Abstract: Header control data for setting various characteristics of an automatic performance tone such as tone color, tone volume, tempo, effect and the like are stored in a header portion of a memory. The header control data are loaded into a buffer register, and various characteristics of an automatic performance tone to be generated are established on the basis of the header control data stored in the buffer register. In response to activation of a changing operator, the header control data in the buffer register are changed and a hence various characteristics of the automatic performance tone to be generated are changed. When the data in the buffer register is changed during an automatic performance, the header control data stored in the memory is changed in correspondence to the change.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a manipulator which includes a hand manipulator and manipulation region capable of setting a reference point and/or reference axis, adapted for generating the musical tones of a rubbed string instrument. The distance from the reference point to the position of performance manipulation and/or the angle between the line connecting the reference point with position of performance manipulation and the reference axis may be calculated to produce parameters for controlling the musical tone signal, such as the bow pressure and the direction of the bow movement.

Abstract: A musical tone control apparatus controls an electronic musical instrument which simulates a natural musical instrument such as a bowed instrument. The apparatus includes an operator which can be movably operated in a predetermined direction and simulates a bow, a converter which stores a plurality of nonlinear characteristics. The nonlinear characteristics represent a relation between pressure signal which is added on the operator by a player and control pressure signal which simulates real rubbing pressure added on the string. To realize real performance by the bow, the converter converts the pressure signal into the control pressure signal to be changed in accordance with the position of the operator even if the pressure signal is constant.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument, in which a phrase for about one bar is assigned to each of keys across two octaves, a note data string of each phrase is read out from a memory in accordance with a one-finger key operation, and corresponding tones are generated. Key numbers, key depression velocities, and key depression timings of a series of key operations in a phrase play mode are recorded in a recording medium. In a playback mode, a note data string of a phrase corresponding to a playback key number is read out from the memory. Tone generation strength data in the note data are multiplied with the playback key depression velocity, thus obtaining a modified note data string. Playback tones of a phrase play close to an actual play can be generated by modifying key depression strengths of phrase tones pre-programmed in the memory.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard instrument includes note data memory (35) for storing note data strings of a plurality of different short phrases, and a tone generator (37) for generating tones on the basis of a note data string read out from the note data memory (35). In response to a key depression operation, a note data string of a short phrase assigned to the ON key is selected and read out. Tone strength data of the readout note data string are multiplied with a key operation strength value, and product data are output to the tone generator (37). A player performs an adlib play upon a combination of the phrases. The tone volume can be controlled in units of phrases according to key touch data.

Abstract: An envelope waveform generation apparatus which generates an envelope waveform consisting of a plurality of segments in order to control a musical tone signal, having a touch data detection device, which detects touch data corresponding to the relative strength of a generated musical tone, a memory device, which stores a plurality of control mode patterns comprising data showing whether each segment of this envelope waveform is to be controlled by means of this touch data, a selection device, which selects from among the plurality of control mode patterns stored in the memory device, and a touch data supplementing device, which controls each segment of the envelope waveform by means of the touch data, when the data in the control mode pattern selected by the selection device show the each segment is to be controlled.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a low frequency oscillator (LFO) for generating a low-frequency signal to impart musical effect such as vibrato to musical tones, and a plurality of tone generating channels. The LFO comprises a random access memory (RAM), a feedback loop, and a waveform generator. The LFO generates the low-frequency signal in accordance with the designated RAM addresses corresponding to the designated tone color to impart a same phase musical effect to the plurality of channels having same tone color.

Abstract: In an automatic performance device which automatically performs a piece of music composed of note information input externally, note information input on a real time basis is corrected on the basis of beat information of a piece of music input thereafter and the resulting note information is stored. Correction information for converting the corrected note information into the originally input uncorrected note information is also stored for each note information. When the piece of music is performed automatically, a tone is generated on the basis of the corrected note information and the correcting information, but when the piece of music is output as a score, output is made on the basis of the corrected note information. Alternatively, for note information input by a step time inputting process, information is stored on a timing at which each note input thereafter is generated.

