Piano Lessons For Absolute Beginners (Udemy.com)
Learn Notes on the Piano Keyboard and Music Staff, and Basic Scales and Chords
Created by: Mantius Cazaubon
Last updated August 2018
Our take
Based on the ratings of 6,788 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in August 2018. No course pays to be reviewed.
A free, one hour primer on the piano keyboard and the music staff. Mantius Cazaubon walks through the white and black keys, sharps and flats, middle C, the treble and bass clefs, then finishes with major scales and basic major and minor chords. That is the whole thing: 24 short lectures, 63 minutes, one quiz. It is built for people who have never touched a keyboard and want to know what the keys are called before they try to play anything.
Reviewers like how plainly he explains things. Nearly 4,000 of the 6,788 ratings are 5 star, and the written 5 star reviews say the same thing in different words: clear, simple, easy to remember, good structure. The complaints are about depth. One 3 star reviewer says the early major scales are taught well but the rest are rushed, and the minor scales get a one minute video with no explanation. Another wanted a demo of reading notes on the staff, and a 4 star reviewer wanted more on chords. Nobody learns a song here.
It was last updated in 2018. That matters less here than it would for a software course, since note names and clefs don't change. Because it costs nothing and takes about an hour, the value is easy to call. Take it as a first step, then move to something with actual pieces to play. Pianoforall, which sits beside it in our Music picks, is the obvious next stop for anyone who wants to play songs rather than name keys.
Pros
- Free, and only 63 minutes across 24 short lectures, so it fits in one sitting.
- Reviewers repeatedly call the explanations clear and easy to remember, even with no musical background.
- Covers keyboard layout, sharps and flats, both clefs, ledger lines, major scales and basic chords in order.
- About 89 percent of the 6,788 ratings are four or five stars.
Cons
- Later major scales and the minor scales are rushed; one reviewer was lost in the one minute minor scale video.
- No songs or pieces to play, and no demo of reading notes on the staff while playing.
- Last updated in 2018, with English captions only.
Very easy and straightforward! helped me get a lot of basic fundamentals as a beginner with no musical background, just what I needed to get started on learning the piano.
Genuinely for absolute beginners; the instructor says outright it is not for anyone who can already label a keyboard or read notes.
What you will learn
- Label any piano keyboard. Know the notes that correspond to every key.
- Understand the notes of the piano keyboard and music staff.
- Form and play major scales on piano.
- Form and play major and minor chords on piano.
- Read notes on the treble and bass clef.
Course content
10 sections · 24 lectures · 1.1 hours of video 1 quiz, 2 articles
- 1Introduction to Beginner's Piano Course 1 free preview1 lecture · 3 min
- 2The White Keys, 2 + 3 Black Keys Pattern1 lecture · 1 quiz · 5 min
- 3The Black Keys, Sharps and Flats3 lectures · 7 min
- 4Half Steps and Whole Steps (Semitones and Whole Tones)2 lectures · 3 min
- 5Piano Keyboard Layouts/Diagrams and Middle C2 lectures · 5 min
- 6How to Read Notes: the Staff, Treble Clef and Bass Clef2 lectures · 6 min
- 7Ledger Lines (Leger Lines), Notes on the Keyboard and Staff, and Accidentals2 lectures · 5 min
- 8How to Play Major Scales on Piano5 lectures · 16 min
- 9How to Play Basic Piano Chords - Major and Minor Chords4 lectures · 9 min
- 10Summary and Conclusion2 lectures · 6 min
Who it is for
The instructor says it suits
- This course is for absolute beginners. It's for students who are new to the piano and keyboard.
- This course is for new piano students in search of a solid foundation and introduction to the piano and keyboard.
- If you can easily label any piano or keyboard, no matter how many keys it has, and know how to read notes, this course is NOT for you.
- This course is NOT for intermediate students or those who can already play.
What you need before you start
- You should have access to a piano or keyboard but you can take this introductory course without one.
- No prior musical knowledge is required.
Course Description
First Piano Lessons - Learn Piano Notes on the Keyboard and Music Staff, and Basic Chords and Scales.
This absolute beginner's course will teach you how to play piano and keyboard. This is the perfect first course and introduction to piano music. You will learn to play the piano from scratch.
Would you like to play beautiful, entertaining piano music and impress your friends and family? Are you ready to be treated like a celebrity by everyone who hears you play? Or maybe you want to take things further and become a professional player, thrilling audiences all over. If so, you need to enroll in this course.
This piano course is for the complete beginner who wants to thoroughly understand the notes of the piano keyboard and music staff, as well as basic scales and chords. It takes you from the very beginning. If you are new to the instrument, this is the perfect course for you.
Many piano courses are too advanced for beginners. They delve into advanced concepts that leave you confused. This course corrects that mistake. It lays the foundation you need and keeps everything simple and easy.
By the time you are through with the various lessons, you will have understood the notes of the piano keyboard and music staff. You will know how to read notes. You will know basic scales and chords. You will have an excellent foundation in piano music and will be well on your way.
