Pianoforte vs Piano: Is There Actually a Difference?

ByDaniel Johnstone Uncategorized

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Last Updated on June 21, 2026 by Daniel Johnstone

The short answer: they’re the same instrument. “Piano” is simply the shortened form of “pianoforte,” the original Italian name. If you’re picturing two different instruments, there’s actually nothing to compare — but the question is still worth answering properly, because there’s a real piece of history behind why the name changed.

Where the Name “Pianoforte” Comes From

The instrument was originally called the “gravicembalo col piano e forte” — roughly, “harpsichord with soft and loud” — because unlike a harpsichord, it could vary its volume based on how hard you struck the keys. That got shortened to “pianoforte” (soft-loud), and eventually just to “piano.” Same instrument throughout; only the name got trimmed down over time.

Where There IS a Real Difference: Fortepiano vs. Modern Piano

If you want a genuine technical distinction, the more accurate comparison is “fortepiano” versus the modern piano. A fortepiano is the early version of the instrument used from roughly the mid-1700s through the early 1800s — lighter action, a thinner and more delicate tone, and far less sustain than what you’d hear from a modern piano. Composers like Mozart and early Beethoven wrote specifically for the fortepiano, and it genuinely sounds different from a modern piano played on a recording of the same piece.

So while “pianoforte” and “piano” are just two names for one instrument, “fortepiano” and “piano” point to a real, audible difference between an earlier and later version of that same lineage.

If you’re looking to start learning on a modern instrument, I’ve covered real, well-reviewed options in my guide to beginner pianos and keyboards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a pianoforte the same as a piano?

Yes — “piano” is simply the shortened form of “pianoforte.” They refer to the same instrument; the name was trimmed down over time.

What is the actual difference between a fortepiano and a piano?

A fortepiano is the earlier version of the instrument used roughly from the mid-1700s to the early 1800s. It has lighter key action, less sustain, and a thinner tone than a modern piano — a genuine, audible difference, unlike the pianoforte/piano naming question.

Why was the piano originally called a pianoforte?

Because it could play both soft (piano) and loud (forte) dynamics depending on how hard the keys were struck — something the harpsichord, its predecessor, couldn’t do.

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Daniel Johnstone
Daniel Johnstone
Daniel Johnstone — Dániel to his friends back in Miskolc — is a Hungarian folk musician and writer who has been playing stringed instruments for over twenty years. Growing up in northeastern Hungary with a family steeped in folk music, he developed an early obsession with Celtic and Appalachian styles that eventually brought him to the UK. He worked his way through tenor banjo, 5-string banjo, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, mandolin, ukulele, harp and kalimba — most of them acquired through trial, error and more money than he'd like to admit. He founded Folkstrings.com to cut through the noise: practical, experience-based guides to instruments, strings, gear and accessories for folk players at every level.

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