Abstract: An electronic piano system provides an automatic performance piano capable of automatically carrying out pre-recorded performance, plus a key-return speed detecting unit and/or a string-striking speed presuming unit. When a depressed key is released so that a key is to be returned to its original position, a key-return speed is occurred, which is detected by the key-return speed detecting unit. On the other hand, when the key is depressed so that a hammer strikes a string in order to generate the corresponding sound, a string-striking speed of hammer is occurred. Based on a detected key-striking speed, the string-striking speed presuming unit presumes the corresponding string-striking speed. Thus, by use of the detected key-return speed and/or presumed string-striking speed, the automatic performance can be carried out with high fidelity.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument including a keyboard, a CPU and a sound source. The keyboard designates a pitch of a musical tone. The CPU detects common pitch data of one of predetermined series of pitch data or interval between predetermined two pitches, when a plurality of pitches are designated by the keyboard. The predetermined series of pitch data are stored in a memory in units of pitches which can be designated by the keyboard. The sound source outputs a musical tone signal having a pitch designated by the keyboard and musical tone signals having pitches indicated by the common pitch data detected by the CPU or having pitches corresponding to the interval detected by the CPU.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a variety of keys including the following: a plurality of song keys for initiating the playing of a respective preprogrammed song and terminating the playing of any preprogrammed song in process, a plurality of sound effect keys for temporarily interrupting the playing of any preprogrammed song in process, inserting a respective special sound effect, and then resuming playing of any preprogrammed song which was in process, a plurality of note keys for playing a respective musical note and terminating the playing of any preprogrammed song in process, and a plurality of instrument keys for selecting the voice of any preprogrammed song being played and any musical note thereafter played. The instrument also includes solid state apparatus for producing sound, and a microcontroller for sensing actuation of each of the keys and selectively causing the sound producing means to produce particular sounds in accordance therewith.

Abstract: A controller for a musical effects unit enables control of an effects unit through the use of two touch buttons mounted on a guitar, or other instrument. The two touch switches form an input to a microprocessor utilizing control software to interpret the sequential contacting of the buttons. The software converts the sequential manipulation of the buttons into a selection criteria which is then transmitted to the effects unit to effect the selection of a pre-programmed or pre-selected effect. The timing of the sequencing of the two touch, or momentary switches may be adjusted in the software to suit the needs of the individual preforming artist.

Abstract: Respecting plural accompaniment patterns belonging to a common accompaniment style, an order is predetermined in which accompaniment patterns are sequentially changed. For example, this order may be predetermined to be an order in which a change of the accompaniment patterns can accomplish a more natural change in an accompaniment tone. Data indicative of a performance state on a keyboard is compared with a predetermined reference value. Whenever a comparison condition is satisfied, change of the accompaniment patterns is effected in the predetermined order. Data related to a changed-over accompaniment pattern is read out from a memory, based on which data an automatic accompaniment tone is generated. There may be a plurality of the predetermined orders. One order may be such that the accompaniment patterns are changed to allow an automatic accompaniment tone to achieve a progressively flourishing mood and another order may be such that brings an effect opposite to that achieved by the one order.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a performance operator such as a bar-like member, a position detection circuit for detecting a play position on the performance operator and generating position information corresponding to the play position, a circuit for selecting a desired one of a plurality of predetermined position-tone pitch conversion characteristics or establishing a desired position-tone pitch conversion characteristic with respect to the performance operator, a conversion circuit for converting the position information from the position detection circuit to tone pitch information in accordance with the position-tone pitch conversion characteristic having been selected or established and a tone generator for generating a tone signal of a tone pitch corresponding to the tone pitch information provided by the conversion circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing the velocity of key motion in a keyboard operated musical instrument, in which sensors (10) have a polymer piezoelectric film (18) laminated to a mylar backing material (20) are mounted in proximity to the keys (12) of a keyboard operated musical instrument. When deflected by the keys (12), the sensors (10) produce analog circuit output voltages proportional to the velocity of key motion. The analog signals are then converted to digital signals and processed by a digital microprocessor (36) to represent the velocity factor component of musical information in Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) or other digital formats. The digital data is then presented directly to a reproducing musical instrument or recorded on an electronic storage media.

Abstract: In order to obtain speed and position information about a moving component of a musical instrument a fin extending in the direction of travel of the moving component is coupled thereto as, for example, by affixing the fin to the hammer shank of a piano. The fin carries indicia, such as a bar code, which can be read, for example, by an optical or magnetic sensor assembly. In one embodiment, a pair of side-by-side indicia bands are carried on the fin with the bands slightly offset in the direction of travel in order that direction, as well as speed and position information can be obtained. The gathered data may include information recorded, for example, for all the notes and the pedals of a piano in order that a performance may be reconstructed and played back employing a solenoid stack or the like.

