Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Springer Study Edition ((SSE))

Abstract

The modern six-string guitar is a descendant of the sixteenth-century Spanish vihuela, which has its roots in antiquity. Although Boccherini and other composers of the eighteenth century included the guitar in some of their chamber music, the establishment of the guitar as a concert instrument took place largely in the nineteenth century. Fernando Sor (1778–1839) was the first of a long line of Spanish virtuosos and composers for the guitar.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Allen, J.B. (1976). On the aging of steel guitar strings. Catgut Acoust. Soc. Newsletter, No. 26, 27–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnold, E.B., and Weinreich, G. (1982). Acoustical spectroscopy of violins. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 72, 1739–1746.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Benade, A.H. and Messenger, W.G. (1982). Sitar spectrum properties. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 71, S83 (abstract).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Beranek, L.L. (1954). “Acoustics,” Reprinted by Acoust. Soc. Am., Woodbury, New York, 1986. Section 3. 4. McGraw-Hill, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boullosa, R.R. (1981). The use of transient excitation for guitar frequency response testing. Catgut Acoust. Soc. Newsletter, No. 36, 17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caldersmith, G. (1978). Guitar as a reflex enclosure. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 63, 1566–1575.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Caldersmith, G.W., and Jansson, E.V. (1980). Frequency response and played tones of guitars. Quarterly Report STL-QPSR 4/1980, Department of Speech Technology and Music Acoustics, Royal Institute of Technology ( KTH ), Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, O. (1982). Qualitative models for low frequency guitar function. J. Guitar Acoustics, No. 6, 10–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, O., and Vistisen, R.B. (1980). Simple model for low-frequency guitar function. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 68, 758–766.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng S.-Y. (1984). Some acoustical measurements on the Chinese musical instrument P’i–P’a. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 75, 599–602.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Firth, I. (1977). Some measurements on the lute. Catgut Acoust. Soc. Newsletter, No. 27, 12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher, N.H. (1976a). Plucked strings—a review. Catgut Acoust. Soc. Newsletter, No. 26, 13–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher, N.H. (1976b). “Physics and Music.” Heinemann Educational Australia, Richmond, Victoria.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanson. R. (1985). Comparison of new and “dead” nylon strings. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 78, S34 (abstract).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Houtsma, A.J.M. (1975). Fret positions and string parameters for fretted string instruments. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 58, S131 (abstract).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Houtsma, A.J.M., Boland, R.P., and Adler, N. (1975). A force transformation model for the bridge of acoustic lute-type instruments. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 58, S131 (abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Houtsma, A.J.M., and Burns, E.M. (1982). Temporal and spectral characteristics of tambura tones. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 71, S83.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Jahnel, F. (1981). “Manual of Guitar Technology.” Verlag Das Musikinstrument, Franfurt am Main.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, E.V. (1971). A study of acoustical and hologram interferometric measurements on the top plate vibrations of a guitar. Acustica 25, 95–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, E.V. (1982). Fundamentals of the guitar tone. J. Guitar Acoustics, No. 6, 26–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, E.V. (1983). Acoustics for the guitar player. In “Function, Construction, and Quality of the Guitar” ( E.V. Jansson ed.). Royal Swedish Academy of Music, Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasha, M. (1974). Physics and the perfect sound. In “Brittanica Yearbook of Science and the Future.” Encyclopedia Brittanica, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Legge, K.A., and Fletcher, N.H. (1984). Nonlinear generation of missing modes on a vibrating string. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 76, 5–12.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg, R. (1987). Historical lute construction: The Erlangen lectures. Am. Lutherie 12, 32–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J. (1974). Die abstimmung der grundresonanzen von guitarren. Das Musikinstrument 23, 179–86; English translation in J. Guitar Acoustics, No. 5, 19 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J. (1983a). Quality aspects of the guitar tone. In “Function, Construction, and Quality of the Guitar” ( E.V. Jansson, ed.). Royal Swedish Academy of Music, Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J. (1983b). The function of the guitar body and its dependence upon constructional details (E. V. Jansson, ed.). Royal Swedish Academy of Music, Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popp. J., and Rossing, T.D. (1986). Sound radiation from classical and folk guitars. International Symposium on Musical Acoustics, West Hartford, Connecticut, July 20–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, B.E., and Roberts, G.W. (1985). The adjustment of mode frequencies in guitars: A study by means of holographic interferometry and finite element analysis. Proc. SMAC 83. Royal Swedish Academy of Music, Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, R.E., and Rossing, T.D. (1979). Plate vibrations and resonances of classical and folk guitars. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 65, 72; also Ross, R.E. (1979), “The acoustics of the guitar: An analysis of the effect of bracing stiffness on resonance placement,” unpublished M.S. thesis, Northern Illinois University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossing, T.D. (1981). Physics of guitars: An introduction. J. Guitar Acoustics, No. 4, 45–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossing, T.D. (1982a). “The Science of Sound.” Addison-Wesley, Reading, Massachusetts. Chap. 10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossing, T.D. (1982b). Plate vibrations and applications to guitars. J. Guitar Acoustics, No. 6, 65–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossing, T.D. (1983/1984). An introduction to guitar acoustics. Guild of American Luthiers Quarterly 11 (4), 12–18 and 12 (1), 20–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossing, T.D., Popp, J., and Polstein, D. (1985). Acoustical response of guitars. Proc. SMAC 83. Royal Swedish Academy of Music, Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sengupta, R., Bannerjee, B.M., Sengupta, S., and Nag, D. (1985). Tonal qualities of the Indian tampura. Proc. SMAC 83. Royal Swedish Academy of Music, Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stetson, K.A. (1981). On modal coupling in string instrument bodies. J. Guitar Acoustics, No. 3, 23–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strong, W.Y., Beyer, T.B., Bowen, D.J., Williams, E.G., and Maynard, J.D. (1982). Studying a guitar’s radiation properties with nearfield holography. J. Guitar Acoustics, No. 6, 50–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, J. (1978). “Tone Production on the Classical Guitar.” Musical New Services, Ltd., London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turnbull, H. (1974) “The Guitar from the Renaissance to the Present Day.” Batsford, London.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fletcher, N.H., Rossing, T.D. (1991). Guitars and Lutes. In: The Physics of Musical Instruments. Springer Study Edition. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2980-3_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2980-3_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-94151-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-2980-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics