Interesting Facts about the Piano
- First modern piano was created in 1700 by Italian inventor Bartolomeo Cristofori.
- There are 230 strings inside of ordinary modern piano.
- One of the most expensive pianos ever sold was Victorian Steinway grand was valued at incredible $1.2 million.
- Between 1700 and 1830, pianos were called by their original name – Pianoforte.
- World’s most popular piano company Steinway opened its doors is 1853.
- Piano is often called The King of Instruments.
- Last note on the piano keyboard is a C. First note is A.
- Grand pianos can sometimes weigh 700kg.
- First piano patent was issued to H. Steinway in 1857.
- Yamaha was first Japanese manufacturer of pianos. They started making them in 1887.
- Between 1830 and 1840, two very popular piano designs were created – upright pianos and grand pianos.
- First electric piano was made in 1947.
- US currently hosts over 10 million pianos.
- Almost all modern pianos have two or three pedals.
- There are only two basic types of piano – Grand and Upright.
- Strings of one grand piano are so strong that they can lift up 30 tons.
- US piano manufacture was 25,000 pieces in 1869. It rose to 350,000 in 1910.
- During 20th century, pianos received over 5000 brands. Today only around 50 are well respected.
- World’s largest piano is called Challen Concert Grand, it is 11 feet long and weighs more than a ton.
- Exact middle of the piano keyboard is space between E and F above "middle" C.
- National museum in Vienna, Austria is showcasing Studio Piano that was used by Beethoven.
- Pianos have over 12,000 parts, with 10,000 of them moving.
- Tuning of a piano is a very complicated process. Brand new piano is tuned 4 times during its first year after it was made. This is done because wood changes form until it becomes more rigid.
- Older piano needs to be tuned twice per year.
- Around 70% of piano is wood. Keys are plastic, and other materials that are used are paper, iron, copper steel felt and few others.
- Pianos are stringed instruments, but officially they are placed in percussion section in a symphony orchestra.
- Sounds of pianos are made when between one and three hammers hit a string.