Guitar Fundamentals: Wavelength, Frequency, & Speed

Physics

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Table of Contents

1. Title Page………………………………………………………………………………1

2. Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………….2

3. Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………3

4. Research Question & Hypothesis……………………………………………………4

5. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………5

6. Materials & Procedure…………………………………………………………………8

7. Data……………………………………………………………………………………10

8. Results…………………………………………………………………………………16

9. Data Analysis…………………………………………………………………………19

10. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………….20

11. Acknowledgments…………………………………………………………………….21

12. Pictures……………………………………………………………………………..22

13. Bibliography………………………………………………………………………….29

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Abstract

In this experiment I found out the frequency, string length (m), wavelength (m), and speed

(m/s) of each fret on the guitar. The purpose is to find the speed of the sound by finding out the

frequency and the wavelength, and using the equation v=f. Variable “f” is the frequency and “λ” is

the wavelength, while “v” is the speed we need to find using this equation. The guitar I used is an

Ibanez V70CE-BK but any acoustic guitar can be used for similar results. My independent variable

is the wavelength, the dependent variable is the frequency, and the control group is the string

length. The graphs representing the speed of sound for each fret concluded my hypothesis, stating

it was incorrect. In fact, it was the third fret on average that had the fastest speed and the string

length did not have an influence on speed. The thing that was most difficult for this project was

making sure when I played each note that it was not ringing and that it was playing smoothly.

Also, I had to make sure I was in a quiet room so that when I measured the frequency I didn't pick

up another noise.

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Research Question

What is the relationship between the length of a string and the speed of sound?

What prompted me to pick this topic was my love for music and because I own a guitar. I

questioned how sound worked and what different factors can change the pitch of sound.

Hypothesis

If the guitar string is short, then the speed of its sound is slower.

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Introduction

The purpose of this experiment is to discover how sound works when strumming a guitar.

If the guitar string is short, then the speed of its sound is slower. Sound engineering technicians use

sound in a similar way, studying how sound works to make hearing it more enjoyable. Sound

engineering technicians reproduce and record music as well as change it by editing and mixing.

They use their music or different sounds at concerts, tv shows, or news played on TV, and so on.

Sound can also be used for medical purposes. For example, ultrasound scan sends sound waves

through a womb and bounces off the baby as it echoes. It can then be used to show the baby’s

position and movement. Sound waves are important because sound is all around us traveling

through the atmosphere as it is used to communicate and and perform other tasks.

Depending on changing air pressure, sound is produced by vibrations of objects, as

vibrations push and pull on air molecules. The pushing force causes an increase in pressure, and

the pulling force causes a decrease in pressure. In addition to speed, you can also describe waves

by their frequency, period, and wavelength. The equation used to calculate the speed, frequency,

and wavelength of a wave is v = fλ (Andrew Olson, 2017, July 28). It is used to predict how the

fundamental frequency of vibration of the string will change. The variable “v” is it’s speed which is

what you have to find, “f” is its frequency, and “λ” (which is the Greek letter lambda) is its

wavelength. Like any wave, a sound wave doesn't stop when it reaches the end of the medium or

when an obstacle is in its path.

When a wave reaches the boundary, some of the wave experiences reflection while another

part of the wave experiences transmission. Reflection of sound waves off of surfaces can lead to

two things, an echo or a reverberation. Echoes are different than reverberations. An echo is when a

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reflected sound wave gets to the ear at 0.1 seconds after the original sound wave. Reverberation is

when sound is reflected off a surface in an enclosed area like an auditorium or recording room

(HyperPhysics ©C.R. Nave, 2017). Diffraction is when waves involve a change in direction as

they pass through an opening or as they go around a barrier that’s in front of their path. Refraction

of waves involves waves passing through mediums as there is a change in the direction.

Refraction, or bending the paths of the waves, is by a change in the waves speed and wavelength

(1996-2019 The Physics Classroom).

