Chords Patents (Class 84/613)
  • Patent number: 9018506
    Abstract: System and method creates audible sound representations for atoms and molecules. Musical notes or musical note combinations (chords) are assigned to each element in elemental periodic table. Musical notes or musical note combinations (chords) are assigned to atomic and molecular bonds (covalent and ionic, intra and inter molecular interactions) and to all molecular functional groups. This invention creates a new representation format, the audible sound format, for atoms and molecules in addition to text and image formats currently used in schools, universities, research institutes and industries, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventors: Charles Jianping Zhou, Amy Haixia Kang
  • Publication number: 20150096433
    Abstract: Individual chords and bar lines are extracted from an acquired chord chart described in text. Further, musical time information indicative of a musical time of music data to be generated is acquired, chord progression information is generated by allocating in-bar relative time positions to the extracted individual chords in accordance with the musical time indicated by the acquired musical time information and the extracted bar lines. A chord chart display can be provided based on the generated chord progression information. Further, accompaniment pattern data is acquired, and automatic accompaniment data can be generated by controlling the acquired accompaniment pattern data in accordance with the generated chord progression information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Daichi WATANABE
  • Patent number: 8987574
    Abstract: A method and system for analyzing patterns in the relationships of notes of an input piece of music. The method comprises generating a set of the most frequently occurring note pitches in ascending pitch order that matches an interval pattern, and detecting out-of-key pitches that lie outside of this interval pattern. One or more potential key sequence bifurcations are identified which represent a list of possible key sequences according to forwards and backwards analysis. By finding patterns of repetition in the chordal sequences that may be generated according to these key sequence bifurcations, a key sequence that allows the most frequently recurring chord sequences may be chosen. Chord sequences may be analyzed by using ghost chords, temporary harmonic structures that are created, updated and finalized over time according to a combination of essential and inessential note fragments. The method further comprises identifying non-harmony pitches according to the analyzed chord sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Exomens Ltd.
    Inventor: Marcus A. Matusiak
  • Patent number: 8957296
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems, methods, and apparatus for assessing a musical performance of a chord, a chord series, or a chord progression. The performance can include a user's performance of a musical instrument. MIDI or audio notes are input and compared to the notes of music track. An indication can be provided to assess the performance. The assessment can be on the basis of timing and/or pitch errors. A new chord can be displayed to a user based on the assessment of the user's performance of the previous chord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jan-Hinnerk Helms, Greg Gilley, Gerhard Lengeling
  • Patent number: 8946534
    Abstract: An accompaniment data generating apparatus has a storage device 15 for storing a set of phrase waveform data having a plurality of constituent notes which form a chord, and a CPU 9. The CPU 9 carries out a process for separating the set of phrase waveform data having a plurality of constituent notes which form a chord into a plurality of sets of phrase waveform data each having different one of the chord constituent notes, an obtaining process for obtaining chord information by which a chord type and a chord root are identified, and a chord note phrase generating process for pitch-shifting one or more of the separated phrase waveform data sets in accordance with chord type and combining the separated phrase waveform data sets including the pitch-shifted phrase waveform data to generate waveform data indicative of a chord note phrase as accompaniment data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Kakishita
  • Publication number: 20140360340
    Abstract: Systems, including methods and apparatus, for generating audio effects based on accompaniment audio produced by live or pre-recorded accompaniment instruments, in combination with melody audio produced by a singer. Audible broadcast of the accompaniment audio may be delayed by a predetermined time, such as the time required to determine chord information contained in the accompaniment signal. As a result, audio effects that require the chord information may be substantially synchronized with the audible broadcast of the accompaniment audio. The present teachings may be especially suitable for use in karaoke systems, to correct and add sound effects to a singer's voice that sings along with a pre-recorded accompaniment track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Sing Trix LLC
    Inventors: David Kenneth HILDERMAN, John DEVECKA
  • Patent number: 8907193
    Abstract: A game system and method that uses an instrument as an input encourages a user to play along with the game's soundtrack on an instrument (e.g. guitar, bass, etc.). The game cues the player to play notes and/or chords on the instrument at an appropriate time and then data is collected from the instrument via a connection between the instrument and the apparatus running the game. The game then scores the user based on note/chord and timing information it receives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ubisoft Entertainment
    Inventors: Paul Cross, Nicholas Bonardi, Naomi Higo
