Abstract: A musical instrument includes a substrate, a transparent fingerboard overlaying the substrate, and a support structure attached to the substrate and configured to support strings in tension above the transparent fingerboard. A pattern of position markers is located between the substrate and the transparent fingerboard and visible through the glass fingerboard. Optionally, the strings are electrically conductive, and one or more electrically conductive frets are located between the nut and the bridge and overlay the substrate perpendicular to the string. An electrical circuit, including the one or more electrically conductive frets, provides a first voltage when a string contacts a fret and a second voltage when the string does not contact a fret. A pre-amplifier circuit amplifies a vibration signal from a string vibration pickup in response to the first voltage and mutes the vibration signal in response to the second voltage.

Abstract: A sensed signal corresponding to a note played on a musical instrument is electronically sustained by electronically combining the sensed signal with a synthesized signal whenever a sustain control switch is activated. The set of characteristics of the synthesized signal are, initially, substantially the same as the set of characteristics of the sensed signal, but may be varied over time.

Abstract: A musical instrument includes a fretboard, frets aligned in a first direction on the fretboard, a number of strings, aligned in a second direction above the frets, and tensioning devices operable to hold the strings in tension such that the pitch of adjacent strings at any given fret differ by one whole tone. Signals from string vibration pickups may be electronically processed and amplified to modify the sound produced by the musical instrument.