The piano was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731) of Italy.
Cristofori was unsatisfied by the lack of control that musicians had
over the volume level of the harpsichord. He is credited for switching
out the plucking mechanism with a hammer to create the modern piano in
around the year 1700. The instrument was actually first named
"clavicembalo col piano e forte" (literally, a harpsichord that can
play soft and loud noises). This was shortened to the now common name,
"piano."
🔎
Read more about the story of the Piano's invention