Chords Patents (Class 84/669)
  • Patent number: 11854563
    Abstract: A method of building a new voice having a new timbre using a timbre vector space includes receiving timbre data filtered using a temporal receptive field. The timbre data is mapped in the timbre vector space. The timbre data is related to a plurality of different voices. Each of the plurality of different voices has respective timbre data in the timbre vector space. The method builds the new timbre using the timbre data of the plurality of different voices using a machine learning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Modulate, Inc.
    Inventors: William Carter Huffman, Michael Pappas
  • Patent number: 11842712
    Abstract: An improved tuning method for fixed interval musical instruments is provided. This Precise Temperament tuning method provide mathematically consistent intervals between notes to prevent dissonance within chords while retaining the esthetics of pure tones associated with Western music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Crown Sterling Limited, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Edward Grant
  • Patent number: 11776518
    Abstract: An automated music composition and generation system including a system user interface for enabling system users to review and select one or more musical experience descriptors, as well as time and/or space parameters; and an automated music composition and generation engine, operably connected to the system user interface, for receiving, storing and processing musical experience descriptors and time and/or space parameters selected by the system user, so as to automatically compose and generate one or more digital pieces of music in response to the musical experience descriptors and time and/or space parameters selected by the system user. Each digital piece of composed and generated music contains a set of musical notes arranged and performed in the digital piece of music. The engine includes: a digital piece creation subsystem and a digital audio sample producing subsystem supported by virtual musical instrument libraries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Shutterstock, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew H. Silverstein
  • Patent number: 11651757
    Abstract: An automated music composition and generation process within an automated music composition and generation system driven by lyrics. The process involves the system user accessing said automated music composition and generation system, employing an automated music composition and generation engine having a system user interface. The system user interface is used to provide lyrics to the automated music composition and generation engine for processing by the automated music composition and generation engine. The system user initiates the automated music composition and generation engine to compose and generate music based on lyrics the provided as input. The lyrics are analyzed for vowel formants to generate pitch events, which are used to support the automated music composition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Shutterstock, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew H. Silverstein
  • Patent number: 11568244
    Abstract: An information processing method according to the present invention includes providing first musical piece information representing contents of a musical piece and performance information relating to a past performance prior to one unit period within the musical piece to a learner that has undergone learning relating to a specific tendency that relates to a performance, and generating, for the one unit period, performance information that is based on the specific tendency with the learner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Maezawa
  • Patent number: 11430419
    Abstract: An automated music composition and generation system having an automated music composition and generation engine for processing musical experience descriptors and space parameters selected by the system user. The engine includes: a user taste generation subsystem for automatically determining the musical tastes and preferences of each system user based on user feedback and autonomous piece analysis, and maintaining a system user profile reflecting musical tastes and preferences of each system user; and a population taste aggregation subsystem for aggregating the musical tastes and preferences of the population of system users, and modifying the musical experience descriptors and/or time and/or space parameters provided to the automated music composition and generation engine, so that the digital pieces of composed music better reflect the musical tastes and preferences of the population of system users and meet future system user requests for automated music compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Shutterstock, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew H. Silverstein
  • Patent number: 9040802
    Abstract: An accompaniment data generating apparatus has a storing portion 15 for storing sets of phrase waveform data each related to a chord identified on the basis of a combination of chord type and chord root, and a CPU 9. The CPU 9 carries out a chord information obtaining process for obtaining chord information by which a chord type and a chord root are identified, and a chord note waveform data generating process for generating phrase waveform data indicative of chord notes of the chord root and the chord type identified by the obtained chord information in accordance with the obtained chord information by use of the sets of phrase waveform data stored in the storing portion 15, and outputting the generated data as accompaniment data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Kakishita
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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: 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
  • 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
  • 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: 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
  • 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: 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: 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
  • Patent number: 8269094
    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: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Buskies, Alberto E. Scunio, Manfred Knauff, Christof Adam
  • Patent number: 8101844
    Abstract: Methods for automatically analyzing and/or performing music are described. One embodiment concerns a method for assigning chords to a musical score indicative of a sequence of time segments, each time segment comprising at least one note, the method comprising assigning a chord to each time segment responsive to consonance/dissonance relationships between the assigned chord and the notes of at least two of the time segments. Optionally, consonance/dissonance relationships include existence of a dissonant between a chord assigned to a time segment and a note of the time segment and existence of resolution to said dissonant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Silpor Music Ltd.
