# Change in Acoustic Parameters of Electric Guitar Strings Under Dynamic Loading

## TL;DR

This paper explores how electric guitar strings wear over time using sound analysis techniques to reveal new insights into the process.

## Contribution

A novel method combining pitch and time-frequency analysis to study string wear, which was not possible with previous techniques.

## Key findings

- String yield limit is exceeded immediately when strings are placed on the guitar neck.
- Pitch combined with time-frequency analysis effectively demonstrates string wear.
- A modified string equation was proposed to better describe worn string sound.

## Abstract

The aim of our work was to investigate how electric guitar strings wear out. There are many myths about string wear. We decided to investigate what the wear process looks like in real life. In our work, sound processing methods such as DTFT and spectrogram were used. However, the most important research method is the use of time-frequency analysis to study the sound of the string and its wear process. Another key method used in our work is the application of a phenomenon known from psychoacoustics, pitch. In our work, we have been able to show that the use of pitch in combination with time-frequency analysis makes it possible to demonstrate string wear. This was not achievable for previously known methods. We have also shown that the string yield limit is exceeded immediately when the strings are placed on the guitar neck. This affects the sound equation of the string. In this work, we have proposed a transformation of the classical string equation so that it correctly describes the sound of the string as it is worn. The research method we have developed, combining pitch and time-frequency analysis, could presumably be used in the future to study the wear and tear of other vibrating systems, such as bridges and viaducts.