Abstract: A musical instrument, comprising a neck and a body. A chord selector is present on the neck, and a note selector is present on the body. The chord selector comprises a plurality of locations, each having a tonic and a quality. The note selector is a touch sensitive strip that is linearly arranged like a piano keyboard. A note is sounded only if it is simultaneously pressed on the note selector, and is present in one of the chords selected on the chord selector. Thus, once a chord is selected, it may be picked, strummed, or arpeggiated by employing different hand motions upon the note selector.

Abstract: A chord display apparatus for use with a musical instrument is provided, which displays chords so as to enable the player to give diversified performance, and a storage medium that stores such a chord display program. Sequence data are stored in a storage device, which comprise a plurality of data including at least chord data that are arranged in accordance with a predetermined chord progression are sequentially read out. A first operating manner, which is a standard manner of operating the playing elements of the musical instrument so as to produce a chord represented by the chord data, is determined when each of the chord data is read out and displayed by a display device. The storage device stores operating manner data that indicates a second operating manner different from the first operating manner, such that the operating manner data is associated with the chord data.

Abstract: A music apparatus is constructed for joint play of music pieces by processing song data. In the music apparatus, a storage device stores song data representing a plurality of music pieces. An operating device is used for designating a first music piece as an object of the joint play among the plurality of the music pieces stored in the storage device. A controller device automatically selects a second music piece from the plurality of the music pieces as another object of the joint play such that the second music piece has a musical compatibility with the first music piece. A processor device retrieves the song data of the first music piece and the song data of the second music piece from the storage device, and processes the song data retrieved from the storage device so as to merge the second music piece to the first music piece.

Abstract: The apparatus and method composes performance information which represents a musical performance on a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings, each string being capable of generating a tone having a pitch which is selectively assigned to each string from among plural pitches available on each string. Upon designation of a chord to be played, the pitches of tones to be respectively assigned to the plurality of strings are determined such that the tones of the determined pitches constitute the designated chord. Then the strings to be assigned for tone generation are designated from among the plurality of strings, and the timing at which the assigned tone is to be generated is designated for each of the designated strings. The data of the tones having the determined pitches are generated, in which the data of each tone represents the tone generation on the designated string and at the designated timing.

Abstract: A performance data analyzer wherein a plurality of pitch name lines each comprised of essential pitch names characterizing each of plural tonalities are memorized and wherein one of the memorized pitch name lines at least a portion of which is included in an input performance data is extracted and a harmonic tone is extracted from the input performance data so that a tonality of the input performance data is detected on a basis of the extracted pitch name line and the extracted harmonic tone.

Abstract: A musical performance assisting system includes a key designating section for designating a key of music, a chord designating section for designating a chord in the music, a chord file storing pointers in a manner so as to correspond to keys of music, and a chord tone file storing the pointers in a manner so as to correspond to chord groups, each of the chord groups including chord tone data of chords belonging thereto. The system further includes a chord tone selecting section for selecting one of the pointers from the chord file based on the key designated by the key designating section and further selecting, from the chord tone file, chord tone data of one of the chords which belongs to one of the chord groups designated by the selected pointer and which is designated by the chord designating section. The system further includes a musical tone generating section for producing a musical tone corresponding to the chord tone data selected by the chord tone selecting section.

Abstract: A chord detecting apparatus includes a computer which, by executing a program, detects chords as designated by player's operation on a keyboard or by key data inputted from an external source. The program includes two kinds of chord detection algorithms, the one for a single finger mode and the other for a fingered chord mode. The apparatus conducts the processing of chord detection under the single finger mode algorithm in preference to the fingered chord mode algorithm, namely the apparatus first tries to detect a chord by the single finger mode rule, and if a chord is detected, such a chord is used for succeeding processes, and if no chord is detected by the single finger rule, the apparatus next tries to detect a chord by the fingered chord mode rule.

Abstract: An automatic accompaniment apparatus stores a plurality of chord variety progression patterns corresponding to the respective types of chords. Each chord variety progression pattern is constituted by a subprogression of plural chords provided for the corresponding chord type. When a player designates chords in progression to be used for an automatic accompaniment performance, the chord type of each designated chord is detected, and each single chord will be substituted by a chord variety progression pattern for the chord type which is the same as such a designated single chord, under the condition that the chord variety progression function is made operative for such a designated chord and that such a designated chord is of a type for which a chord variety progression pattern is provided correspondingly. As the player performs a chord progression of a slower change, the apparatus realizes a modified complex chord progression with a faster chord change to enhance the variousness in chord progressions.

