Metamaterial Guitar

Like the Metamaterial Drum, a Metamaterial Guitar can be constructed using masses attached to the guitar top plate. When magnets are used, such masses are easily attached and de-attached or placed at different positions:

This creates a band-gap in the low frequency range when placing the magnets in a line next to the bridge:

Below, the blue curve is a classical guitar without magnats attached, the yellow curve that with heavy magnets. The sound is very unique, as guitars never have a band-gap of such a kind. Low frequencies are still loud, also upper mid-frequencies and high frequencies are present. Still around 300 Hz the guitard does not respond. The reason is a heavy distortion of the eigenmodes:

Magnets with low mass have the same effect, still much more subtle. The amount, mass, and placement of the magnets determine the strength and position of the frequency band-gap and therefore make alternations of guitar sounds.

In videos the influence of different magnets on the top plate vibrations can be seen:

No magnets:

Heavy Magnets right above the bridge:

Small magnets right above the bridge:

Small magnets between bridge and soundhole:

Small magnets at soundhole:

New: metamaterial guitars

Small masses placed on a guitar top plate in a regular pattern create a gap in the guitar’s frequency response. This gives guitar makers a new, reversible tool to design the instrument’s sound.