Keyboard instrument

From Wikinfo

A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument played with a musical keyboard. Keyboard instruments can be wind instruments, string instruments, percussion instruments, or electronic instruments.

The most popular keyboard instruments are probably the piano and the synthesizer.

String keyboard instruments:

• Clavichord
• Harpsichord - may also be called a cembalo or virginal
• Piano

Wind keyboard instuments:

• Accordion
• Melodica
• Harmonium
• Organ

Electronic/electromechanical keyboard instruments:

• Synthesizer
• Ondes Martenot
• Rhodes electric piano
• MIDI keyboard controller

Other:

• Celesta (struck metal plaques)

History of keyboard instruments

Among early keyboard instruments are the organ, the clavichord, and the harpsichord. The piano appeared during the 18th century. Early electromechanical instruments, predecessors of the synthesizer, appeared in the early 20th century.

References

• Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Keyboard instrument" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_instrument December 4, 2003