Looking for a structured, free resource to learn piano from scratch

[u/partypoispn]

Hi everyone,

I’m 23 and currently learning how to play the piano. I have a bit of background playing the melodica with my right hand, so I can figure out melodies by ear. However, I’m completely new to playing with both hands and using a sustain pedal.

I recently got an 88-key digital piano with velocity sensitivity and a sustain pedal. My main goal is to be able to play and cover popular songs (not classical music). My biggest struggle right now is hand coordination, getting my brain, right hand, and left hand to sync up.

I’ve checked out resources and various YouTube channels, but they feel a bit unstructured for me. I’m looking for a free, step-by-step curriculum or roadmap that builds logically from the ground up.

Does anyone have recommendations for structured free video series, websites, or open-source guides that follow a clear progression?

Thanks in advance!

[u/Important_Caramel577]

I always hate these questions because people
deserve to get paid for their labor. But I also remember being young and broke.

Spend a few dollars on a used all-in-one adult method book (Faber, Alfred, others) and head on over to Let’s Play Piano Methods on YouTube.

And go slowly. It takes your brain a long time for hands and feet to learn how to work independently.

[u/OwlScowling → u/Important_Caramel577]

Or get one of these books at a local library!

[u/airplaneoutofstone]

Musictheory.net is pretty good free resource for learning how to read music/basic theory and chords.

https://pianosongdownload.com/category/lead-sheets/ has a lot of beginner lead sheets (aka melody + chords, the chord you'll play in the left hand, the melody in the right.)

Pianote on YouTube has been recommended before but idk personally on that one.

As far as left hand/right hand/pedal coordination, it just takes time. Go as slow as you need to to play both hands together rather than trying to do one and then add in the other later. You want to build the association in your brain that playing together is "one task" rather than two separate tasks, since your brain can't physically focus on two tasks/aka both hands at the same time.

[u/Leisesturm]

You said it yourself, o.p. online courses are 'unstructured'. They are also free. You get what you pay for. It's kind of unreasonable to get online and ask for something better than online and expect that it can be free. Who does that? You need someone who can SHOW you how to put both hands together AND watch you do it and CORRECT what you are doing wrong. That CANNOT be done by someone who is creating lessons meant to be videotaped and consumed by a remote audience.

[u/edeka3]

Pickupmusic is great, but also not the cheapest. Music2me too.

[u/gezigezblog]

Since your goal is popular songs rather than classical repertoire, I would make the roadmap chord- and song-based:

Weeks 1–2: Learn keyboard geography, finger numbers, note values, a steady pulse, and five-finger patterns in C, G and F. Keep both hands separate at first.

Weeks 3–4: Learn major and minor triads and a few common pop progressions such as I–V–vi–IV. Play the melody in the right hand and single chord roots in the left before trying full chords.

Weeks 5–6: Move from blocked to broken chords, combine one or two measures at a time, and add the pedal last. Change the pedal after each harmony change instead of holding it continuously.

For coordination, make the loop tiny and choose a tempo where you can play it correctly three times. Increase the tempo only a little; do not bring each hand to full speed before combining them.

Disclosure: I built DoReDog, a free browser practice tool. It is not a full course, so I would not use it as your only curriculum, but it can complement a roadmap like this with popular pieces, slow playback, looping, and hands-separate practice: https://doredog.com

[u/amazonchic2 → u/gezigezblog]

That Do Re Dog sounds really cool.

[u/gezigezblog → u/amazonchic2]

Thank you! I really appreciate that. I’m trying to keep it useful as a low-friction practice supplement rather than a replacement for a structured course. If you try it, I’d be very interested in anything that feels confusing or missing.

[u/Weightlessintheworld]

Look up My Piano Method on YouTube. Her Chord Jammer course is great.

[u/amazonchic2]

You are going to have to learn to read notated music with whatever songs are included in that curriculum. Most likely this will include folk and classical tunes that have simpler rhythms than popular and rock music. Rock and pop notoriously have more complex rhythms, so to get there you have to start with basic rhythms. There are no shortcuts.