If you're an absolute beginner in search of an amazing introductory piano course that teaches you how to play the piano quickly and easily, you absolutely need this one.
Here's a preview of what you will learn:
- The Notes of the White Keys
- 2 + 3 Black Keys Pattern
- The Notes of the Black Keys
- Sharps and Flats
- Half Steps and Whole Steps
- Piano Keyboard Layouts/Diagrams
- Middle C on Piano Keyboard
- How to Read Notes
- The Music Staff, Treble Clef and Bass Clef
- Ledger Lines
- Notes on the Keyboard and Staff
- Accidentals (Sharps and Flats) on the Music Staff
- How to Play Scales on Piano
- How to Play Basic Piano Chords
- A Lot More
Instructor Details
- 4.6 Rating
6,788 Reviews
Mantius Cazaubon
Mantius Cazaubon is an extremely talented and hardworking musician. He has been playing piano and keyboards for over 20 years and is the author of 14 piano lessons and music theory books, including several Amazon bestsellers. A leading songwriter, composer and music artiste, he has recorded numerous hit songs, won multiple Caribbean music awards and consistently topped music charts.
Mantius has an enormous passion for teaching and adding value to others. This has led him to create several niche websites over the years, such as piano lessons website, Piano-Keyboard-Guide, where he imparts his musical knowledge and serves thousands daily.
On his new journey as a Udemy lecturer, he continues to over-deliver, and takes his passion to new heights, staying true to his mission of helping, sharing and inspiring others.
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Reviews
By Josias TEKLE on 6/21/2025
The course was good but I had a lot of bad experiences with the course, First at the start or the course but then what happened with the course will shock you because it was unpaused and it was not playing. But then at the end it started to lag. That's why I left this review.
By Bhairavi Krishnan on 10/27/2020
The first few lessons are good! He talks about the different major scales and how to play them. I’ve been practicing C, F and G major and I am already getting better. But he rushes through the rest of the major scales without going into any detail at all. He also doesn’t even explain what a minor scale is and does a quick one minute video of the different minor scales. I was completely lost in those.
By Sarah Abedi on 5/12/2019
The fundamentals have been dealt with in a very systematic and thorough way. I appreciate the fact that this was shared with no cost. Even though I completed this course within 3 sittings, I went back to review and refresh what I have learnt. It certainly helped me. Lastly, due credit should go to the presenter for doing a great job in this course. His passion is infectious and uplifting for a beginner like me.
By Lorie Sola on 4/5/2019
I gained so much confidence taking this course. Mantius makes everything so clear. With his instruction not only am I playing scales and chords, I know the formula for how to construct them. Also I can now write out my own music (which Mantius suggested) and it's helping me learn to read notes on the staff very quickly. I really recommend the course.
By Muhammad Danish Bin Zulkepleey on 12/20/2017
It is what it is, it's a course for beginners, diving into very basic and fundamental topics about playing the piano. Albeit for beginners, it is still an important course to get the basics right and proper before you move to more advanced stuff. Recommended course for piano beginners out there.
By Brandon Vissa on 4/25/2017
I think it's exactly what is says; a beginner's course for piano. It's greatly friendly for a beginner to appreciate and follow, made simple. I love the charisma & enthusiasm of the gentleman as well which is a bonus; it's enjoyable to have someone that has a great attitude towards what it is they love to do. The simple but indispensable knowledge and passion can be fully appreciated by anyone who has a desire to learn. Thank you very much, keep it up!
By Yvonne Burton on 1/8/2017
I am a 65 years old and a total beginner except for what I learned in primary school over 55 years ago. It made me remember some of the stuff I learnt whilst at school that I had forgotten. I have thoroughly enjoyed the course and I found your teaching and explanations very easy to follow. Now I just need to practice as often as I can. I would recommend any others who wish to learn to play a keyboard to visit your site. Kindest Regards, Yvonne
By Laur Hagan on 12/31/2016
I now have a basic understanding of piano keyboard, notes and chords. The lessons were well presented so that a beginner easily can understand. I will need to practice the piano and study reading music. But what I have learned not only applies to piano, but also can be applied to other musical instruments.
By Lorra Shannon Hill on 10/17/2016
I really want to learn to play the piano yet I am easily overwhelmed with lots of rules or instructions. Mr. Cazaubon spoke clearly and slowly enough for me to follow and the way he broke up each lesson kept me on track and helped me tremendously. I believe I understand the why as well as the how from his teaching. Thank you, Thank you.
By Raiza Williams on 8/4/2016
You definitely get a good taste of what it takes to learn how to play the piano. It helps you make a better decision if you are really interested in learning how to play the piano.I think this course is great because of the encouragement to keep learning from the amount of great details on basic understanding of the piano keys, the notes, and chords; perfect for starters, and because it is free. Thank you Regards
Quality Score
No CourseDuck member has rated this course yet. Taken it? Give each part a thumbs up or down.
Overall Score : 92 / 100





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