How can overtones exist when plucking open string?

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I read the following from wikipedia:




When a string is plucked normally, the ear tends to hear the
fundamental frequency most prominently, but the overall sound is also
colored by the presence of various overtones (frequencies greater than
the fundamental frequency).




If an open string is plucked, I just notice a node at each end and an anti node at the middle. How can we have overtones in addition to the fundamental frequency? It seems to be counter intuitive for me.










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    up vote
    2
    down vote

    favorite












    I read the following from wikipedia:




    When a string is plucked normally, the ear tends to hear the
    fundamental frequency most prominently, but the overall sound is also
    colored by the presence of various overtones (frequencies greater than
    the fundamental frequency).




    If an open string is plucked, I just notice a node at each end and an anti node at the middle. How can we have overtones in addition to the fundamental frequency? It seems to be counter intuitive for me.










    share|cite|improve this question

























      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite











      I read the following from wikipedia:




      When a string is plucked normally, the ear tends to hear the
      fundamental frequency most prominently, but the overall sound is also
      colored by the presence of various overtones (frequencies greater than
      the fundamental frequency).




      If an open string is plucked, I just notice a node at each end and an anti node at the middle. How can we have overtones in addition to the fundamental frequency? It seems to be counter intuitive for me.










      share|cite|improve this question















      I read the following from wikipedia:




      When a string is plucked normally, the ear tends to hear the
      fundamental frequency most prominently, but the overall sound is also
      colored by the presence of various overtones (frequencies greater than
      the fundamental frequency).




      If an open string is plucked, I just notice a node at each end and an anti node at the middle. How can we have overtones in addition to the fundamental frequency? It seems to be counter intuitive for me.







      waves acoustics string harmonics






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      edited 42 mins ago









      Qmechanic♦

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      asked 1 hour ago









      Artificial Stupidity

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          The only way to avoid overtones would be to pluck the string in such a way that its initial shape is sinusoidal. However, that would be nearly impossible. In practice, the initial shape is almost always triangular.



          If you are familiar with Fourier transforms, consider how you would do a discrete Fourier decomposition of the string's initial shape. The Fourier components correspond to the overtones.






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            Eigenmodes of a string have sinusoidal spatial form $f_m(x) = C_m sin(pi m x/L)$, where x is the parallel coordinate and L is the length of the string. Plucking a string at a fixed location $x_0 $means giving it a non-sinusoidal initial perturbation, e.g., something like a piece-wise linear function, $f(x) = A x/x_0$ for $x le x_0$ and $f(x) = A (L-x)/(L-x_0)$ for $x ge x_0$. Expanding the initial perturbation $f(x)$ in eigenmodes $f_m(x)$ shows how much each harmonic is excited initially, in general it would be a full spectrum of eigenmodes.






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              The only way to avoid overtones would be to pluck the string in such a way that its initial shape is sinusoidal. However, that would be nearly impossible. In practice, the initial shape is almost always triangular.



              If you are familiar with Fourier transforms, consider how you would do a discrete Fourier decomposition of the string's initial shape. The Fourier components correspond to the overtones.






              share|cite|improve this answer
























                up vote
                5
                down vote













                The only way to avoid overtones would be to pluck the string in such a way that its initial shape is sinusoidal. However, that would be nearly impossible. In practice, the initial shape is almost always triangular.



                If you are familiar with Fourier transforms, consider how you would do a discrete Fourier decomposition of the string's initial shape. The Fourier components correspond to the overtones.






                share|cite|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  5
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  5
                  down vote









                  The only way to avoid overtones would be to pluck the string in such a way that its initial shape is sinusoidal. However, that would be nearly impossible. In practice, the initial shape is almost always triangular.



                  If you are familiar with Fourier transforms, consider how you would do a discrete Fourier decomposition of the string's initial shape. The Fourier components correspond to the overtones.






                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  The only way to avoid overtones would be to pluck the string in such a way that its initial shape is sinusoidal. However, that would be nearly impossible. In practice, the initial shape is almost always triangular.



                  If you are familiar with Fourier transforms, consider how you would do a discrete Fourier decomposition of the string's initial shape. The Fourier components correspond to the overtones.







                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered 50 mins ago









                  S. McGrew

                  3,9432620




                  3,9432620




















                      up vote
                      1
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                      Eigenmodes of a string have sinusoidal spatial form $f_m(x) = C_m sin(pi m x/L)$, where x is the parallel coordinate and L is the length of the string. Plucking a string at a fixed location $x_0 $means giving it a non-sinusoidal initial perturbation, e.g., something like a piece-wise linear function, $f(x) = A x/x_0$ for $x le x_0$ and $f(x) = A (L-x)/(L-x_0)$ for $x ge x_0$. Expanding the initial perturbation $f(x)$ in eigenmodes $f_m(x)$ shows how much each harmonic is excited initially, in general it would be a full spectrum of eigenmodes.






                      share|cite|improve this answer
























                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        Eigenmodes of a string have sinusoidal spatial form $f_m(x) = C_m sin(pi m x/L)$, where x is the parallel coordinate and L is the length of the string. Plucking a string at a fixed location $x_0 $means giving it a non-sinusoidal initial perturbation, e.g., something like a piece-wise linear function, $f(x) = A x/x_0$ for $x le x_0$ and $f(x) = A (L-x)/(L-x_0)$ for $x ge x_0$. Expanding the initial perturbation $f(x)$ in eigenmodes $f_m(x)$ shows how much each harmonic is excited initially, in general it would be a full spectrum of eigenmodes.






                        share|cite|improve this answer






















                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote









                          Eigenmodes of a string have sinusoidal spatial form $f_m(x) = C_m sin(pi m x/L)$, where x is the parallel coordinate and L is the length of the string. Plucking a string at a fixed location $x_0 $means giving it a non-sinusoidal initial perturbation, e.g., something like a piece-wise linear function, $f(x) = A x/x_0$ for $x le x_0$ and $f(x) = A (L-x)/(L-x_0)$ for $x ge x_0$. Expanding the initial perturbation $f(x)$ in eigenmodes $f_m(x)$ shows how much each harmonic is excited initially, in general it would be a full spectrum of eigenmodes.






                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          Eigenmodes of a string have sinusoidal spatial form $f_m(x) = C_m sin(pi m x/L)$, where x is the parallel coordinate and L is the length of the string. Plucking a string at a fixed location $x_0 $means giving it a non-sinusoidal initial perturbation, e.g., something like a piece-wise linear function, $f(x) = A x/x_0$ for $x le x_0$ and $f(x) = A (L-x)/(L-x_0)$ for $x ge x_0$. Expanding the initial perturbation $f(x)$ in eigenmodes $f_m(x)$ shows how much each harmonic is excited initially, in general it would be a full spectrum of eigenmodes.







                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          share|cite|improve this answer



                          share|cite|improve this answer










                          answered 47 mins ago









                          Maxim Umansky

                          2,80831025




                          2,80831025



























                               

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