Measurements of the impedance presented to the string by a bow

Abstract

It is well known that the various parameters involved in bowing a stringed instrument (e.g.. bow “pressure”) are important in determining the wave shape and stability of the vibrating string (and hence the sound produced by the instrument). A fuller understanding of this process, however, requires knowledge of the force characteristic of the bow on the string. The motion of a string vibrating both freely and while interacting with a bow have been measured and from these measurements the impedance presented by the bow to the string was determined. The method for measuring string motion is based on earlier work [B. Ricca, G. Weinreich, and N. R. Michael, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Suppl. 1 86, S15 (1988)]. By it, the impedance presented by the bow to the string both parallel and perpendicular to the bow hair is determined. Some results will be presented. [Work supported by NSF.]