Basic Guitar Physics or How the Guitar Really Works

Summary

Aaron Wolf enlightens viewers on the true workings of the guitar, debunking common misconceptions about chords and string names. He explains that the speed of string vibrations, influenced by string thickness and fretting, is the key to producing different notes. By adjusting string length with frets or tuning with tuners, one can control vibration speed, creating a variety of musical sounds. The video emphasizes the importance of string tension and length in making music on the guitar.

Takeaways

• 🎸 The guitar, like any string instrument, produces sound through the vibration of strings.
• 🤚 The strings are referred to by names, with 'low E' being the thickest and closest to the floor, and 'high E' the thinnest and closest to the ceiling.
• 🔁 Thicker strings vibrate slower, while thinner strings vibrate faster due to their different weights and tensions.
• ✋ By pressing down on the strings at different frets, the effective length of the string is shortened, which changes the vibration speed.
• 🔧 The tuners on the guitar adjust the tension of the strings, with tighter strings vibrating faster and looser strings vibrating slower.
• 🚫 Be cautious when tuning as excessively tight strings can break.
• 🎶 The combination of string length and tension, along with the choice of thicker or thinner strings, creates a variety of musical notes.
• 🎵 Most music on the guitar is created by combining different string lengths and tensions to produce a range of vibrations.
• 👂 Setting the guitar strings involves listening carefully to ensure the notes blend well together.
• 🎵 The process of playing the guitar involves creative combinations of string lengths and tensions to produce music.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Aaron Wolf's discussion in the video?

The main focus of Aaron Wolf's discussion is explaining how the guitar, and string instruments in general, work by discussing the principles of string vibration, tension, and length.

Why does Aaron Wolf emphasize that the traditional way of labeling guitar strings as 'low E' and 'high E' is not the way the guitar really works?

Aaron Wolf emphasizes this because the terms 'low' and 'high' refer to the pitch of the strings, not the way the guitar produces sound. The actual functioning of the guitar is based on the vibration speeds of the strings, which are determined by their thickness and tension.

How does the thickness of a guitar string affect its vibration speed?

Thicker strings have a slower vibration speed due to their heavier mass, while thinner strings vibrate faster because they are lighter.

What is the purpose of pressing down on the strings over the metal pieces called frets?

Pressing down on the strings over the frets shortens the vibrating part of the string, which increases its vibration speed and thus changes the pitch of the note produced.

What role do the tuners on a guitar play in the sound production?

The tuners on a guitar adjust the tension of the strings. Loosening the tuners decreases the tension, causing the strings to vibrate slower, while tightening them increases the tension, making the strings vibrate faster.

What is the caution that Aaron Wolf gives regarding the use of tuners?

Aaron Wolf cautions that one should be careful not to tighten the strings too much with the tuners as it could lead to the strings breaking.

How does Aaron Wolf suggest using the tuners creatively in music?

Aaron Wolf suggests that while tuners are usually set in place to achieve a blend of sounds, they can also be used creatively to adjust the tension and produce different musical effects.

What are the two main factors that determine the pitch of a note on a guitar according to the video?

The two main factors that determine the pitch of a note on a guitar are the length of the string being vibrated and the thickness of the string.

Why does Aaron Wolf say that most music on the guitar is about making combinations of faster and slower vibrations?

Aaron Wolf says this because the essence of playing the guitar involves selecting different string lengths and thicknesses, which results in a variety of vibration speeds, creating the diverse sounds and melodies in music.

What is the final piece of advice Aaron Wolf gives to viewers about playing the guitar?

Aaron Wolf's final piece of advice is to have fun while playing the guitar, emphasizing the enjoyment aspect of music making.

Outlines

00:00

🎸 Understanding Guitar String Vibrations

Aaron Wolf introduces the concept of how guitar strings produce sound through vibrations. He explains that the speed of vibration differs between thicker and thinner strings, with thicker strings vibrating slower and thinner strings vibrating faster. By pressing the strings against the frets, one can shorten the strings and increase their vibration speed. The tuners on the guitar adjust the tension, which in turn affects the speed of the string's vibration. Aaron emphasizes that music on the guitar is essentially about combining different string lengths and thicknesses to create various vibration speeds.

Keywords

💡Guitar

A guitar is a stringed musical instrument that typically features six strings and is played by plucking or strumming the strings with the fingers or a pick. In the video, the guitar serves as the primary instrument to explain the principles of string vibration and sound production, which is central to the video's theme of understanding how string instruments work.

