Trystan Casey
The electric piano is a musical instrument that produces sound through mechanical hammers that strike metal strings, reeds, or wire tines, which then vibrate and are converted into electrical signals by pickups. The first electric pianos were invented in the late 1920s, with the Neo-Bechstein electric piano being introduced in 1931 or 1932. The popularity of the electric piano grew in the late 1950s, and it became widely used in the 1970s. Harold Rhodes invented an electric piano that was widely adopted by jazz, funk, and pop musicians. In 2015, Brazilian inventor Tiago Valente created the first prototype of the Valente Electric Piano, commercially launched in 2020.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the first electric piano | Neo-Bechstein |
| Year of invention | 1931 or 1932 |
| Inventor | C. Bechstein |
| Inventor of another early electric piano | Harold Burroughs Rhodes (Fender Rhodes piano) |
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What You'll Learn
The first electric piano was the Neo-Bechstein in 1931/1932
The first electric piano ever invented was the Neo-Bechstein, which was unveiled in 1931 and marketed in 1932. It was a pioneer in its field, as it was the first device to feature a clear demarcation between the musical instrument and the loudspeaker. The mechanics of the piano were no longer involved in the direct production of sound, unlike other electric pianos. The loudspeakers were of such high quality that they did not have any characteristic sound of their own.
The Neo-Bechstein was invented by Walther Nernst in the 1930s, who improvised upon an electrical prototype by Oskar Vierling. The design was executed around 1922, and the piano was built by the C. Bechstein company, with valve electronics created by Siemens & Halske. The piano was smaller than ordinary grand pianos, measuring about 1.4 metres in length. It had thinner and shorter strings, which were grouped into 18 clusters of 5 strings each.
The Neo-Bechstein had a unique sound, which was highly malleable and similar to an electric guitar or a synth. The left pedal worked like an expression pedal, allowing the player to create a range of sounds, from a tinny acoustic piano to a Fender Rhodes piano, and anything in between. However, this unusual sound may have contributed to the instrument's lack of success, as people at the time were accustomed to traditional piano tones.
The Neo-Bechstein also had an unusual appearance, with exposed circuitry and an art deco aesthetic. It required a large loudspeaker amp, which made it less appealing as a piece of furniture in the home. Additionally, it was difficult to repair and maintain, requiring specialised technicians. Despite these challenges, the Neo-Bechstein was a groundbreaking invention that paved the way for future developments in electric pianos and acoustics.
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The first electric pianos were invented in the late 1920s
The Vierlang-Forster electric piano was introduced in 1937, and the RCA Storytone electric piano was built in 1939. The RCA Storytone was the world's first commercially available electric piano. Many types of electric pianos were initially designed as a less expensive alternative to an acoustic piano for home or school use.
The popularity of the electric piano began to grow in the late 1950s, reaching its height in the 1970s. Electric pianos were widely adopted by musicians playing rock and pop music. Their manufacturers modified them for stage use and developed models specifically for that purpose.
In the 2010s, electric pianos began to be largely replaced by digital pianos, due to the small size, light weight, and versatility of digital instruments.
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The popularity of electric pianos grew in the late 1950s
The first electric piano was invented in the late 1920s, with the Neo-Bechstein electric grand piano being introduced in 1929. However, some sources claim that the Neo-Bechstein was actually introduced in 1931 or 1932. The Vierlang-Forster electric piano was introduced in 1937, and the RCA Storytone electric piano was built in 1939.
Additionally, Ray Charles's 1959 hit record "What'd I Say" played a significant role in popularizing electric pianos. The purchase of the Rhodes Piano Corporation by electric guitar pioneer Leo Fender in 1959 also contributed to the increased popularity of electric pianos. Fender began manufacturing the Piano Bass, a keyboard instrument with the bottom 32 notes of a piano, which was prominently used by The Doors' keyboardist, Ray Manzarek.
The development of electronic pianos in the 1970s, mostly in Italy and Japan, also contributed to the growing popularity of electric pianos. These electronic pianos worked similarly to analog synthesizers, generating their tones through oscillators. However, electric pianos are mechanical, with their sound being electrified by a pickup and then amplified through an internal or external amplifier.
The acceptance and modification of electric pianos for stage use, the influence of popular music artists, and the technological advancements in keyboard instruments during the late 1950s and beyond, all contributed to the growing popularity of electric pianos during that time.
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Electric pianos are electro-mechanical, not electronic
The first electric piano, the Neo-Bechstein, was invented in 1929, according to some sources, while others claim it was in 1931 or 1932. Despite being the first of its kind, the instrument was ultimately unsuccessful. This was partly due to its unconventional design, which featured exposed circuitry, and partly because its sound was too different from the traditional piano tones people were accustomed to.
The electromagnetic pickups in electric pianos serve as a key differentiator from acoustic pianos, which amplify sound through a soundboard. The absence of a soundboard in electric pianos like the Neo-Bechstein gives them a unique appearance, with exposed circuitry and an art deco aesthetic.
Electric pianos have evolved over time, with manufacturers introducing various models. Yamaha pianos, for example, use piezoelectric pickups under the bridge to convert string vibrations into electrical signals. Helpinstill instruments, on the other hand, employ electromagnetic pickups attached to the instrument's frame. Wurlitzer electronic pianos, affectionately nicknamed "Wurlies," use flat steel reeds struck by felt hammers, resulting in a distinctive sweet and vibraphone-like tone.
While the earliest electric pianos were invented in the late 1920s, their popularity surged in the late 1950s, particularly after Ray Charles's 1959 hit record "What'd I Say." They reached their peak in the 1970s, but eventually gave way to more lightweight and versatile electronic pianos that could emulate piano-like sounds.
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The first electronic pianos were made in the 1970s
The first electric pianos were invented in the late 1920s to early 1930s. The 1929 Neo-Bechstein electric grand piano was among the first, followed by the Vierlang-Forster electric piano in 1937 and the RCA Storytone electric piano in 1939. The popularity of the electric piano grew in the late 1950s, reaching its height in the 1970s. However, they were eventually replaced by more lightweight electronic pianos that could produce piano-like sounds without the disadvantages of electric pianos' heavy weight and moving mechanical parts.
The development and acceptance of electronic pianos were driven by the progressive electrification of popular music and the need for a portable keyboard instrument capable of high-volume amplification. Musicians adopted electric pianos for rock and pop use, encouraging manufacturers to modify them for stage use and develop models specifically for that purpose.
The Neo-Bechstein, the world's first electric piano, was an interesting instrument with a highly malleable piano sound similar to an electric guitar or synth. Its lack of success was partly due to its unusual appearance and the fact that its sound was so different from traditional piano tones. However, if it had been released in the 1960s or 1970s, it may have found a place in the prog-rock scene and eventually entered the pop world.
Today, digital pianos that provide an emulated electric piano sound have largely replaced the actual electro-mechanical instruments due to their small size, light weight, and versatility.
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Frequently asked questions
The first electric piano was invented in the late 1920s. The 1929 Neo-Bechstein electric grand piano was among the first.
Harold Burroughs Rhodes invented an electric piano that became indispensable to jazz, funk, and pop musicians.
The first electric piano was called the Neo-Bechstein. It was built in 1931 or 1932.
An electric piano is a musical instrument that has a piano-style musical keyboard, where sound is produced by mechanical hammers striking metal strings, reeds, or wire tines. The vibrations are then converted into electrical signals by pickups.
Electric pianos are mechanical, and their sound is electrified by a pickup and then amplified through an amplifier. On the other hand, electronic pianos generate their tones through oscillators, similar to analog synthesizers.
