Piano vs Harpsichord
There are numerous stringed musical instruments with keyboards, and among them, the piano holds a special place as a romantic and melodious instrument. The harpsichord, another keyboard instrument, was once very popular and shares similarities with the piano. Despite these similarities, there are significant differences between the two instruments.
Key Takeaways
- While both the piano and harpsichord are stringed musical instruments with keyboards, the piano’s keys are struck, whereas the harpsichord’s keys are plucked.
- The harpsichord can be considered a predecessor of the piano and was at its peak during the Renaissance period, while the piano was invented in the early 18th century.
- Harpsichords have two sets of strings, while pianos have one, and pianos can produce variations in sound, while harpsichords produce the same sound regardless of how the key is pressed.
Harpsichord
The harpsichord is a stringed musical instrument with a keyboard, similar to the piano. However, unlike the piano, its keys are plucked rather than struck. The harpsichord was a popular instrument in Europe from the 16th to the mid-18th century, used in operas and orchestras. Sound is produced by plucking the strings with a plectrum, and the instrument typically has two keyboards. The vibrations of the strings are transmitted to a soundboard glued to a bridge beneath the strings. The harpsichord was most popular during the Renaissance period, with famous musicians such as Henry Purcell and Domenico Scarlatti using the instrument.
Piano
The piano is a fascinating stringed musical instrument played by striking a keyboard, causing a hammer to strike a tuned string. The invention of the piano is credited to Bartolomeo Cristofori of Italy in the early 17th century, who had a deep knowledge of the harpsichord and used it to create the piano.
Difference between Piano and Harpsichord
While both the piano and harpsichord are stringed musical instruments with keyboards, the key difference lies in how the keys are played – they are struck in the case of the piano, and plucked in the harpsichord. The harpsichord can be considered a predecessor of the piano, with the piano being invented in the early 18th century, while the harpsichord was at its peak during the Renaissance period. The harpsichord has two sets of strings, whereas the piano has one. Additionally, piano sounds have variations, while the harpsichord will produce the same sound no matter how the key is pressed.
