Abstract: An acoustic output device for a personal computer includes an envelope setting circuit for setting elements of a tone including an envelope pattern, a first storage circuit for storing the element data of the tone, a music note setting circuit for setting note information of a music, a second storage circuit for storing the note information, and an acoustic output circuit for reading-out the note information and providing a tone with the element data.

Abstract: A keyboard type electronic musical instrument in which note data and duration data are read out from a memory in accordance with the progress of a musical piece, and a control circuit (CPU) turns on display devices provided for individual keys on a keyboard in response to note data, thus training a player to operate keys specified by the display devices. The control circuit counts each instance of noncoincidence between a key represented by the note data and an operated key on the keyboard, and obtains deviations between a key operation timing defined by duration data and the timing of key operation on the keyboard. After the end of a performance, the control circuit informs the player of the number of the mis-key operations or the accumulation of key operation timing deviations by means of the display devices. A number of display devices corresponding to the accuracy of the performance are lit.

Abstract: An apparatus for playing a portion of a melody so that users of the apparatus can competitively attempt to identify the melody includes a device for encoding the portion of the melody to be played and a device for reproducing the portion of the melody by decoding the encoding device. The reproducing device includes a decoder for generating electrical signals corresponding to the portion of the melody and a converter for converting the generated electrical signals to musical notes.

Abstract: When autoplay data stored in a memory is readout at a predetermined regular rate, the timing of a key operation executed under the guidance of a melody guide function is compared to its corresponding regular timing, and the rate of the data readout from the memory is corrected according to the result of the comparison, the corrected readout rate being subsequently changed back to the initial rate. This control is effected by a CPU.

Abstract: An electrically-keyed musical instrument has a double-row keyboard in which back digitals alternate with front digitals throughout the keyboard. The keyboard is provided with two sets of landmarks to assist playing from either the traditional notation or a six-tone notation. The musical instrument has an electronic key signature actuator apparatus which may be set to physically actuate any key signature of music written in the traditional notation, so that the diatonic tones in the selected key can be played entirely on the front digitals of the keyboard. The other five tones of the chromatic scale must be played on back digitals of the keyboard. The electronic apparatus also allows the front digitals to play the whole-tone scale or a hexachord scale, and to play the hexachord scale in any selected one of twelve different hexachord keys. A person trained on the instrument in a six-tone notation can, by throwing a switch, easily play music written in the traditional notation.

Abstract: A device for adjusting chords in string instruments wherein elements for effectively shortening the musical length of a string are disposed on the instrument for taking over the former function of the fingering hand for the use in playing chords or tones. The desired chords are electrically stored and are read back by operating elements from programmable and exchangeable memories by pulses to the corresponding string shortening elements so that the pitch of the strings is changed and by this the desired chord is adjusted on the instrument. The operating elements make the selection of chords and their variations possible and the chord sequences can be adjusted by actuating a simple push button. A display is provided to facilitate the selection by the musician from the various programs and to give an understanding as to which chord has been selected. Means are also provided for dampening the strings so that rhythm effects can be obtained.

Abstract: Musical tone color setting apparatus is arranged so that when a program/preset switch, a feet switch envelope switch and modulation switch are actuated together with a selected key of a ten-key input unit, program tone color data obtained by combining data selected from three groups of tone color data is stored in a tone color data memory. A tone color data corresponding to the program tone color data stored in the memory is later read out from a ROM, and a music sound having a tone color corresponding to the tone color data is generated from a loudspeaker in response to operation of a keyboard.

Abstract: An electronic musical chord calculator suitable for embodiment using integrated circuitry, has finger-actuatable devices for specifying notes (13) and chords (14). A display (11) has indicator devices (12) for each note of any chord to be specified. Logic circuitry (m21) serves to produce one chord automatically and immediately. Other logic circuitry (m21) serves to produce other chords by logic operations to add or substract notes relative to the basic chord. Other embodiments produce all required chords for one note automatically and immediately, then produce chords for other notes by shift operations (29) from the chords for the one note.

