A new physics-based sound synthesis model for the slide guitar is presented. This model uses energy-compensated time-varying digital waveguides. The string algorithm also contains a parametric model for synthesizing the tube-string contact sounds. The contact sound synthesis model is based on acoustical analysis conducted on a real slide guitar. The real-time virtual slide guitar user interface employs optical gesture recognition, so that the user can play this virtual instrument simply by making slide guitar playing gestures in front of a camera.

Published in Computer Music Journal 32(3), Fall 2008.