Bartók, in his previous work, Piano Concerto No. 1, explored percussive piano techniques to create unique sonorities. However, he also commented to the effect that, "I think it's well-made, but it was too difficult for both the orchestra and the audience." Written with the creative intention to "improve" upon the difficulties of the First Concerto, this Second Concerto indeed maintains structural beauty through its clear individual musical motifs and the overall symmetrical design of the work. However, the piano part, in addition to the percussive techniques inherited from the First Concerto, features a continuous succession of weighty chords that rival the brilliant sound of the wind instruments. Particularly in the first movement and third movements, there are almost no rests, making it a considerably challenging piece for pianists.

Around the time he composed this concerto, Bartók had an interest in international activities, both as a composer and as a performer. This can be inferred not only from the expansion of his scope as a performer but also from his participation in the International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation (ICIC) of the League of Nations, at the invitation of Thomas Mann. Such changes in his musical activities, though not directly, are thought to be reflected in the stance of this piano concerto, which seeks greater "audience appeal."

As mentioned above, in this piano concerto, the three movements possess a symmetrical structure, allowing for the coexistence of cyclical and linear time. The first movement and third movements utilize the same musical material, and the second movement is in a three-part form of Adagio – Scherzo – Adagio, resulting in an overall A-B-C-B-A structure for the entire work. Simultaneously, while the first movement features an orchestra composed solely of wind instruments, the second movement is centered around string instruments, and in the third movement, both sections play active roles. This also reveals a structure where the musical content of the first movement and second movements is integrated in the third movement.