Interval-based musical instrument
First Claim
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1. An interval-based musical instrument, comprising:
- a housing;
one or more buttons on the housing, the one or more buttons generating a first set of input signals, wherein the first set of input signals does not include a direction signal;
a control device generating a second input signal;
a memory storing a prior note generated by the musical instrument, wherein the prior note is an immediately preceding note generated by the musical instrument;
a processor calculating an interval based on the first set of input signals, the processor determining a direction for changing a pitch of the prior note based on the second input signal, the processor generating a new note by changing the pitch of the prior note based on the interval and the direction, wherein the processor saves the new note in memory.
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Abstract
Embodiments are directed to a musical instrument having buttons, where the buttons determine the magnitude of the interval by which the melody will jump from the last note played. With a small number of interval buttons and an up/down strum bar, embodiments can play almost any melody and more notes than a piano. One embodiment is directed to an interval-based guitar including fret buttons whose input signals are used to calculate the interval by which to change the pitch of the prior note. Providing input via a strum bar or a sensor, a new note is generated by adding or subtracting the interval to/from the prior note to generate a new note.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An interval-based musical instrument, comprising:
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a housing; one or more buttons on the housing, the one or more buttons generating a first set of input signals, wherein the first set of input signals does not include a direction signal; a control device generating a second input signal; a memory storing a prior note generated by the musical instrument, wherein the prior note is an immediately preceding note generated by the musical instrument; a processor calculating an interval based on the first set of input signals, the processor determining a direction for changing a pitch of the prior note based on the second input signal, the processor generating a new note by changing the pitch of the prior note based on the interval and the direction, wherein the processor saves the new note in memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An interval-based musical instrument, comprising:
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a substantially guitar shaped housing; one or more buttons on the housing, the one or more buttons generating a first set of input signals; a strum bar on the housing, the strum bar generating a second input signal; a memory storing a prior note; a processor calculating an interval based on the first set of input signals, the processor generating a new note in response to the second input signal, wherein the processor adds the interval to the prior note if the strum bar is moved up, wherein the processor subtracts the interval from the prior note if the strum bar is moved down. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification