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If you’re searching for an honest Pianoforall review, you probably want to know three things. Does it suit an adult beginner? What do you actually get? And is it worth the money compared with apps, books or a teacher? In this review I look at the course the way I’d look at any teaching method: its approach, its structure, what it covers well and where it falls short. My aim is to help you decide whether it fits your goals, not to sell it to everyone.
One note on how this review was put together: it’s a teacher’s assessment of the course content and method as published by the vendor on pianoforall.com, including its course outline, FAQ and lesson descriptions. It isn’t a report of personal progress results, and I won’t make claims about how fast you’ll learn. Prices and terms below were checked on the official site in November 2026 and can change.
Pianoforall at a glance
- What it is: a self-paced online piano course with video lessons and downloadable ebooks
- Approach: chords and rhythm first, with reading introduced gradually (“play first, read later”)
- Best for: adult beginners and returners who want to play popular styles and play by ear
- Not ideal for: exam preparation, strict classical training or young children
- Price: one-time $49 at the time of writing (listed as reduced from $79), lifetime access
- Trial and guarantee: 7-day free trial (payment details required) and a 60-day money-back guarantee via ClickBank
What is Pianoforall?
Pianoforall is an online piano course created by Robin Hall, who describes himself on the site as a piano teacher with more than 30 years’ experience. It’s designed mainly for adult beginners, and for people who had lessons years ago and want to start again. The publisher says it has been used by over 500,000 students.
The core idea is “play first, read later”. Instead of starting with sheet music, you begin with simple chords and rhythms so you’re making music from the start. Reading music is introduced gradually, linked to pieces you’ve already played by ear.
What’s included
According to the official site, a Pianoforall purchase includes:
- Pianoforall Academy: an online course player with the lessons in order. It saves your progress, and you can replay videos and change playback speed.
- 568 lessons (the number stated on the trial page), presented as short demonstrations you watch and then try yourself
- 10 downloadable ebooks with embedded video and audio, so you can learn offline once they’re downloaded
- The Piano Lounge: a student community for questions and sharing progress
- Email support from the course creator
- Lifetime access, with future updates to the course included
You can use it on a computer, tablet or phone. You play along on your own acoustic piano, digital piano or keyboard. No MIDI connection is needed.
What the course covers
The official course outline moves through these areas, roughly in order:
| Section | What it teaches |
|---|---|
| Rhythm style piano | Popular rhythm patterns, basic chords and classic song progressions |
| Blues and rock ‘n’ roll | Left-hand patterns, riffs and rhythms in the early rock style |
| Chords and inversions | A chord chart and speed exercises for changing chords smoothly |
| Advanced chords | Richer chords with practice progressions in popular styles |
| Ballad style and improvising | Broken-chord patterns, melody, fills, sustain pedal and creating your own melodies |
| Jazz | Jazz chord shapes, runs, riffs and blues scales |
| Advanced blues | More sophisticated blues techniques and improvising |
| Classical | Reading music applied to pieces by composers such as Beethoven, Bach and Chopin |
| Speed learning | Scales, arpeggios, exercises and memory tricks in every key |
Separate “Classics By Ear” courses for people who mainly want classical music are sold through Pianoforall Academy. They aren’t part of the core course.
Price, free trial and guarantee
At the time of writing, the official site lists:
- Price: a one-time payment of $49, shown as a sale price against a normal price of $79. There’s no subscription or monthly fee.
- 7-day free trial: full access for seven days. Payment details are required, and $49 is charged after seven days unless you cancel through ClickBank before the trial ends.
- 60-day money-back guarantee: you can request a refund through ClickBank within 60 days of payment.
Pianoforall is sold through ClickBank, which acts as the retailer, so orders, cancellations and refunds go through ClickBank. Always check the current price and terms on the official page before you buy.
Pianoforall review: the teaching approach from a teacher’s point of view
Chords and rhythm first
Starting with chords and rhythm is a sound choice for adults who want to play popular music, accompany singing or play by ear. Chords are the backbone of most songs, so learning them early means early pieces sound full and satisfying, and that keeps people practising. I take a similar chords-first approach in my own free guide on how to learn piano chords.
Small, cumulative steps
The publisher describes lessons as small steps: three chords, then a rhythm, then a variation, then a melody note or fill. That’s how good practice works. Adding one new element at a time is much less overwhelming than a new piece every lesson, and it builds transferable patterns rather than one-off songs.
Reading comes later
Reading isn’t skipped. It’s introduced gradually and linked to music you’ve already played. For many adults that’s a gentler entry. For anyone whose main goal is sight-reading, though, it means fluent reading arrives later than in a traditional method.
