Hardvard University

String Theory
Rope (music)

A string is the vibratory element that originates the sound in stringed musical instruments,
such as the guitar, the double bass, the harp, the piano, or members of the violin family,
distant descendants of ancient instruments such as vihuelas, fidulas, rabeles and salterios. The
strings are segments formed by a flexible material that remain in tension so that they can
vibrate freely, without obstruction that causes a distortion of the acoustic wave. The ropes can
be smooth, thus consisting of a unique material such as steel, nylon, gold or animal guts.
Shakespeare, in his work Much Ado About Nothing1 (act II, scene III) puts these words in
Benedict's mouth: Is not it extraordinary that a ram's intestines have the property of making
souls come out of their body wrappings? They can also have an interior of silk, or nylon and
twisted with steel, copper, silver or gold threads in the case of the highest notes of the violin.
This twisting has the mission of adding some weight and homogeneity in the vibration so that
the string reaches the desired sound height, while keeping it sufficiently thin and flexible to
play. Depending on the construction of the instrument where they are used, the strings will
usually have a ball or loop on one of the ends whose mission is the secure attachment of the
string to the instrument. The strings of some instruments can be wrapped in silk to protect the
rope and prevent its breaking since, usually, they are supported on wooden segments. The
color and pattern of this silk can be used as an identification of the type of rope, its height and
even the materials of which it is made. The twisted strings consist of a center with a wire or
wire tightly wound around it and in a spiral, so that never a fraction of cable superimposes
another, for the same reasons mentioned before: an easy and smooth execution of the sound.
Index 1 Measurements 2 Materials 2.1 Core 2.2 Wound 3 Vibration of the string 4 Corrosion of
a string 5 See also 6 Notes and references 7 External links Measures The pitch of a string
depends on its weight and therefore on its diameter and density, it is say, your measurements.
Traditionally the diameter is measured in thousandths of an inch, that is, in thousandths of a
millimeter because the metric system is also widely used, especially in Europe. The larger the
rope, the greater its weight. And with greater weight, it will take more energy to move them
and therefore they will oscillate more slowly. The longer and heavier, a more serious sound
will produce. The heavier strings also require a greater tension for the same height of the
sound, that is, for the same tone and are, consequently, more difficult to press with the fingers
at the time of playing. If the strings are changed to a fret instrument and different strings are
placed, it may be necessary to adjust the height of the strings on the frets, which is called
"action", in order to make it easier to play or prevent the strings from buzzing against the frets.
The "action" of modifying the heights of the strings on fretless instruments can also be
adjusted to accommodate the measure of the string as well as the desired interpretive style.
Steel strings for conventional guitars usually come in already tight string sets. String ensembles
are generally referenced either by the measurements of the first string of the instrument to
which they are to be placed, or by the pair of strings first and last. Some manufacturers may
differ from others slightly in the measurements. The data examples below come from the
D'Addario string cards for regular, twisted and nickel-silver alloy strings. (Note: The strings of
the gray boards are twisted, the others are all smooth.) Name 1 (e) in / mm 2 (B) in / mm 3 (G)
in / mm 4 (D) in / mm 5 ( A) in / mm 6 (E) in / mm Extra super light (8-38 / 20-97) .008 / 0.20
.010 / 0.25 .015 / 0.38 .021 / 0.53 .030 / 0.76 .038 / 0.97 Super light (9-42 / 23-107) .009 / 0.23
.011 / 0.28 .016 / 0.41 .024 / 0.61 .032 / 0.81 .042 / 1.07 Regular light (10-46 / 25-117) .010 /
0.25 .013 /0.33 .017 / 0.43 .026 / 0.66 .036 / 0.91 .046 / 1.17 Extra light w / heavy bass (9-46 /
23-117) .009 / 0.23 .013 / 0.33 .021 / 0.53 .029 / 0.74. 036 / 0.91 .046 / 1.17 Medium (11-49 /
28-124) .011 / 0.28 .014 / 0.36 .018 / 0.46 .028 / 0.71 .038 / 0.97 .049 / 1.24 Medium w /
wound G string (11- 52 / 28-132) .011 / 0.28 .013 / 0.33 .020 / 0.51 .030 / 0.76 .042 / 1.07 .052
/ 1.32 Heavy (12-54 / 30-137) .012 / 0.30 .016 / 0.41 .020 /0.51 .032 / 0.81 .042 / 1.07 .054 /
1.37 Extra heavy (13-56 / 33-157) .013 / 0.33 .017 / 0.43