值得一提的是古鍵琴在法國的發展與歷史,當代著名的古鍵琴音樂家例如巴赫、韓德爾以及多梅尼科·斯卡拉蒂都不是來自法國,但是法國當地一直都有作曲家專門為古鍵琴寫作,包括最早的尚博尼埃(Jacques Champion de Chambonnières,1601–1672)[26][27][28]、庫普蘭(1668–1733)[29][30]與杜菲(Jacques Duphly,1715–1789)[31][32]等人。由於自身獨特發展的歷史緣故,法國古鍵琴音樂的裝飾音非常多,其種類可達十數種之多,最早的法國古鍵琴音樂尤其有很多琶音[i]。
古鍵琴聲音較現代鋼琴略小(範圍約 p – f[k]),而且此種發音機制無法控制音量,不像現代鋼琴這樣可以依手指力量的大小,彈出不同強度或持續較久的音,更無法彈奏出漸強或漸弱的效果。至於音域方面(見右下方圖),古鍵琴的鍵盤大約維持在四個半至五個8度音階[57],而兩組鍵盤的實際音域,則大約為五個半至七個8度[l]。由於工業革命以前的西方樂器,例如古小提琴(vielle)和古大提琴(viola de Gamba)等的琴弦由羊腸線製成[59],因此比現代同類的樂器音律較為低,所以以前的古鍵琴大多都維持在4個半至5個8度音階左右,其聲音頻率為415赫茲[60]。現在製作的古鍵琴已有移位440赫茲的裝置[61],故此可以同時滿足與古樂器以及現代樂器樂隊合作演奏的要求。
Marla Hammel Bach: The Figured-bass Accompaniment in Bach's Time: A Brief Summary of Its Development and An Examination of Its Use, Together With a Sample Realization, Part I, Vol. 8, No. 3 (JULY, 1977), pp. 26–31, Published by Riemenschneider Bach Institute
The art of Accompaniment, or A new and well digested method to learn to perform the Thorough Bass on the Harpsichord with Propriety and EleganceMusic theory online : figured bass. Dolmetsch Organisation. [2018-12-23]. (原始內容存檔於2021-02-11) (英語).
Peter Williams The Musical Quarterly:The Harpsichord Acciaccatura: Theory and Practice in Harmony, 1650–1750 Vol. 54, No. 4 (Oct., 1968), pp. 503–523 Published by Oxford University Press
David Emil Mungello, The Great Encounter of China and the West, 1500–1800 Fourth Edition pp. 79–80 Published by Rowman & Littlefield (2013) ISBN 1442219750, ISBN 9781442219755
Combaluzier, F. (1957) "Theodoric Pedrini, lazariste, missionaire, apostolique: Pékin 2 octobre 1727 (Theodoric Pedrini, Apostolic Lazariste Missionary)" Neue Zeitschirft für Missionswissenschaft (New Journal of Mission Studies), Vol.13, 1957, pp. 139–147 Schöneck, Switzerland: Bruder-Klausen-Seminar
Members of the early American upper class often mastered the harpsichord(早期美國上流社會階級的成員都善於彈奏古鍵琴)Peter Redstone Builds a Barton Portable. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. [2018-12-22]. (原始內容存檔於2021-03-04) (英語).
Both George III and Queen Charlotte were regular and competent players of the harpsichord (英皇喬治三世和夏洛特女王善於彈奏古鍵琴)BURKAT SHUDI (1702–73) Two-manual harpsichord 1740. Royal Collection Trust. [2018-12-22]. (原始內容存檔於2020-02-24) (英語).
J. Lambrechts-Douillez: Documents dealing with the Ruckers Family and Antwerp Harpsichord Building and J.H. van der Meer: More about Flemish Two-Manual Harpsichords, both in Keyboard Instruments: Studies in Keyboard Organology, ed. E.M. Ripin (Edinburgh, 1971)
Sibyl Marcuse, The Musical Quarterly Transposing Keyboards on Extant Flemish Harpsichords, Vol. 38, No. 3 (Jul., 1952), pp. 414–425 Published by Oxford University Press
A History of the Harpsichord (古鍵琴歷史), Kottick, E.L., 2003, Indiana University Press, based of a table on page 166, showing the known members of the Denis family
William Dowd: The Surviving Instruments of the Blanchet Workshop; The Historical Harpsichord: a Monograph Series in Honor of Frank Hubbard i, ed. Howard Schott (Stuyvesant, NY, 1984)
Charles Mould: The Development of the English Harpsichord, with Particular Reference to the Work of Kirkman (英國古鍵琴的發展,特別關於柯克曼的作品研究) (dissertation, Oxford University, 1976年)
Skowroneck, Martin (1974) Das Cembalo von Christian Zell, Hamburg 1728, und seine Restaurierung. ("The harpsichord of Christian Zell, Hamburg 1728, and its restroration"). Organ Yearbook 5:79–87.
Skowroneck, Martin, Tilman Skowroneck transl. (2002) 'The Harpsichord of Nicholas Lefebvre 1755': the Story of a Forgery without Intent to Defraud. The Galpin Society Journal, Vol. 55, (Apr., 2002), pp. 4–14+161.
(英文) Boalch, Donald H. (1995) Makers of the Harpsichord and Clavichord, 1440–1840, 3rd ed., with updates by Andreas H. Roth and Charles Mould, Oxford University Press, ISBN0-19-318429-X. A catalogue, originating with work by Boalch in the 1950s, of all extant historical instruments.
(英文) Dearling, Robert (編). The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Musical Instruments. London: Carlton. 1996. ISBN 1-85868-185-5.
(英文) Hubbard, Frank. Three Centuries of Harpsichord Making 2. Harvard University Press. 1967. ISBN 0-674-88845-6. An authoritative survey by a leading builder of how early harpsichords were built and how the harpsichord evolved over time in different national traditions.
(英文) Kottick, Edward (1987)The Harpsichord Owner's Guide. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
(英文) Kottick, Edward (2003) A History of the Harpsichord, Indiana University Press, ISBN0-253-34166-3. An extensive survey by a leading contemporary scholar.
(英文)The New Grove: Early Keyboard Instruments. Macmillan, 1989 ISBN0-393-02554-3. (material from here is also available online in Grove Music Online)
(英文) O'Brien, Grant (1990) Ruckers, a harpsichord and virginal building tradition, Cambridge University Press, ISBN0-521-36565-1. Covers the innovations of the Ruckers family, the founders of the Flemish tradition.
(英文) Russell, Raymond (1973)The Harpsichord and Clavichord: an introductory study, 2nd ed., London : Faber and Faber, ISBN0-571-04795-5
(英文) Skowroneck, Martin (2003) Cembalobau: Erfahrungen und Erkenntnisse aus der Werkstattpraxis = Harpsichord construction: a craftsman's workshop experience and insight, Fachbuchreihe Das Musikinstrument 83, Bergkirchen : Bochinsky, ISBN3-932275-58-6. A study (written in English and German) of harpsichord building by a leading figure in the modern revival of historically authentic methods of building.
(英文) Zuckermann, Wolfgang (1969) The Modern Harpsichord: twentieth century instruments and their makers, New York : October House, ISBN0-8079-0165-2