Abstract: A device for guiding a player in his or her performance of a keyboard instrument is comprised of a movable indicator having a predetermined number of indicating or display elements registering with respective ones of the keys on the keyboard occasionally covered by the movable indicator. The shape of a predetermined number of musical notes are displayed on the indicating elements for sequentially specifying the keys to be acted upon during performance, the indicator being shifted in case of necessity to enable such sequential designation of the keys and to visualize the player's arm movement during performance. A plate may be optionally provided to have the chord part played automatically while the player is playing the melody part under instructions given by the movable indicator.

Abstract: A function selector has an indicating unit which contains several identical groups of switches. All of the switches are connected with a control input of a microcomputer via a common control conductor. Each group of switches is connected to a different data input of the microcomputer by means of an identification conductor common to all switches of the group. An indicating shift register is associated with every group of switches and each switch of a group, as well as its corresponding light source, are connected to a different stage of the respective indicating shift register. An activating shift register is connected in parallel with each indicating shift register. The stages of the activating shift registers are connected with respective function generating elements. The microcomputer has a series of data outputs each of which is connected both with an indicating shift register and the corresponding activating shift register.

Abstract: A tone pattern identifying system collates coincidence between tone data of an inputted tone array and tone data of a given reference theme tone array by recognizing such coincidence at corresponding locations between these two tone arrays for each shifting of their relative positions, and outputs at least a most closely resembling tone array as a result of the collation. This system may include means for evaluating the result of collation and means for displaying the result of the evaluation.

Abstract: A just intonation electronic keyboard instrument comprises a plurality of tonality selection switches for selecting each key from among twenty-four just intonation keys, a control circuit for determining one or a plurality of just intonation keys according to the manipulation of said switches, a variable frequency oscillator having its output oscillation frequency varied in accordance with the selected key, and a frequency dividing circuit having frequency dividers which are varied of their frequency dividing ratios according to the selected key. The number of tonality selection switches is less than twenty-four. The control circuit discriminates the selection to a major scale or a minor scale, and discriminates one or a plurality of keys from each of twelve keys from C through B, and determines one or a plurality of selected just intonation keys, according to the manipulation of said intonation selection switches.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having key input means selectively actuable to cause the production of sounds corresponding to respective notes of the musical scale, comprises a memory circuit for storing the respective notes, and a clear circuit actuated to partially amend at least one of the notes from the contents of the memory means.

Abstract: An automatic performance device is of a type in which the automatic performance is executed in accordance with musical data read out successively. It comprises a fast feed stop control circuit for advancing the progress of the automatic performance when an actual key depression timing is faster than an ideal key depression timing indicated by the read out musical data and for temporarily stopping the progress when the former delays behind the latter. Comparison between the actual key depression timing and the ideal key depression timing is made by comparing the content of a counter counting the tempo pulses which decides the tempo of the automatic performance with note-length information included in the musical data. It further comprises a tempo control circuit for changing a period of the tempo pulses based on a tempo of a performance made by the actual key depression.

Abstract: Basic frequency data is preliminarily stored in a ROM. Tuning data obtained from a tuning counter according to manual operation of a rotary switch, and basic frequency data out from the ROM are processed in a CPU to form modified frequency data, which is stored in a RAM. The modified frequency data stored in the RAM is selectively read out according to the operation of the keyboard, so that a tuned note sound is produced from a loudspeaker.

Abstract: A system and method for instruction in the operation of a keyboard musical instrument, namely, an organ or piano. The system and method teaches the proper fingering for chord triads in the root, first, and second positions so as to play chord triads in the space of a single octave. The system may be operated manually by the student or, in some embodiments thereof, the system may be operated automatically by means of an external storage media device such as a video disc player.

Abstract: This invention relates to a keyboard input coding device comprising a counter for counting ON and OFF duration of signals obtained by pushing a keyboard, an encoder for producing codes of musical interval corresponding to keys of the keyboard, a note-length discriminating circuit for taking count values from the counter based on signals from the keyboard and discriminating a note-length, a note-length memory circuit for receiving or supplying the note-length data from or to the note-length discriminating circuit, a reference time generating circuit for supplying the note-length discriminating circuit with data of partitioning a musical section and a processing control circuit, wherein the discrimination of the note-length is effected by referring to the note-length between sequential notes according to data stored in the memory circuit, thereby a musical note with a note-length to agree well with intention of an operator is coded after correcting the key input duration data according to estimates made from th

Abstract: Bar code data are read out by a bar code reader from a medium on which predetermined tone data are printed in the form of bar codes and are successively stored in a RAM. When a mode selection switch is set to a position "NAVI", a LED provided in the vicinity of a performance key corresponding to the pitch of a tone next to be produced next, is turned on under the control of a control section. Performance of music can be obtained by successively operating performance keys indicated by associated LEDs turned on one after another.

