Projection

How far and how clearly an acoustic instrument's sound carries, which is not the same as how loud it sounds to the player.

A guitar can be loud under the player's ear and disappear in a room, or seem modest up close and fill a hall. What matters is efficiency, the direction in which the instrument radiates at the frequencies that carry, and how much of its energy goes into the register where the ear is most sensitive. Large, lightly braced tops with a strong midrange tend to project well, which is why old bluegrass instruments are valued for cutting through a band without amplification.

Example: a big dreadnought can sound quieter than a small instrument at arm's length while being audible across a whole room.

Projection

See also