The clavichord, harpsichord and piano sound different in large part because the strings are set into vibration by different mechanisms. As long as the key is held down another set of levers keeps the damper off the string. The back check keeps the hammer from bouncing back and striking the string twice.
#Small stringed instrument series#
When the key is pressed a series of levers acts to throw the hammer upward so that it hits the string. Below is a very simplified diagram of the mechanism of the strike action of the piano (more details can be found in this animation of a piano mechanism). Banjo - American development of African origins (related to. Because it was significantly louder it was originally called the 'piano forte' (forte is Latin for loud). Bandurria - small 12 string mandolin type instrument with a very short wide neck, popular in Spain. The piano was developed in the early 1700s This instrument overcame several limitations of the earlier harpsichords and clavichords. A spring mechanism moves the plectrum out of the way while the mechanism returns to its starting point (see Wikipeda for details). The harpsichord was developed in about a century later and uses a quill (originally from the feather of a bird) called the plectrumto pluck one or two strings when the key is pressed. In the clavichord, developed in the 15th century, a small metal piece called the tangenthits the string (sometimes two strings) when a lever is pressed by the performer. Strictly speaking keyboard instruments such as the piano, harpsichord and clavichord are classified as percussion instruments because there is a mechanism that strikes or plucks the string. The process of how they were made was a secret that was lost hundreds of years ago and has not been replicated. It has been claimed that the famous Stradivarius violins have a special sound in part because the wood was treated with special chemicals. The more uniform the wood grain the less likely there will be an unwanted resonance.
More expensive guitars and violins are made from wood that is picked to be very dense and have very uniform and fine grain. \( \newcommand\) for a violin.Īnother factor that affects the sound of a string instrument is the material of which it is constructed and the finish.
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