Abstract: A tone generation device for an electronic musical instrument capable of producing multiple tone source effects such as a stereophonic effect and a reverberation effect includes a plurality of tone forming circuits, a control parameter generation circuit for generating control parameter for controlling outputs of the tone forming circuits, a plurality of tone synthesizing circuits for synthesizing outputs of some of the tone forming circuits and outputs of others of the tone forming circuits together in accordance with the control parameters supplied from thge control parameter generation circuit, and sound systems provided in correspondence to the respective tone synthesizing circuits.

Abstract: A bending angle detector is constructed by a flexible base member, a flexible resistor and a detecting circuit. Herein, the flexible resistor is attached on at least one surface of the base member so that the resistance thereof can be varied in response to a bend of the base member. The detecting circuit, coupled to the flexible resistor, detects a bending angle of the base member based on the resistance variation of the flexible resistor. In an electronic musical instrument employing this bending angle detector, there is provided a flexible mounting member having a shape to be put on an articulation portion of a person. At least one storage pouch is formed at the predetermined position of the flexible mounting member to store the bending angle detector therein. Thus, a musical tone signal is formed based on a bending angle of the articulation portion of the person detected by the bending angle detector. Preferably, the flexible mounting member has a glove-like-shape.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument effects the slur on several continuous notes when the slur is selected. The slur performance is detected based on performance information which is generated when performing the keyboard. Then, states of musical tones to be generated are varied from the first note to the last note in the slurred notes in accordance with a line or a curve corresponding to the predetermined musical factor to be detected. Preferably, this musical factor may be the tone color, key-depression intensity, pitch difference between the first note and last note in the slurred notes. Further, it is possible to select desirable one of the preset lines or curves whose data are stored in a memory.

Abstract: A musical tone data compensation apparatus which detects chord components in a performance data stored in accordance with operation of a keyboard and modifies touch data of each tone composing a chord. New touch data are generated by compression or expansion of each difference in touch data with referring to a representative touch data in a block of chord tones, so that emphasis or smoothness is given to a sequence of chords.

Abstract: In controlling a sound source for an electronic musical instrument, an operation data of a performance operation member corresponding to musical tone control parameters of a musical instrument is corrected according to a tone generation region characteristic of the musical instrument. The corrected data is inputted to a sound source circuit of the electronic musical instrument thereby a musical tone approximating of the musical instrument is regularly generated.

Abstract: A key position computing apparatus for a player piano is presented which includes the following components (a) sensing device provided on each key and adapted for measuring a distance between a reference plane and a key surface for each key, (b) memory device for storing computer programs to compute the relationship between the output from the sensing device and the distance between the reference plane and the key surface, (c) programmable memory device for storing the characteristic operating data of the sensing device for each key, (d) computing device for computing the relationship between the output from the sensing device and the distance from the reference plane to the surface of each key, (e) gain adjusting device for adjusting the gain of the output from the sensing device to a constant value, and (f) linearizing device for approximating the output of the sensing device by a linearized signal.

Abstract: A resonant effect apparatus for an electronic musical instrument includes a plurality of resonant tone signal forming channels for forming a plurality of resonant tone signals different in their resonant frequency characteristics when applied with a musical tone to be generated and a plurality of acoustic conversion systems for acoustically converting each of the resonant tone signals to issue the converted resonant tone signals therefrom. In the resonant effect apparatus, a supply condition of the resonant tone signals to the acoustic conversion systems is controlled for control of a sound localization of the resonant tone signals.

Abstract: In a musical accompaniment playing apparatus, a reproducing unit reproduces control information from a recording medium on which control information is recorded according to a MIDI standard, a sound source unit generates musical accompaniment information by the control information, a transducer transforms a singer's voice to voice information, a control unit controls a volume level of the musical accompaniment information according to the singer's ability, mixing unit mixes the musical accompaniment information with the voice information, and an output unit outputs the mixed information as sound.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a tone generator, a manipulator for defining a manipulation region and for performing manipulation within the manipulation region. The manipulator has a first detector which detects serial position data on the basis of positions of performance manipulation within the manipulation region, and a second detector which generates changing-degree data of a locus which is constituted by the serial position data. The tone generator generates musical tone with effect in accordance with the changing-degree data to thereby impart various effect such as vibrato with ease.

