How does a clavichord produce sound?

The clavichord produces sound through a simple mechanical action involving a brass blade called a tangent.12

When a player depresses a key, the tangent—a small brass blade attached to the key—is driven upward to strike the string. This action serves two purposes: it sets the string into vibration and simultaneously determines its sounding length by dividing the string into two segments. The segment between the tangent and the bridge vibrates to produce the note, while the segment to the left is silenced by a strip of felt or cloth woven through the strings.12

The vibrations are then communicated to a soundboard via a bridge, which amplifies the sound by setting a larger mass of air into vibration. Because the tangent remains in contact with the string while the key is held, the player can influence the note after it is struck, allowing for dynamic variation and the production of vibrato, known as bebung.213