Harpsichord

Family

Keyboards

Description

Keyboard instruments are often classified as percussion instruments because they play a rhythmic role in some music. However, most keyboard instruments are not true members of the percussion family because their sound is not produced by the vibration of a membrane or solid material.

The harpsichord is an early relative of the piano. Although it looks like a piano, it sounds much different. Small hooks called quills pluck the strings when the player’s hand presses a key on the keyboard.