Simply Piano is a mobile app from JoyTunes that listens through your phone's microphone and gives instant feedback. It's excellent for beginners and kids, but lacks a metronome and is too simple for experienced players.
- Works through your device's microphone, so no cables or special equipment are needed.
- Catalog of over 5,000 songs across many genres.
- Plans: about $60 for 3 months, $120 a year, or about $180 a year for a family plan with up to five profiles.
- No built-in metronome, and animations and sound effects can't be turned off.
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As an adult it's easy to feel you've missed your window to pick up a skill like piano. You don't actually need expensive formal lessons to build basic chops, because there are plenty of music apps that make learning easy and fun. We looked at a few, and the one that stood out was Simply Piano. Here's how it works, our experience learning with it, the pricing, and who it suits.
Quick verdict
Simply Piano is a sleek, intuitive and straightforward way for beginners and kids to learn the basics quickly. Real-time feedback and a huge song catalog keep it engaging. The drawbacks are the lack of a metronome, the sound effects that can't be switched off, and that more experienced players may find it too simple.
How Simply Piano works
Simply Piano is a mobile app developed by JoyTunes that teaches people of all ages and levels. You place your phone or tablet near your piano or keyboard, and the app listens to the notes you play and gives instant feedback so you can fix mistakes in real time. It also covers music theory from reading sheet music to playing chords and scales.
You start by downloading the app, creating an account and taking a quiz about your skill level, goals, favorite music and whether you prefer audio or visual instruction. Because it uses the microphone, you need no extra cables or equipment. The first 25 courses build basic skills like reading sheet music and playing simple melodies. After that you choose between theory and technique, which leans classical, and chord lessons, which gets you into pop, jazz and rock almost right away.
Plans and pricing
| Plan | Price at time of review | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | One course in piano basics |
| 3-month individual | just under $60 | All beginner and intermediate courses, full song library, real-time feedback |
| Yearly premium | $120 a year (about $10/month) | Same features for a full year |
| Yearly family | just under $180 a year (about $15/month) | Up to five premium profiles, plus Simply Guitar |
If you decide to try it, the affiliate link below can include a discount you wouldn't get going directly to Simply Piano.
What the lessons are like
The app is user-friendly and simple, which suits beginners. Each course starts with explainer videos, followed by practice where you learn a few bars with sheet music at the top of the screen and the notes highlighted on a keyboard below. You play along with a backing track as the music scrolls. It feels more like a game than studying, so it's less stuffy than traditional lessons, though you can still print sheet music for offline practice. There are 5,000+ songs across genres.
There's also a very active Facebook group where piano teachers and other learners offer support.
What we didn't like
- No metronome. You can change the backing track's tempo but can't lower its volume or mute it, and some arrangements are hard to manage without a beat.
- No live content such as live lessons.
- Colorful, busy design. The animations and sound effects can't be turned off, which may annoy some people.
- Too simple for experienced players.
Pros and cons
What works
- Instant real-time feedback through the microphone, with no extra equipment.
- Structured path from basics to advanced, with theory, chords and scales.
- Over 5,000 songs and a helpful Facebook community.
- Family plan covers up to five profiles and Simply Guitar.
What doesn't
- No metronome, and the backing track can't be muted.
- Animations and sound effects can't be disabled.
- No live content.
- Experienced players may find it too basic.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need special equipment to use Simply Piano?
No. It uses your device's microphone to listen to your piano or keyboard, so you need only the app, your phone or tablet, and an instrument.
How much does Simply Piano cost?
At the time of review: a limited free version, just under $60 for three months, $120 for a year, or just under $180 a year for a family plan with up to five profiles.
Is Simply Piano good for kids?
Yes. Its game-like lessons and colorful design make it especially good for beginners and kids.
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