Lucky 360

Hi, just a quick question about different places on a guitar that produce different sound. Close to the fret board, I notice quite a soft mellow tone sound coming from the guitar. Where as if I play close the bridge, around about the same place I palm mute, the guitar produces a much more woody/sharp tone. I was just wondering does anyone know what Im hearing? is there a name for this?

thanks.

patticake

that's true of most guitars - and i have no idea if there's a name for it, although i'm betting there is.

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another_dave

"ponticello" and "dolce / sul tasto"

http://video.google.com/videoplay?d...488536133009087

ToTheMinute

Yeah, as far as I know, all acoustic guitars do this. It's normal. Yours isn't broken or anything. I have a few songs where I play up high on the neck intentionally because it produces a sound I want. Play with the different sounds and use them to your advantage.

Captaincranky

That phenomenon is a simple matter of physics.

If you apply the same force closer to the bridge, less bass is produced simply by virtue of the fact you cut the string excursion.

Also, I'm going to guess that the harmonic content may be different as well, as you're dividing the strings into different length / ratio portions.

But basically, it's just easier to move the strings from side to side, the closer you are to their center. That's where the least resistance to the pick is encountered.

You run into the same issue with a tennis net or a tight clothesline. They'll swing a bunch if you tug at the center, but move very little as you get closer to the post or the pole. Leverage, that's what the principle is. The string saddle is functioning as a "fulcrum", and the string itself is the lever arm. Is "leverage" a proper musical term, I doubt it...

Lucky 360

Ah thank you very much guys appreciate it. Ive been wondering about that.

WaltTheWerewolf

at first i thought this thread was on areas of a place you can play to get a better sound...such as a large bathroom(which is an amazing sound by the way!)...

sometimes i love to play close to the bridge on softer picked runs(pick or fingers).

I also love fingerpicking close to the neck and sometimes at the 12th fret so i can toss in some harp harmonics.

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