More on violin plate tap tones

Abstract

Traditional violin making practice indicates that the “tap tone” or eigenmode 5 of the free top plate of a normal violin should come about F sharp. 370 Hz for good tone and playing qualities in the finished instrument. To check with earlier findings reported on eigenmode relationships in normal violas [Hutchins, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 59, S34(A) (1976); Hutchins, “Another Piece of the Plate Tap Tone Puzzle,” Catgut Acoust. Soc. Newsletter No. 28, 22 (Nov. 1977)], six conventional violins have been made having mode 5 in both top and back free plates at 370 Hz (±3Hz)—also with mode 2 within 6 Hz of each other in the same pair of plates. Problems of achieving these mode relationships when graduating the two plates and resultant tone qualities will be discussed and the violins demonstrated.