Physics of a Guitar String | Science Minisode

The motion and sound of a guitar string can be explained with some basic wave physics. It won't take long, so let's see how much we can cram into one Science Minisode.

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[ScienceofLoud]

The motion and sound of a guitar string can be explained with some basic wave physics. It won't take long, so let's see how much we can cram into one Science Minizode.


Target Mids available now:
csguitars.co.uk/target-mids

Buy CSGuitars Merchandise:

[SgtAbramovich]

CSGuitars but it's actually a Numberphile video.

[adamtaylor]

As a guitar player and a math/engineering nerd, I request more videos like this. Thanks Colin!

[Noel]

Basically u twang string and noise comes out?

[markhammer]

Thanks for this. Too many guitar players never stop to think much about the physics of the string, and how it can impact on their tone. Much comes from considering the physics of the string. For instance, one of the reasons why fanned-fretboards have become mainstream in recent years is because we understand more about how scale length impacts on string compliance, and how string compliance affects harmonic content. Going in the other direction, anyone who has ever used an analog octave-up or octave down unit will know that both behave much better above the 7th fret, or higher. Why? Because the shorter the string length, the stiffer the string, the less compliant, and the more the fundamental dominates over the harmonics, making it easier to identify the note pitch and reliably generate the derived octave up or down.

The physics also pertains to the string as a body-set-in-motion. We too often think of it like it was a steady-state oscillator, but much like ourselves, it is dying from the moment it is plucked/picked. That includes not only overall decaying amplitude, but also the disappearance of various harmonics as the string comes to rest. The manner in which the various harmonics are damped over time, by the bridge (e.g., floating wooden vs Tele-style) or the very string material itself, plays a role in creating the tone of the guitar, and sometimes even the tone of effects. We overlook the fact that many hard-to-replicate "classic" fuzz tones were produced by studio players wielding big jazz boxes with floating bridges, that coaxed very different sounds out of a fuzz than an SG might, largely by the idiosyncratic manner in which the string decayed, and the signal hitting the fuzz quickly fell below clipping threshold.

Finally, there is a reason why a great many guitar synths have/had their pickup snuggled against the bridge. Deriving a unique signal from each string with such a pickup requires that there be no bleedthrough or crosstalk from adjacent strings. And the only dependable way to do that is by sticking the pickup where the strings "wiggle" the least.

[ThrashingBasskill]

Damn, Adam Neely, you got long hair! Good for you! :D

[User-jkwq]

As an a level physics student, this was incredibly informative and helpful! This channel gets better with ever video!

[jakethemisanthrope]

hell yes that is the way to learn science do more of these videos with more complicated math

[famitory]

the integer harmonic thing isn't as universal as mathematicians would have you believe. while it applies solidly to air chambers and strings, there are plenty of musical instruments that sound nice, but are not composed of mostly integer harmonics. marimbas, xylophones, and glockenspiels are all governed by the vibrating bar equation, where the stiffness and thickness of the material causes the overtone series to be "stretched" sharp, or "dampened" flat. this effect is known as Inharmonicity. you can actually hear this effect in strings too, if the gauges, tension, and scale length are of a strange combination.

[IceGene]

I love these nerdy videos. i hurt my brain but it's the good kind of hurt hahaha

[witeshade]

Nice succinct video, and good explanation. However I think you definitely need a follow-up explaining why string tension and gauge are important for hitting the right notes and not snapping necks.

[gurjeetsing]

My thinking also goes in logical way, I am getting more interest in Music while reading and practising the Science of Music in my daily life❤❤❤

[noiemaker]

So... in summary... when you hit a string it makes a sound, right?

[hazrod]

Yes to all science videos ! don't be afraid to make longer videos if the subject needs it.
This is becomming my favourite youtube channel for all the reasons.

[Mr.Goldbar]

I'll drop out of high school just to learn more useful maths from you

[Bugkiller]

Pretty cool!! thanks for explain it in simple words Colin!!

[Steph-dene]

Is this the nerd way to say that the Colins Sexy Guitars Tshirts are happening, Colin?


Ps. Wery informative and well thought thru video as always.

[jonathanwapner]

In Scotland, Hz is the abbreviation for hairtz.

[Chiiiivo]

I just finished a music project for one of my math courses discussing this as one of the topics. If only this vid came out sooner it would have saved me a couple of hours of research! 😁

[thecharlieramirez]

Mate, you're something of a guitar scientist. Love the content. Cheers!