Technical Library ACTION IX: Stagger Entire Contents Copyright ©2007 CBH

Stagger…
Consistent plucking order from note to note is crucial for the correct operation and feel of the harpsichord. If the multiple plucks of an instrument with more than two registers tried to occur simultaneously, each key would be more far difficult than necessary to depress. Makers intentionally separate the plucks as part of the regulation process. In English, we use the wonderful word “stagger” to describe this—a word more often applied to the walk of a drunk.

The stagger depends on the instrument. Some makers have different preferences, but the following is regarded as normal practice:

• In a two-unison instrument like the Neapolitan, simple leverage means the back 8´ wants to fire first, followed by the front 8´.
• In a traditional Flemish instrument like the Ruckers Single, the 4´ fires first, followed by the front 8´.
• In a French Double with three choirs, the lighter plucking 4´ fires first, followed by the back 8´ and then the front 8´ through the coupler.

After the last pluck, a little keydip must remain for comfort. At normal playing speed, the separation of the various plucks is not audible.

The prepared movie clearly shows tenor f on the lower manual of a French Double being played slowly.

Stagger

Carey Beebe demonstrating the timing of the pluck (“stagger”).

Assuming the harpsichord was consistently setup when new—which sadly isn’t always the case—stagger can be upset in several ways:

• The register positions may require adjustment because of tension distortion of the instrument, or climatic change.
• A jack may have been swapped from one note to another, or even one choir to another.
• A quill may have been replaced without attention to the correct quill length.
• The jack top screw or bottom screw may have been mistakenly altered.

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