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Published in:
Systematic Musicology: A Historical Interdisciplinary Perspective Read chapter Read first chapter

2018 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

6. Some Observations on the Physics of Stringed Instruments

Author : Nicholas Giordano

Published in: Springer Handbook of Systematic Musicology

Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg

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Abstract

We provide a general introduction to stringed instruments, focusing on the piano, guitar, and violin. These are representative of instruments in which the strings are excited by striking (the piano), plucking (the guitar), and bowing (the violin). We begin by discussing, in a general way, the strings and soundboards, and how these couple to the surrounding air to generate sound. Important features specific to these instruments are then discussed, with particular attention to the different ways the strings are set into motion, key differences in the way the soundboards vibrate, and the effects of these differences on the resulting musical tones.

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previous chapter Measurement Techniques
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Metadata
Title
Some Observations on the Physics of Stringed Instruments
Author
Nicholas Giordano
Copyright Year
2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Book
Springer Handbook of Systematic Musicology

Print ISBN: 978-3-662-55002-1

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-662-55004-5

Copyright Year: 2018

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-55004-5_6

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