Plucking a guitar string is a simple action that generates a harmonic series of overtones. However, skilled guitar players can elevate their performance by applying pressure to the strings while plucking them. This subtle technique causes the pitch of the note to bend — rising or falling with each deft movement — and infuses the music with expressiveness, texture, and character by intentionally harnessing the “nonlinear effects” of guitar strings. In a study published Jan. 24 in Nature Physics, researchers from MIT and the University of Texas at Austin draw…
