Key (instrument)

With other instruments, zithers and drums, for example, a key is essentially a small wrench used to turn a tuning machine or lug.

By doing so, the player is able to physically manipulate the range of resonating sound frequencies capable of being produced by the tubes that has been altered into various “effective” lengths, based on specific key configurations.

However, rather than directed influencing the paths the airflow takes within the same tube, the configuration of these valves instead determines through which of the numerous separate organ pipes, each of which tuned for a specific note, the air stream flows through.

[2] The keys of an accordion direct the air flow from manually operated bellows across various tuned vibrating reeds.

On other keyboard instruments, a key may be a lever which mechanically triggers a hammer to strike a group of strings, as on a piano, or an electric switch which energizes an audio oscillator as on an electronic organ or a synthesizer.