Interval-Based Musical Instrument

• US 20170323624A1
• Filed: 05/09/2016
• Published: 11/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matthew David Parker
• Original Assignee: Matthew David Parker
• Inventors: Parker, Matthew David
• Granted Patent: US 10,446,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0555 using magnetic or electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0558 using variable resistors
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/14 during execution voice controlled instruments G10H5/005
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/342 for guitar-like instruments with or without strings and with a neck on which switches or string-fret contacts are used to detect the notes being played electric guitars in which the tones are generated by the vibration of strings G10H3/18
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/46 Volume control
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/195 Modulation effects, i.e. smooth non-discontinuous variations over a time interval, e.g. within a note, melody or musical transition, of any sound parameter, e.g. amplitude, pitch, spectral response, playback speed stepwise or discontinuous variations over time, e.g. sequence effects G10H2210/161
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/155 User input interfaces for electrophonic musical instruments graphical user interfaces specifically adapted for electrophonic musical instruments G10H2220/091; input means in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/161 with 2D or x/y surface coordinates sensing graphical user interface or touchscreen input G10H2220/091; microtonal keyboard G10H2210/401
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/191 Plectrum or pick sensing, e.g. for detection of string striking or plucking Plectra in general, e.g. for stringed musical instruments G10D3/173
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/315 for joystick-like proportional control of musical input; Videogame input devices used for musical input or control, e.g. gamepad, joysticks joysticks per se G06F3/033, G05G9/047, A63F13/20
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/075 Spint stringed, i.e. mimicking stringed instrument features, electrophonic aspects of acoustic stringed musical instruments without keyboard; MIDI-like control therefor string instrument sound synthesis G10H2250/441
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/155 Spint wind instrument, i.e. mimicking musical wind instrument features; Electrophonic aspects of acoustic wind instruments; MIDI-like control therefor. wind instrument sound synthesis G10H2250/461; mouth control, e.g. breath G10H2220/361; natural aerodynamic noise synthesis, e.g. wind G10H2250/431
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/211 Spint harmonica, i.e. mimicking mouth operated wind instruments with multiple tuned free reeds, a.k.a. harmonica, blues harp, mouth organ, pitch pipe, ChengGong, free reed instruments not operated by mouth, e.g. accordion G10H2230/245
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/245 Spint accordion, i.e. mimicking accordions; Electrophonic instruments with one or more typical accordion features, e.g. special accordion keyboards or bellows, electrophonic aspects of mechanical accordions, Midi-like control therefor

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.

Claims

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;

a control device 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 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.

2. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 1, wherein the processor changes the pitch of the prior note by adding the interval to the prior note if the second input signal is above a first threshold, wherein the processor changes the pitch of the prior note by subtracting the interval from the prior note if the second input signal is below a second threshold.

3. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 1, wherein the processor stores the new note in the memory.

4. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 1, wherein the second input signal further determines a volume for the new note.

5. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 1, further comprising a sensor, wherein a value from the sensor determines an effect for the new note.

6. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially concertina shaped including a right face, a left face, a bellows between the right face and the left face, and a sensor within the bellows, wherein the right face includes a first set of buttons, wherein the left face includes a second set of buttons, wherein the processor calculates the interval based on input signals from the first set of buttons and the second set of buttons, wherein the processor determines a direction for changing the pitch of the prior note based on a change in air flow in the bellows.

7. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially concertina shaped including a right face, a left face, a bellows between the right face and the left face, and a sensor within the bellows, wherein the right face includes a first set of interval buttons, a first up button, and a first down button, wherein the left face includes a second set of interval buttons, a second up button, and a second down button, wherein the first up button and the first down button determine a first direction for changing the pitch of the prior note, wherein the second up button and the second down button determine a second direction for changing a second pitch of a second prior note, wherein the processor calculates a first interval based on input signals from the first set of intervals buttons, wherein the processor calculates a second interval based on input signals from the second set of buttons, wherein a change in air flow in the bellows triggers the processor to change the pitch of the prior note based on the first interval and the first direction, and wherein the change in air flow triggers the processor to change the pitch of the second prior note based on the second interval and the second direction.

8. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a rolling cylinder, wherein a rotation of the rolling cylinder determines a direction for changing the pitch of the prior note.

9. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 1, further comprising an up button and a down button, wherein the processor adds the interval to the prior note in response to an input signal from the up button, wherein the processor subtracts the interval from the prior note in response to an input signal from the down button.

10. An interval-based musical instrument, comprising:

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.

11. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 10, wherein the processor stores the new note in the memory.

12. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 10, wherein the processor generates a MIDI_ON event for the new note when the strum bar is moved, wherein the processor sends a MIDI_OFF event for the new note when the strum bar is released.

13. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 10, wherein the second input signal further determines a volume for the new note.

14. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 10, wherein the housing includes one or more output ports.

15. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 10, wherein each of the one or more buttons are separated by half-steps.

16. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 10, wherein the housing includes an octave button which adds 12 half-steps to the interval based on the first set of input signals.

17. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 10, further comprising a sensor, wherein a value from the sensor determines an effect for the new note.

18. An interval-based musical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an arm projecting from the housing, wherein the arm includes a clamp to secure a portable electronic device;

one or more buttons on the housing, the one or more buttons generating input signals; and

a port on the housing for connecting the instrument to the portable electronic device, wherein the input signals are communicated to the portable electronic device via the port.

19. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 18, wherein the input signals represent an interval used to change a prior note to generate a new note.

20. The interval-based musical instrument from claim 18, further comprising a sensor on the housing, wherein a value from the sensor is communicated to the portable electronic device via the port.