Abstract: An automatic musical performance device follows in tempo a manual performance and is controllable to change the tempo of automatic performance independently of the tempo of manual performance. The automatic musical performance device comprises means for generating reference tempo data, means for generating tempo return instruction and tempo control means for controlling the tempo of automatic performance so as to usually follow up the tempo of manual performance and for controlling the tempo of automatic performance in accordance with the reference tempo when the tempo return instruction signal is generated. The reference tempo data and the tempo return instruction can be generated by either one of record means and manual set means.

Abstract: The present invention is a chord teaching system and method which assists the organist in learning musical chords. The system functions in several different modes and the various modes are selected by the learning organist. The chord teaching system enables the learning organist to select a chord without demonstrating any knowledge of the correct finger position on the keyboard of the organ necessary to play the chord. The system, depending upon the mode of operation, plays the chord selected and indicates to the learning organist the key corresponding to the root note of the selected chord or indicates to the organist the keys corresponding to the notes of the selected chord or enables the organist to depress the keys that the organist believes form the selected chord and indicates a correct response if the organist depresses the proper key and indicates the correct keys that form the notes of the chord if the response is incorrect.

Abstract: Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are provided for operation keys such as a tone select switch or performance keys of an electronic musical instrument. The display drive lines for the LEDs are arranged in the form of a matrix, and a dynamic drive signal is supplied to them. With these LEDs, the operation state of the operation keys is indicated. The LEDs are adapted to indicate the performance key to be operated next to the player.

Abstract: A musical teaching and playing aid has a sheath with a front panel defining spaced octaves of a keyboard instrument keyboard with slits just above the keys for the insertion of insert cards each of which is identified as to the octave above which it will be inserted, with each of these insert cards having a first tier of scale or chord tones which align with and name the keys on the keyboard, and a second tier of notes on a musical staff, which notes fall within the general range of the keys on the keyboard and the octave named on the card and which are visible by raising the card from a first position to a second position, whereby the independence of each octave is stressed by its isolation from adjacent octaves, disrupting the usual continuity of the keys, and the notes which fit within that octave and their names are identified on the removeable card to facilitate identification of note position on the staff with octave position in the range of notes on the keyboard.

Abstract: An automatic performance device is of a type in which the automatic performance is executed in accordance with musical data read out successively. It comprises a fast feed stop control circuit for advancing the progress of the automatic performance when an actual key depression timing is faster than an ideal key depression timing indicated by the read out musical data and for temporarily stopping the progress when the former delays behind the latter. Comparison between the actual key depression timing and the ideal key depression timing is made by comparing the content of a counter counting the tempo pulses which decides the tempo of the automatic performance with note-length information included in the musical data. It further comprises a tempo control circuit for changing a period of the tempo pulses based on a tempo of a performance made by the actual key depression.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises a keyboard, tone signal forming circuit to produce musical tone signals corresponding to keys being depressed on the keyboard, a memory to store musical performance data representing pitches and durations of notes and durations of rests according to the progression of a musical performance, a keyboard indicator to visually indicate which keys are to be depressed on the keyboard in accordance with the performance data read out of the memory so that the pupil or trainee may effect a musical performance on the keyboard by following the key indications, and an automatic musical performance device to effect an automatic musical performance in synchronism with the musical performance to be effected on the keyboard. A control circuit for the memory is arranged such that the key indication for each note in the progression of music is effected in the period of the duration of the immediately preceding note or rest.

