What kind of stringed keyboard instruments were available in the 1600s ~ 1800s?
Only two types: the harpsichord and its near relations, the spinet and virginal; and the clavichord. How is a Harpsichord Different from a Piano? In the harpsichord family, the string is plucked by a small plectrum, originally made from the quill of a feather. In a piano, the keys are struck by a hammer. Stringing a Harpsichord Along. A harpsichord usually had two sets of strings per key, tuned either to the same pitch or with one set sounding an octave higher. Two keyboards were found on certain larger instruments, which usually featured three sets of strings.
