Abstract: An apparatus for use with a percussion instrument assembly includes a base unit for positioning on a preselected surface. A first instrument pedal includes a first connecting linkage having a first end and a second end. The first end of the first connecting linkage is linked to the base unit so that the first instrument pedal may be utilized to operated a first percussion instrument. A second instrument pedal is positioned adjacent the first instrument pedal. The second instrument pedal includes a second connecting linkage having a first end and a second end. The first end of the second connecting linkage is linked to the base unit so that the second instrument pedal may be utilized to operate a second percussion instrument in a manner such that the first and second pedals are capable of being alternately actuated independently and simultaneously by the foot of an operator to respectively activate one or both the first and second percussion instruments.

Abstract: A switch mechanism of a piano with a built-in electronic musical instrument, which eliminates the disposition of switches on the surface of a piano to improve the appearance of the piano. An upright piano(1) includes a hammering mechanism(7) which strikes strings in accordance with the operation of a keyboard(3), and thus it serves as an acoustic piano as well as an electronic piano because it has a built-in electronic sound source(9) controlled by the operation of the same keyboard(3). This upright piano(1) includes an inhibition mechanism(13) for inactivating the hammering mechanism(7) in electronic mode, a pedal mechanism(17) having a muffler pedal(16), a control portion(19) driven by a power supply(18) for controlling the electronic sound source in accordance with the operation of the keyboard(3) to produce sounds, and a power supply switch(21) turned ON/OFF by the actuation of the muffler pedal(16) to make and break the electrical connection between the power supply(18) and the control portion(19).

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument is fabricated on the basis of an upright piano, and an electronic sound generating system is incorporated therein so as to selectively generate an acoustic piano sound and an electronic sound; a plurality of leaf spring members are provided for the keys of the acoustic piano for imparting a key touch like an electronic keyboard, and a change-over mechanism selectively engages key action mechanisms with the keys and the leaf spring members with the keys so that a player can select the piano key touch or the other key touch like the electronic keyboard depending upon the sound for a performance.

Abstract: A foot pedal assembly has a rigid foot plate with its heel end pivotally supported on a pivot axis which is above the plane of the heel end.

Abstract: A foot operated electronic musical instrument with a plurality of foot actuated pedals, which correspond to the notes produced by a bass guitar. Depressing a particular pedal causes an electronic tone generator to produce a corresponding note. Pedals are generally provided only for natural notes, with the exception of A# and D#. In order to obtain the full chromatic scale, a flat switch is included. When engaged by the foot this switch has the effect of lowering the value of the note by one half step, hence adding a flat, or a sharp with respect to the next lower note.

Abstract: An electronic piano with a pedal, which can control various parameters by the pedal. The electronic piano has a mode switch for selecting a mode, and the electoronic piano switches parameters to be controlled by the pedal according to the selected mode by the mode switch. The pedal can provide not one but a variety of parameter control functions. Further, an electronic piano with first and second pedals, wherein a relationship between the up/down operation of the first pedal and an increase/decrease in parameter to be controlled is set to be opposite to a relationship between the up/down operation of the second pedal and the increase/decrease in parameter to be controlled.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises a pitch designation device such as a keyboard, performance manipulators such as foot pedals, a tone color designation device such as tone color switches for designating a tone color, an effect designation device for selectively designating an effect as the effect assigned to at least one of the foot pedals on the basis of the selected tone color, and a tone generation control device for controlling the tone generation to be accompanied with the designated effect. That one pedal is assigned with a plurality of effects and a predetermined effect is automatically given correspondingly to the designation of the tone color of musical tone to be generated. For example, a sosenuto effect and a bright effect are selectively assigned correspondingly to the piano tone color and the non-piano tone color. Further, an intermediate output which increases continuously is generated when the pedal is pushed down.

Abstract: A chord-generating synthesizer system including an electronic keyboard instrument and a remote control unit operable by a musician's foot--while the musician is using both hands to simultaneously play an instrument such as a guitar. The keyboard instrument is formed with circuit electronics for generating polyphonic music, and has internal wiring that provides a plurality of normally open circuit loops. Each circuit loop includes a pair of connector output terminals for closure of the loop. The circuit electronics is responsive to closure of the loops for generating a note or chord. The remote control unit is separate and external from the instrument, but is selectively connected to the instrument by a multi-lead cable; the unit includes multiple connector inputs and a plurality of switches. Each switch is wired between at least a pair of the connector inputs for remote control of the chord-generating function of the keyboard instrument.

Abstract: A new type of musical instrument and performance apparatus is disclosed and is used with the special performing art called "Instrument dance", "instrument exercise" or "instrument boxing" etc. The instrument comprises a floor keyboard, on which the performer can either dance and produce switching signals with his or her feet, hand or hand hammer in accordance with the intention of the performer. In addition, a similar wall keyboard is provided along with a multi-color system and an electronic organ circuit. The performer can play on the floor keyboard while at the same time adjusting with ease the tone, timbre, volume and color, to thereby achieve the multiple artistic effect of a single performer producing the shape, sound, light and color of the performance.

Abstract: A pedal keyboard operated musical instrument includes a keyboard housing formed as a shallow, upwardly opening coffer. A spacer bar extends laterally in the housing, with a plurality of spring bars arrayed in parallel fashion and secured atop the spacer bar in generally orthogonal relationship thereto. The spacer bar bisects the longitudinal extent of the spring bars, which are unsupported at their opposed ends. A first and second plurality of pedal keys are secured to the spring bars, in alternating fashion, with each key of one plurality disposed between a pair of the keys of the other plurality. In addition, each key of one plurality is secured to one end of each spring bar, with a key of the other plurality secured to the other end of the respective spring bar. The keys of the one plurality are provided with blocks extending upwardly therefrom to extend above the nominal height of the second plurality, the blocks being adjustable in the longitudinal distance from the medial spacer bar.

