Pianos

The piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when keys are pressed, causing hammers to strike strings inside the instrument. It was invented in the early 18th century by Bartolomeo Cristofori in Italy, evolving from earlier keyboard instruments such as the clavichord and harpsichord. The name piano (short for pianoforte) reflects its ability to play both soft and loud dynamics.

Most pianos are categorized as upright or grand. Upright pianos have vertical strings and a compact frame, while grand pianos have horizontal strings and a separate action that allows faster repetition and greater control. The standard modern piano has 88 keys, spanning about seven octaves plus a minor third.

Construction and sound production rely on a cast-iron frame, a wooden soundboard, and felt-covered hammers. When a key is pressed, a switch-like action lifts a hammer to strike one or more strings. The hammer then falls away, and a damper stops the string’s vibration when the key is released. Strings are tuned to pitch by adjusting tension; most pianos are tuned to equal temperament with concert pitch A4 standardized at 440 Hz.

Pedals alter the instrument’s sound: the sustain (damper) pedal prolongs tones, the soft (una corda) pedal reduces volume and shifts the action, and the sostenuto pedal sustains selected strings. Regular maintenance includes tuning, regulation, and voicing.

Pianos are central to Western classical music and are widely used across genres such as jazz and popular music. Prominent manufacturers include Steinway, Yamaha, Bösendorfer, Kawai, and Fazioli. Digital pianos offer electronic sound reproduction with weighted keys and are popular as alternatives or practice instruments.