Abstract: An electronic music system includes a voltage controlled tone generator, or synthesizer, and an input device, in the form of a guitar or other fretted stringed instrument and associated electronic circuitry, for sequentially providing voltage signals, selected from a set of discretely different voltage levels each analogously related to a musical tone, for driving the tone generator. Each string-fret pair of the stringed instrument is assigned a given musical tone, preferably in accordance with normal tuning of the instrument, and means are provided for producing a corresponding voltage when a string-fret pair is closed by pressing the string against the fret. When two or more string-fret pairs are simultaneously closed, the output voltage corresponding to the highest frequency musical tone associated with the closed string-fret pairs is produced.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 14, 1975
Date of Patent:
August 2, 1977
Assignee:
Electronic Music Laboratories, Inc.
Inventors:
Jeffrey J. Murray, Jeffrey L. Bachiochi, Norman L. Milliard