  • Patent number: 8884147
    Abstract: A method of correlating scales or chords that is represented as color codes, number codes, or both. The method involves correlating at least one chord with another. The method also involves correlating scales with one another. Furthermore, the method involves correlating chords with scales as well. Notes of scales or chords are assigned colors. Notes of one scale or chord are assigned one color. Notes of another scale or chord are assigned another color. Then at least one distinguishing color is assigned to notes that occur in more than one scale or chord in the correlation. Also, when chords are correlated with scales, distinguishing colors are assigned to notes that occur in more than one musical concept. When more than two chords or scales are correlated by the method, different distinguishing colors are assigned to notes that occur in three or more scales or chords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventor: Skysun Grady Stambaugh
  • Patent number: 8878043
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for determining one or more chords and/or music notes to output (e.g., via a mobile device) based on a direction of movement and/or a speed of movement (e.g., of a mobile device). In some embodiments, determining a music note for output may comprise determining whether a speed of a mobile device has increased, decreased, or remained constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: uSOUNDit Partners, LLC
    Inventors: Jean Cheever, Tom Polum, Tamra Hayden-Rice
  • Publication number: 20140298973
    Abstract: A method and system for analyzing patterns in the relationships of notes of an input piece of music. The method comprises generating a set of the most frequently occurring note pitches in ascending pitch order that matches an interval pattern, and detecting out-of-key pitches that lie outside of this interval pattern. One or more potential key sequence bifurcations are identified which represent a list of possible key sequences according to forwards and backwards analysis. By finding patterns of repetition in the chordal sequences that may be generated according to these key sequence bifurcations, a key sequence that allows the most frequently recurring chord sequences may be chosen. Chord sequences may be analyzed by using ghost chords, temporary harmonic structures that are created, updated and finalized over time according to a combination of essential and inessential note fragments. The method further comprises identifying non-harmony pitches according to the analyzed chord sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Exomens Ltd.
    Inventor: Marcus A. Matusiak
  • Patent number: 8847055
    Abstract: A method for obtaining a chord progression based upon a diatonic major key may include the steps of casting a dodecahedron to determine the diatonic major key, casting a octahedron to determine a chord based upon the diatonic major key and casting a cube to determine a playing strategy for the chord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: John Pasco Rowe
  • Patent number: 8847054
    Abstract: A method performed by one or more processing devices includes receiving information indicative of an input chord progression, with the input chord progression comprising a plurality of chords; identifying chord changes in the plurality of chords; identifying, based on the chord changes, moving tones in the input chord progression; selecting, from the moving tones, guide tones that provide an outline of a harmony to be used in generating a synthesized melody; generating, based on the selected guide tones and one or more interpolation operations, interpolation tones for interpolation among the guide tones; and generating, based on interpolation of the interpolation tones with the guide tones, the synthesized melody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Dhroova Aiylam
  • Patent number: 8847056
    Abstract: Systems, including methods and apparatus, for generating audio effects based on accompaniment audio produced by live or pre-recorded accompaniment instruments, in combination with melody audio produced by a singer. Audible broadcast of the accompaniment audio may be delayed by a predetermined time, such as the time required to determine chord information contained in the accompaniment signal. As a result, audio effects that require the chord information may be substantially synchronized with the audible broadcast of the accompaniment audio. The present teachings may be especially suitable for use in karaoke systems, to correct and add sound effects to a singer's voice that sings along with a pre-recorded accompaniment track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sing Trix LLC
    Inventors: David Kenneth Hilderman, John Devecka
  • Publication number: 20140260913
    Abstract: A method and system for analyzing patterns in the relationships of notes of an input piece of music. The method comprises generating a set of the most frequently occurring note pitches in ascending pitch order that matches an interval pattern, and detecting out-of-key pitches that lie outside of this interval pattern. One or more potential key sequence bifurcations are identified which represent a list of possible key sequences according to forwards and backwards analysis. By finding patterns of repetition in the chordal sequences that may be generated according to these key sequence bifurcations, a key sequence that allows the most frequently recurring chord sequences may be chosen. Chord sequences may be analyzed by using ghost chords, temporary harmonic structures that are created, updated and finalized over time according to a combination of essential and inessential note fragments. The method further comprises identifying non-harmony pitches according to the analyzed chord sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Exomens Ltd.
