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During the 19th century, American musicians playing for working-class audiences in small pubs and bars, particularly African-American composers, developed new musical genres based on the modern piano.

Ragtime music, popularized by composers such as Scott Joplin, reached a broader audience by 1900.

The popularity of ragtime music was quickly succeeded by Jazz piano.

New techniques and rhythms were invented for the piano, including ostinato for boogie woogie, and Shearing voicing.

George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue broke new musical ground by combining American jazz piano with symphonic sounds.

Comping, a technique for accompanying jazz vocalists on piano, was exemplified by Duke Ellington's technique.

Honky tonk music, featuring yet another style of piano rhythm, became popular during the same era.

Bebop techniques grew out of jazz, with leading composers such as Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell.

In the late 20th century, Bill Evans composed pieces combining classical techniques with his jazz experimentations.

Herbie Hancock was one of the first jazz pianists to find mainstream popularity working with newer urban music techniques.