Abstract: A signal processor acts upon a stream of incoming musical performance data including note-on signals and outputs a stream of musical performance data including note-on and note-off signals. The incoming performance data is dispatched to a multiplicity of output channels depending on the time interval between successive incoming note-on data. Notes played in very rapid succession are identified as chords and are performed with identical musical parameters such as duration and instrumental timbre. Notes played in slow succession are identified as polyphonic and are performed with the same instrumental timbre. Notes played at an intermediate speed are identified as melodic and are performed with the same instrumental timbre and a variable staccato or legato effect.

Abstract: The controller scans a plurality of chord switches which select a particular type of chord. If a previously operated selection switch is still closed, the previously generated MIDI chord message continues. If a selection switch is newly operated, then the MIDI signals from an associated musical instrument on a selected channel are scanned to determine the presence of a particular note meeting pre-selected criteria. When such a note is recognized, a three-note MIDI chord message using the particular note as the root note in the chord is produced and transmitted to the music sequencer, which produces a musical pattern in the particular chord as an accompaniment to the musical instrument.

Abstract: In a chord progression input/modification device, when a key and a single or two successive reference chords are designated by a user, available chords are acquired and displayed. Any one of the available chords can be used, in consonance with musical theory, to follow or substitute for the single reference chord, or to be inserted between the two reference chords for generating a modified chord progression. The chord progression modification device may be installed in an electronic musical instrument.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus having a performance information analyzer for automatically analyzing a performance information of a musical tune into a plurality of performance parts, wherein the analyzer is designed to be applied with a performance information including a plurality of tone pitch informations for detecting a performance style of the performance information and for analyzing the performance information into a plurality of performance parts in accordance with the detected performance style.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a plurality of foot-operated switches, each switch associated with a particular musical note in a selected octave. Additional switches are provided for tempo (beat control) and selection of minor and seventh chord variations. The apparatus includes a processor which produces messages, in response to the switch selections, which have a MIDI format wherein the messages are transmitted to any music sequencer which can use the information therein to produce the audio signals which when amplified and sent to speakers produce the musical chords which the selected switches represent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method for intelligently controlling note inversions during a computer based musical performance. During a musical performance, notes of a track are transposed against a chord. In some instances, the resulting pitch of the transposed note may fall outside of an upper-pitch boundary or a lower-pitch boundary defined for the track. Two additional control mechanisms are examined to determine if the note should be inverted. One mechanism includes a chord inversion mask used for managing the inversion of notes within the context of the chord. Another mechanism includes a track inversion mask defining one or more series of ranges where inversions are allowed. If the pitch of a transposed note exceeds the upper-pitch boundary or the lower-pitch boundary, the chord inversion mask and the track inversion mask are scanned to determine if the note can be inverted.

Abstract: An automatic accompaniment apparatus includes a storage section for storing a plurality of accompaniment patterns. Each of the plurality of accompaniment patterns corresponds to an automatic accompaniment data. One of the plurality of accompaniment patterns is selected by a selecting section based on an input specifying data, and then one of the plurality of accompaniment data corresponding to the selected accompaniment pattern is selected. An accompaniment sound signal generating section generates an accompaniment sound signal based on the selected automatic accompaniment data by the selecting section.

Abstract: A music system including a musical instrument, such as a keyboard strummer, in which the musical notes produced by the playing of the instrument are controlled by musical assistance data mapped unto the instrument keys and strum vanes from tracks specially prepared and synchronized with a prior performance of the piece. Modified mass media, such as CD ROM, TV signals and video cassettes are provided including synchronized note assist data and additional media, such as ROM packs or tone encoded audio cassettes or CDs, are provided with synchronizable note assist data for use with unmodified mass media.

Abstract: A chord analysis apparatus which includes a table memory for memorizing a plurality of sound timing patterns in a performance section of a predetermined number of beats, a plurality of tone pitch difference patterns corresponding with the sound timing patterns and a plurality of harmonic tone information data corresponding with the tone pitch difference patterns. In the tone pitch difference patterns, each difference in tone pitch between adjacent tones is represented by the number of semitones. After a performance information data of a desired musical tune has been divided each at two times, a pattern corresponding with the sound timing and tone pitch difference patterns in each divided section is searched at the table memory to read out a harmonic tone information data corresponding with the searched pattern thereby to detect each chord of the divided sections based thereon.

