Beginner Acoustic Guitar

How Do String Instruments Produce Sound?

What is one of the most simple instruments that you can play? If you said a string instrument, you would be right. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't mean it is EASY to play a string instrument, all I'm saying is, as instruments go, the stringed ones are a little bit simplilar. Have I confused you enough? Okay, lets move on.

*Tidbit: You know that the guitar and violin rely on strings, but did you know that the piano does too?*

It is as simple as this: String instruments make sound when the strings viberate.

The pitch of the sound is modified or controled by 3 things:

Thickness of the string
Thick strings produce low string and thin string produce higher sounds.

Tension of the string
Tight strings produce high sounds and loose string produce low sounds.

Its length
A longer string will produce a lower tone and a short string will produce a high tone.

Okay, so we know that vibration causes sound, but how do you create that vibration? The three most common techniques are plucking, bowing and striking.

Plucking
If you are going to to  be playing the guitar or banjo then you are going to be using the plucking method. This method is done by using your finger or thumb to vi berate the strings.

Bowing
The violin and cello players use the bowing method. They take a bow, which is actually a stick with many hairs pulled tightly. As you drag the bow back and forth, it constantly 'slips and sticks' to the string, causing vibration.

Striking

That leaves striking. It may not be what you think. Striking is what you do when you are playing the piano and, yes, like I said above, the piano produces sound through strings. You hit the keys which hit the hammer which hit the strings, which make some sound.

Now that you know the answer, it really is quite simple. So the next time you are playing the guitar or piano, think of the song 'Good Vibrations' by the Beach Boys.