Piano
189 articles · 18 tools
Guides
Wynton Kelly
Wynton Kelly (1931–1971), ranked #33 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the buoyant, swinging accompanist behind Miles Davis and Wes Montgomery — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Willie "The Lion" Smith
Willie "The Lion" Smith (1893–1973), ranked #48 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the flamboyant Harlem stride master and most harmonically daring of the superstriders — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Tommy Flanagan
Tommy Flanagan (1930–2001), ranked #8 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — jazz's most tasteful accompanist, from Coltrane's 'Giant Steps' to a celebrated trio career.
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk (1917–1982), ranked #15 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the singular composer-pianist behind "'Round Midnight" and angular, swinging jazz — with scores to play.
Tete Montoliu
Tete Montoliu (1933–1997), ranked #21 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the blind Catalan bebopper who became Europe's premier jazz pianist — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Teddy Wilson
Teddy Wilson (1912–1986), ranked #23 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the definitive swing stylist of the "walking tenths," a Benny Goodman mainstay — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Roland Hanna
Roland Hanna (1932–2002), ranked #49 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the classically trained Detroit-school pianist, composer and teacher who fused every idiom into one voice — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Red Garland
Red Garland (1923–1984), ranked #10 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the block-chord bluesman who powered the classic Miles Davis Quintet — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Ray Bryant
Ray Bryant (1931–2011), #41 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the gospel-and-blues master of solo piano who wrote 'Little Susie' — with recordings and scores to play.
Ralph Sharon
Ralph Sharon (1923–2015), ranked #46 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: Tony Bennett's longtime pianist and musical director and a master Songbook accompanist — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Phineas Newborn Jr.
Phineas Newborn Jr. (1931–1989), ranked #22 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the phenomenal virtuoso of two-handed octave lines, praised and undervalued alike — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson (1925–2007), ranked #1 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the Montreal virtuoso whose flawless technique and mighty swing defined the jazz piano trio.
Nat "King" Cole
Nat "King" Cole (1919–1965), ranked #24 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the supple, riffing pianist whose drummerless trio reshaped small-group jazz — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Monty Alexander
Monty Alexander (b. 1944), ranked #5 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the Kingston-born virtuoso who fuses Caribbean rhythm with hard-swinging jazz; still touring in 2026.
McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner (1938–2020), ranked #11 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: Coltrane's pianist whose quartal, modal, percussive sound reshaped jazz piano — with recordings and scores to play.
Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams (1910–1981), ranked #47 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the self-taught pianist-composer who spanned every jazz era and opened doors for women — her life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Lennie Tristano
Lennie Tristano (1919–1978), ranked #30 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the blind innovator whose free-improv and overdubbing experiments predated free jazz — with essential recordings and scores.
Kenny Drew
Kenny Drew (1928–1993), ranked #13 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the hard-bop pianist and prized accompanist who anchored Copenhagen's jazz scene — with recordings and scores to play.
Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron (b. 1943), #36 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the unhurried modern master bridging bebop and today, still touring in 2026 — with scores to play.
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett (born 1945), ranked #50 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the improviser behind The Köln Concert, jazz's best-selling solo piano album — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
John Bunch
John Bunch (1921–2010), #35 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the tasteful swing pianist who bridged Teddy Wilson and Bud Powell — with recordings and scores to play.
Jimmy Rowles
Jimmy Rowles (1918–1996), #40 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the great singers' accompanist and composer of 'The Peacocks' — with recordings and scores to play.
Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton (c. 1890–1941), #43 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the boastful New Orleans pioneer whose ragtime solos swung with new freedom — with scores to play.
Horace Silver
Horace Silver (1928–2014), ranked #18 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the self-taught architect of hard bop and composer of "Song for My Father" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock (born 1940), ranked #42 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list and the highest-ranked living pianist on it: Blue Note, Miles Davis, Head Hunters and "Watermelon Man" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Hank Jones
Hank Jones (1918–2010), ranked #19 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the velvet-touch accompanist and harmonist who headed the Detroit piano school — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Hampton Hawes
Hampton Hawes (1928–1977), ranked #14 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the fiery Los Angeles bebopper who disproved the cool-West-Coast cliché — with recordings and scores to play.
George Shearing
George Shearing (1919–2011), ranked #9 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the blind British-born master of the 'locked-hands' block-chord sound and 'Lullaby of Birdland'.
