1. Mechanical Vibration: When you pluck a guitar string, you apply a force to it, causing it to vibrate. The string moves back and forth rapidly due to its elastic properties.
2. Sound Wave Generation: The vibrating string creates sound waves by pushing and pulling air particles around it. These sound waves travel through the air as a disturbance in atmospheric pressure.
3. Frequency and Pitch: The frequency of the sound wave determines the pitch of the sound you hear. Each string on a guitar is tuned to a specific pitch, corresponding to a specific frequency.
4. Resonance: The guitar's body acts as a resonator, amplifying the sound waves produced by the vibrating string. The body of the guitar has a specific shape and internal structure that enhances the sound of certain frequencies.
5. Harmonic Overtones: In addition to the fundamental pitch of the string, other frequencies called harmonic overtones are also generated during the vibration. These overtones give the guitar its unique tone and timbre.
6. Ear and Brain: The sound waves eventually reach your ears, where the outer ear collects and channels them into the ear canal. The vibrations are then transmitted to the inner ear, where tiny hair cells in the cochlea convert them into electrical signals.
7. Auditory Perception: The electrical signals are processed by the auditory nerve and sent to the brain. The brain interprets these signals as sound, and you consciously perceive the plucked guitar string.
In summary, the sound of a guitar string being plucked is the result of mechanical vibrations creating sound waves that travel through the air, get picked up by your ears, and are interpreted by your brain as a musical note.