The measure of the wavelength is twice the original length of the string. A string when

played will vibrate with its fundamental frequency and all harmonics of that frequency. The

function of nodes and antinodes is simply the contrary of an open air column. A cylindrical air

column with each end open will vibrate with a fundamental mode such that the air column length is

one half the wavelength of the sound wave. In the 1640’s a French mathematician named Marin

Mersenne (born in 1588 and died in 1648) conducted an experiment of the speed on sound in the

air for the first time. He studied the vibration of stretched strings. Mersenne also discovered the

second and third laws of strings. In the 1660’s, British scientist Robert Boyle conducted an

experiment on the transmission of sound and showed that by ringing a bell in a jar and found out

that you were not able to hear the sound because the air has been pushed out (2018

HowStuffWorks).

The independent variable of the project is the string that is fretted and the dependent

variable is the frequency. The string being played is the independent variable because it matters

which fret is played. The frequency is the dependent variable because the frequency is affected by

the fret of the string. For example, when the first fret is played the frequency is measured and it

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would be different when the 6th fret is played.

People could be impacted by the concept of frequency and speed of sound because it

affects one of our primary senses, hearing. Certain things that make our lives better, like music,

have to do with sound and if we like the sound it can help calm us or let us focus on what we need

to do. This experiment fits into the bigger picture of science because it is important for physicists to

understand acoustic science, which is the study of sound. Studying sound helps us in many ways

for example understanding echoes helps us with ultrasounds, and how certain animals use

echolocation.

If the string is shorter then there will be a higher frequency in the sound waves. The sound

is produced by vibrations of objects and push and pull of air molecules. The equation is v = fλ to

find out the fundamental frequency how the vibrations effects the strings. The two important

people who have done experiments on sound is Marin Mersenne and Robert Boyle. Robert Boyle

conducted an experiment on the transmission of sound, and Marin Mersenne conducted an

experiment of the speed on sound in the air (2018 HowStuffWorks). The independent variable is

the fret of the strings and the dependent variable is the frequency.

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Materials

● acoustic guitar

○ An electric guitar—or other stringed instrument—can be used instead.

● Guitar pick

● Capo

● Electronic tuner (to tell you what note you've played)

○ alternative: a computer with tuning software

■ A Windows-based computer with a 16-bit soundcard

■ A microphone

○ alternative: stand-alone electronic tuner (a chromatic tuner with a built-in

microphone)

● Sewing tape measure (best if marked in metric units)

● Lab notebook

● Pen or pencil

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Procedure

1. For each string, measure the full length of the string.

a. Align the tape measure along the length of the string, and put it in place at the nut

end of the string.

b. Measure down to the saddle of the guitar.

2. Record the notes with tuner software (or chromatic tuner).

3. Tune the guitar.

4. Place the microphone (or chromatic tuner) close enough to the guitar so that the tuner

software (or tuner) registers the note.

5. Pluck the open high E string.

6. Write down the frequency of the note played.

a. If using a chromatic tuner without a frequency readout, write down the note played

from the chromatic tuner readout.

7. Fret the string just behind the first fret.

8. Pluck the string again.

9. Make sure the note is clear and ringing

10. Write down the frequency of the note played.

11. Repeat steps 5-7 for frets 1-6 and the open strings.

12. Repeat steps 4-7 for each of the other five strings.

13. Using length and frequency data the equation is v = fλ, calculate the speed of the wave on

each string.

