Strings

Strings. Strings? Strings! All things vibrate. Like these strings, just pluck them!

From the tiniest quantum thread to the flamenco guitarist’s passionate strum, strings are everywhere. They bind us. They guide us. They whisper and roar inside us. Grab that string and strike it!

On mobile: Click once on the artwork to activate sound.

On computer: Transpose the fundamental note by pressing keys + and -.

String theory

A string fixed at both ends vibrates when plucked. The vibration sets the surrounding air into motion, creating sound waves. The pitch of the note you hear is mainly determined by its length and tension. A shorter string has a higher pitch. A tighter string produces faster vibrations, which also leads to a higher pitch.

By bending a string, you increase its tension, which also raises the frequency. If you grab a string closer to its endpoints, you can hear a slightly higher pitch that glides back to its main pitch. You can also see this in the string animation: it moves toward the center, most recognizable on the longer strings.

The different artworks have different tunings and sounds. Their main sound is made from a sine, triangle, square, or sawtooth wave. It is then shaped by one of three effects: vibrato, tremolo, or filter. Finally, it is played through a light reverb.

Grids

The strings are attached to a grid that spans from 3×3 to 15×15. There is always a main string that divides the artwork into two sections. Strings are then attached on both sides depending on available space. Each endpoint is filled with white, black, or a color.

Colors

The faded colors came about when I found an old drawing of Mickey Mouse—black and white with red pants, and Pluto by his side. I remember being a kid, lying in our caravan during summer holidays, reading comic books. Such wonderful nostalgic feelings!

The artworks come in yellow, red, green, blue and pink, combined with a white or black side. There are also black, white and gray variants.