Abstract: An automatic performance section and an effect imparting section or (and) a pitch measuring section are provided in combination within a single device, and the operations of these sections are collectively controlled by a processor. To an external sound signal input from outside the device, the effect imparting section imparts an effect designated by designating data. For tuning purposes, the pitch measuring section detects zero-cross points of the external sound signal to measure the pitch of the signal. Under the control of the processor, the automatic performance section, which has automatic performance data and change data stored therein, under the control of the processor, reads out the performance data to perform an automatic performance process and also reads out the change data for changing the designating data to thereby change an effect to be imparted.

Abstract: In a method for automatically performing accompaniment in an automatic accompaniment apparatus, a plurality of system defining rhythm data patterns are provided. Each of the plurality of system rhythm data patterns is composed of a plurality of rhythm data for a plurality of parts. In a rhythm editing mode, one or more parts of the plurality of parts of the user rhythm data pattern is designated for a user defining rhythm data pattern, and the designated one or more parts are associated with the rhythm data of corresponding parts of one of the plurality of system defining rhythm data patterns so that the user defining rhythm data pattern can be produced. In an automatic accompaniment mode, accompaniment is automatically performed based on the user defining rhythm data pattern. Each of the plurality of rhythm data has a rhythm data identifier and a pattern identifier is allocated to each of the plurality of system defining rhythm data patterns.

Abstract: A music system including a musical instrument, such as a keyboard strummer, in which the musical notes produced by the playing of the instrument are controlled by musical assistance data mapped unto the instrument keys and strum vanes from tracks specially prepared and synchronized with a prior performance of the piece.

Abstract: To provide a machine composer capable of efficiently composing natural melodies with a simplified system configuration and without requiring complicated data processing: A melody material storage 10 stores a plurality of melody materials each represented by a plurality of note records. Each note record in a melody material contains data items of pitch and note type or function. Thus, pitches of the plurality of note records constitute an original pitch succession whereas note types of the records define an original note type succession. A note type of each note record represents a pitch function specified by musical background of the original pitch succession. A input device 20 enters musical background information (including for example keynote, scale and chord).

Abstract: Video-song media having chord data recorded thereon and playback system thereof for reproducing the chord responsive to a singer's singing voice are disclosed. The video-song media having chord data recorded thereon has the chord data which is additionally recorded in a sub-code of the program area having video-song information therein. The playback system for the video-song media having chord data recorded thereon, reproduces word data to the song, the accompaniment music and the graphic signal relating to a corresponding music, and also reproduces the chord specified by chord data in response to the voice input signal provided by a voice input device. Accordingly, sound effects can be maximized in order to multiply the user's interest while practicing singing the video-song.

Abstract: Performance data memory may be a conventional automatic performance memory which store plural kinds of automatic performance data such as song data for achieving an automatic melody performance and pattern data for achieving an automatic accompaniment. Designation information is set optionally which designates at least part of desired automatic performance data. Further, a custom performance data memory is provided for storing the designation information in combination in desired order. The designation information is sequentially read out from the custom performance data memory, and at least part of the automatic performance data designated by the designation information is read out from the performance data memory. Thus, an automatic performance in which at least parts of plural sets of the automatic performance data are sequentially combined is provided as a custom performance.

Abstract: A performance data editing apparatus wherein chords in performance data of a musical tune applied from an external memory element or performance apparatus are detected and normalized into a predetermined tone scale on a basis of their respective types and roots, the musical tune including a plurality of performance parts at least one of which represents the chords indicative of a musical progression having a performance pattern, and wherein the normalized chords are converted on a basis of chords designated to be performed-for production of a desired accompaniment data, thereby to produce edited chords indicative of a progression of the designated chords in the performance pattern.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having keys that include a first set of keys for generating program commands in real time such as chord and scale selections in response to being depressed, and a second set of keys for generating input device signals in response to being played. The electronic musical instrument also has a memory adapted to store a plurality of translation tables. The translation tables being adapted to translate the input device signals received from the second set of keys into corresponding control signals. A translator to the input device signals, the translation tables, and the program commands generating control signals which are used by an electronic signal generator. The electronic musical interface also includes an interface for providing access between the translator and at least one external device.

