The effect of steaming and moisture content change on the resonance frequency of wood

The vibrational characteristics of wood play an important part in the tonal characteristics of wood-winds and stringed instruments such as pianos and guitars. In this series of experiments, the effect of steaming on the peak or resonance frequency was assessed and compared to the resonance frequency of samples that were not steamed but had undergone moisture content changes. The results were clear. Steaming produced a significant shift in the peak frequency whereas measurements of peak frequency before and after moisture content change, without steaming, did not produce a significant change. The results of these experiments may affect the preparation of wood for use in musical instruments.