    Inventor: Marcus A. Matusiak
  • Publication number: 20140260914
    Abstract: A method and system for analyzing patterns in the relationships of notes of an input piece of music. The method comprises generating a set of the most frequently occurring note pitches in ascending pitch order that matches an interval pattern, and detecting out-of-key pitches that lie outside of this interval pattern. One or more potential key sequence bifurcations are identified which represent a list of possible key sequences according to forwards and backwards analysis. By finding patterns of repetition in the chordal sequences that may be generated according to these key sequence bifurcations, a key sequence that allows the most frequently recurring chord sequences may be chosen. Chord sequences may be analyzed by using ghost chords, temporary harmonic structures that are created, updated and finalized over time according to a combination of essential and inessential note fragments. The method further comprises identifying non-harmony pitches according to the analyzed chord sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Exomens Ltd.
    Inventor: Marcus A. Matusiak
  • Publication number: 20140260915
    Abstract: An automatic accompaniment apparatus is provided. The apparatus is provided with a music database having music data of plural musical pieces recorded therein, the music data including melody information and chords corresponding to the melody information, a performance recording unit for recording performance information for giving an instruction of generating a musical tone in response to performed operation, a music searching unit for searching for music data including melody information corresponding to the performance information in the performance recording unit through the music database, a chord judging unit for judging chords from the performance information in the performance recording unit, a chord selecting unit for selecting one of the chords included in the music data found by the music searching unit and the chords judged by the chord judging unit, and an automatic accompaniment unit for giving an instruction of generating accompaniment in accordance with the selected chords.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO.,LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroko OKUDA
  • Patent number: 8835738
    Abstract: Musical performance/input systems, methods, and products can accept user inputs via a user interface, generate, sound, store, and/or modify one or more musical tones. The user interface can present one or more regions corresponding to related chords. A set of related chords and/or a set of rhythmic patterns are generated based on a selected instrument and a selected style of music. The related chords can be modified via one or more effects units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Harry Little, Eli T. Manjarrez
  • Publication number: 20140251115
    Abstract: If a pitch bend event is included in a note event, one tone to be sounded in accordance with the note event continuously varies in pitch from a note pitch designated by the note event to another note pitch, as a result of control response to the pitch bend event. For sounding of a note based on an accompaniment pattern, harmony note or the like, the pitch corresponding to the note event is converted in accordance with a designated chord, and thus, not only the note pitch corresponding to the note event but also the other note pitch responsive to the pitch bend event should be converted appropriately. Thus, arrangements are made for accurately determining the pitch-bend-responsive other note pitch that is not identifiable from the note pitch indicated by the note event itself and converting the other note pitch in accordance with a designated chord.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira YAMAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140238220
    Abstract: A chord detection apparatus retrieves musical performance data indicative of musical performance played by a user, retrieves musical piece information indicative of a musical piece played by the user, retrieves chord tendency information indicative of degrees of likelihood or unlikelihood of chords appearing in the musical piece, and detects a chord on the basis of the retrieved musical performance data and the retrieved chord tendency information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinari NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8802955
    Abstract: Improvisation or playing along with a musical group or with a song is enjoyable to people and musicians of all ability levels. However, it is easy to play notes which do not harmonize with other notes and pitches which are being played. Provided herein is a method, computer program product and electronic device for assigning a set of pitches to a plurality of physical keys of an electronic device. The method may include the steps of obtaining an input chord, disassembling the chord into at least one base note and a plurality of individual voices, arranging a predetermined number of voices of the chord according to at least one predefined rule, and assigning at least one set of pitches to a plurality of physical keys of an electronic device, said set of pitches corresponding to the base note and arranged predetermined number of voices of the chord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: BergGram Development
    Inventor: Jussi Bergman
  • Publication number: 20140208924
    Abstract: A method performed by one or more processing devices includes receiving information indicative of an input chord progression, with the input chord progression comprising a plurality of chords; identifying chord changes in the plurality of chords; identifying, based on the chord changes, moving tones in the input chord progression; selecting, from the moving tones, guide tones that provide an outline of a harmony to be used in generating a synthesized melody; generating, based on the selected guide tones and one or more interpolation operations, interpolation tones for interpolation among the guide tones; and generating, based on interpolation of the interpolation tones with the guide tones, the synthesized melody.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Dhroova Aiylam
