Vibrating Strings
Vibrating strings have a lot in common with those air vibrations that are supported by tubes. The longest vibration that a tube can support is called its fundamental, and the shorter ones are called overtones. Strings can also vibrate at fundamental and overtone frequencies, and the basic overtone series can be the same or similar.
Watch these videos about how instruments like the violin and guitar produce sound. Notice how important to the sound of a string instrument are both the strings and the beautiful wooden boxes that hold them.
The videos are roughly in order of increasing depth. Listen to as many as you have time for. Each has something different to offer. Bring your questions to class for the Science of Music, Unit 4.
Vibrating strings have a lot in common with those air vibrations that are supported by tubes. The longest vibration that a tube can support is called its fundamental, and the shorter ones are called overtones. Strings can also vibrate at fundamental and overtone frequencies, and the basic overtone series can be the same or similar.
Watch these videos about how instruments like the violin and guitar produce sound. Notice how important to the sound of a string instrument are both the strings and the beautiful wooden boxes that hold them.
The videos are roughly in order of increasing depth. Listen to as many as you have time for. Each has something different to offer. Bring your questions to class for the Science of Music, Unit 4.
Basics of string-instrument design:
Overtones and tone color. As you watch, recall that string length determines frequency, so shorter distances between nodes means higher frequencies. Includes frequency analysis of instruments with different tone color. Cool demonstration of how strings will vibrate in resonance (or sympathy) with each other.
This one goes deeper yet. Includes slow-motion video of a real string vibrating. The host synthesizes harmonics on his computer to show how they affect tone color.
https://youtu.be/XPbLYD9KFAo
Here is an interesting take on the overtones of C played on a string. If you are still hanging in there in this one, you might want to read some more essays in this series.
A very simple string model of vibration, plus spectrum analysis of string vibration. Mentions frequency-analysis apps, available at the appropriate app stores for your device. $ome are expen$ive! Notice how the app shows analysis of his speech during the demonstration.
Every Note is a Chord !Here is an interesting take on the overtones of C played on a string. If you are still hanging in there in this one, you might want to read some more essays in this series.
http://dalemcgowan.com/every-note-is-a-chord/
The score below show the notes that are harmonics of C. The lowest C shown, the fundamental, is the C two octaves below middle C on the piano. All tones up to the sixth harmonic (fifth overtone) are white keys on the piano, and further, are in the C-major chord. (From https://youtu.be/yYf9ij7S5Zs above.)
The score below show the notes that are harmonics of C. The lowest C shown, the fundamental, is the C two octaves below middle C on the piano. All tones up to the sixth harmonic (fifth overtone) are white keys on the piano, and further, are in the C-major chord. (From https://youtu.be/yYf9ij7S5Zs above.)
