clavichord: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Low-frequencyFormal / Technical / Historical
Quick answer
What does “clavichord” mean?
A small, rectangular early keyboard instrument, popular from the Renaissance through the Baroque period, where strings are struck by small brass blades called tangents.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, rectangular early keyboard instrument, popular from the Renaissance through the Baroque period, where strings are struck by small brass blades called tangents.
Often used to refer to historical performance practice, early music, or as a symbol of intimate, quiet, and expressive domestic music-making, in contrast to louder keyboard instruments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage differences. The referent is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes antiquity, refinement, scholarly historical interest, and quiet, nuanced sound.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “clavichord” in a Sentence
play [the] clavichordtune [the] clavichorda clavichord from [century/period]the sound of [the] clavichordVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clavichord” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No verb form.
American English
- No verb form.
adverb
British English
- No adverb form.
American English
- No adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No adjective form.
- Clavichord-like (rare compound adjective).
American English
- No adjective form.
- Clavichord music (noun adjunct).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in musicology, historical performance, and cultural history contexts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in organology (study of musical instruments) and early music.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clavichord”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “clavichord”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clavichord”
- Pronouncing it as /kleɪvɪkɔːd/ (incorrect first vowel).
- Confusing it with a harpsichord or spinet.
- Using it as a general term for any old piano.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A harpsichord plucks its strings with a quill, producing a brighter, more metallic sound with less dynamic control. A clavichord strikes its strings with a tangent, allowing for subtle dynamics and vibrato.
Its sound is quiet because the small, light tangents do not transfer much energy to the strings, and the instrument's light wooden case does not project sound powerfully. It was designed for personal practice, not concert performance.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term used mainly by musicians, music historians, and antique instrument enthusiasts.
Technically, you could play the notes, but the clavichord's limited volume, range, and sustaining power make it unsuitable for most music composed after the late 18th century. It is best suited for the repertoire of its own time.
A small, rectangular early keyboard instrument, popular from the Renaissance through the Baroque period, where strings are struck by small brass blades called tangents.
Clavichord is usually formal / technical / historical in register.
Clavichord: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklæv.ɪ.kɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklæv.ɪ.kɔːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CLAssical VIolin sound, but from a keyBOARD – a CLAVI-CHORD.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PAST AS A QUIET, INTRICATE INSTRUMENT (e.g., 'He touched the subject with the delicacy of a clavichordist').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary mechanism of sound production in a clavichord?