After the tenth century the development of the monochord seems to have begun in earnest.
Specifically, the primitive acoustic monochord of Pythagoras might be looked upon as a plausible starting point.
The clavichord, according to Hipkins, was derived from the polychord with four strings, which in turn was developed from the monochord "to facilitate the melodic division of the Gregorian tones.
As the Greek modes formed the basis for the musical system of the church, so the Greek monochord is the type from which the monks evolved what they called the clavichord.
The monochord has a movable bridge, therefore some time is lost in adjusting it in order to get the different tones.
Monochord means "one string," and the application of the term to the instrument after other strings had been added was a misnomer.
The monochord originally was used much as we use a tuning fork, to determine true musical pitch.
The monochord in its simplest form consisted of a string drawn taut over an oblong box and tuned to a given pitch by means of a peg.
The monochord on which Elena, to the evident distress of her distinguished parent, desired to play, really was a clavichord, which was derived directly from the primitive monochord.
The keyboard having been invented, whether for monochord or organ, its application to stringed instruments of the dulcimer or citole family naturally followed.
