Sound is defined as areas of high and low pressure that move outward to form a longitudinal wave. The amplitude and pitch of the sound is dependent on the source and amount of energy produced. Sound is produced by vibrating objects, the vibrations cause disturbances in the surrounding air molecules. When the vibrating object moves outward it causes the air molecules around it to compress and create a high pressure region. As the object moves inward the air molecules expand and create a low pressure region. The high pressure regions are called compressions and the low pressure regions rarefactions. The equation of sound waves is speed = wavelength x frequency or v = f x .
The instrument that will be analysed in this report is the acoustic guitar. An acoustic guitar is any guitar that uses acoustics as a means to transmit the strings vibrational energy to the air to produce a sound. The sound from an acoustic guitar is initiated by the strings. When plucked with the fingers or a plectrum it creates vibrational energy which is then transferred to the soundboard or soundbox. Without the soundboard the string alone would not be able to produce much sound as it would just cut through the air without causing much disturbance, but since the soundboard is large and flat it moves the air easier, this process is called mechanical impedance matching. This increases the systems energy transfer efficiency and produces a much louder sound.
All of an acoustic guitars components have a purpose and in some way contribute to the overall sound produced by the guitar. The headstock holds the tuning machines, which are geared mechanisms used to raise and lower the tension of the strings. A string with a higher tension will produce a sharper pitch...
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... for the fundamental frequency should equal twice the length of the guitar string.
The second harmonic is the fundamental frequency with an added node and antinode. The node is placed in the middle so that it creates an equal repeating pattern, so the anti-nodes are placed between the three nodes to keep an alternating pattern of nodes and anti-nodes. The third harmonic then has four nodes and three anti-nodes. The table below shows the number of antinodes, nodes, waves and string length to wavelength relationship for the first five harmonics.
Harmonic # # of Waves in Strings # of Nodes # of Anti-Nodes Length – Wavelength Relation
1 1/2 or 0.5 2 1 Wavelength = ½ String Length
2 2/2 or 1 3 2 Wavelength = String Length
3 3/2 or 1.5 4 3 Wavelength = 1 ½ String Length
4 4/2 or 2 5 4 Wavelength = 2 String Length
5 5/2 or 2.5 6 5 Wavelength = 2 ½ String Length
It was proposed that if the length of the PVC pipes were to increase, then the sound produced will have a lower amplitude each time because the sound will lose energy as it continues in the pipe for a certain amount of time. However, the data actually showed that with every increase in pipe length, the amplitude got louder as well, thus refuting the hypothesis. These results made sense because what was created inside the PVC pipes was a standing still sound wave, or a resonance wave. These kinds of waves have certain locations on its wavelength in order for the change in sound to be heard, which it usually half a wavelength. With this, the tuning fork is 83.3Hz and a usual wavelength is about 300Hz, 300/83.3 = 3.6 meters, which is about 4 meters (half = 2 meters). So for the change in sound to be heard, the pipes had to be about 2 meters in change according to the frequency of the tuning
The Helmholtz resonance of a guitar is due to the air at the sound hole oscillating, driven by the springiness of the air inside the body. This is analysed quantitatively in Helmholtz Resonance.
Wolfe, Joe. "How Do Woodwind Instruments Work?." Music Acoustics. 1994. 2014. Web. April 13, 2014. .
Everything in the universe involves some type of physics. Even the universe itself does, but have you ever wondered about the physics of simpler items? Physics is vital for all musical instruments, if it wasn’t; they probably wouldn’t produce the beautiful sounds that they do. One of these instruments is acoustic guitar. By looking at the instrument, it doesn’t look very complicated, but if you delve deeper into its composition, you’ll find that it’s very complicated. Physics takes part in the making of acoustic guitars, all the way to how it produces its beautiful music.
The guitar is a musical instrument that is played by the plucking or strumming of its strings. According to the records, this instrument was invented in Spain in the 15th century. The guitar’s appearance has changed since then. The body of the guitar was narrower than what it is now. Guitars were considered “lutes” at the time. In which lutes formed to be vihuelas then later became guitars. When the guitar was first invented, it only had four-strings so it was called a four-course guitar. However, it has a variety course of strings now. The guitar is one of the instruments that has a major role in music, today. The genres of music that
A timpani is one of the percussion instruments that has a definite pitch. They are also struck by a mallet on the surface of the drum, which is made out of calfskin and is stretched over a copper shell.(1) When analyzing the mallets many notice that they are home made. Timpani’s come in all different sizes, which determines the change in the pitch. They can come in sizes such as a thirty-two inch, twenty-nine inch, twenty-sixth inch, twenty-three inch and the smallest is a twenty inch, which is a higher pitch than the larger timpani’s.(2) Some sound characteristics of a timpani might be evaluated by words such as powerful, deep, booming, or hollow. Timpani’s also create their sound by a petal located at the bottom of the
Ultrasound is sound waves that have a frequency above human audible. (Ultrasound Physics and Instrument 111). With a shorter wavelength than audible sound, these waves can be directed into a narrow beam that is used in imaging soft tissues. As with audible sound waves, ultrasound waves must have a medium in which to travel and are subject to interference. In addition, much like light rays, they can be reflected, refracted, and focused.
Sounds are produced by the vibrations of material objects, and travel as a result of
"The Physics of the Acoustic Guitar - Body." The Physics of the Acoustic Guitar - Body. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2014. .
Wendkos, Zach. “The Evolution of the Electric Guitar”. 21 May 2010. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
The Irish rock band U2, known for the oftentimes sociopolitical and spiritual basis of their songs, released their seventh album, Achtung Baby in 1991. After being stung by criticism of their previous release, Rattle and Hum, which explored American roots music, U2 decided to reinvent themselves by using alternative and electronic sounds while incorporating darker, more introspective messages. The album begins with the highly dissonant and industrial, yet ground-setting “Zoo Station”, a song that proclaims that the singer is “... ready for what’s next”, perhaps a nod to the “unU2like” tone of the following tracks. “One”, the third song on Achtung Baby, is the epitome of a breakup anthem; Rolling Stone Magazine even listed it as the 36th best song of all time.
2013. The. Recording Manual - Construction. [online] Available at: http://www.johnlsayers.com/Recmanual/Titles/Acoustics3.htm [Accessed: 25 Nov 2013].
Sound is something humans cannot see so it can be somewhat of a complicated concept. Sound is produced when something causes a vibration, which creates a sound wave that travels through the air. There are many things that can affect the way perceive sound waves. One thing that can really affect a sound wave is other sound waves. If the sound waves are out of phase, the two sound waves will destructively interfere with each other making the two waves cancel each other out.
The cable is what connects the guitar to the amplifier. An amplifier is basically the speaker that generates the sound of the electric guitar. As you gain experience, you can upgrade all these parts on your guitar. Eventually you’ll also have the choice to add a pedal or a loop bar to add effects to your music. The loop bar and pedal are the devices that change the tone, pitch, and sound of an electric guitar. As a result, these effects create an interesting sound and increase the intensity at a concert. Even through the screaming of people, it is all these devices that allow the electric guitar play so loud. These tools are beneficial for the player in the long run because you are improving in both your equipment and ways of making music. In the end, it’s convenient to know what guitar best suits you by concentrating on other factors of the guitar as