<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type"> <title></title> </head> <body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000"> <blockquote> Alan writes "...false beat is ... caused by changes in either the speaking length or a change in the tension of the string." Farrell replies: Or change in wire size. </blockquote> McFerrin cites variation in wire diameter in a single string as a cause for false beats. The smaller diameter yeilds a different a localized different tension which yeilds a secondary set of partials.  I've not heard that a change in wire size alone would affect false beating one way or the other... but it wouldnt suprise me that this too would end up happening or not on a random basis. <blockquote>Alan writes: "Does a loose bridge pin create changes in tension or changes in the speaking length of the string?" Farrell replies I certainly don't know for sure, but I've wondered the same thing and made the assumption that both these things are likely culprits. </blockquote> Thats the going theory... sideways micro wobble allowed by both a loose pin in combination with a crushed notch edge that leaves the edge drop off behind the string.  Only problem is that there is no occurrance of false beats  in all to many instances. <blockquote>Terry Farrell </blockquote> Cheers RicB </body> </html>