Amplitude scaling along a slowly tapered string ($A\propto Z^{-1/2}\propto {\rho }^{-1/4}$)

A static lossless taper preserves frequency. If characteristic impedance varies slowly on the local wavelength scale, reflection is small and mean power $Z{\omega }^2{A}^2/2$ is conserved. At fixed tension this gives the displayed amplitude law, while wave speed and wavelength scale as ${\rho }^{-1/2}$. A long section containing an abrupt step is not automatically adiabatic.