Who Invented the Piano?

When we think of the piano, we picture a complex, refined instrument—almost perfect. But like every masterpiece, it has a long and fascinating history… stretching over several centuries.

Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655–1732)

The First Piano: Cristofori

The first instrument that can truly be called a "piano" was invented around the year 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori. At the time, he was working at the court of Prince Ferdinando de’ Medici in Florence. He called his creation the Gravicembalo col piano e forte (harpsichord with soft and loud), which gave rise to the name pianoforte, and eventually just piano.

In this new instrument, Cristofori replaced the plucking mechanism of the harpsichord with leather-covered hammers that strike the strings rather than pluck them.

The result? For the first time, players could control volume by how hard they pressed the keys.It was the beginning of a revolution.

And Before That?

Before the piano, there were many types of plucked or struck string instruments: from the monochord of Antiquity, to the clavichord, cymbalum, psaltery, and later the spinet and harpsichord. But none of them allowed for true dynamic expression—they all played at a constant volume.

Two Centuries of Evolution

Cristofori’s piano had only four octaves and a rather thin sound, closer to a harpsichord than to today’s piano. It took nearly two hundred years of improvements to arrive at the modern version we know today.

Some key milestones:

·       1783: John Broadwood invents the first pedals;

·       1795: Sébastien Érard develops the single escapement mechanism;

·       1822: Érard introduces the double escapement, still used in grand pianos today;

·       1810: Robert Wornum builds the first upright pianos;

·       c.1825: Alpheus Babcock designs the first metal frame;

·       Jean-Henri Pape replaces leather hammers with felt hammers, and introduces overstringing (cross-stringing);

With the arrival of steel wire, strings could be thinner yet stronger. Cast-iron frames made it possible to increase tension dramatically. Little by little, the piano's range expanded to 88 notes—still the standard today.

In 1859, Steinway began building pianos to an unprecedented level of quality. The iconic "Steinway No. 1", created in 1894, is often considered the pinnacle of this long journey—though the company has kept innovating ever since.

Curious Shapes and Forgotten Experiments

Before the modern upright and grand pianos became standard, piano makers experimented with all kinds of unusual designs. Most are forgotten today, but their names still bring a smile—and show just how inventive the piano’s history has been.

In the 19th century, fashionable salons, space constraints, and a taste for novelty inspired pianos in surprising forms:

·       The lyre piano, popular during the Napoleonic era;

·       The giraffe piano, tall and curved like its namesake;

·       The doghouse piano, ultra-compact;

·       The commode piano, built into a faux-drawer cabinet;

·       The square piano, widespread in the 1800s;

·       The double piano, made for four-hand playing...

Doghouse piano

Giraffe shaped piano

Double piano

These quirky models were not always a hit, but they show how the story of the piano is one of constant invention and bold ideas. Today, they’re prized by collectors—and make great photos!

A Collective Invention

So, who really invented the piano?Of course, Cristofori paved the way. But the modern piano is the result of a long, collective effort, shaped by legendary names like Érard, Pape, and Pleyel in France; Broadwood in England; Chickering in the United States… and of course Steinway, whose reputation speaks for itself.

And the story isn’t over: recently, Stephen Paulello designed a piano with 102 notes, and Chris Maene created a grand piano with a curved keyboard and parallel strings. The piano still has the power to surprise us.

🎹 A piano is much more than a piece of furniture. It’s the product of centuries of craftsmanship, passion, and ingenuity. And to keep sounding its best, it needs regular care.

👉 Whether your piano is old or new, upright, grand… or giraffe-shaped, I’m here to take care of it. Contact me here!