2D diagram

How to make a paper piano

Origami Piano: try all 29 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.

EasyAn Origami Tutor design29 steps15 × 15 cm plus paper keys · 10 paper pieces

An Origami Tutor paper piano using a house-base fold, a raised white keyboard and nine small black paper keys.

You need: One 15 cm square, nine 3 × 15 mm black paper rectangles and glue. Scissors and a ruler help prepare the keys; a pen is optional.
Make a square from printer paper ↗
Start: Prepare a 15 cm paper square, white side up, and nine 3 × 15 mm black rectangles for the keys. Keep the keys apart while you fold the main square.
Tips: Carry both center panels together when raising the keyboard.
Keep the small keys apart while folding the piano.
Let the glue dry before moving the finished model.

Symbols, bases & terms ↗

Finish

Your model is ready

Your piano is open, with a level white keyboard and black keys in groups of two and three. Let the glue dry. Add white-key lines with a pen if you like.

3D paper

Whole sequence Finish

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29 steps · press any step to watch it in 3D

Step-by-step diagrams

Valley fold Mountain fold Color side White side

Steps 1–6

1
Mark the middle
Fold the right edge to the left edge, press, and open.
2
Fold in half
Fold the top edge down to the bottom edge.
3
Fold the right edge in
Fold the right edge to the middle crease, taking both layers with it.
4
Fold the left edge in
Fold the left edge in to meet it.
5
Open the left roof pocket
Open the front left pocket from the center seam. Pull its outer skin out to the left and press its folded top edge flat along the side hinge, making a sloping roof and a wide wall below.
6
Open the right roof pocket
Open the front right pocket from the center seam. Pull its outer skin out to the right and press its folded top edge flat along the side hinge, making a sloping roof and a wide wall below.

Steps 7–12

7
Raise the keyboard flap
Fold the two front center panels up together along the bottom of the roof. Leave the rear wall and the outer panels flat.
8
Fold the left side in
Fold the whole left quarter inward along its vertical crease, over the raised keyboard flap.
9
Fold the right side in
Fold the right quarter inward to meet the left. Press the packet flat.
10
Open the piano
Open the right side to a right angle, then open the left side to match. Lower the white keyboard between them.
11
Stand the piano upright
Turn the whole model until the back stands upright, the two sides form its legs and the white keyboard is level.
12
Place black key 1
Place the small black paper key near the back of the white keyboard. Follow the two-and-three pattern shown.

Steps 13–18

13
Glue black key 1
Glue this key flat against the white paper and let it set.
14
Place black key 2
Place the small black paper key near the back of the white keyboard. Follow the two-and-three pattern shown.
15
Glue black key 2
Glue this key flat against the white paper and let it set.
16
Place black key 3
Place the small black paper key near the back of the white keyboard. Follow the two-and-three pattern shown.
17
Glue black key 3
Glue this key flat against the white paper and let it set.
18
Place black key 4
Place the small black paper key near the back of the white keyboard. Follow the two-and-three pattern shown.

Steps 19–24

19
Glue black key 4
Glue this key flat against the white paper and let it set.
20
Place black key 5
Place the small black paper key near the back of the white keyboard. Follow the two-and-three pattern shown.
21
Glue black key 5
Glue this key flat against the white paper and let it set.
22
Place black key 6
Place the small black paper key near the back of the white keyboard. Follow the two-and-three pattern shown.
23
Glue black key 6
Glue this key flat against the white paper and let it set.
24
Place black key 7
Place the small black paper key near the back of the white keyboard. Follow the two-and-three pattern shown.

Steps 25–29

25
Glue black key 7
Glue this key flat against the white paper and let it set.
26
Place black key 8
Place the small black paper key near the back of the white keyboard. Follow the two-and-three pattern shown.
27
Glue black key 8
Glue this key flat against the white paper and let it set.
28
Place black key 9
Place the small black paper key near the back of the white keyboard. Follow the two-and-three pattern shown.
29
Glue black key 9
Glue this key flat against the white paper and let it set.
✓
Finish
Your piano is open, with a level white keyboard and black keys in groups of two and three. Let the glue dry. Add white-key lines with a pen if you like.