  • Patent number: 8791350
    Abstract: An accompaniment data generating apparatus has a phrase waveform data storing portion for storing sets of phrase waveform data each indicative of a phrase of accompaniment tones preformed at a reference tempo and each corresponding to a different reference note. The accompaniment data generating apparatus obtains a reproduction tempo, obtains the first reference note, selects a set of phrase waveform data corresponding to the second reference note whose tone pitch is different from a tone pitch of the first reference note, and reads out the selected phrase waveform data set at a speed by which the tone pitch of the second reference note of the selected phrase waveform data set agrees with the tone pitch of the first reference note of a case where a set of phrase waveform data corresponding to the first reference note is reproduced at the reference note.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masatsugu Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20140196592
    Abstract: Improvisation or playing along with a musical group or with a song is enjoyable to people and musicians of all ability levels. However, it is easy to play notes which do not harmonize with other notes and pitches which are being played. Provided herein is a method, computer program product and electronic device for assigning a set of pitches to a plurality of physical keys of an electronic device. The method may include the steps of obtaining an input chord, disassembling the chord into at least one base note and a plurality of individual voices, arranging a predetermined number of voices of the chord according to at least one predefined rule, and assigning at least one set of pitches to a plurality of physical keys of an electronic device, said set of pitches corresponding to the base note and arranged predetermined number of voices of the chord.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: BERGGRAM DEVELOPMENT
    Inventor: Jussi Bergman
  • Patent number: 8779268
    Abstract: A system and process for producing a more harmonious musical accompaniment for a musical compilation, the process comprising determining a plurality of probable key signatures for the musical compilation, creating an interval profiling matrix for each of the probable key signatures, finding products of a major key interval profile matrix with each of the interval profiling matrices, summing each of the major key interval products into a running major key sum, finding a product of a minor key interval profile with each of the interval profiling matrices, summing each of the minor key interval products into a running minor key sum, and selecting the most probable key signature from the plurality of probable key signatures by comparing the minor key sum and the major key sum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Music Mastermind, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Serletic, Ryan Groves, Vamsi Mynampati, Reza Rassool
  • Patent number: 8759658
    Abstract: A system and method that enables a user to generate and manipulate string-instrument chord grids in a digital audio workstation. The system and method for generating a string-instrument chord grid includes receiving first data input and second data input. The first data input can include a chord root note and/or a position for one or more fingering dots. The second data input can include an instrument type and our tuning for one or more strings. Using the received data input, a processor generates an entered string-instrument chord based and displays the entered string-instrument chord on a grid. The processor can also generate and display the musical name of the entered string-instrument chord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Buskies, Alberto E. Scunio, Manfred Knauff, Christof Adam
  • Publication number: 20140130654
    Abstract: A method for generating a chord progression within a mode of a diatonic major key may include the steps of casting a first cube to define a chord matrix from a plurality of chord matrices based upon a diatonic major key, casting a second cube to select the mode of the diatonic major key from the chord matrix, casting the second cube to determine a chord progression and playing an instrument based upon the mode of the diatonic major key and the chord progression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventor: John Pasco Rowe
  • Publication number: 20140109751
    Abstract: Systems, including methods and apparatus, for applying audio effects to a non-ambient signal, based at least in part on information received in an ambient audio signal. Exemplary effects that can be applied using the present teachings include generation of harmony notes, pitch-correction of melody notes, and tempo-based effects that rely on beat detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: The TC Group A/S
    Inventor: David Kenneth HILDERMAN
  • Publication number: 20140109752
    Abstract: Systems, including methods and apparatus, for generating audio effects based on accompaniment audio produced by live or pre-recorded accompaniment instruments, in combination with melody audio produced by a singer. Audible broadcast of the accompaniment audio may be delayed by a predetermined time, such as the time required to determine chord information contained in the accompaniment signal. As a result, audio effects that require the chord information may be substantially synchronized with the audible broadcast of the accompaniment audio. The present teachings may be especially suitable for use in karaoke systems, to correct and add sound effects to a singer's voice that sings along with a pre-recorded accompaniment track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: SING TRIX LLC
    Inventors: David Kenneth HILDERMAN, John DEVECKA
  • Patent number: 8680387
