November 2019. I'm 23, standing in some guy's garage in Burbank, handing over $147 for a Yamaha keyboard that smells faintly like cat. The D key sticks a little. The sustain pedal is held together with electrical tape. This is the beginning of my piano journey.
I didn't have a teacher. Didn't know how to read music. Didn't even really know where middle C was. I made every mistake possible and wasted months on things that didn't matter.
This guide is what I wish existed back then. Everything I've learned, organized in a way that actually makes sense. No fluff, no generic advice – just the real path from zero to actually playing piano.
Before we get into learning, you need something to learn on. If you don't have a keyboard yet, the short version: get something with weighted or semi-weighted keys. This matters more than brand or features. Real piano keys have resistance when you press them. Without that, your fingers won't develop properly.
Budget options that work: Yamaha P-45, Casio CDP-S100, Roland FP-10. All around $400-500 new, less used. If that's too much, even a $200 semi-weighted 61-key gets you started. I cover this in detail in my keyboard buying guide.
Setup matters too. Your keyboard should be at a height where forearms are parallel to floor. Get a proper stand and bench. I practiced on my kitchen table for three months and my back was destroyed. Don't be me. See piano setup at home for the full breakdown.
This is important: piano is hard. Not impossible-hard. Just regular hard. You will be bad at first. You will sound terrible. Your hands won't do what you want. This is normal. Everyone goes through it.
The people who succeed aren't more talented. They're the ones who keep showing up after the initial excitement fades. The ones who practice when they don't feel like it. The ones who push through plateaus instead of quitting.
Expect: 3-6 months before you play recognizable songs. Multiple periods where progress stalls. Frustration with your left hand. Moments of wanting to quit. And eventually, breakthroughs that make it all worth it.
Your first week should be simple. Find middle C – it's the white key directly left of the group of two black keys near the center of your keyboard. Learn the musical alphabet: A through G, then it repeats. Number your fingers 1-5 (thumb to pinky). Put your right hand in C position – thumb on C, one finger per white key up to G.
Play C-D-E-F-G going up. Then G-F-E-D-C going down. Slow. Even. That's your first "scale." Do it with left hand too (pinky on C, going the other direction). I have a complete breakdown in starting from zero.
Don't try to learn songs yet. I know you want to. I tried to play Coldplay on day two. Bad idea. Build the foundation first.
Weeks 2-4 are about building fundamentals. Start reading music – it's not as hard as it looks. The basics can be learned in a few sessions. MusicTheory.net has free lessons that cover everything. I also wrote how to read sheet music from a beginner's perspective.
Work on left hand coordination. This will feel impossible. Your non-dominant hand hasn't done precision work for 20+ years. It needs training. Practice left hand separately, not just with right hand.
Learn your first chords: C major (C-E-G), G major (G-B-D), F major (F-A-C), A minor (A-C-E). Four chords. Practice switching between them until smooth. These four power hundreds of pop songs.
Use a metronome from the start. I resisted for months and my rhythm was garbage. Don't make my mistake.
Months 2-6 are when real progress happens. You should be able to play simple songs now. Start with truly easy stuff – "Lean on Me," "Let It Be," basic arrangements. See my guide to first songs for specific recommendations.
Build a practice routine. Consistency matters more than duration. 15 minutes daily beats 2 hours on weekends. I use the 10-minute rule – commit to just 10 minutes, no exceptions. Usually turns into more, but 10 is the floor.
Structure your practice: warmup with scales or finger exercises, focused work on something difficult, finish with something fun you already know. Warmup, work, reward.
You will hit plateaus. Progress will stall. This is normal – your brain is consolidating before it can level up. I talk about this in dealing with plateaus. Push through by switching what you practice, not by practicing harder.
Around month 3-4 I had my first breakthrough. Played "Lean on Me" start to finish, both hands, no mistakes. 11pm on a random Tuesday. Sat there staring at my hands like "I did that?" That feeling is why people keep playing piano.
Beyond month 6, you're not a complete beginner anymore. You can learn new songs in weeks instead of months. You recognize patterns. Theory starts making sense.
Paths from here: Keep adding songs to your repertoire. Explore different styles – classical vs pop teach different skills. Learn to figure out songs by ear. Go deeper on music theory. Get a teacher if you want faster progress.
The journey doesn't end. Piano is a lifelong skill. There's always more to learn. That's not discouraging – it's exciting. You'll never be bored.
Quick summary: Get a keyboard with weighted keys. Set it up at proper height. Commit to consistent practice, even just 10 minutes. Learn fundamentals before songs. Use a metronome. Expect plateaus. Keep showing up.
You're not too old. You're not too busy. You're not less talented than people who started young. You just need to start. And keep going.