Abstract: A musical tone synthesizing apparatus generates musical tones by simulating the tone generation construction of a plucked-stringed instrument or string-striking type stringed instrument. The apparatus has a closed-loop circuit which simulate a tone generating element of the instrument, an excitation circuit which creates an excitation signal corresponding to the excitation given to the tone generating element in response to the time function. The time function is set in response to operational information of the tone generating operator. The excitation signal is supplied to the closed-loop circuit and circulates around closed-loop circuit and is delayed by a delay circuit having delay interval, and is fed back into the excitation circuit as the state of the tone generating element.

Abstract: Musical instruments usually require a high level of skill on the part of the operator. In the case of electronic instruments, playing an instrument often involves the depressing of keys on a keyboard. In the present invention, an apparatus for the generation of musical sounds is described which is instead based on monitoring motions of the body, especially the natural motion of swinging the arms and legs. The monitoring of body motion depends on the use of an acceleration sensor in a hand-held element, or on the use of an acceleration sensor contained in a detachable housing which is held by a "Velcro" (Trademark) type fastener to a part of the body. The signal from the acceleration sensor is transmitted via a cable or a wireless transmitter to a musical tone signal generating circuit which is contained, along with batteries, in a belt-shaped casing which may be worn by the user.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument which simulates an acoustic wind instrument and the like is designed to generate a musical tone having a desirable tone pitch in response to breath pressure applied thereto by a performer. Preferably, the electronic musical instrument has a shape like the wind instrument, so that the breath pressure includes breath blowing pressure and breath sucking pressure. For example, generation of the musical tone is controlled in response to the breath blowing pressure, while the predetermined musical parameter such as the tone color, accompaniment and rhythm is controlled in response to the breath sucking pressure.

Abstract: A motion orchestration system is provided to enable an artist or orchestrator to produce music or other sounds and to extemporaneously vary the sounds being produced without detracting from the visual effect intended by the artist or orchestrator. The system may include motion detecting sensors capable of generating three-space coordinates of various segments of the body of the orchestrator. Electrical signals generated by the motion detecting sensors may generate MIDI compounds which can be converted into appropriate music or sounds. Signals from traditional microphone equipment may also be employed. The system further includes hand switching devices responsive to various hand and/or finger movements to electronically control the orchestration of the electronic output signals generated by the motion or speech of the orchestrator or by external sources.

Abstract: A musical tone control apparatus is provided with a compensation device which compensates a magnitude of detected signals output from each sensor arranged on each finger. Therefore, even though adjacent fingers are involuntarily bent when a specific finger is bent by the intention of a player, an interference which is given to the specific finger from the adjacent fingers is compensated by the compensation device, so that musical tone control signals can be generated from a control signal generation device in accordance with the bending of the specific finger without the interference caused by the adjacent fingers.

Abstract: A striker designed to strike or be swung for playing music is provided with a musical sound-initiating command signal-generating device including switching members. When the striker strikes or swings, the switching members perform a switching action which triggers the transmitting of a musical sound-initiating command signal from the musical sound-initiating command signal-generating device. A desired musical sound is produced by a musical sound producing unit in response to the musical sound-initiating command signal. A number of different timbres can be selectively used for a musical tone, by operating a timbre-selecting switch provided on the striker.

Abstract: An apparatus for outputting a pitch data corresponding to a relative distance between a pair of movable members or a position of a second movable member relative to a first movable member. Data indicating the output relative distance or data indicating the output relative position is converted to corresponding pitch data in accordance with one of a plurality of conversion characteristics selected by a selection section. A pitch corresponding to the converted pitch data is determined. An electronic musical instrument outputs a musical tone having the determined pitch. The musical tone is controlled in accordance with a flow state of air passing through a mouthpiece or a bite pressure.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is provided with tone color specifying switch, musical style specifying switch and device for deciding the joint of melody tones based on the tone color and musical style specified by these switches. A new-timing melody tone is decided to be jointed with a preceding timing melody tone, based on the specified tone color and musical style, in the state of melody tone joint, for example legato state or nonlegato state, during the preceding timing melody tone is being generated.