    Abstract: Generating a musical composition from one or more portions of one or more performances of one or more musical compositions included in a database is disclosed. The method and system include selecting a portion of a pre-recorded composition based on a degree of similarity with the component of the composition that is input; portions that are musically similar but not musically the same as the component may be selected for addition to the composition. The degree of similarity may be based on a ChordScore and/or a ScaleScore of the retrieved portion of the pre-recorded compositions. A ChordScore is generated by comparing chord tones of one or more chords in the pre-recorded portion with chord tones of the input component. A ScaleScore is generated by comparing tones of one or more notes in the pre-recorded portion with tones in a harmonic scale associated with the input component's chords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Peter Gannon
  • Publication number: 20140069262
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for determining one or more chords and/or music notes to output (e.g., via a mobile device) based on a direction of movement and/or a speed of movement (e.g., of a mobile device). In some embodiments, determining a music note for output may comprise determining whether a speed of a mobile device has increased, decreased, or remained constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Jean Cheever, Tom Polum, Tamra Hayden-Rice
  • Publication number: 20140069263
    Abstract: A method for automatic accompaniment generation to evoke specific emotion includes the steps of receiving a melody and a valence value, executing an accompaniment module, wherein the accompaniment module execution includes generating at least one harmonic progression composed of multiple chords corresponding to the valence value and matching the melody to form an accompaniment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Pei-Chen CHEN, Keng-Sheng LIN, Homer H. CHEN
  • Publication number: 20140053711
    Abstract: A system and method of creating harmonizing tracks for an audio input. Audio input is received and a plurality of harmonizing tracks are created based on the received audio input. Each of the plurality of harmonizing tracks are transposed based on a transposition value for each respective track. Individual notes of the harmonizing tracks are manipulated based on a chord strictness threshold and an audio output is provided based on the audio input and the manipulated plurality of harmonizing tracks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Music Mastermind, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Michael Serletic, II, Ryan Alexander Groves, James Frederick Dennis Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8626497
    Abstract: An automatic marking method for Karaoke vocal accompaniment is provided. In the method, pitch, beat position and volume of a singer are compared with the original pitch, beat position and volume of the theme of a song to generate a score of pitch, a score of beat and a score of emotion respectively, so as to obtain a weighted total score in a weighted marking method. By using the method, the pitch, beat position and volume error of each section of the song sung by the singer can be exactly worked out, and a pitch curve and a volume curve can be displayed, so that the singer can learn which part is sung incorrectly and which part needs to be enhanced. The present invention also has the advantages of dual effects of teaching and entertainment, high practicability and technical advancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Wen-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 8618402
    Abstract: Melody and accompaniment audio signals are received and processed to identify one or more harmony notes and a harmony signal is produced based on the one or more harmony notes. Typically the melody note is identified and a spectrum of the accompaniment audio signal and is obtained, and one or more harmony notes are identified based on the melody note and the accompaniment spectrum. The melody, and accompaniment signals can be processed in real-time for combination with the harmony signal in an audio performance. In some examples, audio signals are processed and harmonies generated for subsequent performance based on, for example, MIDI files generated from the audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Harman International Industries Canada Limited
    Inventors: Glen A. Rutledge, William Norman Campbell, Peter R. Lupini
  • Patent number: 8618401
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a signal conversion unit for converting an audio signal to a pitch signal indicating a signal intensity of each pitch, a melody probability estimation unit for estimating for each frame a probability of each pitch being a melody note, based on the audio signal, and a melody line determination unit for detecting a maximum likelihood path from among paths of pitches from a start frame to an end frame of the audio signal, and for determining the maximum likelihood path as a melody line, based on the probability of each pitch being a melody note, the probability being estimated for each frame by the melody probability estimation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8614388
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for generating customized chords. An exemplary method includes providing a storage medium, including a database storing data corresponding to a plurality of predefined chords to be played by the virtual instrument. The method then includes receiving a plurality of user inputs that enable a user to select a desired custom chord other than a predefined chord stored in the database, the user inputs being displayed on a display of said device. The method further includes creating the desired chord from the predefined chord data stored in the database in accordance with a predefined algorithm, and causing data corresponding to the created custom chord to be stored by the device such that the virtual instrument is able to play the created desired chord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Harry Little, Eli T. Manjarrez
