What other name/s can the piano go by?

• A. Grand piano
• B. Fortepiano or piano forte
• C. Keyboard
• D. Harpsichord

Answer: (B)

The instrument’s name comes from its ability to play softly and loudly. The original term pianoforte (often written as fortepiano or piano forte) literally means “soft-loud” in Italian, highlighting the dynamic range that early pianos could produce. Over time, this evolved into the simpler word piano, but forts like fortepiano/piano forte remain historically correct alternate names.

Grand piano describes a size/type of piano, not a separate name for the instrument itself. Keyboard refers to the interface or family of keyboard instruments, not a specific alternative name for the piano. Harpsichord is a different instrument with a different mechanism, so it’s not an alternative name for the piano.