Session 24
String Musical Instruments
Hollow body of musical instruments act as a resonator and Fourier Synthesizers
We know that a number of harmonics of sinewaves along with
fundamental frequency are generated during plucking a string, the
shape and size of instrument’s hollow body picks these low intensity
harmonics and intensifying them by constructive interreferences
(resonating in the cavity). So initial harmonic vibration modes of
string acts as a seed frequencies for hollow body for creation of
complex soundwave. Initial soundwaves created by string only
Fundamental and harmonics of string alone without the effect
of hollow body look like the middle image. The fundamental
Intensity
frequency has highest intensity. The intensity of overtone
gradually becomes lower and lower. These are initial
soundwaves created by string only.
When the initial overtones created by string and traveled into the body of
instrument, according to the shape and type of body, some of these
overtones become intensified creating a new frequency recipe with Harmonics or overtones created by string only
deferent intensity of overtones.
This is the sound that audience hear and has the timbre of musical
Intensity
instrument. Each musical instrument has its own timbre.
These altered overtones eventually interfere and become a complex
soundwave in the instrument cavity. Combination of all generated intensified
harmonics becomes a complex soundwave or music you hear. Therefore,
body of instrument becomes a Fourier synthesizer, combining fundamental Harmonics or overtones altered and
frequency and all harmonics. resonated by the body of instrument and
heard by audience
String musical instruments, frequency recipes and timbre
Every string musical instrument sounds
differently (has individual timbre)due to
the fact that each has a unique
frequency recipe or list overtones for
each tone or musical note. The number
of available overtones for each musical
note depend up on the body-shape of
musical instrument. For example, in this
image, the frequency recipes of A4 for a
violin and viola both have the
fundamental frequency of 440 (Hz), but
different overtones.
Bass
Guitar Setar
Violin
[Link] Cello Banjo
[Link]
Basics Techniques of Vibrating Strings
All string instruments produce sound with one or more vibrating strings, transferred to
the air by the body of the instrument. The body of each string-based instrument
resonate with a set of the harmonics created by vibrating string. Every different
instrument resonates with different set of overtone, creating a unique timbre of
instrument which selected by the body instrument. This is why guitar sounds different
from cello or piano.
Vibrating techniques for strings are usually categorized by the way that string is forced to vibrate.
There are three common techniques for vibrating strings in musical instruments:
1- Plucking (Strumming)
2- Bowing
3- Striking (hammering)
Plucking (Guitar) Bowing (Violin) Striking (Dulcimer)
Plucking (Strumming)
Plucking (strumming) is a way of pulling and releasing the string in such a way that it gives an
impulse that causes the string to vibrate and create sound.
Plucking can be done by two following ways:
1- Finger, nail
2- Plectrum
A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum strings.
Plucking by Finger
Plectrum Plucking by Plectrum
Musical Instruments Working with Plucking
There is a large number of
instruments used around the world,
working by plucking. The most
known instruments working by
plucking in the western music are:
1- Guitar
2- Harp
3- Banjo
4- Double Bass
5- Mandolin
6- Setar Double Bass Mandolin Harp
Setar Banjo
Guitar
Guitar
Guitar is from the family of chordophones.
Chordophone is a musical instrument family that makes sound by way of a vibrating string. In all these
instruments strings stretched between two points.
The range of fundamental frequencies of a classical guitar varies from 70 (Hz) to just under 2000 (Hz).
The range of fundamental frequencies of a electric guitar varies from 80 (Hz) to just under 1200 (Hz).
Guitar is a fretted musical instrument. Frets are used during play to shorten the string length to raise the pitch or
frequency of sound (remember: the shorter length of string, the higher pitch or frequency made by string).
Three thin strings in guitar making high pitch sound
are single strings, but three thick strings making low
pitch are made of stranded strings for reasons of
I- easier vibrations, II- durability and III- harmonicity.
Two types of common acoustic guitars:
Single versus Strand strings Strand string
1- Regular Guitar has 6 strings capable of playing
wide range of high pitch and also low pitch sound,
thin strings produce high pitch sounds and thick
strings produce low pitch sounds.