  • Publication number: 20130305906
    Abstract: A process and a system are disclosed for some embodiments of the invention that map MIDI signals in a manner which always puts the harmony and melody octaves of an electronic MIDI keyboard in perfect pitch for a user of the keyboard. The process of some embodiments includes (i) receiving a selection of a key signature, (ii) receiving a selection of a scale, (iii) organizing the left side octave(s) (“chord” side) into a chord generator that places all scale tones on white keys and applies a chord effect to each white key, relative to the scale tone position, and (iv) organizing the right side octave(s) (“melody” side) into a melody lock that provides multiple settings for mapping the seven scale tones onto white keys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventor: ZACHARY CHARLES KINTER
  • Publication number: 20130305907
    Abstract: An accompaniment data generating apparatus has a storage device 15 for storing a set of phrase waveform data having a plurality of constituent notes which form a chord, and a CPU 9. The CPU 9 carries out a process for separating the set of phrase waveform data having a plurality of constituent notes which form a chord into a plurality of sets of phrase waveform data each having different one of the chord constituent notes, an obtaining process for obtaining chord information by which a chord type and a chord root are identified, and a chord note phrase generating process for pitch-shifting one or more of the separated phrase waveform data sets in accordance with chord type and combining the separated phrase waveform data sets including the pitch-shifted phrase waveform data to generate waveform data indicative of a chord note phrase as accompaniment data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Kakishita
  • Publication number: 20130298750
    Abstract: The number of chords belonging to a first chord group is decreased to less than the number of chords belonging to a second chord group. In a first detection mode, when a first determining unit determines that a state of key depressed does not correspond to any chord in a first chord group, a previously selected chord is continuously determined. Accordingly, even if a chord detection is performed on a change of melody point by point, the number of chords substantially detected is decreased. This decreases the number of changes in accompaniment, thus stabilizing a playback of the accompaniment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yoshifumi KIRA, Kiyomi KUREBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8581085
    Abstract: Generating a musical composition from one or more portions of one or more performances of one or more musical compositions included in a database is disclosed. The method and system include selecting a portion of a pre-recorded composition based on a degree of similarity with the component of the composition that is input; portions that are musically similar but not musically the same as the component may be selected for addition to the composition. The degree of similarity may be based on a ChordScore and/or a ScaleScore of the retrieved portion of the pre-recorded compositions. A ChordScore is generated by comparing chord tones of one or more chords in the pre-recorded portion with chord tones of the input component. A ScaleScore is generated by comparing tones of one or more notes in the pre-recorded portion with tones in a harmonic scale associated with the input component's chords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Peter Gannon
  • Publication number: 20130205977
    Abstract: A system and method that enables a user to generate and manipulate string-instrument chord grids in a digital audio workstation. The system and method for generating a string-instrument chord grid includes receiving first data input and second data input. The first data input can include a chord root note and/or a position for one or more fingering dots. The second data input can include an instrument type and our tuning for one or more strings. Using the received data input, a processor generates an entered string-instrument chord based and displays the entered string-instrument chord on a grid. The processor can also generate and display the musical name of the entered string-instrument chord.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Buskies, Alberto E. Scunio, Manfred Knauff, Christof Adam
  • Publication number: 20130192447
    Abstract: A method for obtaining a chord progression based upon a diatonic major key may include the steps of casting a dodecahedron to determine the diatonic major key, casting a octahedron to determine a chord based upon the diatonic major key and casting a cube to determine a playing strategy for the chord.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventor: John Pasco Rowe
  • Patent number: 8492636
    Abstract: A chord detection apparatus capable of detecting a wide variety of chords musically related to realtime performance. Degree name candidates each having a function that can come next are extracted in a first extraction process, degree name candidates corresponding to an interrupted cadence are extracted in a second extraction process, and degree name candidates corresponding to a non-functional chord progression technique are extracted in a third extraction process. The degree name candidates extracted in these extraction processes are developed into chord names according to a current tonality, and one of chords represented by the chord names is selected according to performance data and output to an automatic accompaniment apparatus for sound production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Akihide Hara
  • Patent number: 8492637
