Why Many Learners Choose Pianoforall
Pianoforall is quite different from most piano apps.
It doesn’t rely on games, scores or following notes on a screen. Instead, the emphasis is on learning useful chords, rhythms and patterns that you can apply to lots of different music.
You start mainly by listening, watching and playing. Reading music is introduced gradually as you progress.
The aim isn’t simply to teach you a collection of songs. It’s to give you enough understanding and practical skill to work things out for yourself and eventually sit down at a piano and play.
The Classics By Ear courses use the same approach with classical music, teaching pieces by Bach, Beethoven and Satie in small sections using listening, patterns, keyboard diagrams and written music.
Pianoforall courses are also a one-time purchase with lifetime access rather than an ongoing subscription.
Pianoforall Compared With Other Piano Apps and Courses
There isn’t one course or app that’s right for everyone. They tend to emphasise different ways of learning.
Pianoforall vs Simply Piano
Simply Piano is an interactive app designed to guide you through lessons while listening to what you play. It has a strong emphasis on following structured exercises and songs.
Pianoforall is less app-based. You learn directly from video and ebooks, starting with chords, rhythms and playing by ear, with reading introduced gradually.
If you enjoy an interactive app that responds to your playing, Simply Piano may suit you.
If you prefer a more traditional teacher-led course and want to develop chord playing, rhythm and playing by ear, Pianoforall takes a different approach.
Pianoforall vs flowkey
Flowkey combines video demonstrations with scrolling sheet music and has a large library of songs. Its Wait Mode listens to what you’re playing and waits until you play the correct notes before continuing.
Pianoforall puts more emphasis on transferable skills. Instead of mainly learning individual pieces, you learn chord patterns, rhythm styles and techniques that can be used with many different songs.
Flowkey may appeal if learning particular songs from written music is your main interest.
Pianoforall may suit you better if you also want to improvise, play from chords and gradually become less dependent on written music.
Pianoforall vs Yousician
Yousician listens to your playing and gives immediate feedback on notes and timing. It also uses goals, levels and progress tracking to encourage regular practice.
Some people find that kind of immediate feedback very motivating.
Pianoforall doesn’t use scores or game-style progress systems. The lessons are more like sitting with a teacher and working through a carefully structured course.
Pianoforall vs Skoove
Skoove also uses interactive lessons and listens to your playing so it can give feedback. Its courses cover songs, theory, chords and technique.
Pianoforall is less concerned with the technology listening to you and more concerned with teaching you how music works through chords, rhythms, patterns and listening.
Both can work well for adults, but they offer quite different learning experiences.
Pianoforall vs Playground Sessions
Playground Sessions offers step-by-step lessons, songs, real-time feedback and progress tracking. It currently offers subscription options as well as a lifetime plan, although some copyrighted song access under the lifetime plan has separate time limits and conditions.
Pianoforall is simpler in structure. You buy the course once and work through the lessons at your own pace, with the main emphasis on chords, rhythm, playing by ear and transferable skills.
Pianoforall vs Pianote
Pianote is much closer to a traditional online music school. It offers structured video courses, a large song library, teacher support and an active community.
Pianoforall is a smaller and more focused course.
If you want ongoing access to teachers, a large lesson library and a membership community, Pianote may suit you.
If you prefer one carefully structured course that you can buy once and work through at your own pace, Pianoforall is a different option.
Pianoforall vs Hoffman Academy
Hoffman Academy is particularly well known for teaching children, with video lessons, games, practice material and parent-friendly resources. It also has lessons suitable for older learners.
Pianoforall was created mainly for adults and teenagers.
For a young child, I would generally look at Hoffman Academy before Pianoforall.
Pianoforall vs Piano Marvel
Piano Marvel has a strong emphasis on reading, assessment and measurable progress. Its SASR system is specifically designed to measure sight-reading ability.
Pianoforall begins much more with chords, rhythm and playing by ear.
If sight-reading is your main priority, Piano Marvel is worth looking at.
If you want to become comfortable playing from chords and by ear as well as learning to read, Pianoforall approaches things differently.
Pianoforall vs Piano in 21 Days
Piano in 21 Days probably has more in common with Pianoforall than most of the apps on this page.
It also takes a chord-based approach and is aimed particularly at adults who want to play songs without beginning with traditional notation. Its course is built around a defined 21-day structure.
Pianoforall begins in a similar chord-based way but then develops into rhythm styles, ballads, blues, jazz, improvisation, reading and classical music.
The main difference is probably structure.
Piano in 21 Days gives you a clearly defined programme to work through over a relatively short period.
Pianoforall is broader and is designed to be worked through at your own pace.
Pianoforall vs tonebase Piano
tonebase is really aimed at a different kind of learner.
Its piano section offers hundreds of courses and masterclasses taught by established classical pianists and teachers, with a strong emphasis on interpretation and advanced classical study.
Pianoforall is primarily for beginners and returning players.
If you’re already an experienced classical pianist and want detailed teaching from concert pianists, tonebase is much more appropriate.
If you’re learning from the beginning, Pianoforall is designed for that stage.
Which Type of Course Might Suit You?
If you enjoy interactive feedback, scoring and progress tracking, apps such as Yousician, Skoove, Simply Piano or Playground Sessions may appeal.
If you mainly want to learn particular songs while following written music, flowkey is worth looking at.
If sight-reading is especially important to you, Piano Marvel has tools specifically designed for that.
If you’re choosing something primarily for a young child, Hoffman Academy is worth considering.
If you want ongoing teacher support and a large membership community, Pianote offers that kind of experience.
And if what appeals to you is learning chords, rhythms, playing by ear, improvisation and eventually reading music, Pianoforall was designed around that combination.
A Few Common Questions
Does Pianoforall teach reading music?
Yes.
You simply don’t begin with it.
You start mainly by listening, watching and playing. Reading is introduced gradually as you progress.
Do I need a MIDI keyboard?
No.
You can use an acoustic piano, digital piano or keyboard. Pianoforall doesn’t need to listen to or analyse what you’re playing.
Choosing a Keyboard or Digital Piano
Can I use Pianoforall alongside another app?
Of course.
There’s nothing to stop you using another app for things you particularly enjoy or want extra practice with.
For example, you might use Pianoforall as your main course and use another app for sight-reading or for learning individual songs.
Try Pianoforall for Yourself
Probably the easiest way to decide whether Pianoforall suits you is to try it.
The Free Test Drive gives you access to some lessons so you can see how the course works before you buy anything.
Take the Free Pianoforall Test Drive
Next steps
- Take the free Test Drive.
- Browse the Classics By Ear series and pick a piece you love.
- Set a simple plan: 15–25 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Progress compounds fast.