Gene Harris
Gene Harris (1933–2000), ranked #12 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the blues- and gospel-rooted groove master of the Three Sounds — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Fats Waller
Fats Waller (1904–1943), ranked #31 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the joyous stride master and hit songwriter who taught Tatum and Basie — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Erroll Garner
Erroll Garner (1921–1977), ranked #25 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the self-taught, orchestral-sounding pianist who wrote "Misty" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Earl Hines
Earl 'Fatha' Hines (1903–1983), #39 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the father of modern jazz piano whose 'trumpet-style' made ragtime obsolete — with scores to play.
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington (1899–1974), #38 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: apart from the composer, an original pianist whose angular touch pointed toward Monk — with scores to play.
Dick Hyman
Dick Hyman (b. 1927), ranked #32 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the stylistic chameleon who can re-create any era of jazz piano — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Derek Smith
Derek Smith (1931–2016), ranked #45 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the English-born virtuoso and Tonight Show pianist who fused Powell and Peterson — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Dave McKenna
Dave McKenna (1930–2008), ranked #34 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the 'three-handed' solo swinger whose self-contained left hand made him a one-man band — with essential recordings and scores.
Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck (1920–2012), ranked #28 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the classically schooled star of odd meters and polytonality behind Time Out — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Cyrus Chestnut
Cyrus Chestnut (b. 1963), ranked #29 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the gospel-rooted, dynamically nuanced pianist modeled on Ahmad Jamal — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Count Basie
Count Basie (1904–1984), ranked #27 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the Kansas City bandleader whose spare, blues-drenched stride piano is the art of leaving things out — with essential recordings and scores.
Chick Corea
Chick Corea (1941–2021), ranked #20 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: fusion pioneer with Return to Forever, Miles Davis alumnus and composer of "Spain" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Cedar Walton
Cedar Walton (1934–2013), ranked #26 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the hard-bop mainstay and composer of "Bolivia" and "Firm Roots" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Bud Powell
Bud Powell (1924–1966), ranked #3 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the New York pianist who invented the language of bebop piano and shaped every player after him.
Bobby Timmons
Bobby Timmons (1935–1974), #37 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the soul-jazz composer of 'Moanin'' whose anthems outshone his own career — with scores to play.
Billy Taylor
Billy Taylor (1921–2010), ranked #17 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the polished bebop stylist and tireless jazz educator and advocate — with recordings and scores to play.
Bill Evans
Bill Evans (1929–1980), ranked #2 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the New Jersey pianist whose singing tone and impressionist harmony reinvented the modern jazz trio.
The Best Women Jazz Pianists
The ten greatest women jazz pianists in Gene Rizzo's ranking — from Mary Lou Williams and Marian McPartland to Eliane Elias, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Renee Rosnes — with corrected dates and scores to play.
The Best Jazz Pianists of All Time
Jazz journalist Gene Rizzo's ranking of the 50 greatest jazz piano players — Peterson, Evans, Powell, Tatum, Monk, Hancock, Corea and more — with a full table, the eras of jazz piano, and scores to play.
Benny Green
Benny Green (b. 1963), ranked #6 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the blues-steeped hard-bop pianist Oscar Peterson picked as his protégé; still recording in 2026.
Art Tatum
Art Tatum (1909–1956), ranked #4 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the nearly blind Toledo virtuoso whose speed and harmonic daring redefined the instrument — with essential recordings and scores to play.
André Previn
André Previn (1929–2019), ranked #7 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the Oscar-winning composer-conductor whose brilliant, blues-tinged jazz-trio records sold in the millions.
Al Haig
Al Haig (1924–1982), ranked #44 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the lyrical bebop pianist and favorite Charlie Parker accompanist — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Ahmad Jamal
Ahmad Jamal (1930–2023), ranked #16 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the space-conscious trio master whose economy shaped Miles Davis and "Poinciana" — with recordings and scores to play.
Middle C
What middle C is, how to find it on the keyboard, its pitch and frequency (C4, ~261.63 Hz), and where it sits on the grand staff — with a quick reference table.
What is the chromatic scale?
Learn what the chromatic scale is: all 12 pitches an octave apart by half steps, why it has no home key, how to spell it up and down, and how to play it.
Melodic minor scale
Learn what the melodic minor scale is, how it raises the 6th and 7th ascending, why classical practice reverts descending, and the notes of A melodic minor.
Easy piano songs for beginners
The best easy piano songs for beginners use a small hand span, few black keys, and repeating patterns. Here are 12 real pieces and what each one teaches.
How to play piano: a beginner's guide
Start playing piano step by step: posture, the keyboard, your first notes, reading music, scales, chords, rhythm, and how to practice.