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a musical composition section extracting unit which extracts musical composition sections with tempos which are close to a preset reference tempo based on tempo information indicating a tempo of each section constituting musical compositions; a harmonization level calculating unit which calculates a harmonization degree for a pair of musical composition sections extracted by the musical composition section extracting unit, based on chord progression information indicating chord progression of each section constituting musical compositions; and a harmonization section extracting unit which extracts a pair of sections with a high harmonization degree for the musical compositions calculated by the harmonization level calculating unit from among sections extracted by the musical composition section extracting unit, wherein the harmonization level calculating unit weights the harmonization degree for the musical compositions such that a large value is set to the harmon
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Miyajima
  • Patent number: 8461442
    Abstract: At a time T0, prior read reproduction is started with a volume of 0. Upon starting the prior read reproduction, MIDI events containing note events are sequentially generated. Each time each of the note events is generated, note data is generated based on these note events and sequentially stored in a note pool 123. At a time T1, actual reproduction is started. After the time T1, the actual reproduction and the prior read reproduction are concurrently performed at a same speed. Accordingly, the prior read reproduction precedes invariably two bars ahead of the actual reproduction. Information pertinent to notes contained in a part from a currently played position to a position two bars ahead of the currently played position can be easily obtained from the note pool 123.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junya Osada
  • Publication number: 20130104725
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for generating customized chords. An exemplary method includes providing a storage medium, including a database storing data corresponding to a plurality of predefined chords to be played by the virtual instrument. The method then includes receiving a plurality of user inputs that enable a user to select a desired custom chord other than a predefined chord stored in the database, the user inputs being displayed on a display of said device. The method further includes creating the desired chord from the predefined chord data stored in the database in accordance with a predefined algorithm, and causing data corresponding to the created custom chord to be stored by the device such that the virtual instrument is able to play the created desired chord.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Harry Little, Eli T. Manjarrez
  • Patent number: 8426716
    Abstract: A user interface for a virtual musical instrument presents a number of chord touch regions, each corresponding to a chord of a diatonic key. Within each chord region a number of touch zones are provided, including treble clef zones and bass clef zones. Each treble clef touch zone within a region will sound a different chord voicing. Each bass clef touch zone will sound a bass note of the chord. Other user interactions can modify or mute the chords, and vary the bass notes being played together with the chords. A set of related chords and/or a set of rhythmic patterns can be generated based on a selected instrument and a selected style of music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Harry Little, Eli T. Manjarrez
  • Patent number: 8420921
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a beat analysis unit for detecting positions of beats included in an audio signal, a structure analysis unit for calculating similarity probabilities, each being a probability of similarity between contents of sound of beat sections divided by each beat position detected by the beat analysis unit, and a bar detection unit for determining a likely bar progression of the audio signal based on bar probabilities determined according to the similarity probabilities calculated by the structure analysis unit, the bar probabilities indicating to which ordinal in which meter respective beats correspond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8380331
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for relative pitch tracking of multiple arbitrary sounds. A probabilistic method for pitch tracking may be implemented as or in a pitch tracking module. A constant-Q transform of an input signal may be decomposed to estimate one or more kernel distributions and one or more impulse distributions. Each kernel distribution represents a spectrum of a particular source, and each impulse distribution represents a relative pitch track for a particular source. The decomposition of the constant-Q transform may be performed according to shift-invariant probabilistic latent component analysis, and may include applying an expectation maximization algorithm to estimate the kernel distributions and the impulse distributions. When decomposing, a prior, e.g. a sliding-Gaussian Dirichlet prior or an entropic prior, and/or a temporal continuity constraint may be imposed on each impulse distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Paris Smaragdis, Gautham J. Mysore
  • Patent number: 8373054
    Abstract: When musical performance data is input to the electronic musical instrument in accordance with user's operation for musical performance, the electronic musical instrument detects a chord in accordance with the input musical performance data at the defined timing T3 at which the chord detection timing ends. On the electronic musical instrument, furthermore, the application of the detected chord to the musical performance is instructed by user's pedal (foot switch) operation of turning off the pedal. In a case where the instruction to apply the chord has been already accepted at the chord detection timing T3 or in a case where the instruction to apply the chord has been accepted by user's pedal-off operation at a point in time (Tpf) situated between the chord detection timing T3 and the time limit T4, the detected chord is to be applied to the musical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Akihide Hara, Yasuhiro Kawano