Effect of plucking dynamics and tonewood on electric guitar tone

The influence of plucking techniques and Tonewood materials on the overall tonal quality of a guitar was determined. Digital waveguide synthesis was used to simulate different plucking techniques and material properties. A consonance-dissonance evaluation method was then used to classify tones as being harmonious and pleasing to the ear (good) or cacophonic (bad). This classification accuracy of this method was verified using blinded listening tests administered to a mixed sample of professional guitarists, amateur musicians and non-musicians. Finally, the results were verified with physical measurements using an actual guitar and a digital audio interface. High-fidelity digital recordings of string vibrations were captured using a Focusrite Solo 4th Gen interface and subsequently analyzed with Audacity <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> <mml:msup> <mml:mi/> <mml:mi>®</mml:mi> </mml:msup> </mml:math> software. Pluck forces and pluck angles were quantified with a high-speed video-based method using a slow-motion camera. It was found that tone quality increased as picking width decreased from 0.05 m to 0.01 m. A scaled collision parameter - that served as a surrogate for fretboard stiffness - in the range of 46.5 to 58 N/m, produced a better tone quality, with peaks in tonal quality at specific stiffness values. In addition, different plucking methods significantly affected the tone, with medium force, flat-angled plucking yielding the best results. These results constructed a hitherto unexplored and under-researched understanding of guitar acoustics and may help in material selection for instrument manufacturing as well as in the refinement of the playing technique.