Abstract: An electronic piano has a keyboard and an electronic piano circuit connected to a micro-processor used to control a CRT device to provide a video note display concurrently with the depression of one or more keys. A keyboard representation located adjacent the screen of the CRT device is associated with lights used to indicate the key or keys that are played. Manually operated controls cooperate with the micro-processor to allow the back clearing of the screen one note at a time, remove all the notes, retain all the notes, indicate sharp or flat mode of each note, and indicate the duration that a key is depressed by elongating the note on the screen. A metronome unit is used with the micro-processor to provide a visual beat marker on the screen that sequentially moves across the screen. A movable frame connects the CRT device to the piano.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises a keyboard arranged to produce key code signals in response to key operations thereof and a memory storing performance data constituting progression of a music and corresponding to key operations to be effected on the keyboard to play the music. A key operation judging circuit is provided which compares the key code signals produced by the keyboard with the performance data read out of the memory to detect whether or not a pupil or trainee correctly operates keys in a corresponding relation to the performance data read out of the memory. The percentages of correct key operations are calculated and displayed with respect to the key-on timing and the pitch and duration of notes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for teaching the relationship between the conventional musical staff and the tone-producing elements or keys of a barred or keyboard type instrument. The apparatus includes an elongated base member having a planar surface on which a replica of a portion of a conventional musical staff consisting of at least five parallel lines is depicted. Each line positioned on the base member is separated from the next line by a distance essentially equal to the width of two tone-producing elements on the instrument. A plurality of cover strips fabricated out of releasable material having a width equal to the width of a single key are superimposed over the lines on the base member in overlying relationship to the lines to provide alternating and parallel covered and uncovered areas of substantially equal width.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the acoustic indication of the beats of a musical time in which the tempo at which the beats are reproduced is adjustable. According to the invention means are provided for varying the musical properties of the separate beats, e.g. the reproducing period, the volume and the pitch, said varying means being provided with N switch elements each having at least three switch settings, and a scanning element for the cyclic consecutive scanning of the N switch elements, wherein a tone is generated in a first channel during the scan period of each of the switch elements in the second switch setting of the switch element, while a tone is generated in a second channel in the third switch setting of the switch element and no tone is generated in the first switch setting of the switch element in either channel, both channels being common to the N switch elements.

Abstract: An electronic music book for simplifying the storage and retrieval of musical scores in which a control panel operates electronic memories to locate a song in the memory for a musician's reading thereof. Optional modules may be added to the memory to expand the lilbrary of songs stored by the book. A variety of additional features may be included in the music book, such as audio playback of a selected song, tempo and rhythm control, and a temporary memory for musical works entered through a musical keyboard in the control panel. The book is adapted to be attached to a music stand and may be battery operated for portable use or permanently connected to a source of A.C. voltage.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises a keyboard, a tone signal forming circuit to produce musical tone signals corresponding to keys being depressed on the keyboard, a memory to store musical performance data, a keyboard display device to visually instruct a pupil or trainee as to which keys are to be depressed on the keyboard in accordance with the performance data read out of the memory so that the pupil or trainee may effect a musical performance on the keyboard while following key indications, and an automatic musical performance device to effect an automatic musical performance of different type from the musical performance effected on the keyboard. The pupil or trainee may selectively effect the musical performance on the keyboard with or as the accompaniment by or for the automatic musical performance.

Abstract: An apparatus for visually displaying music notes on a note display panel mounted on an electronic piano with a support arm. The electronic piano has a keyboard electrically coupled to an electronic circuit operable to produce an audio output in accordance with the depression of one or more keys. The arm is rotatably in a mount attached to the piano for movement about a first upright axis. A first motion limiting unit attached to the mount and arm limits the rotation of the arm about the piano. A second motion limiting unit attached to the panel and arm limits rotation of the panel about an upright axis relative to the arm. A modified structure has the arm fixed to the piano. The panel has a grand staff indicia coordinated with vertically disposed first light means corresponding to chord note information and second light means diagonally corresponding to an ascending note scale information. A keyboard representation is located below the staff indicia.

Abstract: An electronic device for use in aiding the instruction of musical students. The device is comprised of a metronome and a plurality of tone generators, all under the control of a microprocessor computer. Input devices for the system take the form of a musical keyboard and a microphone. The metronome produces an audible regularly repeated sound in the loudspeaker of the device and causes a visual display of a plurality of indicator lights to be lit simultaneously. Pitch error information is displayed on a plurality of indicator lights which indicate musical sharp, flat or correct pitch. The tone generators produce tones in the loudspeaker under the control of the program in the microprocessor. The device has the capability of interacting with the student to exchange musical responses which each is capable of understanding and judging.

