Clavichords

The clavichord instrument was used by church organists of the 17th century as a practice instrument. Because the churches were cold or at a distance from the organists home; the clavichord functioned well as a practice instrument.  Generally it was considered to quiet to function as a solo instrument. 

It has a very quiet and delicate sound as a metal wedge (a tangent) on the end of the key rises as the key is depressed and strikes the string. If you picture a teetertoter with one end being the key which you depress and the other end having a wedge of metal you will have an idea of the mechanics of the key and striking mechanism.  As you depress the key the other end with the wedge (actually called a tangent) comes up and strikes the string.  One end of the string is muted and the other end, from the tangent to the bridge, makes sound.

In the photograph you can see the white felt that mutes the sound of the string from the tangent to the felt.  To the right you can see the bridge and the string vibrates from the bridge to the tangent of the struck key.

Several years ago I built the clavichord because my wife played the piano but we were in a small and quiet apartment building at that time. (With amplified sounds it is hard to imagine that there are quiet apartments now.)  Many of the materials were purchased from Zuckerman and I have listed their web page below.
The instrument is very quiet having the sound  volume of a guitar being played very gently. As the tangents strike the strings there is a slight metallic sound, especially in the lower ranges. But overall the sound is very gentle and delicate.   

The following web sites will provide a great deal of information
Zuckerman Clavichord

Boston Clavichord Society

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