Harpsichord 101 - How It Works

I describe how both of my harpsichords work and demonstrate the stops. A close look at the inside. I'd be glad to try to answer any questions you have.

Thank you to everyone for your positive feedback. I'm really glad I made this video.

FAQ:
How old are these and who built them?
They are both from the workshop on William Dowd (Boston) and were both made in 1967.

What are the strings made of?
Iron and the deeper strings are brass.

How often do the strings break or need to be replaced?
Since my fingers don't touch the strings (unlike the guitar), the strings can last for a long time (decades). I have only ever broken one string and that comes from turning the wrong tuning peg "Hey, this string isn't getting sharper?...(SNAP TWANG!) opps"

How much did they cost? Quality used harpsichords can be found for about $8,000 for a single manual, to $20,000 for a double.

Where can I find one?
Look online. Just search for harpsichord builder or harpsichord sale. We got ours from a clearing house in Mass.

I've seen a used one for $3,000. Should I buy it?
Be CAREFUL! Some harpsichords were built from kits by amateur woodworkers. Some have major fatal structural flaws. Of course some are good too. If you are going to look at one of those, bring an expert with you. It might not be possible to fix some of these problems and if you are going to need an expert to help you repair a bad harpsichord, you will be spending the same kind of money needed to get a good one.

What is the range of a harpsichord?
Harpsichords vary quite a bit on their number of keys. Some are about 4 octaves. A few (some Italian models for accompanying singers) don't even have all the chromatic bass notes. Those have a "short" octave in the bass. This saves space and cost. You can play the entire Well Tempered Clavier of Bach on a 4 octave instrument.

Mine has quite a wide range (in fact it would be hard to tune any notes above or below the extremes on mine). I wanted this wide range because Scarlatti's Sonata K. 380 requires these high notes (up to G).

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[crazyghetto978818]

So do you feel some sort of feedback when you hit a key? Like when you hit a piano key (especially on Steinways, I find) you feel the key hitting them hammer?

[SFChristo]

@crazyghetto978818 Oh yes. You feel the EXACT cut and thickness of the plectrum as it pulls on the string. And when you have both manuals coupled you feel twice the resistance. Every harpsichord has a different "hardness of pluck" and so they all feel different from each other.

[TheLeftylegend14]

does a Harpsichord ever need tuning? or does it have to have the strings changed? I just recently discovered this unique instrument after hearing a Fleetwood Mac song. :)

[SFChristo]

@TheLeftylegend14 Hello, thank you for checking out my video. I answer your questions in my FAQ in the video description. I have to tune the harpsichord everytime I play it if I want to hear it in-tune.  Which Feeltwood Mac song?

[Orchidbeautyful]

Hi :D I just love the harpsichord WAY more than the piano. I Get the mechanism however I can't seem to get lute stop. Yes the lute stop touches the strings, but it seems that only touches one of the strings. And another thing is that I saw the how the keyboard works but It shows that the 4 foot string are playing along the 8 foot strings but it doesn't sound that way when you play the double. So can you explain to me the lute stop and the 4 foot strings???

[SFChristo]

@Orchidbeautyful Oh yes. The lute stop does touch ONLY one set of strings. So only one set can have the effect.

[TheLeftylegend14]

@SFChristo my bad. it was the Partridge Family song " I Think I Love You ". and I looked up the chords to the song on guitar and it said (Harpsichord solo) and luckily your video was here on Youtube.

[Asdayasman]

@SFChristo So you did. Sorry, I'm quite blind.

[SFChristo]

@Asdayasman Hello. I've answered this and other questions in the video FAQ above.

[capamagic]

Pretty nice to know about this beautifull instrument! Nice Bach's ave maria at the end

[SFChristo]

@headbanginCJ Hello. I know what you mean. I don't think it would work on the harpsichord because you would need to very carefully set the plectrum (pick) and it would lead to a lot of notes not sounding (you'd have to adjust it all the time). But you can get the guitar effect of playing "closer to the bridge". Now the clavichord always hits the strings at the octave (12th fret harmonic effect). That's why its so quiet. I have some videos up of that instrument.