Abstract: Audio data of a predetermined piece of music is recorded on a compact disc. A sequence of musical tone data is stored in an auto-play memory. Also stored in this auto-play memory are a time control command, an access command and a play command. An instrument controller reads out these commands to surely control the auto-playing and reproduction of data from the compact disc in synchronism.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument capable of producing a key touch feeling resembling one in playing the piano by the provision of a hammer which is interlocked with a key, key-on data and touch data are generated in response to downward displacement of the key. In this type of electronic musical instrument, key-on data and touch data are also generated when the hammer is displaced upwardly and downwardly due to bounding of the hammer independently of the movement of the key. A touch control characteristic is established usually by using touch data generated in response to key-on data. When, however, second key-on data has been generated within a predetermined length of time after generation of preceding first key-on data, a touch control characteristic for the second on data is established by using first touch data generated in response to the first key-on data.

Abstract: The musical tone control apparatus detects a movement of a player, such as a holding, touching, beating, depressing, pulling, lifting up or down movement. Then, the musical tone control apparatus generates musical tone control data based on a detecting result of the movement of the player. The musical tone control data control a tone pitch, a tone color or a tone volume of a musical tone to be generated.

Abstract: An electronic stringed instrument employs a plurality of sensors or monitors for instrument performance. Preferred sensors or monitors include a detector for detecting that a string of the instrument is vibrated, an apparatus for evaluating a string-vibration strength or a string touch, an apparatus for discriminating a fret operation position on a fingerboard or a fundamental frequency of a vibration of the vibrated string, a tremolo arm sensor, and a string-bending sensor. These performance input parameters are assigned to various control functions for musical tones generated by a sound source and/or various control functions for effects added to these musical tones by an effector. The function assignment is preferably programmable. In an operation, a music control apparatus controls the sound source and/or effector in response to a performance monitor so that musical tones for the strings can be distinguished from each other or effects for the musical tones can be distinguished from each other.

Abstract: Even though a control apparatus adapted for controlling a sound source of a keyboard type musical instrument is used with any type of electronic instruments connected therewith as a performance input apparatus, the control apparatus can provide after-touch effect as a user expects. Especially when a wind instrument playing mode is selected the control apparatus generates control data in a state inherent to a wind instrument playing mode on the basis of the received after-touch data to control musical tones, and suppresses amplitudes of variations of the control data when the after-touch data vary within a low amplitude range. Further, when the control apparatus has received a plurality of after-touch data, the control apparatus obtains only one of after-touch data, which is to be processed, thereby applying after-touch effect to musical tones with no time delay after a player's playing operation.

Abstract: When picking of a string is performed, the vibration of the string is detected accurately and quickly. When a fret operation position is changed during generation of a musical tone caused by the string picking, the pitch of the musical tone is changed to the one corresponding to the new fret operation position without generating a new musical tone. When the same string is stroked successively, the succeeding musical tone is generated while keeping the reverberation of the previous musical tone. The musical tone once generated will be stopped from being generated upon elapse of a predetermined time from the beginning of the tone generation, irrespective of the type of its timbre. When a fret operation state is changed to an open-string operation state after the string picking, the generation of the musical tone being generated stops at that timing.

Abstract: An envelope generator for use in an electronic musical instrument comprises a musical tone data processing unit to evaluate a rate of change in a current value of musical tone envelope data with respect to a target value based on a parameter, a changing rate control unit for decrementing a change in the current value such that the current value becomes closer to the target value, a detection unit to detect whether or not the rate of change becomes equal to 0, and a processing control unit control for stopping the evaluation the current value in response to a result of the detection.

Abstract: A system is provided for tracking the three-dimensional position of an object within a three-dimensional region by triangulation techniques to generate signals corresponding to such three-dimensional positions. The signals may be used to drive a music synthesizer. Triangulation may be by the use of at least three spaced apart ultrasound emitters cooperating with ultrasound receivers located on a body moving in the three-dimensional region. The position of each ultrasound receiver is calculable by triangulation from data from ultrasound pulses received by the receiver from the emitters. A sound map may be made of the region so that similar signals may drive the synthesizer differently for different sub-regions.

Abstract: A MIDI-compatible musical instrument controller includes a keyboard having a plurality of keys and circuitry for electronically scanning the keyboard and for producing individual key-depression signals for each key being depressed. Each of the individual key depression signals identifies the key with which it is associated, commences when the key is depressed, and terminates when the key with which it is associated is released. A plurality of note tables is provided for converting each of the individual key depression signals to MIDI note-identifying information. Each note table defines each key as one or more preselected musical notes such that no two of such tables define the plurality of keys with the same MIDI note-identifying information. One of the note tables is selected in response to a user command.

