The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been one of my favorite bands ever since I was young enough to pick out a favorite band. Having sold over 80 million records worldwide and being awarded 6 Grammy Awards with 16 nominations, it is certainly difficult to question their success. I was even lucky enough to see them live last month at the Scottrade Center and ever since, I have been unable to stop listening to them and learning their songs. I also began listening to John Frusciante, former guitarist of the Chili Peppers, who began his solo career in 2009. One of his songs, Murderers, is among the songs I have been hooked on for the last few weeks. The main riff has a simple note progression, capable of being played on only the E and B string, between frets 9 and 12.
In understanding many of the advances in music technology and creation, it is important to begin with the basics of music and what makes sound sound different.
Primarily, guitars consist of 6 strings which vary in thickness and have 19 - 24 frets, which can be used to change the length of the string. When a string is picked or plucked, a standing wave is created as the string vibrates, creating one of 7 notes, A, B, C, D, E, F, or G (or its sharp variant, of which there are 5). This causes the wood in the guitar to vibrate the air inside the body (in acoustic instruments), which escapes and creates a sound wave that travels to our ear.
The pitch of a sound is dependent on the frequency of the string's vibrations. Frequency, or the number of waves that pass a point in a given period of time, is measured in Hertz (Hz) which is equivalent to 1/seconds. When a string is played at a high fret, the string is shortened and vibrates at a fast rate, or high frequency, and creates a high pitch, such as that in the main riff of Murderers. When played at a lower fret, the frequency is lower and the sound is at a lower pitch. The thicker strings on a guitar, or any stringed instrument, vibrate slower than thin strings, and also produce lower notes, which allows for more variety in the instrument.
The frequency of waves is incredibly important in music and a note with double the frequency of another note is given the same name. This rule explains the importance of fret spacing in guitars. Each fret on a guitar, beginning with the first at the top of the neck, divides the remaining length of a string by two to the one-twelfth power (Perez). Thus, each fret moves a half step down the scale of notes.
Electric guitars, which will be covered in next week's post, offer even more ways to manipulate a strings frequency compared to the acoustic variant. Vibrations begin in the strings, but may then be processed and manipulated by a computer in an amplifier to give a wide range of effects.
Thank you for reading!
Works cited:
Frusciante, John. (2013, May 7). Murderers. To Record Only Water for 10 Days. [Video] Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnzJtm6h9SE
Ultimate Guitar Team. (2016, Jan. 5). Fretboard Diagram. Retrieved from: https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/guitar_stuff_heres_a_fretboard_diagram_to_help_you_remember_note_names_on_each_fret_print__hang_on_wall.html
Perez, Oscar. (2015, Aug. 13). The Physics of Playing Guitar. TED Lessons Series. Retrieved from: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-physics-of-playing-guitar-oscar-fernando-perez
In understanding many of the advances in music technology and creation, it is important to begin with the basics of music and what makes sound sound different.
Murderers - (John Frusciante)
Primarily, guitars consist of 6 strings which vary in thickness and have 19 - 24 frets, which can be used to change the length of the string. When a string is picked or plucked, a standing wave is created as the string vibrates, creating one of 7 notes, A, B, C, D, E, F, or G (or its sharp variant, of which there are 5). This causes the wood in the guitar to vibrate the air inside the body (in acoustic instruments), which escapes and creates a sound wave that travels to our ear.
Figure 1. Notes on a guitar's fret-board (Ultimate Guitar)
The pitch of a sound is dependent on the frequency of the string's vibrations. Frequency, or the number of waves that pass a point in a given period of time, is measured in Hertz (Hz) which is equivalent to 1/seconds. When a string is played at a high fret, the string is shortened and vibrates at a fast rate, or high frequency, and creates a high pitch, such as that in the main riff of Murderers. When played at a lower fret, the frequency is lower and the sound is at a lower pitch. The thicker strings on a guitar, or any stringed instrument, vibrate slower than thin strings, and also produce lower notes, which allows for more variety in the instrument.
The frequency of waves is incredibly important in music and a note with double the frequency of another note is given the same name. This rule explains the importance of fret spacing in guitars. Each fret on a guitar, beginning with the first at the top of the neck, divides the remaining length of a string by two to the one-twelfth power (Perez). Thus, each fret moves a half step down the scale of notes.
Electric guitars, which will be covered in next week's post, offer even more ways to manipulate a strings frequency compared to the acoustic variant. Vibrations begin in the strings, but may then be processed and manipulated by a computer in an amplifier to give a wide range of effects.
Thank you for reading!
Works cited:
Frusciante, John. (2013, May 7). Murderers. To Record Only Water for 10 Days. [Video] Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnzJtm6h9SE
Ultimate Guitar Team. (2016, Jan. 5). Fretboard Diagram. Retrieved from: https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/guitar_stuff_heres_a_fretboard_diagram_to_help_you_remember_note_names_on_each_fret_print__hang_on_wall.html
Perez, Oscar. (2015, Aug. 13). The Physics of Playing Guitar. TED Lessons Series. Retrieved from: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-physics-of-playing-guitar-oscar-fernando-perez
Another excellent post, Joe. I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers! You had a good mix of interesting personal information and source based factual information. Once again, your choice of sources is strong. Your addition of the musical clip from "Murderers", in addition to clarifying your points about fret and sounds associated with wave frequency, provides great background listening for the audience reading your blog. I really enjoyed this music clip, and played it 3 times. Well done! JM
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