Harpsichord

keyboard instrument · plucked strings · classical music

Keys raise jacks. When you press a key on a harpsichord, it lifts a tiny piece of wood called a jack inside the instrument. The jack holds a small plectrum (like a pick) that plucks a string to make sound.

Quill plectrums. The plectrums that pluck the strings are traditionally made from feathers called quills, though modern harpsichords sometimes use plastic instead. Each plectrum is super tiny but powerful enough to vibrate the strings.

Soundboard amplifies. The strings sit on a wooden soundboard that vibrates along with them. This soundboard acts like a megaphone, making the plucking sounds loud enough for everyone in a concert hall to hear clearly.

Multiple string choirs. Many harpsichords have more than one set of strings, called choirs. Levers or extra keyboards let players choose which choirs sound, creating different tones and textures during music.

Classical favorite. Composers like Bach and Handel wrote amazing music for harpsichord during the Baroque period. The harpsichord was one of the most important keyboard instruments before pianos were invented.