[ Guitar | Strings | Bridge | Body | FX | Var ]
Tambura Jiva Bridge
The Tambura is a South Asian drone stringed-instrument. It has a nonlinear bridge called the Jivari. The nonlinearity is created by cotton threads known in Hindi as "jīvā", meaning "life". These threads serve to shorten the string length over a portion of its vibration cycle.
Using Harmonics temporarily disables the Tambura Jiva bridge. The Sitar nonlinear bridge is unaffected by use of Harmonics.
Position
Position of the Jiva (cotton threads) relative to the normal fixed bridge
Offset
Position of the Jiva (cotton threads) relative to the string at rest
Hardness
The Jiva (cotton threads) can be made harder or softer
Sitar Bridge
The Sitar is a South Asian lead stringed-instrument. Its bridge (Jivari) uses a different kind of nonlinearity caused by curving the bridge parabolically, so that the string length is modulated continuously over a portion of its vibration cycle.
A
The A parameter sets the amount of nonlinearity
Offset
Offset applied to A parameter
Mod
Sitar Bridge Modulation amount in percent
Harmonics
Enable Harmonics
Harmonics are played by softly "touching" the string at a node of the desired harmonic while it is being plucked
Harmonics override the Tambura Jiva Bridge, if enabled, until Harmonics are turned off
2nd Harmonic
Move the finger-touch to the middle of the string so that the second harmonic will be prominent
Harmonic Number
Move the finger-touch to the node of the selected harmonic nearest the "nut". Harmonic Number 1 is the defined as the fundamental, so this setting is the same as turning off Harmonics.
Pinch Harmonic On Release
When Pinch Harmonic On Release is on, a pinch harmonic is executed as the note is released (finger lifts).
Bridge > Expert Menu > Harmonics Items
The Harmonics Expert parameters have to do with fine control of the obstruction hitting the string. For definiteness, let's call this obstruction a "finger", since it is usually a light finger-edge that is used in real guitar playing.
Harmonic Depth
Depth of the obstructing finger relative to the string.
Harmonic Hardness
Finger hardness (stiffness) = reciprocal of compliance
Harmonic Smoothing
Finger lowpass filtering
Bridge > Expert Menu > Pinch Harmonics Items
The Pinch Harmonic parameters are analogous to the Harmonic parameters, except that they refer to the harmonic left ringing when a note ends using Pinch Harmonic On Release.