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Data

String: High E

(f)Frequency String Length (λ)Wavelength (v)Speed

Fret (Hz) (meter) (meter) (meter/second)

string length*2 v = fλ

0 (open string) 339.6 Hz 0.6477m 1.295m 439.7m/s

1 349.2 Hz 0.6096m 1.219m 425.7m/s

2 370.0 Hz 0.5715m 1.143m 422.9m/s

3 392.0 Hz 0.5461m 1.092m 428.0m/s

4 415.3 Hz 0.5080m 1.016m 421.9m/s

5 440.0 Hz 0.4826m 0.9652m 424.7m/s

6 466.1 Hz 0.4572m 0.9144m 426.2m/s

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 String: B

(f)Frequency String Length (λ)Wavelength (v)Speed

Fret (Hz) (meter) (meter) (meter/second)

string length*2 v = fλ

0 (open string) 246.9 Hz 0.6477m 1.295m 319.7m/s

1 261.6 Hz 0.6096m 1.219m 318.9m/s

2 277.2 Hz 0.5715m 1.143m 316.8m/s

3 293.6 Hz 0.5461m 1.092m 320.6m/s

4 311.1 Hz 0.5080m 1.016m 316.1m/s

5 329.6 Hz 0.4826m 0.9652m 318.1m/s

6 349.2 Hz 0.4572m 0.9144m 319.3m/s

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 String: G

(f)Frequency String Length (λ)Wavelength (v)Speed

Fret (Hz) (meter) (meter) (meter/second)

string length*2 v = fλ

0 (open string) 196.0 Hz 0.6477m 1.295m 253.8m/s

1 207.6 Hz 0.6096m 1.219m 253.1m/s

2 220.0 Hz 0.5715m 1.143m 251.5m/s

3 233.1 Hz 0.5461m 1.092m 254.5m/s

4 246.9 Hz 0.5080m 1.016m 250.9m/s

5 261.6 Hz 0.4826m 0.9652m 252.5m/s

6 277.2 Hz 0.4572m 0.9144m 253.5m/s

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 String: D

(f)Frequency String Length (λ)Wavelength (v)Speed

Fret (Hz) (meter) (meter) (meter/second)

string length*2 v = fλ

0 (open string) 146.8 Hz 0.6477m 1.295m 190.1m/s

1 155.6 Hz 0.6096m 1.219m 189.7m/s

2 164.8 Hz 0.5715m 1.143m 188.3m/s

3 174.6 Hz 0.5461m 1.092m 190.7m/s

4 185.0 Hz 0.5080m 1.016m 188.0m/s

5 196.0 Hz 0.4826m 0.9652m 189.2m/s

6 207.6 Hz 0.4572m 0.9144m 190.0m/s

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 String: A

(f)Frequency String Length (λ)Wavelength (v)Speed

Fret (Hz) (meter) (meter) (meter/second)

string length*2 v = fλ

0 (open string) 110.0 Hz 0.6477m 1.295m 142.5m/s

1 116.5 Hz 0.6096m 1.219m 142.0m/s

2 123.5 Hz 0.5715m 1.143m 141.1m/s

3 130.8 Hz 0.5461m 1.092m 142.8m/s

4 138.6 Hz 0.5080m 1.016m 140.8m/s

5 146.8 Hz 0.4826m 0.9652m 141.7m/s

6 155.6 Hz 0.4572m 0.9144m 142.3m/s

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 String: Low E

(f)Frequency String Length (λ)Wavelength (v)Speed

Fret (Hz) (meter) (meter) (meter/second)

string length*2 v = fλ

0 (open string) 82.40 Hz 0.6477m 1.295m 106.7m/s

1 87.30 Hz 0.6096m 1.219m 106.4m/s

2 92.50 Hz 0.5715m 1.143m 105.7m/s

3 98.00 Hz 0.5461m 1.092m 107.0m/s

4 103.8 Hz 0.5080m 1.016m 105.5m/s

5 110.0 Hz 0.4826m 0.9652m 106.2m/s

6 116.5 Hz 0.4572m 0.9144m 106.5m/s

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Results

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Data Analysis

This experiment consisted of playing a guitar and calculating frequency (Hz). In the data

charts there are 5 columns for each string on the guitar. The charts have the frequency, string

length, wavelength and speed. The purpose of this experiment is to find the speed of sound when

played on different or fretted strings. Consistently in the graphs, frets 0, 3, 5, and 6 were raised a

little but frets 1, and 2 were lowered after measuring fret 0. Each string is the same size because to

measure the string, start at the nut of the guitar then move the tape measure down to the saddle.

