Resonator Guitar Synthesis

Abstract

Spectrograms of plucks on resonator guitars reveal frequency components that are weaker and shorter-lived than the string harmonics but are clearly discernible as individual resonances. These are absent or far, far weaker in the sound of acoustic, flat-top guitars. Simple, computer-generated sounds produced from sine waves with frequencies, amplitudes, and decay times that are typical of the non-harmonic  resonator guitar sounds are combined with the sound of a flat-top guitar. The resulting sound is linked here. The reader-listener can judge, but it is claimed that the combination  definitely falls into the category of resonator guitar sound. The synthesized sound on its own, i.e., without any flat-top pluck sounds and amplified sufficiently to be heard clearly, is rather like that of a noisy gong.

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