The harpsichord is a musical instrument that resembles a piano but produces sound in a different way. Instead of hammers striking strings, it plucks them with a mechanism called a plectrum. This gives the harpsichord a bright, crisp sound that is often associated with music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Typically made of wood, the harpsichord has a distinctive shape and can have one or more keyboards. It was widely used in compositions by famous composers like Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. Today, it is appreciated for its unique sound and historical significance in classical music.