Since the size of the string is consistent throughout the data, this is the independent variable and the

dependent variable is the frequency. Compared to high E and low E, high E has a higher frequency

because the density, thickness, and tension of the string contribute to the difference in frequencies.

To find the speed of the sound coming from the string, multiply frequency and wavelength together

and to get wavelength find the measurement of the string in meters and multiply it by 2. For the

open string, high E has a frequency of 339.6 Hz, all open strings have a wavelength of 1.295m.

Using the equation v = fλ, High E has a speed of 439.7m/s for fret 0 and for fret 1 has a speed of

425.7m/s, fret 2 is 422.9m/s, and fret 3 is 428.0m/s. The data shows the meters per seconds is

lowered for the first 2 frets but then raises again and the same instances happens throughout the

other strings. Based on the data the hypothesis was proven wrong. The hypothesis states that when

the string is smaller, the speed of sound is slower. The graphs show that the speed is inconsistent

and not based on the length of the string. In all the graphs it is a result that the third fret sound is the

fastest.

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 Conclusion:

My hypothesis was incorrect and not based on the size of the string. My graphs supports

my finding in what I calculated. The speed (m/s) is on the left side of the graph and the number of

frets are at the bottom. This compares the speed between each fret and which one is slower or

faster. I measured the length of the fret using a measuring tape from the nut of the guitar to the

saddle and measured it in meters. I also used a tuner to measure the frequencies. I would have

added to the graph for example density, thickness, and tensions of the string to learn more about

guitars and how sound works, and I would be able to answer some of my questions I have after

collecting data. The dependent variable is the length of the guitar and the independent variable is

the speed measured from sound. I plucked each string next to the iPad and measured the frequency.

Then, I measured the length of the string and to find wavelength, multiply the length by 2. Then I

used the equation v = fλ to find the speed. The shortcomings that I had was that I needed to make

sure that when I was finding the frequency of each string, when I played it, I needed to make sure

that I didn’t play it too hard so that the string doesn’t ring. I also needed to make sure that I didn’t

play the notes too softly so that I could get the correct frequency. Another shortcoming was that to

get the correct frequency read out, I needed the house to be completely silent so no other noise is

picked up and I needed to pluck each string and fret one by one.

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Acknowledgements:

Thank you to my mom for helping me with my backboard and my friends reading this

report and helping out.

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Pictures:

Left: My picture of the turner showing Low note E

Right: My picture showing note A on the turner

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My photo showing me taking the frequency of note A

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My picture showing Low note E

My picture showing me strum Low note E

on the first fret

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 Shows the positions of the

frets/notes

© 2017 Bassist HQ

https://bassisthq.com/fretless-bass-guitar/

List of the notes and frets

GP Editors, Oct 29, 2018

www.guitarplayer.com/technique/fretboard-memorization-three-steps-to-neck-knowledge-tab

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 The parts of the guitar labeled

© 2019 Dawsons Music Ltd.

https://www.dawsons.co.uk/blog/parts-of-a-guitar-and-what-they-do

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My materials: measuring tape, tuner, electric tuner readout(iPad), Capo.

My photo measuring the string

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My photo measuring the second fret

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Bibliography:

1. https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Music_p010/music/guita

r-fundamentals-wavelength-frequency-speed#summary

Andrew Olson, 2017, July 28

2. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/sound/Lesson-2/Pitch-and-Frequency

© 1996-2019 The Physics Classroom

3. https://science.howstuffworks.com/sound-info5.htm

2018 HowStuffWorks

4. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Acoustic/reverb.html

HyperPhysics ©C.R. Nave, 2017

5. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/sound/Lesson-3/Reflection,-Refraction,-and-Diffr

action

© 1996-2019 The Physics Classroom

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