The effect of stiffness on the transverse and longitudinal motions of a musical string : Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kh.A. Rakhmatulin

The effect of stiffness on the propagation of longitudinal and transverse waves and vibrations in prestretched strings is considered. The contribution of the longitudinal and transverse components to the dynamic load is of the same order. The longitudinal vibrations occur both at natural frequencies and at frequencies of the transverse vibrations. Resonance phenomena are possible. Low stiffness, which is characteristic for musical strings, leads to a small change in the frequencies of the whole spectrum of transverse and longitudinal vibrations, but to a considerable change in the shape of the string at strike and mounting points and on the transverse wave front.