Abstract: An equal input output learning device that can be added to or built into any musical instrument facilitating the teaching and improvisation of music and muscial theory using the musical instrument itself which device consists of a plurality of 12 switches representing the equal tempered 12 tone Chromatic scale, and which switches can be easily activated and changed by the player, as desired, using switches separately or in any combination, and, which switches when activated show all notes of the pitch classes chosen by indicators on the musical instrument together with indicators on the switches themselves.

Abstract: The specification describes a note translation device for translating the notes in printed music to finger numbers, string numbers and fingerboard locations for playing the notes on a guitar. An array of note input switches on the front panel are arranged on a treble staff to correspond to note symbols in printed music. Electronic storage circuitry stores note values selected with these switches. Electronic processing circuitry chooses finger numbers, string numbers and fingerboard locations for playing the selected notes. A visual display on the front panel represents a segment of the instrument fingerboard. After notes have been selected, numbers representing the fingers to be used are displayed by digit indicators along the string representations where the fingers should be placed. Thus, a student can determine how to play the notes without reading music or having an instructor.

Abstract: In a music tone generating system, of entry data keyed in by a plurality of entry keys related to the music tones, the entry data falling within the maximum digits which can be displayed by a display device are displayed by setting up one mode selected. When an entry key is operated to enter entry data exceeding the maximum digits while the former entry data remains displayed, the music tone corresponding to the key depressed may also be generated.

Abstract: A teaching aid for piano and other keyed musical instruments. The device has switches electrically connected to a matrix array and mechanically linked to each key for detecting each key depression, an LED associated with each key for signalling the keys which should be played and an alphanumeric display for showing notes in literal and octave notation and for showing the student's position in a composition or exercise. The displays are connected in a matrix array and along with the key sensing switches are connected through interface circuitry to a microcomputer. The microcomputer stores a sequence of musical steps forming a composition and compares played notes to the stored sequence. When the compared notes and the depressed keys are identical, the student is signalled and the microcomputer advances to the next musical step. When there is an error, the microcomputer recycles the same musical step.

Abstract: An automatic visual music teaching device for displaying the structure of coded chords. The device comprises a plurality of actuable switches for selecting a desired coded chord. Signals associated with the actuated switches are temporarily stored and are indicative of the desired coded chord to be visually displayed. A further switch is activated to transfer the stored signals indicative of the desired coded chord to a decoding circuit. The decoded circuit feeds a memory system to select in a matrix the composite parts of the desired coded chord in accordance with a coded data signal sent to it by the decoder whereby the composite parts of the desired coded chord are visually indicated on a visual display element.

Abstract: A pedal teaching system for an electronic musical instrument, specifically an electronic organ. In the rehearse mode of operation the system rhythmically energizes selected ones of a plurality of lights mounted above the pedal clavier to illustrate which pedals form a bass note accompaniment routine for a specific group of keys depressed by the organist and automatically sounds the bass note routine. In the perform mode of operation the system rhythmically energizes selected ones of the plurality of lights to illustrate which pedals form the bass note accompaniment routine and disables the automatic bass note musical output routine so that the organist must physically depress the actual pedals to provide the bass note accompaniment.

Abstract: A step-on type tone scale play device has a flexible mat within which is arranged a plurality of flexible switch elements in accordance with a tone scale and is adapted to produce corresponding music sounds when marks configured on the surface of a mat to indicate the position of each switch element are stepped on.The device is very easy to keep and carry, and convenient to display or perform as compared to the conventional device, as the mat is light and capable of folding or rolling into a compact form.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an electronic digital system for allowing encoding and storage of note value and time value for one or more musical instruments and which, upon playback, controls a light display to indicate to the musician the notes to be played and their time value. The system is particularly described for use with guitars, and similar instruments, and has an X-Y display to indicate, for example, both the particular string and the note to be played, as well as the time value of the note. In addition, the system will accommodate a plurality of such musical instruments to thereby enable display of the notes to be played, and their time values, for all of the instruments simultaneously. The system includes a keyboard for entering note value and note timing for each of one or more instruments, and a memory for storing data bits indicative of the notes for each instrument and the timing thereof.

Abstract: An optical lighted metronome has a column of light projected onto a sheet of music by means of individual lamps passing light through lenses with the lights connected to illuminate successively by means of motor-driven contact arms or electronic circuitry.

