Abstract: A stringless portable electronic training device for a stringed instrument, such as a contrabass, has the shape of a fingerboard with just enough neck to provide realistic left hand position, and just enough body to contain actuators corresponding with strings, electronics, a speaker, and an output jack. On the fingerboard are rows of push buttons corresponding with the location of the notes. The push buttons are held down to select notes which are sounded by actuators at a lower end of the fingerboard. Actuating without the pressing of a button produces the note of the open string. The actuators may include a set of flippers that replicate the plucking of strings and a set of elongated buttons that sustain a bowed sound as they are pressed down. The sound is produced electronically through a built-in speaker and/or output jack.

Abstract: A stringless portable electronic training device for a stringed instrument, such as a contrabass, has the shape of a fingerboard with just enough neck to provide realistic left hand position, and just enough body to contain actuators corresponding with strings, electronics, a speaker, and an output jack. On the fingerboard are rows of push buttons corresponding with the location of the notes. The push buttons are held down to select notes which are sounded by actuators at a lower end of the fingerboard. Actuating without the pressing of a button produces the note of the open string. The actuators may include a set of flippers that replicate the plucking of strings and a set of elongated buttons that sustain a bowed sound as they are pressed down. The sound is produced electronically through a built-in speaker and/or output jack.