Lena Torres
The sound of a keyboard can vary depending on its type, material, and construction. For instance, the old school mechanical keyboards from the 1980s produce a loud clack sound due to their mechanical keys, while modern-era keyboards with membrane keys typically make a quieter click sound. Gamers and heavy typers often prefer mechanical keyboards for their customizability, tactile feedback, and distinct auditory feedback, which can be gratifying. The term plunk is not commonly associated with keyboard sounds, but it may describe a similar sound to clack or click, perhaps with a deeper pitch or a heavier emphasis.
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What You'll Learn
Harpsichord – plucks strings when keys are pressed
The harpsichord is a musical instrument that produces sound by plucking strings when keys are pressed. It is played using a keyboard and was the most common keyboard instrument from the Renaissance era into the Classical period. The harpsichord has its roots in the Middle Ages, though its exact date of invention remains unknown. The earliest known reference to a harpsichord-like instrument appears in manuscripts from the 14th century, with more concrete evidence found in the 15th century.
The harpsichord works by depressing a key, which raises its back end within the instrument. This, in turn, raises a mechanism called a "jack" that holds a small plectrum made from quill, plastic, or leather. The plectrum then plucks one or more strings, creating the sound. When the key is released, the jack falls, and the plectrum touches the string on the way down, forcing the pivoted tongue backward so that the plectrum can pass the string again without plucking it. The strings are under tension on a soundboard, which amplifies the vibrations from the strings so that they can be heard.
Harpsichords usually have one string per note, but more elaborate harpsichords can have two or more strings for each note. These additional strings are called "choirs" of strings and provide the ability to vary volume and tonal quality. Volume can be increased by setting up the mechanism so that pressing a single key plucks more than one string. Tonal quality can be varied by designing different choirs of strings with distinct tonal qualities, usually by having one set of strings plucked closer to the nut, which produces a "nasal" sound.
The harpsichord's mechanism gives it a distinctive, bright, and crisp tone that differs from the piano's warmer, more resonant sound. Unlike the piano, the harpsichord does not allow for dynamic variation and produces a more consistent volume regardless of how forcefully the keys are pressed. This is because the strings in a harpsichord are plucked, whereas the strings in a piano are struck by hammers. The harpsichord's sound is also softer and fades more rapidly than that of a piano.
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Piano – hammers strike strings
The piano is a unique instrument, with a distinctive sound. When a piano key is pressed, a corresponding hammer rises to strike the string or strings, causing them to vibrate and produce a tone. This is known as the "action". The hammers vary in size, with the largest being on the bass end of the piano, and they gradually decrease in size towards the treble range. The felt on the hammerhead can become compacted over time, from repeatedly striking the wire strings.
The process of creating a piano tone is intricate, with many intermediate steps. When a key is pressed, the upward force of the capstan causes the wippen to rise, which in turn thrusts the jack upward. The jack then raises the knuckle, which is fixed to one end of the hammer shank. As the knuckle and hammer shank rise, the felt hammer on the other end is propelled towards the string, creating the hammer strike.
For the piano to sound as intended, the hammer must bounce off or release from the string immediately, so the strings can vibrate freely. If the hammer remains pressed against the strings, it will muffle the tone, creating a dull "thud". This is prevented by the "let-off button", which causes the jack to release from the knuckle just before the hammer hits the string. This intricate mechanism allows pianists to play a series of rapid, repeated notes, with a maximum speed of 15 times per second.
The piano's action has been refined over time, with Sébastien Érard's invention of the repetition mechanism, or double escapement, being a notable development. This mechanism allows pianists to quickly repeat a note without fully releasing the key, as the hammer does not need to return to its resting position before the next keystroke. This innovation helped composers like Beethoven create new works, and it is still used in modern pianos today.
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Organ – air forced through pipes
The sound produced by a keyboard can vary depending on its type, build, and the materials used. Mechanical keyboards, for instance, are known for their "clackety-clack" sound, while computer keyboards have a much softer sound, described as "pitter-patter" or "clicking." The sensation of typing on a keyboard can be described as "tapping" or "pecking," and some keyboards may even provide a "softer" feeling due to the flexibility of the circuit board.
Now, let's shift our focus to the organ, a majestic instrument that utilizes air forced through pipes to create its distinctive sound. Unlike a keyboard, the organ does not have a standardized sound, as each pipe organ is custom-made, taking into account factors such as the desired range of sounds, the size of the room, aesthetics, and budget.
