Clavier vs. Piano — What's the Difference?

A keyboard.

The piano is an acoustic, stringed musical instrument invented in Italy by Bartolomeo Cristofori around the year 1700 (the exact year is uncertain), in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboard, which is a row of keys (small levers) that the performer presses down or strikes with the fingers and thumbs of both hands to cause the hammers to strike the strings.

A stringed keyboard instrument, such as a harpsichord.

A large keyboard musical instrument with a wooden case enclosing a soundboard and metal strings, which are struck by hammers when the keys are depressed. The strings' vibration is stopped by dampers when the keys are released and can be regulated for length and volume by two or three pedals.

(music) The keyboard of an organ, pianoforte, or harmonium.

A passage performed or marked to be performed softly.

The keyboard of an organ, pianoforte, or harmonium.

(especially as a direction) soft or softly.

A bank of keys on a musical instrument

(especially as a direction) soft or softly.

A stringed instrument that has a keyboard

A musical instrument with a manual keyboard actuating hammers that strike wire strings, producing sounds that may be softened or sustained by means of pedals.

A passage to be played softly or quietly.

In a soft or quiet tone. Used chiefly as a direction.

(musical instruments) a percussive keyboard musical instrument, usually ranging over seven octaves, with white and black colored keys, played by pressing these keys, causing hammers to strike strings

To play the piano.

(of or with fingers) To move (the fingers) up and down on, similar to the motions of a pianist playing the piano.

To equip with a piano.

To become softer and less intense.

(music) softly, as a musical direction (abbreviated to p. in sheet music)

(music) Soft, quiet.

(in extended use) Gentle, soft, subdued.

Soft; - a direction to the performer to execute a certain passage softly, and with diminished volume of tone. (Abbrev. p.

A well-known musical instrument somewhat resembling the harpsichord, and consisting of a series of wires of graduated length, thickness, and tension, struck by hammers moved by keys.

A stringed instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds

(music) low loudness

Used chiefly as a direction or description in music;

Used as a direction in music; to be played relatively softly