    Inventors: Gershon Silbert, Andres Hakim
  • Patent number: 7834262
    Abstract: An electronic keyboard instrument which is capable of easily carrying out an arpeggio performance rich in variety by a simple operation on a touch strip. The electronic keyboard instrument has a belt-like touch strip on which a player slides his finger while touching it to carry out an arpeggio performance. A CPU causes musical tones of respective pitch names included in respective designated component pitch names to be sounded, in a predetermined arpeggio pattern having a predetermined sounding order, according to detected touch positions on the touch strip, for the arpeggio performance. A musical tone generating circuit for generating musical tones for the arpeggio performance is switched between first and second tone generator circuits for generating musical tones based on key-on information detected on swingable keys and a third tone generator circuit dedicated to generation of musical tones for the arpeggio performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Eiichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 7834261
    Abstract: First, an extracting unit extracts chord progression of a tune to be reproduced. Then, a timing detector detects the timing of variation of the chord progression extracted by the extracting unit. Subsequently, an add-tone reproducing unit combines an add-tone with the tune to be reproduced according to the timing detected by the timing detector. The add-tone reproducing unit can also move a sound image to reproduce the tune or reproduce the tune as an arpeggio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Yasushi, Masatoshi Yanagidaira, Takehiko Shioda, Shinichi Gayama, Haruo Okada
  • Patent number: 7825320
    Abstract: A musical keyboard includes a plurality of white keys and black keys. As a number of keys are depressed simultaneously, a pattern of the depressed keys is judged as categorized in a number of predetermined patterns of depressed keys in view of the white keys and the black keys based on the input note data acquired from the depressed keys. A plurality of types of harmonization are predetermined, from among which a type of harmonization is determined. According to the determined type of harmonization, the input note data representing the notes of the depressed keys are adjusted so that inadequate notes included in the input notes are changed to adequate notes to constitute a chord as permitted by the type of harmonization in view of musical grammar. An unskilled player can play music incorporating improvisation which would need higher musical skill, as the inadvertently erroneous depression of the keys is rectified in the note data processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Akio Yatsui
  • Patent number: 7745715
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for generating audio data automatically and a personal terminal and a recorded medium using the same. Disclosed method comprises the steps of: (a) detecting pitch of inputted sound source; (b) generating a unit tone data using detected pith variation information; (c) generating an interval code using ratio information of unit tones included in the unit tone data; (d) generating a harmony code based on the generated interval code; (e) generating an accompaniment template using the harmony code and pre-stored accompaniment related template; and (f) generating an audio data where main melody of the inputted sound source and the accompaniment data are merged. Users can generate polyphonic ringtone sound automatically through a personal terminal itself without downloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Gaonda Corporation
    Inventor: Sang-Yeop Kwak
  • Patent number: 7705231
    Abstract: A method for generating an accompaniment for a recorded audio melody includes providing a recorded audio melody that includes segments; performing a frequency analysis of the recorded audio melody; summing the total duration of each fundamental frequency within a segment of the melody; based on the summing, computing a probability for each possible chord for each segment; based on the computed probabilities, selecting a set of chords for the segments; and outputting the set of chords as an accompaniment for the recorded audio melody. Various other methods, devices, systems, etc. are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Morris, Sumit Basu, Ian Simon
  • Patent number: 7653534
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a type of chord has a means for providing a reference vector for the type of chord, a means for providing a reference vector from a test signal, and a means for comparing the reference vector with the test signal vector. The means for providing a reference vector is configured to provide, for the type of chord, a reference vector from a plurality of different reference vectors. In addition, the means for providing a test signal vector from the test signal is configured to provide the test signal vector having a plurality of test signal vector elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Claas Derboven, Sebastian Streich, Markus Cremer
  • Patent number: 7601907
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a signal processing apparatus, including: removal means for removing, from a sound signal in the form of a stereo signal, a center component which is a component of sound positioned at the center between the left and the right; extraction means for extracting, from the sound signal from which the center component is removed, first feature quantity representative of characteristics of sounds of different tones of the 12-tone equal temperament within a predetermined range; and decision means for deciding a chord within the predetermined range using the first feature quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7528317
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatuses for creating a two-dimensional graphical representation of music which has been analysed into a chord sequence, by evaluating a first parameter of each chord, e.g. the harmonic root, determining a first display coordinate for each chord in dependence on the evaluated first parameter, determining a second display coordinate for each chord within the sequence in dependence on the time of occurrence of each chord within the sequence, and displaying the chords graphically at positions defined by the determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Inventor: Joseph Patrick Samuel
