A musical instrument may include a musical instrument body, a vibrating element associated with the musical instrument body for producing musical sounds, a transducer coupled to a portion of the vibrating element to apply forces to the vibrating element, a sensor responsive to forces between the transducer and the vibrating element and a signal conditioner responsive to forces sensed by the sensor for altering the forces applied by the transducer to the vibrating element to alter the vibrations of the vibrating element. Alternately, a structure may be included supporting the vibrating element to permit vibrations, the structure coupled to the vibrating element to modify the vibrations in response to a drive signal and to produce an electrical signal related to the vibrations of the vibrating element and a signal conditioner responsive to forces sensed by the sensor for altering the forces applied by the transducer to the vibrating element to alter the vibrations of the vibrating element.