Major and minor scales: the difference
Major sounds bright, minor sounds shaded — and the difference is a handful of lowered notes. Learn to spell and hear it, plus the three minor scales.
Piano keys and notes: a map of the keyboard
Name any key on sight: the repeating pattern of white and black keys, the black-key landmarks, octaves and middle C, and the sharps and flats.
How to read piano notes
Learn to connect notes on the page to keys on the piano: orient by the black-key groups, anchor on middle C, and turn any written note into the right key.
Piano scales for beginners
Learn what piano scales are, why the major scale sounds bright, how to play C major with the right fingering, and a simple practice path to start today.
Piano chords for beginners
Learn how piano chords are built from stacked thirds, find the six essential beginner triads, and play your first chord progression with confidence.
Circle of fifths
The one diagram that turns key signatures, related keys and chords into something you can reason about — the circle of fifths, explained.
From the books
B♭ / A♯ Piano Chords
All the B♭ / A♯ piano and keyboard chords — 7 shapes with colour keyboard diagrams, real-hand photos and notation.
A♭ / G♯ Piano Chords
All the A♭ / G♯ piano and keyboard chords — 7 shapes with colour keyboard diagrams, real-hand photos and notation.
G♭ / F♯ Piano Chords
All the G♭ / F♯ piano and keyboard chords — 7 shapes with colour keyboard diagrams, real-hand photos and notation.
E♭ / D♯ Piano Chords
All the E♭ / D♯ piano and keyboard chords — 7 shapes with colour keyboard diagrams, real-hand photos and notation.
D♭ / C♯ Piano Chords
All the D♭ / C♯ piano and keyboard chords — 7 shapes with colour keyboard diagrams, real-hand photos and notation.
B Piano Chords
All the B piano and keyboard chords — 8 shapes with colour keyboard diagrams, real-hand photos and notation.
A Piano Chords
All the A piano and keyboard chords — 10 shapes with colour keyboard diagrams, real-hand photos and notation.
G Piano Chords
All the G piano and keyboard chords — 9 shapes with colour keyboard diagrams, real-hand photos and notation.
F Piano Chords
All the F piano and keyboard chords — 7 shapes with colour keyboard diagrams, real-hand photos and notation.
E Piano Chords
All the E piano and keyboard chords — 10 shapes with colour keyboard diagrams, real-hand photos and notation.
D Piano Chords
All the D piano and keyboard chords — 9 shapes with colour keyboard diagrams, real-hand photos and notation.
C Piano Chords
All the C piano and keyboard chords — 9 shapes with colour keyboard diagrams, real-hand photos and notation.
Dynamics, Slurs, and Articulations
Play Clementi's "Sonatina in C Major" while learning dynamics, slurs, articulations, and cut time to shape phrases with smooth, separated, loud, and soft notes.
Diatonic Four-Part Chords and Progressions
Discover how four-part seventh chords stack onto every degree of the major scale to form the diatonic chords behind countless progressions.
Dominant Seventh Chords and Inversions
Construct the dominant seventh chord, decode why a bare 7 suffix signals it, and practice its inversions in both hands from every root.
Minor Seventh (With Flatted Fifth) Chords and Inversions
Flatten the fifth of a minor seventh to form the half-diminished chord, meet the diminished interval, and practice its inversions.
Minor Seventh Chords and Inversions
Build the minor seventh chord and its inversions, one of the most commonly used four-part chords in pop, jazz, and beyond.
Major Seventh Chords and Inversions
Step beyond triads into four-part chords, building the major seventh chord from a C major scale and learning to read its Cmaj7 symbol and inversions.
Introducing “Slash Chord” Symbols
Read slash-chord symbols like "C/E" that tell you to put a chord tone other than the root on the bottom, a staple of popular sheet music.
Voice Leading Between Inversions
Connect chords smoothly by following the inner melodic lines, learning how stepwise motion between voices keeps progressions sounding seamless.
Inverting Minor Triads
Apply the same inversion process to minor triads, starting with C minor and writing out first and second inversions by hand to cement the skill.
Inverting Major Triads
Reshape the C major triad into first and second inversions, then learn to invert major triads across every key without changing the chord.
What Are Inversions and Why Do We Use Them?
Discover why chords sound smoother and sit easier under the hands when you move a note other than the root to the bottom through inversion.
Glossary
An A-to-Z glossary of the musical terms and symbols used throughout the book, from accidentals and arpeggios to articulation, ballads, and bass clef.
Staff Paper
Blank staff paper for writing your own piano lines once you finish the book, ready to photocopy so you never run out of room to compose.
