Final answer:
The harpsichord uses a plectrum to pluck strings, which produces sound when a key is pressed.
Step-by-step explanation:
On the harpsichord, the device that plucks the string to create notes is called a plectrum. Unlike a piano, where the strings are struck by hammers, the harpsichord produces sound by plucking the strings. Each key on a harpsichord is connected to a small, quill-like plectrum; when the key is pressed, the plectrum plucks the string, causing it to vibrate and produce a sound.