>>> "What direction should the strings be plucked in for an optimum tone?"
> physics" one. And if my answer doesn't satisfy you, I do apologise. Dear Alexander All these emails seem to misrepresent the intentions of the writers. Let's start afresh. I am very happy with the response you gave me. It showed me I didn't understand all of the physics involved. Flexing of the top by means of fluctuating energy imparted by the string to the bridge. Very good. Here the direction of the attack of the string doesn't matter. Very clear. That's the sustain part of the sound, I suppose. But Paul's experiment, and many players' experiences, show that the angle of plucking does influence the sound. Why? Is it the attack of the sound we influence? And how? On an instrument with a bridge on which the strings rest (guitar) I imagine the string to 'bounce' on the bridge, giving lots of energy through the bridge to the top. Parallel vibrations just make the string 'slide' over that bridge. My imagination, I know, but what of it? A parallel plucking motion gives almost no volume. Then what about all the fluctuating and flexing going on? Is the attack needed to set the bridge in motion? Cannot imagne that, somehow. David - innocently curious, but hapy with his tone most of the time nonetheless **************************** David van Ooijen [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.davidvanooijen.nl **************************** To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
