Guitar Resonance Frequency Finder

Discover your guitar's body resonance frequency with a simple tap test. Identify the dominant resonance peak, find problematic wolf notes, compare against known body types, and track changes after setup adjustments — all processed locally in your browser.

🔒 Your audio never leaves your device — 100% local processing, zero uploads. Chrome Firefox Safari Edge

🎸

Tap the guitar body near the bridge while listening is active. The tool will detect and display the strongest resonance peak in the 50–500 Hz range.

Space Start/Stop R Reset C Capture Baseline

🎤 Microphone:

Click "Start Listening" and tap the guitar body to begin

— Hz

—

Tap guitar body to detect resonance

Peak Hold

Strongest Peak: — Hz

Note: —

Amplitude: — dB

Taps

Avg Peak

—

Consistency

—

Wolf Notes (Problematic Notes)

Notes within ±2 semitones of the body resonance may exhibit uneven sustain, excessive vibration, or "wolf" beats.

Detect resonance first

Frequency Response Spectrum 50–500 Hz

Before / After Comparison

Baseline: Not captured After: Not captured

Body Type Comparison

🎸

Classical

~200 Hz

180–220 Hz

—

🎸

Dreadnought

~180 Hz

160–200 Hz

—

🎸

Jumbo

~160 Hz

140–180 Hz

—

🎸

~190 Hz

175–210 Hz

—

🎸

Concert

~195 Hz

180–215 Hz

—

🎸

Parlor

~210 Hz

195–230 Hz

—

How to Use the Guitar Resonance Frequency Finder

1. Set Up Your Microphone

Select your preferred microphone from the dropdown. A condenser mic or your laptop's built-in mic works well. Position it 5–15 cm from the guitar's soundhole for best results.

2. Click "Start Listening"

Grant microphone permission when prompted. The spectrum display will begin showing real-time frequency content. You can also press Space to start.

3. Tap the Guitar Body

With the strings muted (use your fretting hand), tap the guitar body near the bridge with your knuckle or fingernail. The tap excites the body's natural resonance, which the tool detects as the strongest peak in the 50–500 Hz range.

4. Read Your Results

The large frequency display shows your guitar's detected resonance frequency and its closest musical note. The Wolf Notes panel shows which fretted notes might be problematic due to proximity to the body resonance. The Body Type Comparison cards indicate how your guitar compares to typical body shapes.

5. Before/After Comparison

Click Capture Baseline to save the current spectrum. Make an adjustment (string change, bridge modification, bracing tweak), then click Capture After. The tool overlays both spectra and highlights the difference.

6. Export Your Data

Use Copy to copy the resonance reading to your clipboard, or Export CSV to download the full spectrum data for further analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is guitar body resonance?

Guitar body resonance (also called the "main air resonance" or Helmholtz resonance) is the frequency at which the guitar body vibrates most efficiently. It is primarily determined by the size and shape of the body, the stiffness of the top and back, and the size of the soundhole. When you tap the body, this resonance frequency is excited more strongly than other frequencies, producing a clear peak in the spectrum.

What are wolf notes and why do they matter?

Wolf notes occur when a played note's fundamental frequency is very close to the guitar's body resonance. The body and string "compete" for energy, causing uneven sustain, beating, or a pulsating volume effect. Notes within roughly ±2 semitones of the body resonance are most susceptible. Knowing where your wolf notes are helps you adjust your playing technique or make setup modifications to minimize the effect.

How should I tap the guitar for the best reading?

Mute all strings with your fretting hand so they don't vibrate. Then tap the guitar top (soundboard) near the bridge with your knuckle or fingertip — a firm but controlled tap. The area near the bridge excites the body's resonance most effectively. Repeat the tap 3–5 times and observe the average reading for consistency.

Why does my guitar's resonance not match any body type exactly?

The body type reference values are typical averages. Every guitar is unique — the wood species, bracing pattern, top thickness, finish, humidity, and even string tension all influence the resonance frequency. A difference of 10–20 Hz from the listed value is perfectly normal. The comparison is a guideline, not an absolute classification.

Can I use this tool with electric guitars?

Solid-body electric guitars have minimal acoustic body resonance (typically very low amplitude and broadly spread). This tool is designed primarily for acoustic and semi-hollow body guitars where the body acts as a significant resonator. On a semi-hollow (e.g., ES-335 style), you may detect a resonance peak, though it will usually be weaker than on a full acoustic.

Is my audio data safe? Is anything uploaded?

Your audio is 100% private. All frequency detection, analysis, and visualization happens entirely in your browser using the Web Audio API. No audio data is ever recorded, stored, or transmitted to any server. The tool works completely offline once loaded.

📡