Abstract: An arrangement support apparatus for producing automatic accompaniment performance data for a musical tune. The musical tune is divided into a plurality of sections, and an arrangement condition is input for each of the sections. Utilizing the arrangement conditions, the apparatus selects an accompaniment pattern corresponding to at least one accompaniment performance part for each of the sections of the musical tune. The apparatus then produces automatic accompaniment performance data for the musical tune utilizing the selected accompaniment patterns.

Abstract: A chord information generating apparatus and a chord information generating method, for detecting a key depression state every time when keys in a specific key area are depressed, forming data which represents a skilled person or a beginner on the basis of the result of the above detection, sequentially accumulating the data in RAM, detecting the depression of one or two keys when the depression of keys in the specific key area is detected, and generating chord information for generating at least three chord tones when it is decided on the data accumulated in the RAM that the player is a beginner, or generating chord information for generating tones corresponding to the detected key-depression state when the above is not the case.

Abstract: A performance information analyzer wherein one of tone pitch information data applied thereto in response to progress of performance of a musical tune is analyzed into one of plural performance parts on a basis of a difference in tone pitch between the one of the tone pitch information data and a reference tone pitch information data previously assigned to a predetermined part of the plural performance parts during prior analysis of the tone pitch information and the other tone pitch information data are analyzed into the other performance parts on a basis of a difference in tone pitch between the analyzed tone pitch information data and each of the other tone pitch information data.

Abstract: While automatic accompaniment for chord, bass, rhythm etc. is performed in accordance with a normal pattern, the normal pattern is changed over to a fill-in pattern in response to actuation of a fill-in switch. Then, automatic accompaniment based on the fill-in pattern is repetitively performed as long as the fill-in switch is actuated. When the end of the fill-in pattern is detected, repeat control of the fill-in pattern causes the fill-in pattern to be repeated from a predetermined intermediate point (for example, the head of a predetermined intermediate measure of the fill-in pattern). As the result, the introductory portion of the fill-in pattern is performed only once so that it is never performed during repetition of the fill-in pattern. This can avoid undesirable musical unnaturalness due to repetition of the introductory portion.

Abstract: In a music accompaniment playing system, MIDI (Music Instrument Digital Interface) sound source controlling data to control a MIDI sound source for generating accompaniment music information for music accompaniment playing, and display controlling data to perform a display corresponding to the MIDI sound source Controlling data, are reproduced from a record medium for music accompaniment playing. The display controlling data includes lyrics data corresponding to lyrics for music accompaniment playing, and accompaniment chord data corresponding to an accompaniment chord of the accompaniment music information.

Abstract: When a switching operation from a normal pattern to a special pattern is instructed while an automatic accompaniment operation is being executed using normal pattern data, the pattern to be read out is switched from the normal pattern to the special pattern in accordance with the instruction. In this case, when it is instructed to switch the pattern within the instructed bar, only a rhythm part of a plurality of parts is switched from the normal pattern to the special pattern. When it is instructed to switch the pattern at the beginning of the next bar, other parts in addition to the rhythm part are switched from the normal patterns to the special patterns.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes manual input devices such as keys, a memory device or devices such as CDs which contain a prerecorded musical signal, prerecorded translation tables, and a prerecorded series of translation table switching signals synchronized to events in the musical signal such as chord changes and scale changes, a translator responsive to the manual input devices, translation tables and translation table switching signals for generating control signals, and an electronic signal generator responsive to the control signals for generating audio signals determined by the control signals.

Abstract: An automatic accompaniment apparatus which performs automatic accompaniment with a natural sounding advancement of chords. In the automatic accompaniment apparatus, one of component sounds of a chord which has a particular position in the order of the pitch is set as a reference part sound. The inversion type of chord is determined from the reference part sound, and then sounds of the chord are produced in accordance with the inversion type thus determined. The apparatus determines, as production of sounds of chords proceeds, a reference part sound of a present chord in accordance with a musical interval relationship of component sounds of the present chord to another reference part sound of a preceding chord and in accordance with a preset rule. The inversion type of the present chord is determined by the reference part sound.

Abstract: Left- and right-hand keystroke windows X.sub.L and X.sub.H are decided in accordance with the positions of player's left and right hands pressing keys. When the number of pressed keys in either one of the windows X.sub.L and X.sub.H are larger than a predetermined value, that window is decided to be used as a chord identifying window, and on the basis of a combination of pressed keys in the chord identifying window, an accompaniment chord is decided for automatic accompaniment.

