Hobbies And Interests
Harmonics
Each string on a guitar has a particular place where you can play harmonics to make the guitar sound like a bell. This science experiment involves locating the specific points that cause this and relating them to string length. Measure the guitar strings. Damp one string at the 12th fret, pluck it and listen for the bell tone. Test each string at each fret. You will need an acoustic guitar, a cloth tape measure and a notebook to record your findings.
Sympathetic Vibrations
Plucking one guitar string causes sympathetic vibration in the strings next to it. This science experiment involves discovering which musical intervals most effectively cause sympathetic vibration. By plucking one guitar string and muting it, then muting the other strings one by one, you can listen to determine which strings contribute the most and least amount of sympathetic vibration. You will need an tuned acoustic guitar, a pick, a quiet room and a way to record your findings.
Standing Wave Patterns
A guitar produces a standing wave of sound because the vibrating strings are anchored at either end. In this experiment, you'll use a light touch on the string to produce patterns of sound when you pluck the guitar. You will need an acoustic or electric guitar, a guitar pick, an electronic tuner or tuning software with a computer that has a microphone and a sound card, a tape measure and a way to record your findings.
Frequency and Fretting
String length affects vibration, abbreviating or extending it. This in turn affects the resulting sound, changing the pitch of the note. As you pluck the guitar string, record the frequency of the notes, compressing at each fret to change the frequency. You will need an acoustic or electric guitar, a pick, an electronic tuner or tuning software with a computer that has a microphone and a sound card, a tape measure and a way to record your findings.