The kinetic energy of the... When a tight guitar string is stretched by a finger or pick (in preparation for plucking), it has been imparted with potential energy. When the string is released, the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy as the string is imparted with a vibrating motion. As time continues after the string is plucked, the kinetic energy of the string in converted into other types of energy, mostly sound and heat. The kinetic energy of the... When a tight guitar string is stretched by a finger or pick (in preparation for plucking), it has been imparted with potential energy.