On Damping Properties of a Plucked String

Abstract

A plucked string of musical instrument damps abnormally at specific frequencies. In order to investigate this phenomenon called "dead point", we measured the damping of a plucked string supported at two points on a simply supported beam. Consequently, when the natural frequencies of the system with strong coupling between the string and the beam approach a natural frequency of the beam, the logarithmic decrement of the string becomes large. However, with weak coupling, the string does not damp largely, even if the natural frequencies of the system approach a certain natural frequency of the beam. If they are closer to a natural frequency of higher vibrational modes of the beam, the logarithmic decrement of the string does not become large without stronger coupling.