Abstract: The musical tone generating apparatus includes at least a waveform memory for storing waveform data, a stereophonic effect giving portion, left and right sound systems. The stereophonic effect giving portion gives stereophonic effect to the waveform data read from the waveform memory so that the left and right sound systems can generate left and right musical tones respectively based on the same waveform data outputted from the stereophonic effect giving portion. This stereophonic effect giving portion includes at least one digital filter whose filter coefficient can be adequately selected. This digital filter filters out the waveform data, and then the filtered waveform data are supplied to one of the left and right sound systems so that frequency characteristic of the left musical tone will be different from that of the right musical tone. Meanwhile, two digital filters can be provided at both inputs of the left and right sound systems.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is disclosed as including a tone pitch-assigning device which assigns pitches to musical tones which are to be generated by the instrument; a plurality of manually operable members; a control message-producing device that automatically produces musical tone-controlling messages which respectively correspond to operation of the manually operable members; and a musical tone-generating device which automatically generates a plurality of musical tones for each of the musical pitches assigned by the tone pitch-assigning device. The tone volumes of the musical tones are controlled based upon the tone-controlling messages so that the musical tone-generating device generates musical tones with tone volumes which may change in time, which may maintain a constant volume, or which may be attenuated, depending upon certain predetermined conditions.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument shaped like an electric guitar sounds individual notes that are synthesized to sound like an electric guitar. These notes may either be selected randomly selected by a player or from segments of prearranged musical tracks. The instrument provides for maintaining the tempo of manually played or preprogrammed notes, synchronizing the transitions between sequentially selected musical tracks, overlaying manual notes on the tracks, and a number of electric guitar-like sound effects including vibrato, chorus, overdrive, slurs and soft picks.

Abstract: When picking of a string is performed, the vibration of the string is detected accurately and quickly. When a fret operation position is changed during generation of a musical tone caused by the string picking, the pitch of the musical tone is changed to the one corresponding to the new fret operation position without generating a new musical tone. When the same string is stroked successively, the succeeding musical tone is generated while keeping the reverberation of the previous musical tone. The musical tone once generated will be stopped from being generated upon elapse of a predetermined time from the beginning of the tone generation, irrespective of the type of its timbre. When a fret operation state is changed to an open-string operation state after the string picking, the generation of the musical tone being generated stops at that timing.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for generating musical sound control parameters. The musical sound control parameters are supplied to a musical sound generating apparatus for using them to generate musical sound by the musical sound generating apparatus. The apparatus is essentially composed of (a) timbre selecting operators; (b) timbre parameter generators for supplying timbre parameters corresponding to timbre selected by the timbre selecting operators to said music sound generating apparatus (c) effect control operators; and (d) effect control parameter generators for supplying plural effect control parameters varying in response to the timber selected by said timbre selecting operators and also varying in response to the operating situation of the effect control operators.

Abstract: The musical tone generating apparatus converts a movement of a man into a musical tone. Such movement of the man includes a walking or running movement, a jumping movement, a rubbing movement and a beating movement, a turning movement and the like. More specifically, a tone pitch, a tone color, a tone volume or other parameters of the musical tone to be generated is controlled based on a value of a moving speed, a value of a jumping height or a value of frictional heat produced by the rubbing movement of player's hands.

Abstract: A controllable electronic musical instrument is disclosed as including tone pitch-assigning devices for assigning pitches to musical tones to be generated, manually operable members for producing detectable signals indicative of a touching of such members for operation thereof, a control message-producing device which is responsive to symbols from the manually operable members for producing musical tone-controlling messages that have magnitudes which automatically change in time, and a musical tone-generating device for generating musical tones based on musical tone-controlling messages produced by the control message-producing device, and based on a pitch assigned by the tone pitch-assigning devices. The tone pitch-assigning devices and the manually operable members may be provided as keys on a keyboard.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a musical tone generation instructor for detecting a breath operation state at a mouthpiece portion arranged on an instrument main body and instructing generation of a musical tone, a lip detection part for detecting a biting strength at said mouthpiece portion, a control information output part for outputting a plurality of parameter control information for variably controlling contents of at least one parameter of a musical tone to be generated so as to be varied in accordance with the biting strength detected by the lip detection part on the basis of instruction by the musical tone generation instructing part, a designation part for designating an arbitrary one of the plurality of parameter control information to be output from the control information output part, and a control part for, when the biting strength at the mouthpiece portion is detected by the lip detection part under a condition that the one parameter control information is designated by the designati