| Many people do not realize that the piano is a | | | | creating changes in volume. |
| stringed instrument. Because the strings are | | | | It is unclear exactly when a truly hammered |
| hidden away inside of the piano, and out of sight, | | | | keyboard instrument appeared. There are letters |
| it is not generally realized that strings are used to | | | | indicating that an instrument that could play both |
| create the sounds of the piano. Because of its | | | | loud and soft was available in 1598, but historians |
| stringed quality, the forerunners to the piano | | | | are unsure as to whether this was a hammered |
| include such instruments as the dulcimer (which | | | | piano, or a cleverly rigged harpsichord. In any |
| was played by hitting stretched strings of | | | | case, most historians agree that what can actually |
| different lengths with a hammer). But all of it | | | | be called the "pianoforte" did not make an |
| began in the annals of prehistory, when humans | | | | appearance until 1709. This instrument was |
| noticed that a stretched animal-gut string created | | | | capable of a wide range of artistic expression. |
| different sounds depending on length and tautness. | | | | The name piano is a derivative of the term |
| Keyed instruments that resembled some sort of | | | | pianoforte. "Piano" is a term that means "soft," |
| a keyboard first appeared in the middle of the | | | | and "forte" is one that means "loud" or "strong." |
| 12th Century. It was called the monochord. | | | | The name given the piano originally is quite |
| Eventually, enough keyed strings developed into | | | | descriptive. It basically means "soft-loud" and |
| the clavichord. This instrument was unique, in that | | | | describes the feat of being able to play a |
| having keyed strings better facilitated the ability | | | | keyboard instrument with varying degrees of |
| to strike more than one string at a time. This | | | | volume. Originally, there was little interest in the |
| meant that it was possible to produce two | | | | pianoforte. However, as an article written about |
| sounds, or notes, at once. It until a couple of | | | | the new keyboard invention was translated into |
| centuries later, in the 14th Century, that metal | | | | different languages made its way across the |
| wires were used in place of strings for many | | | | European continent, makers of clavichords and |
| instruments, including the keyboard instruments. | | | | harpsichords began also to make pianos. |
| The harpsichord came into being before the piano | | | | As the piano evolved, it began to take different |
| did (sometime in the 14th Century). It was based | | | | forms, including upright grand (1739), upright |
| more on the old instrument called the psaltery. A | | | | (1800), and different styles of grands and |
| psaltery was a simply instrument where the | | | | uprights, including those that expanded to include |
| strings were placed in a box and then plucked | | | | more octaves. While the keyboard arrangement |
| with the finger, or with an instrument called a | | | | has not changed much since the 14th Century, |
| plectra. When the keys of a harpsichord were | | | | keyboard instruments have expanded to include |
| struck, a plectra pulled on the sting, plucking it. | | | | more than one sounding board, and several |
| However, the harpsichord was incapable of | | | | octaves. |