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DIY Clavichord Project

A guide details the construction of a clavichord, an early keyboard instrument and ancestor to the piano, built using traditional woodworking techniques.

The clavichord, while known to Early Music enthusiasts, is less familiar to the general public. Even those aware of Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier" may have only heard these pieces performed on a piano. This instrument features keys that strike strings to produce sound, but unlike a piano, each string is used for multiple notes.

Ian Summers has provided a guide to building a clavichord, available as a PDF. A demo/build video is also embedded for those who prefer not to download the PDF. Summers's clavichord is not a strict historical reproduction, allowing for documented design choices.

The instrument has two octaves and ten strings, with each string producing two or three notes. It is fully chromatic, featuring 'dark' keys for sharps and flats. The keys directly strike the strings without a mechanism or hammers, which allows for effects like vibrato.

This build was completed using traditional woodworking. The guide's detail and the instrument's relative simplicity suggest that the design could be adapted for construction with 3D printed or laser-cut parts.

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