Yes! That's it, exactly! Now why couldn't I remember that - it's only been 40 years.... Mike Jim Moy wrote: > On 6/29/07, Allan Gilreath, RPT <allan at allangilreath.com> wrote: >> "Why does the string divide into all of the >> different available fractional segments and not just even multiples >> of two?" > > I seem to remember from my systems class in engineering school that a > theoretical impulse contains *all* frequencies, and that a system's > output will filter, amplify, attenuate, etc. according to its > characteristics. > > So in the case of a piano as a system, an impulse (hammer strike) is > applied to the string and most frequencies rapidly dampen out, except > those where nature of the string and the rest of the assembly (bridge, > soundboard) cause them to dampen less rapidly according to the > vibration physics we've all become acquainted with. > > Or at least, that's how I've modeled it in my head :-) (and it's been > a long time since I've been able to do anything like the math I did > back then...) > > So maybe one response to Allan's apprentice would be to put on your > best Yoda face and say "The wrong question you ask. Should not a > string vibrate at all frequencies?" > > Jim Moy > Fort Collins, Colorado > (Not a technician -- hopefully someday -- merely a lurker until now...) >
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