3rd bridge

For other uses, seeThird bridge (disambiguation).

Yuri Landman'sHome Swinger,12 string 3rd bridge zither

Landman's 2006Moodswinger,a 12 stringovertonezither.

Different possible shapes of a third bridge: "a common six-sided pencil [4mm contact], a round dowel [more focused contact], and an L-shaped bracket [even more fine]." The pencil creates, "a damping effect and also prevents energy from transferring across the bridge to the opposing string segment," with the dowel, "resulting in greater sustain and cross-string resonance," and the bracket, "offers even more sustain than a [round] dowel."

The3rd bridgeis anextended playing techniqueused on theelectric guitarand otherstring instrumentsthat allows a musician to produce distinctivetimbresandovertonesthat are unavailable on a conventional string instrument with twobridges(a nut and a saddle). Thetimbrecreated with this technique is close to that ofgamelaninstruments like thebonangand similar Indonesian types of pitched gongs.

A third bridge can be devised by inserting a rigid preparation object between the strings and the body or neck of the instrument, effectively dividing the string into distinct vibrating segments.

Third bridge instruments can be custom-made byexperimental luthiers(as with guitars designed and played byHans Reichel); modified from a non-third bridge instrument (as with conventional guitars modified with a pencil or screwdriver under the strings); or may take advantage of design quirks of factory-built instruments (as with theFender Jazzmaster,which hasstringsthat continue from the "standard" bridge to thevibrato mechanism).

Perhaps the best-known examples of this technique come fromNo Waveartists likeGlenn BrancaandSonic Youth.The 3rd bridge technique has aphysicalconnection withPythagoras'monochord,because both function with thescale of harmonics.Many non-Westernmusical scalesandmusical instrumentsshare theseconsonantjustpitch relations.

Physical explanation and examples

3rd bridge preparation, the front and the back tone are in a reciprocal relationship and known as thebi-tone

On a standard guitar, the string is held above the soundboard by two nodes: the "nut" (near the headstock) and the "bridge" (near the player's right hand on a standard guitar). A player sounding a note on a standard guitar vibrates a single portion of the string (between the nut and the bridge or between their fretting finger and the bridge).

In contrast, a third bridge divides the string into two pieces. When played at one part of a string, the opposed part canresonatein asubharmonicof the struck part, depending on a predictable mathematical ratio of the strings' lengths.Onharmonicpositions the createdmultiphonictone isconsonantand increases in volume and sustain because of the reciprocal string resonance. The sound is comparable with the sound of bells or clocks ( "yielding bell-like resonant sounds...enabled the guitar to more resemble percussive instruments like bells, gongs, and chimes"). Landman published a clarifying 3rd bridge diagram related to this subject in 2012 (and a more elaborate version of this diagram in 2017).

In the 1930s,Harry Partchexperimented with this technique on an instrument he called aKitharathat had movable glass rods. In the late 1960s,Keith Rowemade occasional use of third bridge guitars, inspiring a slew of experimental guitarists (notablyFred Frith) to useprepared guitars,inspired byJohn Cage's technique of theprepared piano.Classical guitar duoElgart & Yateswrote a small book,Prepared Guitar Techniques,in which the technique is described and used in the added written musical piece, although not defined with the term 'third bridge' yet. From the 1970s,Hans Reichel's self-made and modified acoustic guitars sometimes featured third bridges.

From the late 1970s,Glenn Brancaadopted Partch's theory and used amplified string tables for some of his symphonies.After being trained in the Branca orchestra,Sonic Youthapplied their own guitars with screwdrivers, mainly in their early years. On their debut EP and the albumConfusion is Sexthis technique is often used.AfterwardsBradford Reeddeveloped thePencilina.Reed plays mainly with drumsticks hitting the strings as well. "Nails" (2004) byKaki Kinguses a third bridge set over the 16th fret and the technique has also been used byFred FrithandKeith Rowein addition to Branca,Moore,andRanaldo.

Without the 3rd bridge

The sound effect can be achieved without an additional 3rd bridge or extended tail piece. If the player pressesona fret (not behind it, as with standard fretting) and strums the string at the head side, the resonance comes through. Again, on harmonic positions the result is much louder and clearer than on the inharmonic fret positions. The 5th, 7th, 12th and 19th fret generate low-frequency humming overtones with the complementary tone, which is usually played in the regular way. This playing technique causes a smooth, round multiphonic sound. By muting the resonating part and letting it go after the pluck it sounds like an inverse recorded sound. On all other positions the tone is more undefined and comes with higher pitched lower volume overtones. With heavy distortion these tones can become more clear.

Bowing behind the bridge

The technique is widely used in manymodern classicalworks on bowing instruments. The extended technique involves bowing the instrument on the afterlength, the short length of string behind the bridge. The tone is very high and squeaky. By playing the instrument at a string part behind the bridge, the opposed part starts to resonate. The tone is louder at harmonic relations of the bridge string length. On violins, the tone can be very high, even above the range of human hearing. Depending on the instrument, the pitch of the tones may or may not be perceived (cellosanddouble bassesare more likely to produce recognizable pitches because of their longer strings). This technique is used extensively inKrzysztof Penderecki'sThrenody to the Victims of Hiroshima.Another example is found inFerde Grofé’sGrand Canyon Suitewhere bowing behind the bridge in aviolincadenzarepresents a donkey’s braying.

Guitars commonly used for this effect

• Fender Jazzmaster
• Fender Jaguar
• SX SJM
• Teiscoguitars with tailed bridges
• New ComplexityAustralian-made 3rd bridge guitars

Further reading

• Epand, Yuri (October 23, 2008). www.ezinearticles.com/?Adding-a-Twist-to-the-Electric-Guitar&id=1610340 - "Adding a Twist to the Electric Guitar", An article describing the technique atEzineArticle.com.Accessed: December 16, 2017.