  • Patent number: 7485797
    Abstract: When a first bar-division determination section determines that the bass note changes in a bar or when a second bar-division determination section determines that the degree of change in the chord in the bar is large, a chord-name determination section divides the bar and detects chords. This operation allows correct chords to be detected even when the chord changes within a bar, while the bass note is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Ren Sumita
  • Patent number: 7335834
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for making music data each perform converting an input audio signal indicative of a music piece into a frequency signal indicative of magnitudes of frequency components at predetermined time intervals; extracting frequency components corresponding to tempered tones respectively at the predetermined time intervals from the frequency signal; detecting two chords each formed by a set of three frequency components as the first and second chord candidates, the three frequency components having a large total level of the frequency components corresponding to the extracted tones; and smoothing trains of the detected first and second chord candidates to produce music data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Gayama
  • Patent number: 7288711
    Abstract: CPU 31 reads out plural chord data which are stored in external storage device 34 or the like and represent a series of chords, and presents to a user the chords represented by the chord data. In presenting the chords to the user, display 21 or external displayer 53 displays chord names along with a score or a lyric, or energizes key-press lamps 14 corresponding to the chord tones constituting the chords. External storage device 34 or the like is provided with a chord conversion table for converting hard-to-play chords to easy-to-play chords. In presenting the chords, CPU 31 presents the chords converted with the use of the chord conversion table. In this case, the hard-to-play chords may be controlled rank by rank or may be designated by the user. Thus, when chords are presented to a user, the user can perform chord playing smoothly at all times even if the user is a beginner player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7288710
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for searching for a music piece which includes a storing device for storing first chord progression music data for a plurality of music pieces representing chronological changes in chords in the music pieces. Second chord progression music data representing chronological changes in at least a part of chords in a music piece is produced, the first chord progression music data for the plurality of music pieces stored and the second chord progression music data are compared on the basis of the amount of change in the root of a chord in a chord transition and the attribute of the chord after the transition in order to calculate a similarity for each of the plurality of music pieces, and a search output corresponding to a result of the calculation for each of the plurality of music pieces is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Gayama
  • Patent number: 7250567
    Abstract: An automatic musical composition classification device and method that allow a plurality of musical compositions to be automatically classified based on the melody similarity. Chord progression pattern data representing a chord progression sequence for each of the plurality of musical compositions are saved, chord-progression variation characteristic amounts are extracted for each of the plurality of musical compositions in accordance with the chord progression pattern data, and the plurality of musical compositions are grouped in accordance with the chord progression sequence represented by the chord progression pattern data of each of the plurality of musical compositions and with the chord-progression variation characteristic amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Gayama
  • Patent number: 7179981
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting the structure of a music piece which produces partial music data pieces each including a predetermined number of consecutive chords starting from a position of each chord in chord progression music data; compares the partial music data pieces with the chord progression music data to calculate degrees of similarity for each of the partial music data pieces; detects a position of a chord in the chord progression music data where the calculated similarity degree indicates a peak value higher than a predetermined value for each of the partial music data pieces; and calculates the number of times that the calculated similarity degree indicates a peak value higher than the predetermined value for all the partial music data pieces for each chord position in the chord progression music data to produce a detection output representing the structure of the music piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Pioneer Corpoartion
    Inventor: Shinichi Gayama
  • Patent number: 7109407
    Abstract: CPU 31 reads out plural chord data which are stored in external storage device 34 or the like and represent a series of chords, and presents to a user the chords represented by the chord data. In presenting the chords to the user, display 21 or external displayer 53 displays chord names along with a score or a lyric, or energizes key-press lamps 14 corresponding to the chord tones constituting the chords. External storage device 34 or the like is provided with a chord conversion table for converting hard-to-play chords to easy-to-play chords. In presenting the chords, CPU 31 presents the chords converted with the use of the chord conversion table. In this case, the hard-to-play chords may be controlled rank by rank or may be designated by the user. Thus, when chords are presented to a user, the user can perform chord playing smoothly at all times even if the user is a beginner player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7094964
