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because it is a PLUCKED instrument the note begins differently!

Posted by Timbo in Oz on April 16, 2007 at 14:49:15:
That is, the 'attack' or 'starting transient' is different.
All humans detect what instrument it is, by paying most attention to the attack, which 'fully characterises' the instrument, resonances, harmonics, and all. And then, we pay more attention to the decay, than to the sustained component of a note also known as the 'continuous tone'.
With a guitar, because it is a member of the instrumental group where there can be little or no sustain per note, the decay plays the next biggest role in our identification.
[For identifying an instrument, which CAN do sustain, the continuous tone is STILL the least important part of any note to our hearing and to our affective responses. Also, that most expression is in the attack and the decay, much more so than the production of continuous tone.
Given that many instruments, like pianos and percussion just don't have a continuous or sustain component in any notes, this ought to make sense. {:-| !
Because all instruments, even different makes of the same instrument, STILL have distinguishing timbre, don't they!?
As do musicians! Again, it is mostly in how they start and finish notes!
So, what is called 'the characteristic timbre' of an instrument is identified using the attack and decay. The sustain or continuous tone (with such an instrument's harmonics) is, relatively, unimportant to our hearing and affective systems. ]
This reply is a complete and sufficient answer to your query. Apart from Clark none of the others got more than close. And, Clark WAS more succinct than I!

Warmest
Timbo in Oz
The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger
And gladly would he learn and gladly teach - Chaucer. ;-)!
'Still not saluting.'