The strings of a guitar are essentially stretched metal wires that vibrate when plucked. The pitch of the sound produced by a vibrating string depends primarily on its tension, length, and mass.
1. Tension: The tension in a string is the force pulling it taut. When you tighten a string, you increase the tension, which raises the pitch. This is because the increased tension causes the string to vibrate at a higher frequency.
2. Length: The length of a string also affects its pitch. A shorter string will vibrate at a higher frequency than a longer string, resulting in a higher pitch. This is because it requires less energy for a shorter string to vibrate fully compared to a longer string.
3. Mass: The mass of a string affects its pitch inversely. A heavier string will vibrate at a lower frequency than a lighter string, resulting in a lower pitch. This is because it takes more energy for a heavier string to vibrate fully compared to a lighter string.
In summary, tightening the strings of a guitar increases their tension, causing them to vibrate at a higher frequency and thus raising the pitch of the sound produced. The length and mass of the strings also play roles in determining their pitch, but tension has the most direct and immediate impact.