The Dynamical Theory of the Bridge of a Certain Class of Stringed Instrumentsd
Phys. Rev. 21, 695 – Published 1 June, 1923
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.21.695
Abstract
Vibration of a string; effect of letting it strike a sharp edge near one end, as in the case of the Indian plucked instrument tanpura, is to increase the relative intensity of the octave and other even harmonics while the rest diminish quickly almost to nothing, giving a peculiar sweet note. The mathematical theory is developed. The phenomenon apparently violates the Young-Helmholtz law since it may be observed even when the string is plucked in the middle; but the effect of the sharp edge is to build up the even harmonics even if they are very weak in the original vibration.