    Abstract: Performance data processing apparatus includes a memory for storing settings input by a user and a processor for performing various control in accordance with the settings stored in the memory. Performance data are displayed in one or more display forms desired by the user. Marker or repeat mark is displayed in response to an instruction for displaying the marker or repeat mark. The performance data are reproduced in accordance with the input mark indicating that a performance should be repeated within a predetermined range. Further, a chord name is converted in accordance with a designated type of transposing instrument, and the converted chord name is displayed or stored in memory. Because the various control is performed in accordance with the memory-stored user settings, the user is allowed to change convenience-of-use or operability of the performance data processing apparatus in creating/editing of the performance data, by just changing the settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromu Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6777607
    Abstract: A musical instrument and a method of operating it. An instrument and method which retunes and adjusts volumes in response to the chord being sustained and the way that chord is voiced. The instrument is capable of producing tones, the intervals between which are equal tempered intervals of a twelve note octave, and tones, the intervals between at least some of which are determined by identifying at least selected ones of the notes the instrument is being commanded to produce. The method includes identifying the at least selected ones of the notes the instrument is being commanded to produce, providing a map for mapping the identified notes to a chord type, identifying a note in that chord type, and substituting a frequency closer to a harmonic of the identified note for the frequency of at least one harmonic of at least one other note the instrument is being commanded to produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Jack W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6753466
    Abstract: An electronic programmable system including a membrane switch chordboard with a printed chord arrangement affixed to the chordboard. A chord arrangement is written for each different stringed instrument. The chordboard also has a plurality of <olenoids provided for each stringed instrument. These solenoids act as pressers for each instrument string. As each membrane on the outer surface of the chordboard is pressed, an electronic circuit is closed activating a solenoid driver. The programmable system then retrieves programmed notes or chords from a software module's look-up table. Next, the system activates a solenoid plunger. This plunger then presses against a string. The player then strums or picks the strings. A player can maintain the sound of a chord by maintaining finger pressure on the preferred membrane. A software program is written for each type of stringed instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventor: Day Sun Lee
  • Publication number: 20030033925
    Abstract: A musical instrument and a method of operating it. An instrument and method which retunes and adjusts volumes in response to the chord being sustained and the way that chord is voiced. The instrument is capable of producing tones, the intervals between which are equal tempered intervals of a twelve note octave, and tones, the intervals between at least some of which are determined by identifying at least selected ones of the notes the instrument is being commanded to produce. The method includes identifying the at least selected ones of the notes the instrument is being commanded to produce, providing a map for mapping the identified notes to a chord type, identifying a note in that chord type, and substituting a frequency closer to a harmonic of the identified note for the frequency of at least one harmonic of at least one other note the instrument is being commanded to produce.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Jack W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6448487
    Abstract: A musical instrument and a method of operating it. An instrument and method which retunes and adjusts volumes in response to the chord being sustained and the way that chord is voiced. The instrument is capable of producing tones, the intervals between which are equal tempered intervals of a twelve note octave, and tones, the intervals between at least some of which are determined by identifying at least selected ones of the notes the instrument is being commanded to produce. The method includes identifying the at least selected ones of the notes the instrument is being commanded to produce, providing a map for mapping the identified notes to a chord type, identifying a note in that chord type, and substituting a frequency closer to a harmonic of the identified note for the frequency of at least one harmonic of at least one other note the instrument is being commanded to produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Jack W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6313389
    Abstract: An automatic accompaniment apparatus has a storage unit (53) for storing information on a variation pattern selection state and the mute setup state of each part of each variation, and a control unit (55) for controlling to make each part in a tone generation state or a mute state in accordance with the mute setup state of the part of the selected variation pattern in playing an insert pattern such as an introduction pattern, a fill-in pattern, and an ending pattern. The mute setup state set for the selected variation pattern is applied without change also to the insert pattern, thus preventing the mute setup state of each part from changing at the time of switching between the variation pattern and the insert pattern, and obtaining smooth automatic accompaniment tones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Adachi
  • Patent number: 6307140
    Abstract: A music apparatus is constructed for receiving an input signal composed of either of a voice signal and a tone signal and for processing the input signal based on a timbre change command signal to generate at least one channel of an output signal. In the music apparatus, a reference pitch designation section designates a reference pitch. An output signal generation section receives the input signal, the timbre change command signal and the reference pitch designated by the reference pitch designation section for changing a timbre of the input signal in accordance with the timbre change command signal, and for changing a pitch of the input signal above or below the reference pitch in accordance with the timbre change command signal, thereby generating the output signal having the changed timbre and the changed pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhide Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6156966