Who’s Who Big List – 100 Piano Players
A sweeping list of 100 essential piano players across jazz, classical, rock, pop, and beyond, from Mose Allison and Bach to Ray Charles and Chopin.
Reference Sheet
A quick-reference chart of white and black key names, clefs, time signatures, rhythmic values, dotted and tied notes, plus common major scales and chords.
Keith Emerson
Discover the progressive-rock keyboard idol behind The Nice and ELP, celebrated for his showmanship and classically-influenced virtuosity that shaped the prog era.
Elton John
Meet the pop superstar and inventive piano stylist who, with lyricist Bernie Taupin, blended pop, rock, and soul into a string of 1970s chart-topping hits.
Chick Corea
Meet Chick Corea, the ever-reinventing pianist who moved from Miles Davis's Bitches Brew to high-octane fusion with Return to Forever and beyond.
Keith Jarrett
Discover Keith Jarrett, a defining pianist of the past fifty years renowned for his spontaneously improvised solo concerts as well as his celebrated jazz trio work.
Bill Evans
Meet Bill Evans, the jazz pianist behind Kind of Blue whose impressionist-inspired chord voicings and relaxed touch shaped the cool jazz sound and modern playing.
Art Tatum
Get to know Art Tatum, the largely self-taught jazz pianist whose astonishing boogie-woogie, stride, and swing playing was a full generation ahead of its time.
Franz Liszt
Discover Franz Liszt, the Romantic-era virtuoso and showman often called the greatest pianist ever, whose dazzling technique made him a true rock star of his day.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Meet Ludwig van Beethoven, the German composer and pianist whose groundbreaking symphonies, quartets, and sonatas reshaped classical music even as he lost his hearing.
Moving Your Piano
Heed one crucial rule when relocating your piano: always hire a professional, qualified piano mover rather than tackling this delicate instrument yourself.
Keeping Your Piano Clean and Healthy
Keep your acoustic or electronic piano in top shape with practical cleaning tips, from dusting between keys to safely caring for delicate inner mechanisms.
Tools
Piano tools →Interactive tools for Piano — try them right in your browser.
Accidental calculator
Pick a key and a note letter and it tells you the sharp, flat, or natural that letter carries in that key, spells the note, and shows it on the staff.
Chord analysis tool
Pick a major or minor key and see its seven diatonic triads with numerals, chord symbols, and notes — click a numeral to light the chord on the keyboard and hear it.
Chord finder
Pick a root note and a chord type — major, minor, sevenths, suspended and more — and see the chord on the piano, named and spelled out for you.
Chord progression player
Browse the progressions behind pop, rock, jazz, blues and classical music, hear each one in any key on piano or guitar, and loop it at your own tempo to practice or write over.
Chord reading trainer
A chord is stacked on the staff, you name its type, and you can hear it — with instant feedback and a running score.
Interval finder
Pick a root note and an interval — from a minor second to an octave — and see and hear the two notes on the piano.
Key signature finder
Pick a mode and a key and see its sharps or flats drawn on the staff, the scale spelled out, and its relative key named — then hear it played.
Key signature trainer
A key signature appears on the staff, you pick the major key it belongs to, and you get instant feedback and a running score.
Keyboard ear trainer
Hear a note, then click the matching key on the on-screen piano — with instant feedback, the right key revealed on a miss, and a running score.
Metronome
Set the tempo and time signature and practice in steady time, or open the Pro tab for subdivisions, per-beat accents, a speed trainer, a gap trainer, click sounds, and recording yourself under the click — all free, right in your browser.
Note ear trainer
Hear a note, name it, and get instant feedback and a running score — with a reference C to anchor your ear, right in your browser.
Note finder
Pick a note and see every place it sits on the piano keyboard, named — and tap any key to hear it.
Note reading trainer
Practice reading the treble staff: a note appears, you click it on the piano. Instant feedback, the note plays, your score tracks.
Scale ear trainer
Hear a scale played from a random root and name its type — major, minor, the modes, pentatonic, blues — with instant feedback and a running score.
Scale finder
Pick a root note and a scale type — major, minor, the modes, pentatonic, blues — and see every note light up on the piano, spelled out for you.
Scale reading trainer
A scale is written on the staff, you name its type, and you can hear it played back — with instant feedback and a running score.
Tap tempo (BPM tapper)
Tap the button or the space bar in time with any music and it reads the tempo back in BPM, with a matching tempo marking.
Virtual piano
Play a piano in your browser — use your mouse, touch, or computer keyboard. Real piano sound, and a free Pro tab with up to 61 keys, sustain, MIDI keyboard input, a metronome, and recording.