Abstract: Operation of a pushbutton or key mechanism by the operation of a single pushbutton or key through circuitry which may include fiber optics signals all keys on the keyboard included in the particular chord. The device may be built in or simply attached to the keyboard instrument. The keys are spring, and string or wire operated to return a key to its inoperative position when the next key is pressed down.

Abstract: A small-sized lightweight portable hand-held housing is provided with elements for visually displaying selected combinations of information quantities such as musical notes of scales and chords. The displays are operated by signals from programmable read only memory elements in the housing. Manually operable selector elements such as push button switches on the housing are used to select particular combinations to be displayed. A circuit including digital logic elements converts manual operation of a selector element into operation of appropriate memory elements to activate the displays.

Abstract: A small lightweight electronic device to indicate the note of a keyboard instrument represented by any musical interval in any key. The device has a series of on-off switches representing each of the desired musical keys and a series of switches representing the individual values of musical intervals over a desired range, preferably two octaves. The necessary circuitry is provided between these switches and a keyboard display such that any particular note represented by a musical interval of selected value in a selected key is indicated on the keyboard display. Students and teachers of music for keyboard instruments can, using this device, visualize the location of notes or chords in any key and transpositions of notes or chords from one key to another.

Abstract: An electronic synthesizer instrument incorporates bass pedals for the notes of the musical scale, together with foot control apparatus adapted to select and modify the tone quality of sounds produced by operation of the bass pedals. The foot control apparatus includes push button switches which are operated by the toe of an operator's foot, and slide controls which are positioned by the operator's foot. At least some of the switches are preset switches for selecting and controlling multiple combinations of the functional units of the synthesizer. The control state of the instrument is at all times indicated by readily observable indicating lights.

Abstract: The invention is a teaching and practicing aid for music students which graphically displays the relationship of the dominant, tonic, and subdominant scales in a particular key signature and as they relate to the diatonic scale in that key signature, the device structurally comprising a backing sheet optionally having the scale tones of a diatonic scale named in a row along the bottom, and three preferably reversible panels disposed in staggered horizontal slits cut in the backing sheet, these panels having portions visible above the slit with indicia thereon indicating by fingering number or scale tone name musical notes representing chords or scales, these notes being spaced proportionally to the key spacing of a piano keyboard. There is an optional insert card having two selectively displayable portions which represent the left and right hand, respectively, with the fingers thereof numbered in accordance with conventional elementary teaching techniques.

Abstract: A chord indicator for keyboard instruments comprises an elongated panel having lights therein which will be aligned with each key when the panel is placed adjacent the keyboard. Two rows of lights are provided, one indicated the white keys and the black keys as sharps and the other indicating the black keys as flats. A chord selector mechanism comprises a base having spaced contacts thereon corresponding to the lights on the panel and a carriage movable along the base having contacts corresponding to the notes of selected chords. Chord selector switches permit selection of the type of chord to be displayed and the location of the carriage on the base permits selection of the root note of the chord. Electrical means permit the chord to be indicated as having either sharps or flats as appropriate for the selected chord. In use a chord type is selected, a root note is selected, and the lights on the panel aligned with the keys corresponding to the notes of the selected chord will be illuminated.

Abstract: A teaching device for use with an organ, supported on the upper keyboard, with timed motor means to move an apertured record sheet between a light source and fiber optic connectors which transmit light signals to the fiber optic ends located over keys of the lower chord keyboard and through a sideways extending housing to fiber optic ends located over the keys of the upper melody keyboard in accordance with the placement of the apertures on the moving record sheet.

Abstract: A programmable piano has a keyboard in which each of the keys has a transparent window and a rotatable roller is mounted beneath the keyboard such that the surface of the roller directly beneath each of the keys is visible through the transparent window thereof. A sheet of music is carried by the roller and has a progression of notes thereon which are representative of a musical composition. A motor drives the roller and thereby presents to the windows of the keys in proper order and at a regulated rate the progression of notes so that a person can play the musical composition by manipulation of the keys selectively in accordance with the notes which appear in the windows.

Abstract: A self-contained unit similar to a conventional pocket calculator provides indications of the make-up of musical chord triads for use as a self-study aid.