2- Bass Guitar has 4 thick stranded strings producing
low pitch sounds in compared to regular guitar. Regular Guitar Bass Guitar
Acoustic Guitar construction includes following main parts:
1- Tuning pegs, they hold one end of string. There are 6 pegs
used for adjusting the tension of 6 strings. Remember that
change in tension of string changes the frequency of
vibrations in string. Tuning pegs
2- Neck, which holds strings, frets and pegs.
Neck
3- Frets, there are 19 frets installed on the neck of acoustic
guitar. Guitar player, by pressing fingers strings against frets,
Fret
changes the length of string for creating different
frequencies.
4- Strings, generate the initial soundwave which would be
amplified by the body (resonators).
5- Hollow Body (or resonator), there are various types of guitar
Body
with different body style. They have been developed to
resonate with different set of frequencies and harmonics.
Each different guitar style has a different timbre.
Bridge
6- Bridge, holds the other end of string to create tension
along the length of string.
Nylon versus Steel string guitars
There are two indifferent types of material used for strings of guitar:
1- Steel string
2- Nylon (or plastic) string
Nylon string guitars are typically used for classical and folk music. Nylon
string guitars or classical guitars are traditionally used for classical music;
however, the mellow tone and responsiveness of the nylon strings can
be enjoyed for folk or any other style of music.
Steel string guitars are used for rock, country and most other styles. Steel
string guitars have a crisp and bright tone as compared to nylon string
guitars. Although steel string guitars are used for rock, but it is a matter
of personal choice. Listen to different recording artist that perform on
nylon and steel string guitars to help you find the sound that is the most
appealing to you.
Differences between nylon and steel guitars
Nylon string guitar
1- The body of nylon string guitars are smaller.
2- String spacing, the distances among strings are wider in nylon guitars
3- Steel string require more tension force of T in compared to nylon
strings
4- Nylon strings are usually thicker than steel strings.
For differences between nylon and steel guitars watch following videos:
[Link]
Steel string guitars
Acoustic versus Electric Guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar which uses pickups to convert the vibration of its strings into
electrical signals.
An electric guitar does not have hollow body or resonator; therefore, it generates very weak
sound. Pickups are sound transducers which translates vibrations of strings to an electric signals.
Electric guitar requires an amplifier to amplify weak sound to a much more intensified and
auditable soundwave. Electric guitar works only with steel string, because pickup works with
steel string only.
Since there is no hollow body in electric guitar, higher harmonics created in strings are not
amplified by the body itself. So the higher harmonies must be amplified by electronic amplifier.
In a way, electric guitar has more possibility to create
more sophisticated complex sound than acoustic
guitar. The timbre of music of electric guitar is pickups
defined by electronic amplifier rather than hollow body.
This means that timbre can be altered as the player intent
and adjust the amplifier.
Electronic amplifier
[Link]
Electric guitar
Bowed Musical Instruments
Bowed string instruments are a subcategory of chordophones that are played by
a bow rubbing against the strings. The bow rubbing the string causes vibration which makes
the instrument to emit sound.
The actual vibration of string is caused by grab and release of string by the bow.
In compared to plucking, bowing can make the pitch or note for longer time as long as the
bow rubs and vibrates the string. But by plucking, the soundwave decays and dies quickly.
Watch the following video showing vibration of strings by bow in small motion:
[Link]
The use of a bow to create sound was discovered during the
Byzantine Empire in the tenth century.
The bow is made of horsehair, which is drawn across the string.
Horsehair is covered in tiny hooks that grab and release the
string as the bow moves over it, keeping it in constant motion.
Rosin is a special type of compound rubbed on the horsehair to
help it grip on string for vibrating string.
Rosin is a solid form of resin, the sticky substance that comes
from pine trees.
Common instruments using bow
There are many instruments around the world
specially in south Asia (also China), vibrating by
bowing. The most common instruments, played with
bow, known in the western countries are:
1- Violin
2- Viola
3- Cello Also there are tens of Chinese string
4- Double Bass (Bass) instruments working with bow
Viola
Violin Double Bass
Cello
What can be noticed is that violin, viola, cello, and double bass that they are very similar in shape of
body, but as the instruments get bigger, the sound they produce is in lower in pitch.
