, so check the order form before you pay.
| Option | US price | Includes | Trial | Refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy now | $49 one time | The complete course, lifetime access | n/a | 60 day money back guarantee |
| 7 day free trial | $0 for 7 days, then $49 one time | The complete course | 7 days | 60 day money back guarantee |
Payments run through an outside payment processor. To cancel, use the order details in your confirmation email, or email Pianoforall for help.
Watch out for
- The free trial asks for payment details and charges $49 on day 7 unless you cancel first.
- Refunds must be requested within 60 days of payment.
- Lifetime access lasts for as long as the course is offered and supported.
- The Classics By Ear courses are sold separately from the main course.
How to judge it during the free trial
The trial is 7 days, then $49 unless you cancel. The 60-day money-back window still applies after purchase.
- Play the same easy chord progression on day 1 and day 6 and note timing and clarity.
- Work through Book 1 far enough to learn a full left-hand pattern and a simple song shape.
- Download or open the matching ebook section and confirm the video-plus-ebook format works on your device.
- There is no pitch detection here, so judge the course on clarity of the videos and whether you can play without a teacher watching.
- Cancel before day 7 if you do not want the $49 charge, or use the 60-day refund path with your order email if you buy and then change your mind.
How it compares
| Course | Payment | Devices | How it hears you | Lesson style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pianoforall | One payment | Web browser on computer, tablet or phone; offline ebooks | It does not | Video lessons from one teacher, chord first |
| Simply Piano | Subscription | iOS, Android, Chromebook | Microphone or MIDI | App led paths |
| flowkey | Subscription | iOS, Android, web browser | Microphone or MIDI | Video of a pianist’s hands |
| Playground Sessions | Subscription | iOS, Android, Windows, Mac | MIDI or USB cable; microphone for acoustic | Bootcamp with video teachers |
Simply Piano
Simply Piano listens as you play and moves you through app led paths on a phone or tablet. It suits learners who want a correction on every note.
flowkey
flowkey teaches songs from video of a pianist’s hands and listens through a microphone or MIDI. It suits players who want to learn specific songs with feedback, and our flowkey review covers it in full. If those two apps are your shortlist, read flowkey and Simply Piano compared.
Playground Sessions
Playground Sessions runs on Windows and Mac as well as phones and tablets, with a structured Bootcamp. It suits learners who want feedback while reading real notation at a computer.
When to choose an alternative
- Choose Simply Piano over Pianoforall if you want an app to check every note you play.
- Choose flowkey over Pianoforall if you mostly want to learn specific songs with feedback.
- Choose Playground Sessions over Pianoforall if you want feedback and early note reading at a computer.
Who should skip it
- Sight reading first learners: reading arrives later than in a reading first method.
- Learners who want feedback: nothing listens to your playing.
- Parents of young children: a course built for kids is a better fit.
FAQs
How much does Pianoforall cost?
Pianoforall costs $49 in the US as a one time payment, with lifetime access.
Is Pianoforall a subscription?
No. It is a one time purchase with no monthly fees, and future course updates are included.
Does Pianoforall have a free trial?
Yes. The 7 day trial opens the complete course and needs payment details. Cancel before it ends to pay nothing.
What is the Pianoforall refund policy?
Every purchase comes with a 60 day money back guarantee. Request the refund within 60 days of payment, using the order details in your confirmation email.
What do you get with Pianoforall?
You get Pianoforall Academy with 568 video lessons, ebooks with video and audio built in for offline use, and access to The Piano Lounge community.
Who created Pianoforall?
Robin Hall, a piano teacher for more than 30 years, created Pianoforall in 2006 and teaches the whole course.
What keyboard do I need?
A keyboard with at least 61 full size, touch sensitive keys and a sustain pedal. An 88 key weighted digital piano is better, and nothing needs to connect to the course.
Do I need to read music to start?
No. You start by listening, watching and playing chords and rhythms, and reading music is introduced gradually.
Does Pianoforall give feedback on my playing?
No. Nothing listens to your playing. You can ask questions in The Piano Lounge or by email instead.
Is Pianoforall good for children?
It is designed for adults, and teenagers can use it too. Younger children usually do better with a course made for children.
Pianoforall gives you a full chord first education for a single payment, as long as you can be your own coach. The 7 day trial is the easy way to see whether the play first approach clicks for you. For more options, see our best online piano lessons.