Playing by ear and improvising
Ear playing and improvising run through the course rather than being bolted on at the end. That’s a real strength if you want to sit down and play without a score. My free guide on how to play piano by ear covers the basics, and Pianoforall develops the same ideas in much more depth.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Chords-first approach gets adults playing real-sounding music early | No live feedback on your playing. It doesn’t listen to you the way some apps or a teacher do |
| Wide range of styles: rhythm, ballads, blues, jazz, classical | Sight-reading comes later than in traditional methods |
| One-time payment with lifetime access, no subscription | The free trial needs payment details and converts to a $49 charge unless you cancel |
| Online player plus offline ebooks with embedded video and audio | Requires self-discipline. There’s no schedule or teacher keeping you on track |
| 60-day money-back guarantee via ClickBank | Not designed for young children (the publisher recommends a children’s course for them) |
| Community forum and email support from the creator | Less suited to exam-focused or strictly classical goals |
Who Pianoforall is for (and who it isn’t)
It’s a good fit if you:
- Are an adult beginner who wants to play popular songs, ballads or blues
- Want to accompany singing or play by ear rather than always reading
- Had lessons as a child, can read a little but can’t “just play”
- Prefer a single payment to a monthly subscription
- Like learning at your own pace from video
It’s probably not the best fit if you:
- Want to prepare for formal graded exams or focus on classical repertoire and sight-reading from the start
- Need real-time feedback on every note, as some apps provide by listening to your playing
- Are buying for a young child
- Know you need external accountability, like a weekly lesson, to stay motivated
Pianoforall vs other ways to learn
| Option | Cost model | Feedback | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pianoforall | One-time payment | Self-checking, community and email support | Adults wanting chords, styles and playing by ear |
| Subscription apps (e.g. Flowkey, Simply Piano) | Monthly or yearly subscription | Many apps listen and react to your playing | Learners who like gamified practice and song libraries |
| Private teacher | Per lesson | Detailed, personal and immediate | Exams, technique and classical goals, accountability |
| Free videos and books | Free or low cost | None | Very tight budgets and self-starters, if you plan your own path |
Many adults combine options. They might use a course for structure, with an occasional lesson to check posture and technique. If you’re going it alone, my guide on how to teach yourself piano lays out a free step-by-step plan.
What you’ll need to get started
The publisher recommends a keyboard with at least 61 full-size, touch-sensitive keys and a sustain pedal, or ideally an 88-key weighted digital piano. That matches what I’d recommend for any beginner. It also suggests 15–20 minutes of regular practice rather than long, occasional sessions, which is good advice whatever method you use. For realistic expectations about progress, see my guide on how long it takes to learn piano.
Thinking about trying it? You can explore the full course with the 7-day free trial (payment details required; cancel before day seven to pay nothing) or buy outright for a one-time $49, both with a 60-day money-back guarantee from the vendor. Check the current price and trial on the official site.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pianoforall good for complete beginners?
Yes. It assumes no prior knowledge and starts with simple chords and rhythms, building up in small steps. It suits adults and teens best. The publisher recommends a dedicated children’s course for younger kids.
Is Pianoforall a subscription?
No. At the time of writing it’s a one-time payment of $49 for lifetime access, including future course updates. Check the official site for the current price.
Does Pianoforall teach you to read music?
Yes, but gradually. You start by playing chords and rhythms, and reading is introduced later and linked to pieces you’ve already played. That makes it gentler, but slower to fluent sight-reading than a traditional method.
Can I get a refund if Pianoforall isn’t for me?
The vendor offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, and refunds are requested through ClickBank within 60 days of payment. If you’re on the free trial, cancel before the seven days end to avoid being charged.
Do I need a full 88-key piano?
No. A keyboard with at least 61 full-size, touch-sensitive keys and a sustain pedal is enough to start, according to the publisher. An 88-key weighted digital piano is better if you have the budget and space.
Verdict
As a teaching method, Pianoforall makes sense for its target audience. It’s an adult-friendly, chords-first path that covers a wide range of styles and puts playing by ear at the centre, at a one-time price with a long guarantee. Its main limitations are the ones you’d expect from a self-paced video course: no live feedback, the need for self-discipline, and reading that comes later. If your goal is to play songs, ballads and blues and to feel free at the keyboard, it’s well worth a look. If you want exams or strict classical training, a teacher or a reading-first method will serve you better.
Not ready to buy anything? You can start for free with my guides to easy songs to learn on piano and piano scales for beginners, or browse more honest reviews in the Courses, Apps & Reviews section.