Abstract: In an automatic arrangement apparatus, a melody of a part of an original musical tune is memorized in a melody memory (4), chord data of the original musical tune is memorized in a chord progression memory (5), and a rhythm pattern in a rhythm pattern memory (12) is selected in accordance with the style and composition of the original musical tune. At a timing of a note code of the selected rhythm pattern, a top-note, an additional tone, a bass part and a drum part are produced. The top-note is produced by referring to a top-note table stored in a top-note table memory (15) and corresponds with the chord. The additional tone is produced in accordance with the top-note and the chord on a basis of a voicing table stored in a voicing table memory (16). The top-note and additional tone can be selected at a continuous two-tone pair.

Abstract: An automatic arrangement apparatus for automatically producing performance data indicative of a predetermined performance part of a musical tune on a basis of an arrangement condition intended to be arranged. The arrangement apparatus includes a baeklng type table memory for memorizing rhythm backing and non-rhythm backing in compliance with a predetermined combination of a performance style, loudness of musical tones and a performance feeling or mood such as melodic or rhythmic feeling. Based on the arrangement condition applied from an external equipment such as an electronic musical instrument or an external recorder by operation of an Input device, either the rhythm backing or the non-rhythm backing is selected to produce a backing part at a timing of a rhythm pattern memorized in a rhythm pattern memory or at a timing of variation of chords memorized in a chord progression memory.

Abstract: In an automatic performing system, when the track is changed to one having a different loop bar number, the bar to be reproduced next is easily determined by first dividing the number of bars accumulated from the start of accompaniment by the loop bar number stored in the sequence track. Based on the remainder resulting from the division, the number of beats is determined and the present pointer is set. In the automatic performing system, by comparing the data at the next address with the part designation data, it is determined whether the read out data belongs to the designated part or not. Therefore, the accompaniment data corresponding to the designated part data can be read out and reproduced.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument, there is no creation of new automatic accompaniment data and the performer can carry out automatic accompaniment using favored optional automatic accompaniment data. The electronic musical instrument provides storage apparatus for storing automatic performance data, a designator for designating a fixed region of the automatic performance data and a automatic accompaniment apparatus which performs automatic accompaniment based on a pattern of the fixed region designated by the designator. Therefore, when the performer designates an optional region of the automatic performance data storage apparatus, automatic accompaniment of the patterns in the optional region designated by the automatic accompaniment apparatus using the designator is carried out.

Abstract: A CPU extracts a specified number of tones, in order of lower pitch from among notes of pressed keys and then determines a chord based on the specified tones so that a musical relationship can be established between the tones corresponding to the depressed keys and the generated chord, thus eliminating incongruity in the performance. In addition, since the chord detection is made based on the specified number of tones, there is no need to play all the constituent notes of the chord. Moreover, by storing chord pattern abbreviations in chord table memory, chords are detected in the manner that of frequently occurring abbreviated chord patterns are prioritized over infrequently occurring chord patterns.

Abstract: An adaptive chord-generating apparatus and method exactly generates chord data specified by a performer by an operation method according to the number of constituent notes of a chord inputted by a performer. To do this, the apparatus and method comprises a keyboard for receiving constituent notes of chord and melody, a memory where a chord search table is stored, a control portion for searching a chord search table of the memory according to a rule corresponding to the number of constituent notes inputted from the keyboard and generating chord data having a chord type and a pitch based on the searched data, and a sound source generator for generating a musical instrument sound signal having a predetermined pitch of chord corresponding to chord data supplied from the control portion.

Abstract: The voice processor includes a microphone for a device for inputting a voice signal, a device for inputting chord information from an electronic musical instrument or the like, a converter for converting the pitch of the voice signal into a specified pitch according to the chord information, a mixer for mixing the input voice signal and a pitch-converted voice signal, and a loudspeaker for outputting the mixed signal. The pitch of the input voice signal is converted into such one as will be consonant with the chord information or as will coincide therewith and thereafter the pitch converted signal will be output along with the input voice signal.

Abstract: An auto-play apparatus having an auto-play data memory for storing a note data string of an auto-accompaniment pattern, and a tone generator for generating tones on the basis of the note data string read out from the auto-play data memory. The auto-play apparatus includes an intonation pattern memory for storing intonation patterns of a plurality of levels corresponding to different degrees of tone-up of a performance. The intonation value is changed upon operation of an operation unit, and a note data string is read out from the auto-play data memory on the basis of intonation pattern data corresponding to the new intonation value. The readout note data string is supplied to the tone generator. The intonation pattern data of different levels includes at least designation information for designating different read positions in the auto-play data memory, and different tone volume information, different tone color information, and different instrument information to be provided to the readout note data.