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for composing and performing music on an electronic instrument in which individual chord progression chords can be triggered in real-time, while simultaneously generating the individual notes of the chord, and/or possible scale and non-scale notes to play along with the chord, and making them available for playing in separate fixed-locations on the instrument. The method of composition involves the designation of a chord progression section on the instrument, then assigning chords or individual chord notes to this chord progression section according to a song key's defined customary scale or customary scale equivalent. Further, as each chord is played in the chord progression section, the individual notes of the currently triggered chords are generated and simultaneously made available for playing in a separate fixed location on the instrument. Fundamental and alternate notes of each chord may be generated and made available in separate fixed locations for composing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Jeff K. Shinsky
  • Patent number: 6156965
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for composing and performing music on an electronic instrument in which individual chord progression chords can be triggered in real-time, while simultaneously making the individual notes of the chord, and/or possible scale and non-scale notes to play along with the chord, available for playing in separate fixed-locations on the instrument. The method of composition involves the designation of a chord progression section on the instrument, then assigning chords or individual chord notes to this chord progression section according to the defined customary scale or customary scale equivalent of a song key. Further, as each chord is played in the chord progression section, the individual notes of the currently triggered chords are simultaneously made available for playing in separate fixed locations on the instrument. Fundamental and alternate notes of each chord may be made available for playing in separate fixed locations for composing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Jeff K. Shinsky
  • Patent number: 6111179
    Abstract: A musical instrument, comprising a neck and a body. A chord selector is present on the neck, and a note selector is present on the body. The chord selector comprises a plurality of locations, each having a tonic and a quality. The note selector is a touch sensitive strip that is linearly arranged like a piano keyboard. A note is sounded only if it is simultaneously pressed on the note selector, and is present in one of the chords selected on the chord selector. Thus, once a chord is selected, it may be picked, strummed, or arpeggiated by employing different hand motions upon the note selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventor: Terry Miller
  • Patent number: 6060655
    Abstract: The present chord progression composer provides an open and wide space of composition and yet can compose those chord progressions having a desired valuation of fitness for a given melody. To this end, the composer receives an initial chord progression population. It computes melody fitness valuation of chord progression individuals of the population of interest. The chord progression population repeatedly undergo genetic operations (selection, crossover, mutation etc.). The melody fitness valuation will generally increase with generations under the control of the chord progression composer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Minamitaka
  • Patent number: 6057503
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for composing and performing music on an electronic instrument in which individual chord progression chords can be triggered in real-time, while simultaneously making the individual notes of the chord, and/or possible scale and non-scale notes to play along with the chord, available for playing in separate fixed-locations on the instrument. The method of composition involves the designation of a chord progression section on the instrument, then assigning chords or individual chord notes to this chord progression section according to the defined customary scale or customary scale equivalent of a song key. Further, as each chord is played in the chord progression section, the individual notes of the currently triggered chords are simultaneously made available for playing in separate fixed locations on the instrument. Fundamental and alternate notes of each chord may be made available for playing in separate fixed locations for composing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Inventor: Jeff K. Shinsky
  • Patent number: RE37041
    Abstract: The voice processor includes a microphone for a device for inputting a voice signal, a device for inputting chord information from an electronic musical instrument or the like, a converter for converting the pitch of the voice signal into a specified pitch according to the chord information, a mixer for mixing the input voice signal and a pitch-converted voice signal, and a loudspeaker for outputting the mixed signal. The pitch of the input voice signal is converted into such one as will be consonant with the chord information or as will coincide therewith and thereafter the pitch converted signal will be output along with the input voice signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hirohisa Koyama, Takeshi Bushida
  • Patent number: RE38477
    Abstract: A performance information analyzer wherein one of tone pitch information data applied thereto in response to progress of performance of a musical tune is analyzed into one of plural performance parts on a basis of a difference in tone pitch between the one of the tone pitch information data and a reference tone pitch information data previously assigned to a predetermined part of the plural performance parts during prior analysis of the tone pitch information and the other tone pitch information data are analyzed into the other performance parts on a basis of a difference in tone pitch between the analyzed tone pitch information data and each of the other tone pitch information data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Tohgi