Claviharp

Struck by what he saw as difficulties and defects of the harp, in 1810, he built an instrument à cordes pincées à clavier, which connected a keyboard to the harp strings.

He made the instrument to address limitations of the harp—susceptibility of catgut strings to atmospheric change, inconsistency of sound as finger motion varies, limited diatonic scale (without pedals), and lack of dampers.

The claviharp's keyboard plucked the strings (as a harpsichord) rather than strike them (as a piano).

It was essentially a 6 Octave Upright Tenor Harpsichord that uses Special Strings to emulate the sound of a Harp.

The claviharp used metal strings covered with an insulating material to better stay in tune.