Abstract
A method for controlling the inharmonicity of a stiff string by adding a lumped mass (or masses) was originally suggested by F. Miller, Jr. In the present of paper, the same idea is investigated in a more precise manner. The effect of the string stiffness on its inharmonicity is discussed for different support conditions (the simple-simple, simplefixed, and fixed-fixed conditions). The simple-simple support condition gives the largest inharmonicity (deviation from a true harmonic series) among them even though the differences are small for most cases. The theoretical and experimental results of the resonance frequencies of a string with the fixed-fixed condition show very good agreement with each other. For a representative middle C string, a mass of 0.2-0.4 grams, when attached 13-9 mm from one end of the string, reduces the inharmonicity significantly.
