Keyboard Instruments: English Vocabulary List

an early version of the piano, known for its softer and more delicate sound compared to modern pianos, commonly used in classical music from the 18th and 19th centuries

"The fortepiano sounded delicate."

"The composer preferred the nuanced tones of the fortepiano for his chamber music."

an early keyboard instrument with strings struck by tangents, known for its soft and intimate sound, used in historical and early music

"The tangent piano was soft."

"The historical ensemble featured a tangent piano for its authentic 18th-century sound."

a box-like musical instrument that is held in both hands and is played by squeezing and stretching it while pressing its keys

"She plays the accordion."

"The accordion added a lively sound to the traditional music performance."

an early keyboard instrument resembling a piano in which the strings are plucked rather than being hit with a hammer

"The harpsichord was popular in Baroque music."

"The harpsichord was a popular keyboard instrument during the Baroque period before the piano was invented."

a rare instrument that combines a keyboard with bowed strings, known for its unique and expressive sound, used in avant-garde and experimental music

"The bowed clavier sounded unique."

"The experimental composer explored the expressive possibilities of the rare bowed clavier."

a Western European keyboard instrument producing soft tones, especially used in the 18th century

"The clavichord was quiet."

"The intimate setting was perfect for the soft, delicate tones of the clavichord."

a historical keyboard instrument similar to a dulcimer, known for its plucked strings and bright sound, used in medieval and Renaissance music

"The clavicymbalum sounded bright."

"The early music ensemble used a clavicymbalum to recreate the vibrant sounds of the Renaissance."

a historical keyboard instrument that resembles a lute, known for its plucked strings and delicate sound, used in Baroque music

"The lautenwerck sounded delicate."

"The delicate, lute-like tones of the lautenwerck were characteristic of Baroque chamber music."

a hybrid musical instrument with strings like a harp and a small attached keyboard for plucking or damping the strings

"Claviharp has harp strings."

"The claviharp is a rare nineteenth century instrument that combined the sound production of a harp with a keyboard."

a type of accordion that is played by pressing buttons or keys on one side of the instrument, rather than by pulling and pushing a bellows as with the more common piano accordion

"Button accordion uses buttons."

"The button accordion uses rows of buttons on the melody side instead of piano style keys."

a type of accordion that has buttons arranged in a diatonic scale pattern, typically used in folk, traditional, and regional music styles

"Diatonic button accordion is folk."

"The diatonic button accordion is limited to a specific key and produces different pitches on the push and pull of the bellows."

a type of accordion that is played by pressing piano-style keys on one side of the instrument while operating a bellows with the other hand to create sound

"Piano accordion has keys."

"The piano accordion features a piano style keyboard on the right hand side and buttons for chords on the left."

a musical instrument that produces sound by sending steam or compressed air through large whistles, and is often used in outdoor events such as circuses and fairs

"Calliope uses steam whistles."

"The calliope is a musical instrument that produces sound by sending steam or compressed air through whistles."

a small, keyboard-like wind instrument with a unique sound that is a cross between an accordion and a clarinet

"Claviola is a wind instrument."

"The claviola is a free reed instrument similar to a melodica that is worn around the neck and played with the hands."

a small polygonal instrument that resembles an accordion which is played by pressing keys and pulling and pushing its sides

"Concertina is a small accordion."

"The concertina is a small free reed instrument like an accordion with hexagonal ends and buttons on both sides."

a type of keyboard instrument that produces sound by forcing air through metal reeds when keys are pressed

"Reed organ uses metal reeds."

"The reed organ is a keyboard instrument that produces sound by air moving over metal reeds."

a keyboard instrument that produces sound by forcing air through reeds using a foot-operated bellows or hand-pumped mechanism

"Pump organ uses foot bellows."

"The pump organ is a type of reed organ that uses foot operated bellows to force air through the reeds."

a large keyboard instrument with rows of pipes in various lengths each played by a separate set of keys, producing a wide range of tones

"Pipe organ has many pipes."

"The pipe organ is a large keyboard instrument that produces sound by forcing air through pipes of various lengths."

a musical instrument with a small keyboard in which hammers hit a row of steel plates, producing a bell-like sound

"Celesta sounds like bells."

"The celesta is a struck idiophone that looks like a small upright piano and produces a very bright bell like tone."

a historical keyboard instrument that produces a soft and delicate tone, similar to a celesta or glockenspiel

"Dulcitone has soft tone."

"The dulcitone is a keyboard instrument that produces sound by hammers striking tuning forks."

a musical instrument resembling a small organ in which the performer operates the pedals by feet and plays notes on the keyboard

"Harmonium has foot pedals."

"The harmonium is a type of reed organ that is popular in Indian classical music and is pumped by hand."

a mechanical musical instrument which produces a particular tune by turning a handle

"Barrel organ plays tunes."

"The barrel organ is a mechanical instrument that plays music by turning a pinned barrel that operates the keys."

an early keyboard instrument similar to a harpsichord with strings set slantwise

"Spinet has slantwise strings."

"The spinet is a smaller cheaper type of harpsichord popular for home use in the eighteenth century."

a distinctive musical instrument that produces sound through struck or bowed glass rods, known for its unique and ethereal timbre

"Glasschord uses glass rods."

"The glasschord is a keyboard instrument that produces sound by hammers striking glass bars instead of strings."

a rare and obsolete keyboard instrument resembling a harmonium or pump organ, used in some 19th-century compositions

"Terpodion is rare instrument."

"The terpodion is a rare nineteenth century keyboard instrument that used friction rods to produce sound."

an electromechanical piano with metal reeds and hammers that produces a bright and percussive sound

"Wurlitzer piano has reeds."

"The Wurlitzer electric piano is an electric piano that uses struck metal reeds to generate its distinctive tone."

an electric piano that uses metal tines struck by hammers to produce its signature warm and mellow sound

"Rhodes piano has metal tines."

"The Rhodes piano is an electric piano where metal tines are struck by felt tipped hammers to produce a bell like sound."

a keyboard instrument that uses strings and pickups to produce a distinctive percussive and funky sound

"Clavinet has percussive sound."

"The clavinet is an electric keyboard instrument that uses a rubber tipped hammer to pluck metal strings."

a large piano with three legs and a horizontal frame and strings, known for its powerful sound and wide range

"The grand piano is elegant."

"They placed the grand piano in the concert hall."