Dr. Lunden's

Physics of Shred

A repository of interactive simulations and lessons exploring the physics of electric guitars. Built for MIT's Heavy Metal 101 course. Maintained by Dr. Will Lunden and contributors.

Updated February 4, 2026

Official launch of the Physics of Shred website!

The journey of a guitar signal from string vibration to amplified sound.

Welcome to an interactive exploration of the physics behind electric guitars. Based on a decade of guest lectures for MIT's Heavy Metal 101 course by Dr. Will Lunden, this site features simulations and visualizations covering wave mechanics, electromagnetic pickup behavior, tuning systems, and electronic signal processing.

Vibrations & Waves

Explore the 1D wave equation, harmonics, and Fourier analysis of vibrating guitar strings. Understand how picking deforms the string and initiates wave propagation.

Transduction

Understand how pickups convert string vibration to electrical signals, and how placement affects tone.

Fret Placement

Compare equal temperament, multiscale designs, and True Temperament fret systems.

Electronics

Simulate amplifier gain stages and visualize intermodulation distortion in real-time.