How did a harpsichord produce sound differently from a clavichord?

The harpsichord and clavichord produce sound through fundamentally different mechanical actions:

• Harpsichord: Sound is produced by a plucking mechanism. When a key is pressed, a vertical strip of wood called a jack rises, causing a plectrum (made of quill, leather, or plastic) to pluck the string. Because the string is plucked, the instrument has limited capacity for dynamic variation; it cannot produce sustained crescendos through finger pressure alone.12
• Clavichord: Sound is produced by a striking mechanism. A small brass blade called a tangent stands on each key; when the key is depressed, the tangent strikes the string and remains in contact with it while the note sounds. This direct, sustained contact allows the player to control the note's volume and pitch, enabling dynamic shading and vibrato (or bebung) through varying finger pressure.34

While the harpsichord relies on the mechanical release of a plectrum to create a consistent, plucked tone, the clavichord’s tangent-to-string contact provides the player with sensitive control over the sound's intensity and expression.134