Differences of Violin and Viola
The most visible difference between violin and viola is the size, the body of viola is larger
than violin. The viola has a deeper and mellower sound than the violin.
Because the string length are different on each
instrument, the range of notes varies as well, and this
is one of the most distinctive characteristics that
separate the two.
The difference in sizes of violin and viola make a huge
difference in vibration recipes (harmonic recipes or
overtones). In the lower image the difference in
overtones of violin and viola due to their sizes is very
obvious. In image, both of violin and viola are playing an violin and viola
A note with fundamental frequency of 440 (Hz). But due
to differences in boy and size, their overtone are very
different. That is why they sound different even though
they play same note. Violin and viola are tuned in
different octaves of notes. Violin is tuned in higher octave
of notes in comparison to viola.
Reminder, we have mentioned throughout this semester
that the body shape and the size of instrument determine
timbre or vibration modes, harmonic recipe, overtones.
Watch following video for differences in sound of violin and viola:
[Link]
Differences of Cello and Double Bass
Although the cello and double bass are the largest
instruments in the string family, there is a substantial
difference in their size.. Double bass is larger than
cello.
The double bass measures in at about 6 feet long
and is the largest instrument in the string family, while
the cello is slightly smaller in nature.
Due to its extra length of strings, double bass can
produce a deeper sound which cello is not capable
of producing. Double bass is tuned in lower octave
of notes in compared to cello.
Cello is played sitting down while the double bass is double bass cello
played standing up.
The cello, known as an instrument with a tenor voice, has a deeper and richer tone than
both the violin and the viola. Due to its extra octave range, the double bass has a deeper
sound due to lower frequencies.
Watch following video for differences in sound of cello and bass.
[Link]
Main Parts of Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass
1- Body (resonator), the shape of violin, viola, cello and bass has been developed to resonate
different frequencies and harmonics. From violin, to viola, to cello, to bass, instrument become larger
and larger, the pitch or frequency becomes lower and lower, the instrument is tuned in lower octaves
of notes.
2- Neck and fingerboard, unlike guitar violin has no fret on the neck.
3- Pegbox, they hold one end of string. There are 4 strings and 4 pegs used for
adjusting. Remember that change in tension of string changes the frequency of
vibrations in string.
4- Scroll, at the top of these instruments is the scroll. Its often carved and is
there mostly for decoration.
5- F-holes, These holes are where the sound comes out of the body of instrument.
They are called f-holes because they resemble the letter f in italics. Changing the
size, shape, and length of these f-holes can change the sound.
6- Bridge, The bridge is a hard piece of wood that the strings lay on top of it. It's at
the bridge that the strings stop vibrating and sound travels from the strings down
into the body of the violin.
7- Tailpiece, After passing over the bridge the ends of the strings connect to the
tailpiece.
8- Chin rest (for violin and viola only), At the bottom of the body is a chin rest
which helps the musician to support the instrument with their chin while playing.
9- Strings, The violin has 4 strings which create initial sound then get amplified and resonated by the hollow body.
10- The bow, of the violin is made up of a stick and horsehairs. The stick gives the bow strength and is where the violinist holds the
bow. The horsehair is rubbed against the strings in terms of grab and release to make vibrations and sound.
Acoustic versus Electric Violin and Viola
An electric violin is a violin that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its strings into
electrical signals.
An electric violin does not have hollow body or resonator;
therefore, it generates very weak sound. Pickups are sound
transducers which translates vibrations of strings to an electric
signals. Electric guitar requires an amplifier to amplify weak sound
to a much more intensified and auditable soundwave. Electric
guitar works only with steel string, because pick-up works with steel
string only.
Since there is no hollow body in electric violin, higher harmonics
created in strings are not amplified by the body itself. So, the
higher harmonies must be amplified by electronic amplifier. So
the timbre of music determined by amplifier rather the body.
This means that timbre can be altered as the player intent and
adjust the amplifier.
Electronic amplifier
For differences in the sound of electric and classic violin watch following video:
[Link]