Abstract: Dynamic correction of a musical instrument input data stream providing a transposed musical context in conjunction with local scale and harmony corrections. Local corrections are applied with respect to a reference sequence and the time delay of local corrections may be varied by the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic musical instrument for generating musical tones based on part data and automatic performance data to thereby execute an automatic performance, comprising first memory means in which part data and automatic performance data corresponding to demonstration music pieces have been stored; a play buffer for storing the part data currently in use; second memory means for temporarily saving the contents of the play buffer; start instructing means for instructing a start of a performance of a demonstration music piece; first processing means for saving the currently used part data, stored in the play buffer, into the second memory means, and for reading out the part data corresponding to a demonstration music piece from the first memory means and for setting the read-out part data in the play buffer, when instructed by the start instructing means; automatic performance means for executing an automatic performance based on the part data, set in the play buffer by the first processing means, a

Abstract: Melody and chord information of a music piece are supplied. On the basis of the chord information, one or more possible musical keys are nominated. Then, on the basis of the melody information, it is judged in a collating manner whether it is proper to determine any of the possible musical keys as a musical key of the music piece. For instance, the possible musical keys are nominated on the basis of detection of a dominant motion, since the dominant motion in a chord progression strongly suggests specific musical keys. For instance, of the nominated possible musical keys, those which do not contain all of the melody notes as their scale note are excluded, and a single musical key which contains all of the melody notes as its scale note is determined as the musical key of the music piece. With such arrangements, it is allowed to make a musical key determination which is very reasonable from a musical point of view.

Abstract: An automatic accompaniment instrument detects a change in a chord progression formed of a sequence of chords. A pitch of an accompaniment tone to be reproduced is controlled based on a present chord and/or an immediately following chord of the chord progression, as well as on a pitch of an accompaniment tone generated on an immediately preceding occasion, when a change in the chord progression is detected.

Abstract: Melody note data and chord data are inputted to an automatic arrangement apparatus. When it is detected that a melody note is a nonharmonic note, the melody note is converted into a harmonic note, and an additional note (e.g., a countermelody note) is generated based on the converted harmonic note. An electronic musical instrument comprises such an automatic arrangement apparatus. Melody note data and chord data are inputted to the instrument according to a performance of a player. When it is detected that a melody note is a nonharmonic note, the melody note is converted into a harmonic note, an additional note is determined based on the converted harmonic note, and the additional note is produced as a tone in real time simultaneously with a performance tone.

Abstract: An automatic accompaniment device equipped with a CPU that controls, via a bus, a ROM that stores a plurality of rhythm patterns including introduction patterns, fill-in patterns and normal patterns. The device also includes a sound source circuit that generates musical sounds based on rhythm pattern data that is supplied after being selected by switches on an operation panel. In operation, the performer selects an introduction pattern to begin the automatic accompaniment. If the performer desires a shorter introduction, the performer activates a switch on the operation panel that causes a fill-in pattern to begin at a musically natural point in the introduction pattern. The fill-in pattern is shorter than the introduction pattern and provides a musically natural and smooth transition to the normal pattern. Thus, it is possible to end an introduction pattern at an optional point without imparting a musically unnatural quality to the automatic accompaniment.

Abstract: Electronic musical instruments in which if a chord is specified for a melody, a scale suitable for the chord function can automatically be selected for the specified chord type to play the melody. The electronic musical instruments have means selecting a scale corresponding to a chord when a chord progression and a key are specified For a melody pattern, and pitch shift means which performs transposition of each tone according to the chord thereby to modify the pitch so as to accord with the scale.

Abstract: A memory has plural storage areas for storing performance data of plural music pieces. When the player has input desired performance data via an input device like a keyboard, the thus-input performance data are automatically stored into a first storage area of the memory. At the same time, a specific search is executed by the search section to examine whether or not performance data of a music piece corresponding to the input performance data are already stored in the memory. If a second storage area storing the performance data corresponding to the input performance data has been detected or searched out, a series of the performance data stored in the second storage area are sequentially read out for an automatic reproductive performance. If, on the other hand, such a second storage area has not been detected, writing of the input performance data into the first storage area is continued without such an automatic reproductive performance being executed.