https://www.ee.columbia.edu/~dpwe/papers/TraubS01-guitar.pdf


> **2. PERCEPTUAL EFFECT OF THE PLUCKING POINT POSITION** 
>
> Plucking a string close to the bridge produces a tone that is softer in volume, brighter
> and sharper. The sound is richer in high- frequency components. This
> happens when playing the guitar *sul ponticello*. The other extreme is
> playing *sul tasto*, near or over the fingerboard, closer to the
> midpoint of the string. In that case, the tone is louder, mellower,
> less rich in high frequency components. The neutral position of the
> right hand is just behind the sound hole. Because of the position of
> the right-hand fingers, the low strings are usually plucked further
> away from the bridge than the higher ones.