KEYBOARD FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, AND INSTRUMENT COMPRISING SUCH A KEYBOARD

• US 20120031254A1
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Julien Hotrique
• Original Assignee: Julien Hotrique
• Inventors: Hotrique, Julien
• Granted Patent: US 8,614,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/423.R
• CPC Class Codes: G10C 3/12 Keyboards; Keys
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/386 One-finger or one-key chord systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/251 arranged as 2D or 3D arrays; Keyboards ergonomically organised for playing chords or for transposing, e.g. Janko keyboard

Abstract

A polyphonic, chromatic keyboard, whose notes are alternately distributed across two sub-keyboards arranged in thirds on each sub-keyboard. On each sub-keyboard, the notes are distributed across a tiling of basic triangles that is symmetrical from one sub-keyboard to the other and that peaks at one note, i.e. the major third thereof, and the minor third thereof. Thus, the quality of an interval, and consequently that of a chord or mode, does not vary with a nearby symmetry/translation. The harmonic material is represented by easily memorizable shapes. The relationships between chords are represented by geometrical movements. The keyboard can thus be a pedagogical aid for learning and understanding harmonic rules. The keyboard enables the user to play a bass line and a harmonic or melodic accompaniment simultaneously, feel the harmonic rhythm, and play with virtuosity. The keyboard can be fit onto a portable instrument, thus making it possible to play comfortably.

Claims

1. Keyboard for musical instrument, including a first under-keyboard (A) and a second under-keyboard (B), each keyboard (A, B) including a plurality of keys whose actuation is able to control the emission of a sound corresponding to a note of music, keyboard in which:

each under-keyboard (A, B) includes at least four parallel and equidistant lines, oriented in the same direction, each line including at least one key, and the distance between the lines being identical for both under-keyboards (A, B);

the arrangement of the keys, and thus the distribution of the notes controlled by the keyboard, being such as;

on the first under-keyboard (A) [respectively on the second under-keyboard (B)], for each key (t) controlling a note (n), and located on a line (r) arranged between an adjacent lower line (r−

l) and an adjacent upper line (r+1), there is;

on the adjacent upper line (r+1)

a key (tMa) actuating the upward major third of (n), this key being arranged so that the half-line starting from the key (t) and passing through the key (tMa) forms a first oriented angle (M), [respectively an angle (−

M) opposite the first angle (M) on the second under-keyboard (B)], with the oriented line (r);

the value of the first angle (M) belonging to the interval ]0°

, 90°

];

and/or

a key (tma) actuating the upward minor third of the note (n), this key being arranged so that the half-line starting from the key (t) and passing through the key (tma) forms a second oriented angle (m) [respectively an angle (−

m) opposite the second angle (m) on the second under-keyboard (B)], with the oriented line (r), the value of the second angle (m) belonging to the interval [90°

, 180°

[, and being different from the value of the first angle (M);

on the adjacent lower line (r−

l)

a key (tMd) actuating the downward major third of the note (n), this key being arranged so that the half-line starting from the key (t) and passing through the key (tMd) forms an oriented angle opposite the supplementary angle (M−

180) of the first angle (M) [respectively the supplementary angle (180−

M) of the first angle (M) on the second under-keyboard (B)] with the oriented line (r);

and/or

a key (tmd) actuating the upward minor third of the note (n), this key being arranged so that the half-line starting from the key (t) and passing through the key (tmd) forms an oriented angle opposite the supplementary angle (m−

180) of the second oriented angle (m) [respectively the supplementary angle (180−

m) of the second angle (m) on the second under-keyboard (B)], with the oriented line (R);

and

on the first under-keyboard (A) [respectively the second under-keyboard (B)], for each key actuating a note (n), there is on the second under-keyboard (B) [respectively the first under-keyboard (A)];

a key actuating the upward major second of the note (n)

and/or

a key actuating the downward major second of the note (n)

so that the notes are alternatively distributed from one under-keyboard to the other, while being arranged by thirds on each of them.

2. Keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the under-keyboards (A, B) are located in two secant planes such as the projection, on the bisecting plane for these two planes, of each key of one of the under-keyboards (A, B) controlling a note (n) is located between the projection onto this plane of two lines of the other under-keyboard (A, B), these two lines respectively including a key (t1) actuating the upward major second of the note (n) and a key (t2) actuating the downward major second of the note (n).

3. Keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the value of the first angle (M) is equal to 60 degrees, and the value of the second angle (m) is equal to 120 degrees.

4. Keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the keys are sensitive to the force and/or the swiftness of actuation.

5. Keyboard according to claim 4, wherein an electronic device makes it possible to vary the intensity of the emitted sound according to the force and/or the swiftness of actuation of the keys.

6. Keyboard according to claim 5, wherein both under-keyboards (A, B) are each arranged on a flat surface, the angle between the front faces of both under-keyboards belonging to the interval [180°

, 270°

].

7. Musical instrument including a keyboard according to claim 1.

8. Musical instrument according to claim 7, comprises a sound generator of the expander type of the MIDI standard.

9. Musical instrument according to claim 8, wherein a first device makes it possible to vary the pitch bend, upward and downward, and a second device controls a modulation serrated roller, which thus increases and lowers the effect obtained with the first device.

10. Musical instrument according to claim 1, including a housing body on which both under-keyboards (A, B) are arranged, the housing body being equipped with carrying means such as straps.

11. Keyboard according to claim 2, wherein the value of the first angle (M) is equal to 60 degrees, and the value of the second angle (m) is equal to 120 degrees.

12. Keyboard according to claim 2, wherein the keys are sensitive to the force and/or the swiftness of actuation.

13. Keyboard according to claim 3, wherein the keys are sensitive to the force and/or the swiftness of actuation.

14. Musical instrument according to claim 8, including a housing body on which both under-keyboards (A, B) are arranged, the housing body being equipped with carrying means such as straps.

15. Musical instrument according to claim 9, including a housing body on which both under-keyboards (A, B) are arranged, the housing body being equipped with carrying means such as straps.