Abstract: A foot-controlled musical instrument, the control portion of which includes a heel rest mounted for rotation so that, while the heel of the playing person is firmly placed on the rest, the foot may easily be turned to various angular positions within a range of about 90 degrees, to bring the anterior part of the foot into position to make contact with any desired one of several (preferably six) pedal keys which, when activated, cause production of various sounds, e.g. according to a tonal scale. The pedal keys are mounted on a spring-loaded plate which may be depressed by foot pressure, the depression thereof serving to control certain characteristics of the produced sound. The heel rest plate is also mounted for movement in one or more linear directions in addition to its rotary movement, and these linear movements control other characteristics of the produced sound.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument including a compact, portable pedal board and a storage case for the pedal board and for the electronic components of the instrument is disclosed. The pedal board includes shortened foot pedals having a low profile and a very low throw for activating control switches for the electronics, whereby the pedal board can be used in conjunction with a piano or with other instruments. The low throw is obtained through the use of a guide channel mounting arrangement for the pedals and by the use of pressure sensitive switching.The storage case receives and secures the pedal board and also provides a housing for the tone generator, amplifier and other electronics controlled by the pedal board. A control panel door on the end of the storage case is adapted to receive a control panel, and is hinged to the storage case so that it may be swung fully open to expose the control panel. The case may then be positioned on its opposite end to serve as a display stand for the control unit.

Abstract: An expression pedal assembly for a musical instrument with conventional electromechanical control means of the pedal being replaced by proximity control means. The pedal assembly is comprised of a casing which houses a proximity detector plate, a proximity detector circuit and may include an audio circuit compartment. Earth shielding of the bottom and walls of the casing is provided. A heel rest at one end of the pedal casing serves to provide the only support for a musician's foot and is so positioned to support the sole of the foot above the proximity device to provide the musician with swift and fluent control of a musical function controlled by the response of the proximity device to movement of said sole.

Abstract: An electronic musical keyboard instrument that is controlled by a digital processor. Key and stops/effects statuses are sampled, during successive time intervals, and read into random access memory associated with the digital processor. After manipulation and/or supplementation of the status information to effect implementation of various features, key-representative signals are read out to tone generation and voicing circuits.

Abstract: Electronic and logic circuitry for an automatic tonal bass rhythm accompaniment feature and an automatic chord feature in an electronic organ. Automatic bass rhythm accompaniment produces a pattern of notes based upon a tonic note selected by the instrumentalist such that the desired musical effect is produced when the pattern of notes is combined with the notes being played by the instrumentalist. The electronic organ has stored in a memory various rhythm patterns which can be selected by the instrumentalist by closing rhythm switches. Electronic circuitry then causes notes for the selected rhythm pattern or patterns to be played automatically in response to the actuation of a pedal switch or keyswitch. The automatic chord feature of the present invention provides selectively major triad and dominant seventh chords or minor triad and diminished seventh chords automatically in response to the selection of a root note by the instrumentalist.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises an upper keyboard channel, a lower keyboard channel and a pedal keyboard channel. The lower keyboard channel includes a tone gate which is actuated by a chord rhythm pattern pulse generated by an automatic rhythm generator to gate the lower keyboard tones. The pedal keyboard channel includes a root/subordinate tone generator which provide a root tone designated by the depressed pedal key and subordinate tones related to the root tone with predetermined musical intervals, and a tone keyer which is actuated by a bass rhythm pattern pulse generated by the automatic rhythm generator to gate the bass tones.

Abstract: The organ pedal board includes a plurality of keys each having a magnet adjustably mounted on one end thereof for actuating the reed switch. Each reed switch is disposed at an angle of 45.degree. relative to the vertical plane of movement of each key with the upper most end of each reed switch being disposed adjacent to but below the magnet when the key is in rest position. Each magnet is comprised of an oblong piece of rubber or plastic ferrite material secured to the head end of a screw which is threaded into the end of a key for rotatable and longitudinal adjustment of the magnet relative to the longitudinal axis of the key. The opposite end of each key is secured to a supporting block by means of a thin flexible strip with the end of the key slightly overlapping and resting on the supporting block for pivotal movement about the edge thereof.

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: 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: An electrically amplified musical instrument control apparatus for combining control of a broad range of special sound effects in a single housing and enabling a musician to produce single or multiple special sound effects as desired with a guitar while indicating the operational status of each special effect and providing a foot-operated volume control.

Abstract: An electronic organ having an automatic pedal keying circuit in which a selected pattern of pedal voice notes is played in response to depression of only a single key, which may be a pedal key. When the automatic circuit is effective, normal pedal voice keying operations are disabled, and pedal voices will be keyed in a selected pattern occurring in a timed sequence. The organ is selectively adjustable between a normal playing mode and the playing mode according to the present invention.

Abstract: A musical instrument including an electronic organ provided with sound generators of an upper manual, a lower manual, a bass and a rhythm section. The sound generators are connected electrically to control switches in a console, these control switches being actuated by spaced horizontal, arcuately disposed, rows of main, switch actuating, pedals selectively operable by a person's left foot. The main pedals are disposed also in vertical rows corresponding to a basic note of a chord while the horizontal rows correspond to the key of each basic chord. A diode logic, in cooperation with the sound generators and control switches, dictates a prescribed chord of the lower manual sound generator to be sounded when a main pedal is depressed.