How Guitars Make Sound

INTRODUCTION

When an object vibrates, the medium in which it is directly adjacent to create a mechanical disturbance, this creates sound. Sound is a pressure wave which travel through the medium which is usually air. The medium then carries the pressure waves to the ear of a person or animal. For example, when a guitar string is plucked, the string starts vibrating violently creating a pressure wave which travels through the medium and to an ear were the sound is heard. The equation of a sound wave is speed= wavelength x frequency. A wavelength is the distance between crest of a wave. Frequency is the rate per second of a vibrating constituting wave.

Figure 3- sound wave

Physics of instrument

The instrument which will be evaluated the physics behind is the guitar. The guitar is a stringed musical instrument which has become very popular throughout mankind. The guitar has six or twelve strings and is played by strumming or plucking those strings. As the guitar is plucked the string vibrates at a fundamental frequency and also creates many harmonics and frequencies with the use of notes. At which the string vibrates depends on the tension of string. Notes are created by the musician is applying pressure to the other side of the strings resulting in the vibrations to be shorter resulting in different notes and tones. The headstock and tuner part of the guitar is to tune the guitar, this works by either tightening or loosening the string resulting in how much the strings vibrate. Frets are wire inserts signifying were the musician passes each string to make different notes.

Figure 4-frequency waves ...

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...nant as possible.

Conclusion In summary, sound is a pressure wave that creates a disturbance in the medium. When a guitar string is plucked, it vibrates violently emitting a sound wave. Sound waves can either by high frequency or low frequency and this changes the how many wavelengths are emitted. A guitar string will naturally vibrate on a certain frequency, depending on the tension of the string, also known as harmonics. Each harmonic is associated with a standing wave pattern. Resonance is the fundamental frequencies when a string is sounded. The resonance is different between an acoustic and classic guitar due to the string tension, type and material of the guitar. After selecting the acoustic guitar, the physics behind the sound of the instrument was evaluated.