A harpsichord's a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when each key's pressed. Also in the harpsichord family are the smaller virginals, the muselar (also muselaar) virginals and the spinet (but not the clavichord or piano which are hammered instruments). The harpsichord was widely used in baroque music. It became less popular following the invention of the piano, but its distinctive sound's still used in contemporary music. The heimishe harp… (More on Harpsichord)