Which Came First: Violin or Piano?

(A Brief but Accurate Timeline of Music History)

Among the many questions music students ask, one stands out as both simple and surprisingly insightful:

“Which came first — the violin or the piano?”

The answer takes us on a fascinating journey through music history, instrument invention, and cultural evolution in Europe.

The Violin: 16th Century Origins

The modern violin originated in northern Italy during the early 16th century (around the 1520s–1550s). It evolved from earlier bowed string instruments such as the lira da braccio, rebec, and vielle, which were popular during the medieval and Renaissance periods.

The earliest surviving violins are attributed to Andrea Amati of Cremona, who is considered the founding father of the modern violin family. His instruments from the 1550s formed the basis of violin design as we know it today.

The Violin's Role in Baroque and Classical Music
By the 17th century, the violin became central to Western art music. Composers like:

Arcangelo Corelli (1653–1713)
Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

…composed concertos and sonatas that showcased the violin’s expressive, melodic capabilities.

The violin quickly established itself as a dominant instrument in orchestras, chamber music, and solo repertoire — a role it still holds today.

The Piano: Invented in the Early 1700s

The piano was invented about 200 years later, by Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655–1731), a harpsichord maker from Florence, Italy. His new instrument, built around 1700, was called the gravicembalo col piano e forte, meaning "harpsichord with soft and loud."

The revolutionary idea behind the piano was the hammer action mechanism, which allowed players to vary the volume of each note depending on how hard they pressed the keys — something the harpsichord and clavichord couldn’t do effectively.

The Piano’s Rise in Classical and Romantic Eras
The piano gained popularity gradually. By the mid-1700s, it was used by:

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)

Later in the Romantic era, composers like Chopin, Liszt, and Schumann expanded the piano’s expressive power and technical possibilities, making it a cornerstone of Western music.

Timeline Comparison

Period	Instrument	Key Event
~1550s	Violin	Andrea Amati creates earliest known violins
1600s–1700s	Violin	Featured in Baroque works by Vivaldi, Bach, etc.
~1700	Piano	Bartolomeo Cristofori invents the piano
1750s–1800s	Piano	Gained use through Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin

So, Which Came First?
The violin came first — by about two centuries.
By the time the piano was invented in 1700, the violin had already become a staple in European music and had been used in major works for over 100 years.

What This Means for Music Learners
Understanding the historical order of these instruments reveals how music evolved:

The violin dominated the Baroque and early Classical periods, bringing expressive, lyrical melodies to ensembles and solo stages.
The piano revolutionized performance in the Classical and Romantic periods, allowing for harmony, melody, and dynamics in one instrument.

Both instruments reflect the artistic needs of their time — and both continue to thrive in classical, jazz, pop, and contemporary styles today.

Which Should You Learn?

Violin is ideal for those who love melody, emotional expression, and ensemble playing. It's prominent in orchestras, string quartets, and solo works.
Piano offers a complete musical foundation — great for learning harmony, rhythm, sight-reading, and solo performance. It's also widely used in songwriting and composition.

There's no “better” choice — it all depends on your musical goals and preferences.

Fun Fact

Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” (1725) was written before the piano became widespread.
Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” (1801) helped show the emotional potential of the piano.

These iconic works show how each instrument defined its era of music.

Final Thoughts
The violin and piano are both masterpieces of invention — arriving centuries apart but each contributing deeply to the story of music.

So whether you're drawn to the soaring voice of the violin or the rich, full range of the piano, remember: you're stepping into a tradition of music that spans hundreds of years.

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