Glossary
Piano
Glossary
The piano is a musical instrument invented around the year 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori—and refined significantly in the next few centuries—in which the strings are struck by mechanical hammers triggered by the player’s fingers striking the keys of the keyboard. The term piano is short for pianoforte, referring to the ability of the player to play both soft and loud, in contrast with the dominant keyboard instrument of the time, the harpsichord, which had no dynamic volume capability.
Tap to hear the notes of the 88-key piano.
Along with the guitar, the piano is a popular instrument for composition, songwriting, arranging, and performance, with basic piano-playing skills often a requirement for musicians who play other instruments, or conduct ensembles, or anyone hoping to learn some music theory. Its extensive range matches its imposing size and weight, which can be partially alleviated with modern technology, in the form of electronic keyboard synthesizers and samplers, which also expand the sonic possibilities of the piano without changing the basic interface for the keyboard player.
For more on why the keyboard is laid out the way it is (white keys, diatonic (major) scale) see Staff Notation, A Diatonic Puzzle, and Circle of Fifths & Keys.
The piano is a musical instrument invented around the year 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori—and refined significantly in the next few centuries—in which the strings are struck by mechanical hammers triggered by the player’s fingers striking the keys of the keyboard. The term piano is short for pianoforte, referring to the ability of the player to play both soft and loud, in contrast with the dominant keyboard instrument of the time, the harpsichord, which had no dynamic volume capability.
Tap to hear the notes of the 88-key piano.
Along with the guitar, the piano is a popular instrument for composition, songwriting, arranging, and performance, with basic piano-playing skills often a requirement for musicians who play other instruments, or conduct ensembles, or anyone hoping to learn some music theory. Its extensive range matches its imposing size and weight, which can be partially alleviated with modern technology, in the form of electronic keyboard synthesizers and samplers, which also expand the sonic possibilities of the piano without changing the basic interface for the keyboard player.
For more on why the keyboard is laid out the way it is (white keys, diatonic (major) scale) see Staff Notation, A Diatonic Puzzle, and Circle of Fifths & Keys.