Help: String length gauge and tone

Subject: String length gauge and tone
From: Homeless
Date: 04 Aug 00 - 12:18 PM

I recently saw a picture of a type of lyre in a magazine. I thought it might be fun to play with, so I got a board and built one. When I went to string it (using some old autoharp strings) I found that there was a very small tone range between when a string was tight enough to make a decent tone and when it broke.

The thing has seven strings. I know the free length of each string, the hertz value of the note I want each string to play, and can find out the tension needed for the string. Does anyone have a formula I can plug these variables into to find out the gauge of string I need for each note?

Subject: RE: Help: String length gauge and tone
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Aug 00 - 12:22 PM

Hey Home......I didn't forget you, but I can't find that damn chart anywhere. It was in a book I had but I think it must have been one of the ones that went "south." I can see the thing in my mind, but just can't locate it.

Strikes me there is a formula at frets.com maybe too.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: String length gauge and tone
From: Homeless
Date: 04 Aug 00 - 12:24 PM

Yeah, Spaw. I ought to know it too. But I figured I'd try tapping into a vaster array of knowledge than just ours.

Subject: RE: Help: String length gauge and tone
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 04 Aug 00 - 12:25 PM

Nice Idea! I'm on the edge of my chair! Trial and error worked for me, and because I bought zither wire in bulk, I could get away with it,... untill it came to the WOUND strings (expensive) which as I have heard, have to be figured for their core size. I sure would like a little clarification on this one!

Subject: RE: Help: String length gauge and tone
From: Jon W.
Date: 04 Aug 00 - 05:01 PM

Here is a link to a website that has a JavaScript calculator for this: Arto's String Calculator. The only problem is it only works for solid (not wound) strings and you have to know the density of the string material - although he gives that for the more common materials such as nylon.