piano
Hammers strike strings
A piano is a large keyboard instrument where hammers strike strings when keys are pressed.
The full name, pianoforte, reflects its ability to play soft (piano) and loud (forte)—a revolutionary feature when invented.
Grand pianos have horizontal strings; upright pianos stand vertically to save space.
Piano also serves as a musical direction meaning softly: The passage is marked piano.
Imposing or splendid
- uprightVertical or morally sound
- babyVery young child
- digitalOf discrete data
- electricPowered by current
acoustic · console · player · strings · hammers · soundboard · damper · pedals
Unbroken musical phrasing
- staccatoShort, separated note style
- arpeggioSuccessive chord tones
- trillRapid pitch oscillation
- scaleMeasure of relative size
chord · glissando · tremolo · dynamics · fortissimo · crescendo · diminuendo · rubato
Array of input keys
- ivoryTusk-derived material
- ebonyDense dark tropical wood
- octaveEight-note interval
- blackDarkest possible hue
white · sharps · flats · action · touch · weighted · glissando · fingering
Solo musical performance
- concertLive musical performance
- audienceGathered viewers collectively
- soloistUnaccompanied performer
- applauseCollective hand-clapping approval
encore · stage · virtuoso · maestro · accompanist · programme · intermission · acoustics
Multi-movement instrumental composition
- concertoSolo-and-orchestra composition
- etudeInstrumental practice composition
- nocturneContemplative keyboard piece
- preludeIntroductory piece or event
fugue · scherzo · conservatory · repertoire · romanticism · impressionism · baroque
Multi-movement instrumental composition
- concertoSolo-and-orchestra composition
- nocturneContemplative keyboard piece
- etudeInstrumental practice composition
- preludeIntroductory piece or event
fugue · ballade · impromptu · rhapsody · fantasia · waltz · mazurka · polonaise
Spontaneous, unplanned creation
- bebopFast, complex jazz style
- swingSuspended recreational seat
- bluesMournful American music genre
- strideExtended single footstep
boogie-woogie · ragtime · comping · voicing · standards · trio · monk · garner
High frequency range
- bassDeep pitch or fish
- clefStaff pitch indicator
- staffOrganization's workers collectively
- measureUnit of quantity
tempo · allegro · andante · adagio · moderato · presto · forte · mezzo
Unit of teaching
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- teacherOne who instructs others
- studentOne formally enrolled somewhere
- methodOrderly way of doing
exercise · scales · études · sight-reading · theory · grading · examination · conservatory
grand
Imposing or splendid
electric · acoustic · console · player · strings · hammers · soundboard · damper · pedals · fallboard
legato
Unbroken musical phrasing
scale · chord · glissando · tremolo · dynamics · fortissimo · crescendo · diminuendo · rubato · cantabile
keyboard
Array of input keys
black · white · sharps · flats · action · touch · weighted · glissando · fingering · span
recital
Solo musical performance
applause · encore · stage · virtuoso · maestro · accompanist · programme · intermission · acoustics · chamber
sonata
Multi-movement instrumental composition
- concertoSolo-and-orchestra composition
- etudeInstrumental practice composition
- nocturneContemplative keyboard piece
prelude · fugue · scherzo · conservatory · repertoire · romanticism · impressionism · baroque
sonata
Multi-movement instrumental composition
- concertoSolo-and-orchestra composition
- nocturneContemplative keyboard piece
- etudeInstrumental practice composition
prelude · fugue · ballade · impromptu · rhapsody · fantasia · waltz · mazurka · polonaise · scherzo
improvisation
Spontaneous, unplanned creation
stride · boogie-woogie · ragtime · comping · voicing · standards · trio · monk · garner · solo
treble
High frequency range
measure · tempo · allegro · andante · adagio · moderato · presto · forte · mezzo · rest
lesson
Unit of teaching
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- teacherOne who instructs others
- studentOne formally enrolled somewhere
method · exercise · scales · études · sight-reading · theory · grading · examination · conservatory · masterclass
- hobbiesknitting circles, skateboarding, model trains, write, writing
- musicmusic, song, songs, singing, singer
- Indoor pastimesboard games, card games, puzzles, video games, reading
- sound sourcesdrum, guitar, violin, trumpet, bell
- abitazionecasa, villa, loft, duplex, penthouse
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms
pianoforte
Area of expertise
fortissimo · loud · loudly · fortepiano · crescendo
pianosynthesizer
Electronic sound-generating instrument
electronic keyboard · trumpet · flute · drums · voice
- grand pianoLarge horizontal keyboard instrument
- piano keysInstrument's pressed surfaces
- piano lessonInstruction on keyboard instrument
- piano makerBuilder of keyboard instruments
- piano playerOne who plays keys
- piano wireSteel strings in keyboards
pianist, pianos, pianists, upright piano, digital piano, pianola, pianissimo, grand piano, pianolas