Skip to main content

Is There a Difference Between the Piano & Clavier?

Knowing the difference between the piano and clavier will make it possible to distinguish the difference between several clavier instruments. The piano is a type of clavier, but the clavier may describe any instrument that uses a keyboard. The clavier stems from the French word that means keyboard, and claviers can be any instruments that use a keyboard, even an accordion. Understanding this makes it easier to learn the difference between a piano and other clavier keyboard instruments.

Piano

The piano is a type of clavier. However, the piano has some special characteristics that differentiate it from other claviers. The piano has the ability to play subtle dynamic changes through the touch-sensitive keys, consists of three pedals that change the timbre of the instrument and can change the texture of the sound simply by changing the amount that the lid opens. The piano represents one of the most popular musical instruments. (See References 4) The sound of the piano is created by hammers hitting the strings making them vibrate.

Harpsichord

The harpsichord represents a type of clavier, but you should not confuse it with a piano, they represent different instruments. The piano uses hammers to strike the strings, controlled by a piano keyboard. The harpsichord also contains a keyboard, but the strings respond by a plucking mechanism that plucks the strings in a similar manner to a guitarist that plucks the guitar. Unlike the piano, dynamics on the harpsichord only become possible by playing additional notes to increase the sound.

Organ

The organ uses two claviers and a set of foot pedals, as opposed to the single clavier on the piano. Organ also belongs to the clavier family of instruments. Similar to the harpsichord, the organ generally only plays at one dynamic level, unlike the piano that is capable of several dynamics. Striking the keys with additional force does not create additional sound. The only way to increase the volume of the organ is to use the crescendo foot pedal to increase the airflow of the instrument. This instrument differs greatly from the piano since it uses a set of foot pedals, air, and two keyboards to create sound.

Electric Piano

Electronic pianos also fall into the clavier family of instruments since they use a keyboard to initiate sound. The electronic clavier uses a digital signal to relay events to indicate which pitches to play, as opposed to the piano that uses an acoustic chamber. The most common electronic clavier only has the ability to play at one dynamic level, unlike the piano that can play many dynamics. With these instruments, pressing down additional notes does not increase the volume, since the volume of the instrument is dependent on the power of the speakers. Unlike a piano, the electronic clavier may play several different sounds creating a wide variety of timbres.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Similarities of Classical and Baroque Music

Music has evolved through the centuries and undergone drastic changes. One of the most significant transitions was from the Baroque to the Classical period of music. In this paragraph, I will compare and contrast some of the main features of these two styles, such as ensembles, instrumentation, and counterpoint study. The Baroque and Classical periods of music have many similarities. While the style of music changed drastically, certain key elements remained the same between the two styles. Composers in the Classical period sought to simplify music and create clearly audible musical lines. In contrast, composers from the Baroque period were interested in creating complex and highly ornamented musical lines. The Baroque period occurs from approximately 1600 to 1750, and the Classical period extends from 1750 to 1820. Ensembles Ensembles are groups of musicians that perform together. Both the Baroque and the Classical period had similar types of ensembles, such as operas, orchestras, str...
Post a Comment
Read more

List of Musical Techniques and Their Meanings

Musical techniques are the building blocks of any basic music training. These techniques allow performers to improve their coordination and develop accuracy through repetitive daily exercises. Musical techniques progressively build upon previously learned techniques. Scales Scales form the basis for other musical techniques. Student may study major and minor scales as well as modern scales, such as the whole-tone and octatonic scales. A scale consists of patterns of half steps and whole steps. These whole steps and half-step arrangements will be different for each scale. Scales are musical techniques that can help a performer to play faster and more accurately, and make learning new pieces easier. Chords Chords require knowledge of major and minor scales. Chords come in several different forms that affect the sound. Triads consist of three notes spaced a third apart and classified as major, minor, augmented and diminished chords. Seventh chords build on triads and have an additional no...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why Claude Debussy Never Cared About Music Theory

  Claude Debussy was born on August 22, 1862. So, I felt writing a blog post to celebrate would be appropriate. Debussy was a revolutionary composer who challenged the conventions of Western music. He was influenced by the impressionist painters, the exotic sounds of gamelan music, and the symbolist poets. He created a musical language that was expressive, colorful, and atmospheric. One of the most remarkable aspects of Debussy's music is his use of harmony. He did not follow the rules of tonality and functional harmony that dominated the music of his time. Instead, he used modes, scales, chords, and parallel movements that created a sense of ambiguity and fluidity. He also experimented with timbre, texture, rhythm, and form to create musical images that evoked moods and emotions. Debussy's music can inspire us to think outside the box and explore new possibilities in our own compositions. We can learn from his innovative techniques and his artistic vision. We can also apprecia...
Post a Comment
Read more