A plucked string obeys the wave equation and, fixed at both ends (nodes), only supports standing waves whose fundamental frequency is f = (1/2L)·√(T/μ), where T is tension, μ is linear mass density and L is length. Standard guitar tuning spans low-to-high E2–A2–D3–G3–B3–E4 (≈82–330 Hz), with steel strings typically held under 70–90 N each — a full 6-string set pulls roughly 350–450 N on the neck. Plucking excites the fundamental plus a harmonic series (integer-multiple overtones) that shapes the timbre, and higher harmonics always decay faster than the fundamental.
Click anywhere on the string to pluck it. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom.