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Arash -> RE: Ringing frequencies (Nov. 16 2025 20:56:21)
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Maybe AI has an answer[:D]:
That “annoying ringing frequency” on the high E string of classical and flamenco guitars is a well-known phenomenon. It is almost never a defect in the string itself—rather, it comes from specific resonances in the guitar’s structure. Here are the real causes:
✅ Main Causes of the Ringing on the High E String
1. The high E string is sitting on a natural resonance of the guitar body
Every guitar body has a set of resonant frequencies determined by:
soundboard stiffness
air cavity size
bracing pattern
bridge weight
top/back coupling
The high E string vibrates at 329.6 Hz, but you also hear its partials (higher harmonics). One of these often lines up with:
the air cavity resonance (usually ~90–120 Hz),
the top plate resonance (~180–220 Hz),
a mode involving the upper bout (~320–360 Hz).
That last one—an upper-bout resonance near 330–340 Hz—is the usual culprit.
When the frequency of the string matches one of these body resonances, you get a:
ringing
buzzing halo
metallic whistle
“wolf-like” decay behavior
This is very common in lightly-built classical and flamenco guitars.
2. Tie-block or bridge resonance
On nylon-string guitars, the afterlength (the short piece of string behind the bridge knot) can vibrate sympathetically.
If its length corresponds to a partial of the high E, it creates a:
bright ping
chiming whistle
inharmonic ringing
This is especially noticeable if:
the knot is short or tight
the bridge is low/fast-responding (as in flamenco guitars)
A tiny piece of felt or leather in the tie-block area can eliminate this if it’s the cause.
3. Nut-slot resonance or micro-sitar buzz
If the nut slot is slightly wide, angled incorrectly, or polished too smooth, the string can:
vibrate against the front edge
generate a faint sitar-like overtone
produce strong higher harmonics
This sometimes fools the ear into thinking the ringing is coming from the guitar body.
A tiny change in action or nut filing solves it.
4. A string-length harmonic “sweet spot”
Nylon strings, especially high-tension and carbon trebles, can have very strong harmonic peaks because they:
are stiff relative to their diameter
have high Q (slow decay of partials)
When one of these partials matches the guitar body resonance, the ring becomes very pronounced.
This is why changing string brand often changes or eliminates the effect.
🎯 How to Identify the Source
You can narrow down the cause with these tests:
(1) Dampen the afterlength at the bridge
Press a fingertip or piece of soft cloth against the short tail behind the tie block and play high E.
Ring disappears → bridge/tie-block resonance
(2) Play the E note on different frets
For example:
open string (E4)
5th fret on B string (E5)
9th fret on G string (E6)
If the same character persists:
It’s a body resonance
If it only happens open:
It’s nut related
(3) Press lightly behind the nut
If the ring disappears:
It’s headstock or nut-end resonance
🔧 Can you fix it?
Often yes:
Simple fixes
Try different strings (Knobloch ACTives, Savarez, D’Addario Pro Arte—each interacts differently)
Place felt under the tie-block afterlength
Add a tiny drop of wax in the nut slot
Shift the guitar’s tuning by ½ step (test resonance point)
Adjust saddle height or string angle
Luthier fixes
Altering brace tapers
Adding or removing small mass to the top
Changing bridge saddle material
Regluing loose braces that exaggerate certain resonances
🎵 Bottom Line
That annoying ringing is a natural interaction between the high E string’s harmonics and one of the guitar’s structural resonances—most often in the upper bout or bridge area. It’s common in classical/flamenco guitars because their tops are built very light and respond strongly to treble frequencies.
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