Article: Toward decoupling string vibration modal features and objective correspondence for subjective guzheng timbre evaluation Journal: International Journal of Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems (IJRIS) 2026 Vol.18 No.21 pp.60 - 74 Abstract: The professional evaluation of guzheng sound quality has long relied on performer experience. The physical correlation between panel vibration modes and auditory perception has not been established, leaving the manufacturing process without objective basis. This study proposes a framework for string vibration mode decoupling and objective fitting, mapping panel mode parameters to subjective scores through partial least squares regression. Two exclusive indicators, attenuation mode coupling degree and harmonic pitch clarity, are designed. Experiments show the correlation coefficient between decay mode coupling degree and reverberation duration is 0.87, and that between harmonic pitch clarity and brightness is 0.78, both superior to the traditional spectral centroid index (0.74). This method fills the quantitative gap between subjective guzheng sound quality experience and physical vibration, providing a reproducible technical path for the objective evaluation of ethnic plucked instruments. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Toward decoupling string vibration modal features and objective correspondence for subjective guzheng timbre evaluation

Authors: Lei Zhang

Addresses: College of Arts, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China

Abstract: The professional evaluation of guzheng sound quality has long relied on performer experience. The physical correlation between panel vibration modes and auditory perception has not been established, leaving the manufacturing process without objective basis. This study proposes a framework for string vibration mode decoupling and objective fitting, mapping panel mode parameters to subjective scores through partial least squares regression. Two exclusive indicators, attenuation mode coupling degree and harmonic pitch clarity, are designed. Experiments show the correlation coefficient between decay mode coupling degree and reverberation duration is 0.87, and that between harmonic pitch clarity and brightness is 0.78, both superior to the traditional spectral centroid index (0.74). This method fills the quantitative gap between subjective guzheng sound quality experience and physical vibration, providing a reproducible technical path for the objective evaluation of ethnic plucked instruments.

Keywords: sound quality; modal decoupling; subjective evaluation; objective fitting.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRIS.2026.155786

International Journal of Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems, 2026 Vol.18 No.21, pp.60 - 74

Received: 11 Jun 2026
Accepted: 07 Jul 2026
Published online: 13 Aug 2026 *

Title: Toward decoupling string vibration modal features and objective correspondence for subjective guzheng timbre evaluation

Keep up-to-date