A method of making a piezoelectric sensor includes forming piezoelectric layer(s) to define a beam extending between a proximal portion and a distal end. The method also includes modeling a strain distribution on the beam based on a force applied to the beam, and defining an outer boundary with a shape substantially corresponding to a contour line of the strain distribution on the beam. The method also includes forming an electrode having said outer boundary shape, and attaching the electrode to the beam. The method also includes attaching the beam to a substrate in cantilever form so that the proximal portion of the beam is anchored to the substrate and the distal end of the beam is unsupported.