At its core, the pipe organ functions by feeding wind into pipes, causing the air to oscillate and produce sound. These pipes are positioned above a box called the wind-chest, and the specific pipes to be used are selected by the organist using stops and manuals. The stops allow for switching between different timbres, while the manuals choose the tone (C, D, E, etc.) to be played.
The variety of sounds produced by the organ is due to the fact that each pipe can only generate a single sound. For example, one pipe might produce a C-pitch with the timbre of a flute, while another pipe generates a D-pitch with the timbre of a trumpet. To create different timbres, multiple pipes are needed, with 56 pipes required for each timbre within a 56-note range.
The volume of the organ's sound is controlled by shutters or louvers that cover the opening of the chamber. When the shutters are open, the sound appears louder, and when closed, the sound is softer. Additionally, covered pipes, known as closed tubes, produce a tone one octave lower than open pipes.
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Celesta – struck idiophone, produces bell-like sound
The celesta, also known as the celeste, is a musical instrument invented in 1886 by Parisian harmonium builder Victor Mustel. It is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. The name "celeste" comes from the French word "cèleste", meaning "heavenly", reflecting the instrument's ethereal and shimmering bell-like sound.
The celesta resembles a small upright piano, with a wooden case, a keyboard, and foot pedals. However, unlike a piano, the celesta produces sound through hammers striking metal plates or bars suspended over wooden resonators. This unique mechanism gives the instrument its distinctive timbre. The metal plates are typically made from an alloy that includes steel and copper, while the hammers are covered in felt to ensure a soft, mellow sound upon impact. The wooden resonators beneath the plates amplify and enhance the sound, adding a warm and rounded quality.
The celesta's keyboard is identical to that of a piano, making it accessible to pianists and keyboardists. The instrument's range typically spans three to five octaves, with the four-octave version generally covering C4 to C8. The five-octave version extends down to F3, providing a richer bass register and greater harmonic depth. The fundamental frequency of 4186 Hz makes the celesta one of the highest pitches in common use.
The celesta is often used to enhance melody lines played by other instruments or to duplicate a theme played by a flute, harp, or piano. Its delicate sound blends well with other instruments and adds texture and atmosphere to compositions. The celesta has been featured in various genres, including classical, jazz, rock, pop, and film scores. It has been used in well-known pieces such as Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from The Nutcracker, George Gershwin's An American in Paris, and John Williams's scores for the first three Harry Potter films.
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Electronic keyboards – replicate traditional keyboard sounds
Electronic keyboards are versatile instruments used for learning, practising piano, sound production, and arranging songs. They are designed for home users, beginners, and professionals. They usually feature unweighted keys, while some high-end models have weighted keys or touch-sensitive keys. The latter feature allows the keyboard to mimic the sound variations caused by how hard a key is pressed, replicating the feel and sound of an acoustic piano.
Electronic keyboards offer a diverse selection of instrument sounds, such as piano, organ, violin, synthesizer tones, and various digital effects. They also allow for layering sounds together, which provides a wider variety of sounds than any acoustic keyboard. Casio and Yamaha are major manufacturers in this market, popularizing the concept since the 1980s.
Digital pianos, a type of electronic keyboard, have weighted or semi-weighted keys to replicate the feel of acoustic pianos. They usually have 88 keys and are designed to be played like regular pianos. They are often mounted on stands and have a fixed sustain pedal. Digital pianos have fewer features for adjusting audio quality and sound compared to other electronic keyboards, focusing on maintaining the traditional audio quality of a regular piano.
Electronic keyboards use MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), a universal language for digital instruments. MIDI transmits which notes are played, their duration, and velocity (how hard a key is pressed). This data is translated into MIDI velocity data, controlling the loudness of the generated sound. MIDI can also add digital effects to the sounds, such as reverb, chorus, delay, and tremolo.
Additionally, electronic keyboards feature a user interface system with an LCD screen. This allows users to select different instrument sounds, apply digital effects, and access other features like transposition, accompaniments, recording, and external media. The user interface system provides information about the synthesized sound, tempo, and activated effects.
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Frequently asked questions
This phrase refers to the sound made by pressing the keys on a keyboard.
Some other ways to describe this sound include "clicking," "clacking," "tapping," "pecking," "banging," and "clackety-clack."
The sound of a keyboard can vary depending on its type, build, and the materials used. For example, older keyboards without switch plates often have a "softer" feeling and sound due to the flexible circuit board.
Yes, there are a few methods to reduce the sound of a loud keyboard. This includes using sound-dampening materials, such as a desk-wide mousepad, and adjusting the keyboard's settings, such as disabling Sticky keys and Filter keys in Windows.
