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Virtual Harpsichord

Play a free virtual harpsichord online. Triangle-wave synthesis with fast plucked decay reproduces the bright, articulate tone of a Baroque harpsichord.

Keyboard: A=C4 · S=D4 · D=E4 · F=F4 · G=G4 · H=A4 · J=B4 · K=C5
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Captures live performance audio with zero latency. Export as .wav (DAWs & universal playback) or .webm (MPV player & web).

The Harpsichord's Plucked Voice

The harpsichord is a keyboard instrument that produces sound by plucking strings with a quill or plectrum — fundamentally different from the piano's hammer mechanism. When a key is pressed, a wooden jack lifts a plectrum that plucks the string, creating a bright, articulate, instantly decaying tone. The harpsichord cannot produce dynamic variation through touch: every note sounds at the same volume, which is why Baroque composers wrote terraced dynamics (abrupt shifts between loud and soft sections) rather than gradual crescendos.

Harpsichord vs Piano

These two instruments represent fundamentally different approaches to keyboard sound. The harpsichord plucks — producing a clear, bright, rapidly decaying tone ideal for the contrapuntal textures of Baroque music. The piano strikes with hammers — producing a tone that can be shaped dynamically from a whisper to a roar. The piano's ability to play piano (softly) and forte (loudly) is what gave it its name (pianoforte). Our virtual harpsichord uses fast triangle-wave decay to capture the plucking mechanism.

Baroque Repertoire

The harpsichord boasts one of the richest repertoires in classical music. J.S. Bach composed The Well-Tempered Clavier, a collection of 48 preludes and fugues in all major and minor keys that remains the foundation of keyboard study. The Goldberg Variations, his monumental set of 30 variations, was written for a two-manual harpsichord. Domenico Scarlatti's 555 sonatas explore the harpsichord's coloristic possibilities with unprecedented virtuosity. French masters Couperin and Rameau developed the style brisé (broken-chord texture) that influenced later piano music.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our virtual instruments, practice tools, and music theory workspace.

How does the virtual harpsichord work?

Our virtual harpsichord uses a triangle-wave oscillator with an instant attack and fast 400ms decay, reproducing the distinctive plucked string tone of a Baroque harpsichord.

Unlike a piano, there is no velocity sensitivity — each note sounds at full volume regardless of how hard you strike.

What is the difference between a harpsichord and a piano?

The fundamental difference is sound production: a harpsichord's strings are plucked by a quill (plectrum) when the key is pressed, while a piano's strings are struck by felt hammers.

Plucking produces a brighter, more percussive tone with very fast decay and no ability to play louder or softer based on touch — the harpsichord has no dynamic control. The piano's hammer mechanism allows full dynamic expression (piano to forte, which is how it got its name).

Why does the harpsichord have white sharps and black naturals?

Early harpsichords from the Renaissance and Baroque periods often used reversed keyboard coloring: natural keys (C, D, E, etc.

) were made of dark wood and sharps were light-colored ivory or bone. This was purely a matter of convention and available materials — modern pianos standardized the reverse pattern. Our virtual harpsichord concept follows the reversed Baroque convention.

What keyboard keys play which notes?

A-S-D-F-G-H-J-K maps to C major (C4-C5).

W-E-T-Y-U covers chromatic sharps between.

Can I record what I play?

Yes — tap Record to begin capturing audio output.

Stop to finalize and save your recording as .webm.

Why is the harpsichord associated with Baroque music?

The harpsichord was the dominant keyboard instrument throughout the Baroque era (1600–1750).

It served as the foundation of the basso continuo (the harmonic backbone of Baroque ensembles), as a solo instrument for suites and partitas, and as the preferred instrument for composers including Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Couperin, and Rameau. The rise of the piano in the Classical era gradually replaced it.

What is the harpsichord's range?

Baroque harpsichords typically spanned 4–5 octaves (from C below middle C to C or F above the treble staff).

Late 18th-century instruments expanded to 5 full octaves. Our virtual version plays one octave starting at C4. Full-range harpsichords often had multiple manuals (keyboards) and ranks of strings to vary tonal color.

Who are famous harpsichord composers?

J.

S. Bach wrote the most essential harpsichord works: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Goldberg Variations, French and English Suites, and Partitas. Domenico Scarlatti composed 555 keyboard sonatas that pushed harpsichord technique to new limits. François Couperin (L'Art de Toucher le Clavecin) and Jean-Philippe Rameau defined the French harpsichord school. Later, the harpsichord saw a 20th-century revival through performers like Wanda Landowska.

What stops and registrations does a harpsichord have?

Larger harpsichords have multiple sets of strings (choirs) and stops that enable registration changes: 8′ (normal pitch), 4′ (an octave higher, brighter), and a buff stop (leather pressing against strings for a lute-like sound).

Some two-manual harpsichords allow contrasting registrations between keyboards for terraced dynamics — the only volume contrast available on the instrument.