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 Post subject: Sympathetic Strings
PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 2:02 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2018 9:41 am
Posts: 6
First name: Lemongrass
Last Name: Picker
Country: US
Hey guys, random question

I have a concept in mind for an instrument that uses sympathetic strings. I'm trying to create something that has strings similar to something like a chaturangui. My goal with this is to have the instrument have 2 plucked strings and two sympathetic strings that can function like a harp guitar.

What I'm wondering is if there's any particular way to calculate how the tuning of the sympathetic strings will respond to the main strings being struck? Specifically how the overtones will respond. The goal is to create an instrument that specifically generates overtones on the two "harp" strings each time they're played. Does that make sense?


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 Post subject: Re: Sympathetic Strings
PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 2:55 pm 
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Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 11:42 pm
Posts: 1701
First name: John
Last Name: Parchem
City: Seattle
State: Wa
Zip/Postal Code: 98177
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I can not directly answer your question but I can tell you what I do with my Harp ukulele with four harp strings. I select a set of notes that work in the key or the keys of a song. As mine are bass notes I often choose the base notes I want to play, but generally I play the original 4 string and get a fuller sound with the sympathetic vibrations in the harp strings.

I thought of adding a lever on each string to be able to sharp the selected note. That would allow me to play more without re-tuning or to change keys on the fly.

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 Post subject: Re: Sympathetic Strings
PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 4:19 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:59 pm
Posts: 3552
First name: Dennis
Last Name: Kincheloe
City: Kansas City
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Fred Carlson (http://beyondthetrees.com/) is the man to ask about sympathetic strings.

Nice harp ukulele, John [:Y:] Wonderful little instruments, aren't they? So easy to play. My next project is going to be a scaled up version which can either be strung for CDEFgcgc (one octave below the little one), or ABCDeaea with heavy strings.


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 Post subject: Re: Sympathetic Strings
PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 11:51 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 12:50 pm
Posts: 3867
Location: United States
Basically, when the subs hear something they like they will sing along. Tune the subs so that they have higher partials that match the fundamentals or partials of the fretted string notes. The energy to drive the subs comes from the played strings, of course. This spreads out the attack of the played strings, and lengthens the sustain, as well as adding complexity to the tone.


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 Post subject: Re: Sympathetic Strings
PostPosted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 10:16 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2018 9:41 am
Posts: 6
First name: Lemongrass
Last Name: Picker
Country: US
I like that harp ukulele

thank you for the infomation. I'll dig a little deeper


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