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Pianoforall Review: What's Inside and Who It Suits (Adult Beginner Guide)
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Disclosure first: links to Pianoforall on this page are affiliate links, so if you buy through them I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This review is based on the course’s public materials, its published curriculum and feedback from adult learners in reviews and forums. It is not a story of personal results, and it includes the drawbacks.
Pianoforall is one of the longest-running self-paced piano courses sold online, and it comes up again and again when adults ask where to start. This review covers what’s actually inside, how the method is designed to work, what learners tend to like and dislike, and, most importantly, who should not buy it.
Pianoforall in one paragraph
Pianoforall is a self-paced piano course created by Robin Hall, a UK-based piano teacher. It’s sold through ClickBank as a one-time purchase. You get a set of ebooks (PDFs with embedded video and audio links) that you work through in order. The big idea is chords and rhythm first: you learn to accompany songs in a “party piano” style before formal reading. Later books cover blues, ballads, jazz, classical pieces and speed learning. There’s no subscription and no app; it works on any computer, tablet or phone and with any keyboard or piano.
What’s inside
The course is organized as a series of ebooks. Broadly, they cover:
- Rhythm style (“party time”) piano: basic chords, then a set of rhythm patterns you can apply to almost any song. This is the heart of the course.
- Blues and rock ‘n’ roll: twelve-bar blues, boogie patterns, simple improvisation.
- Chord magic: a system for learning every chord shape and inversion, with memory tricks.
- Ballad style: fuller arrangements with arpeggios and broken chords: the “sounds like a real pianist” stage.
- Jazz: seventh chords, extended chords and jazz progressions.
- Taming the classics: simplified classical pieces with more reading.
- Speed learning: ways to learn and memorize new pieces faster.
Each lesson is short: a page or two of text, a diagram, and a video of Robin’s hands at the keyboard demonstrating it. The sales page lists hundreds of video and audio lessons in total. A learner can comfortably fit one or two lessons into a practice session.
Check the official sales page for the current list of books, price and bonuses; these change from time to time.
How the method is designed to work
The course is meant to be followed in order. Based on its published structure, a typical path looks like this:
Early lessons: basic chords (C, F, G, Am and friends) and a first rhythm pattern, so a learner can play a recognizable version of a simple song early on. For adults coming from one-handed exercise books, this is the main draw.
Next: more rhythm patterns, each a bit trickier, and more chords. Each new rhythm can be applied to any chord sheet, so one pattern opens up many songs.
Then: blues and the “chord magic” system, which teaches chords as a few repeatable patterns instead of 24 separate shapes to memorize.
Later: ballad style and jazz, where playing moves from chords-plus-melody toward fuller arrangements. Progress through these sections varies widely from person to person.
It pairs well with a short daily routine like my 15-minute practice routine: one lesson in the focus block, review of the previous lesson, then a song for fun.
What learners tend to like
It gets you playing real music early
This is the strongest argument for it. For adults, motivation is everything, and playing recognizable songs early is enormously motivating. The rhythm-style approach means you’re never playing exercises for their own sake.
The patterns are reusable
Every rhythm pattern and chord trick works across many songs. Once you know a ballad pattern, you can use it on any chord sheet from the internet. That’s a different feeling from learning songs one at a time.
It explains why
Robin explains the reason behind chord shapes and progressions, in plain English. Concepts like the circle of fifths and chord families are introduced when they become useful.
One-time purchase, works with anything
No subscription to forget about. No need for a MIDI keyboard or an app that listens to you. An acoustic piano with no USB port works fine. You can download the books and use them offline.
The 60-day refund
ClickBank sales of Pianoforall come with a 60-day refund window, which takes much of the risk out of trying it. Check the current terms on the sales page before buying.
Common complaints
It looks dated
The ebooks and videos look like they were made some years ago, because many of them were. The page design is plain and the videos are simple hand-cam shots. If you’re used to polished apps, it can feel old-fashioned. It’s the most common complaint in reviews, though many learners say they stop noticing after a while.
No feedback on your playing
Nobody hears you play. Unlike apps that listen through a microphone, you have to compare your playing with the videos and judge yourself. Posture and tension problems can go unnoticed. That’s why I’d recommend at least a few lessons with a teacher to anyone learning from any self-paced course.
Reading comes later
If your main goal is reading classical sheet music, this isn’t the most direct path. Reading is covered, especially in the classics book, but it’s not the focus in the early books. Classical-focused learners might be happier with a teacher and a traditional method book. My sheet music guide is a start either way.
Navigation is clunky
Jumping between PDFs and video links isn’t as smooth as a modern app. A simple fix is printing the pages for the current lesson and keeping the videos open on a tablet.
British song choices and terminology
Mostly irrelevant, but a few song references and terms are more familiar to UK readers. You’ll adapt in a day.
Who Pianoforall is for
- Adult beginners who want to play songs, sing along, or play at family gatherings.
- People who tried traditional lessons and quit because of the exercise-heavy start.
- Self-motivated learners who are fine working from ebooks and videos.
- Anyone with any instrument, including acoustic pianos without MIDI.
- People who prefer a one-time purchase to subscriptions.
Who should skip it
- If you want a classical, reading-first path (grades, exams, Chopin), get a teacher.
- If you need feedback to stay motivated, a gamified app may suit you better.
- If old-fashioned design will stop you opening it, take that seriously. The best course is the one you use.
- If you’re expecting to be a fluent pianist in a few weeks. No course can do that, and this one doesn’t promise it in its lessons. It takes regular practice over months.
Pianoforall compared with alternatives
| Pianoforall | Gamified apps | Live teacher | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment | One-time | Subscription | Per lesson |
| Focus | Chords, rhythm, playing by ear | Reading via falling notes | Tailored |
| Feedback | None | Automatic | Human |
| Equipment | Any piano or keyboard | Mic or MIDI | Any |
| Best for | Song players, accompanists | Gamers, short sessions | Classical, technique |
For more options, see the full comparison page and online piano lessons compared.
How to get the most out of it if you buy it
- Go in order, especially the first book. Skipping ahead to jazz is tempting. The rhythm patterns are the foundation.
- One lesson per day is plenty. Some days, half a lesson.
- Apply every pattern to a song you love. Use any chord sheet online.
- Record yourself every month. Since the course can’t hear you, you need to.
- Book a teacher check-in occasionally to catch posture problems early.
- Print the current pages. Easier than flipping between PDF and video.
Verdict
For adult beginners who want to play songs rather than pass exams, Pianoforall is a reasonable choice. It’s not pretty and it can’t hear you, but its chord-and-rhythm-first design is aimed squarely at getting adults playing real music early, which is what keeps many people practicing. Results depend entirely on your own practice; no course can promise them.
If you’re a classical-focused learner or you need automatic feedback, look elsewhere. Otherwise, with the 60-day refund, it’s a low-risk thing to try.
See what’s inside Pianoforall →
Frequently asked questions
Is Pianoforall good for complete beginners?
Yes. Book one starts from the very beginning, with where to put your hands and your first chords.
Can I use Pianoforall on a keyboard?
Yes. Any keyboard or piano works. A 61-key keyboard covers the early books; 88 keys are better later. See keyboard vs piano for beginners.
Is it a subscription?
No. It’s a one-time purchase through ClickBank. Check the sales page for the current price.
Can I get a refund?
ClickBank lists a 60-day refund window for Pianoforall at the time of writing. Check the current terms before buying.
How long does it take to finish?
It depends entirely on your practice time. The later sections (jazz, classics) take most learners many months, and many people use it as a long-term reference rather than something to “finish.”