The piano began as a problem: how to make a keyboard instrument play both soft and loud. Early keyboard instruments like the clavichord and harpsichord could do one or the other well, but not both. In the early 1700s an Italian maker, Bartolomeo Cristofori, built a new action that let players control volume with touch. That simple idea changed music forever.
Cristofori's instrument, first called pianoforte (soft-loud), spread slowly across Europe. By the late 18th century the fortepiano was common in salons. Composers such as Mozart and Haydn wrote for it. The fortepiano had a lighter sound than today's piano, with wooden frames and leather hammers. Players liked its expressiveness, even though its range and volume were limited.
During the Classical era makers kept improving touch and range. Wider keyboards and stronger frames let composers write bigger pieces. By the early 1800s the Romantic era demanded more power and sustain, so builders began experimenting with metal parts and new hammer designs. These changes let pianists play with more drama and contrast.
The 19th century brought major innovations. Iron frames replaced wooden ones, making instruments sturdier and louder. Overstringing (placing bass strings over others) and felt-covered hammers created a fuller tone. Firms like Broadwood, Érard, and later Steinway, led the way. Steinway's improvements around 1850 set the template for the modern grand piano we know today.
Pedals also evolved. The una corda and sustain pedals became standard tools for shaping tone and resonance. Actions became faster and more reliable, allowing virtuosic playing. With concert halls growing larger, pianos had to project more sound. Manufacturers responded by making instruments bigger and stronger.
In the 20th century the piano stayed central to classical, jazz, and popular music. Recording and radio spread piano sounds worldwide. Later, electric and digital pianos offered portability and new tones. Still, acoustic grands remain prized for their touch and complex overtones.
Want to spot an older piano? Look for thinner cases, wooden frames, or a smaller keyboard range—that points to a fortepiano or early 19th-century model. Modern uprights and grands almost always have iron frames and felt hammers.
The piano's story is practical: steady technical fixes plus changing musical needs. Composers pushed for more range and color; builders answered with new materials and designs. Today the piano still evolves—digital tech, eco-friendly materials, and historical replicas all play a part. If you love the piano, listen for how touch, volume, and sustain shape the music—that's the legacy Cristofori started.