💡String Instrument

A string instrument is any musical instrument that produces sound through the vibration of strings. The video uses the guitar as an example of a string instrument to demonstrate the general principles that apply to all stringed instruments, such as violins, cellos, and harps.

💡Vibration Speed

Vibration speed refers to the rate at which a string vibrates when played. Thicker, heavier strings vibrate more slowly, while thinner strings vibrate faster. This concept is crucial in the video as it explains how different notes are produced by altering the vibration speed of the strings.

💡Fret

A fret is a metal strip on the neck of a guitar that shortens the vibrating length of a string when pressed against it by a finger. By pressing a string against a fret, the guitarist can change the pitch of the note being played. The video explains how frets are used to create different notes by altering the string's vibrating length.

💡Tuners

Tuners are the pegs or knobs on the headstock of a guitar that adjust the tension of the strings. By tightening or loosening the tuners, a guitarist can change the pitch of the open strings. The video mentions tuners as a way to control the tension and, consequently, the vibration speed of the strings.

💡Tension

Tension refers to the tightness of the strings on a guitar. Higher tension results in faster vibrations and higher pitches, while lower tension results in slower vibrations and lower pitches. The video discusses how adjusting the tension with tuners can affect the sound produced by the guitar.

💡Patterns

Patterns in the context of the video refer to the specific finger positions used to play chords on the guitar. The video mentions that while guitarists often learn chord patterns, understanding the underlying physics of string vibration is more fundamental to mastering the instrument.

💡Low E and High E

Low E and High E refer to the two E strings on a standard six-string guitar, with 'Low E' being the thickest and lowest sounding string, and 'High E' being the thinnest and highest sounding string. The video uses these terms to illustrate the relationship between string thickness and pitch.

💡Combining Vibrations

Combining vibrations is the process of playing multiple strings simultaneously to create chords or harmonies. The video explains that music on the guitar is largely about creating combinations of faster and slower vibrations to produce different sounds and melodies.

💡Creative Use

Creative use in the context of the video refers to the various ways a guitarist can manipulate the strings, such as changing their length with frets or their tension with tuners, to produce a desired sound. The video suggests that while guitarists typically set their strings to a standard tuning, there is room for creative exploration.

💡Harmony

Harmony in music refers to the combination of simultaneous notes that are pleasing to the ear. The video implies that achieving harmony is about finding the right balance of string lengths and tensions to create a blend of vibrations that sound good together.

Highlights

Introduction to the guitar as an instrument and its fundamental workings.

Explanation of string instrument patterns and the naming convention of guitar strings.

Clarification that 'low' and 'high' do not accurately describe how the guitar works.

Description of the physical properties affecting string vibration speeds on the guitar.

Demonstration of how shortening strings with frets can increase vibration speed.

Explanation of the tuners' role in changing string tension and its effect on vibration speed.

Caution about the potential to break strings by over-tightening.

Discussion on the typical use of tuners and setting string tension.

Technique of using one hand to choose string length and the other to select string thickness.

Concept of creating music by combining faster and slower vibrations on the guitar.

Encouragement to have fun while learning and playing the guitar.

Emphasis on the importance of listening carefully to blend string settings nicely.

Mention of the many different combinations of string settings available.

Illustration of how thicker strings can be sped up to match the vibration speed of thinner strings.

Highlight of the creative aspect of choosing string length and thickness combinations.

Overview of the basic principles behind most music played on the guitar.

Transcripts

[Music]

hi my name is Aaron wolf and I'd like to

share with you today how the guitar as

an instrument or for that matter any

string instrument really works you might

know patterns like put your fingers in

this pattern that's a d chord or the

strings are called these names this is

low E this is high e but low and high

are not the way that guitar really works

this string we call o e is the closest

to the ceiling what's really happening

is we just have different vibration

speeds thicker heavier strings go slower

and thin strings go

faster now I can shorten the strings

over here by pushing down and then the

string is touching this metal piece

which is called a fret and by touching

that it can't move so the moving part of

the string is smaller so I can speed up

the strings by shortening them I could

take this thick string and speed it

up until it vibrates the same speed as

this thinner string at full length over

here we have tuners that change the

tension of the string loosening the

tension looser strings go slower and

Tighter strings go

faster up to the point that you might

break them so be careful so we don't

usually use these creatively like

this usually we just set the in place we

listen

carefully until they blend nicely and

there's many different combinations of

settings you could use but mostly we set

the tension in place and then we just

use with one hand choosing the length of

the string and the other hand choosing

which of the thicker or thinner strings

to play and then we just make

combinations of faster and slower

vibrations and that's all there is to

most music on the guitar have

fun

[Music]