Clavichord - A forerunner of the pianoforte, the clavichord was a stringed instrument derived from the dulcimer by the addition of a keyboard. Its sweet tremulous tone is produced by brass pins called tangents, which are fixed in the keys and flattened out at the upper end. These tangents set the strings vibrating, at the same time measuring the length required to produce the tone corresponding to the key stuck. Later separate strings were added to produce the individual notes. The Clavichord originates from the 14th century.