One of the essential aspects defining acoustic guitar tones is resonance. This has to do with the vibrational characteristics of the plucked string, known as the excitation source, within a resonating system that, in a guitar, is a hollow wood-enclosed body.
Resonance is critical in defining aspects of tone such as depth, warmth, and richness: for example, a string drawn against a cardboard box has resonance, but it will in no way match that of a guitar. With an acoustic guitar, string oscillations serve as the active excitation source that generates sympathetic vibrations, which cause the passive body (the wood body) to vibrate. A larger vibrating surface area generates higher amplitudes, as more air is moved at the resonant frequencies. Because the vibrating string itself displaces minimal air, the sympathetic vibration of a guitar is mechanically transmitted through sound post and bridge, which directly support the strings and also connect with the larger wood body. As the vibration of the strings passes to the body of the guitar, the entire instrument subtly vibrates, which can be felt by the player in the hands and stomach. Differences in string and wood types, as well as guitar dimensions, create various resonances described in terms such as “bright” and “muddy,” as well as more technical formulations such as “nice open lows.”
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AuthorServing as an Information Systems Quality Analyst, Anthony Freddura held responsibility for testing and supporting a client/server transaction processing system. Archives
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