The virginals is a smaller rectangular form of harpsichord with one string per note placed parallel to the keyboard on the long side of the case. Most, of the instruments were constructed without legs, and would be played on a table. Later models were developed with their individual supports.

The most popular virginals had two instruments in one: a normal virginals (either spinet or muselar) with one 6' register, and an ottavino with one 3' register. The smaller ottavino was located below the soundboard adjacent to the keyboard of the larger instrument, and could be played as a separate keyboard instrument. However, the two instruments could also be connected together, the ottavino being situated over the strings of the larger virginals (once the jack rail was removed), so that the jacks of the larger passed through a slot underneath the ottavino. The jacks of the larger instrument now activated the keys of the ottavino, so that both instruments vocalized simultaneously, creating a more dramatic effect.

Spinet virginals were made mainly in Italy. The keyboard is left of center, and the strings are plucked at one end. This is the more common arrangement for modern-day instruments. The difference in virginals from larger harpsichords is the position of the keyboard: Italian instruments constantly had a keyboard that projected from the case, while northern virginals had their keyboards sunken in. The cases of Italian instruments were built of cypress wood and were very sophisticated, while northern virginals were normally constructed of poplar.

Early Italian virginals were usually hexagonal in shape, as well as, a few early Flemish. From about 1580 however, nearly all virginals were rectangular, the Italian models often having an outside case like harpsichords from that area. There are very few existing English virginals; by and large they have the Flemish structure, except they have a vaulted top.