Dynamic chord interval and quality modification keyboard, chord board CX10
First Claim
1. An electronic musical instrument comprising:
- a) a plurality of sets of performance key groups (BPK and TPK) and chord selection toggle switches (CSB) which are electronically linked together as a unit (BPK-CSB-TPK), and each grouping of BPK, CSB and TPK located adjacent to one another so as to facilitate the playing of the BPK set and CSB panel with say, the left hand, and the TPK set with the right handwherein each electronically/physically associated BPK-TPK-CSB unit is independent from all other BPK-TPK-CSB units within the same musical instrument,wherein each said BPK-TPK-CSB unit employs a plurality of BPK'"'"'s and TPK'"'"'s to play one or more of the notes within a user selectable chord grouping, wherein each said individual BPK and TPK plays a note unique from all other said BPK'"'"'s and TPK'"'"'s within said performance key group, and each CSB panel may be used to provide continuously variable means to alter interval and quality of selected chord group for said set of BPK'"'"'s and TPK'"'"'s, wherein said CSB panel may be used to alter the note assignment for it'"'"'s associated BPK and TPK set, whereby the chord interval, quality, octave or scale may be selected and altered instantly and dynamically during a musical performance,b) a microprocessor used to sample the status and activity of said electronic BPK-TPK-CSB unit at regular intervals for the purpose of generating digital musical information,c) a data transfer interface electronically connected to said microprocessor that facilitates the transfer of musical data obtained and generated by said microprocessor to and from an external communication device, such as a sound module.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The Chord Board is a revolutionary musical instrument that simplifies and expands on the traditional piano-style keyboard interface through the use of computer technology. Musicians skilled or unskilled alike will be able to take advantage of this new musical interface which makes the playing of an unlimited variety of chords and their respective note patterns not only possible, but easy. Yet the design of the Chord Board allows for an extremely complex performance from a musician who has the ability and skill to make such a performance. The Chord Board is designed to maximize the potential for the introduction of the human element into the musical performance. The player interface of the Chord Board departs significantly from the traditional piano. There are eight banks of eight keys each, three for the left hand, and five for the right hand. These keys are similar in size and shape to the traditional piano-style key, yet there are no black keys in between the white keys. Each of these piano-like keys is mapped to a specific note of a chord grouping. Therefore, it is only possible to play notes that belong to a particular chord, eliminating the possibility of playing an accidental. The chord grouping is selected from an adjacent set of chord selection buttons some of which may be selected simultaneously as modifiers, providing for well over a hundred variations of chord structure within a single chord family. Because the Chord Board is also a full-fledged MIDI controller, the instrument is not limited to a particular niche, but may be used in a variety of musical applications.
45 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An electronic musical instrument comprising:
-
a) a plurality of sets of performance key groups (BPK and TPK) and chord selection toggle switches (CSB) which are electronically linked together as a unit (BPK-CSB-TPK), and each grouping of BPK, CSB and TPK located adjacent to one another so as to facilitate the playing of the BPK set and CSB panel with say, the left hand, and the TPK set with the right hand wherein each electronically/physically associated BPK-TPK-CSB unit is independent from all other BPK-TPK-CSB units within the same musical instrument, wherein each said BPK-TPK-CSB unit employs a plurality of BPK'"'"'s and TPK'"'"'s to play one or more of the notes within a user selectable chord grouping, wherein each said individual BPK and TPK plays a note unique from all other said BPK'"'"'s and TPK'"'"'s within said performance key group, and each CSB panel may be used to provide continuously variable means to alter interval and quality of selected chord group for said set of BPK'"'"'s and TPK'"'"'s, wherein said CSB panel may be used to alter the note assignment for it'"'"'s associated BPK and TPK set, whereby the chord interval, quality, octave or scale may be selected and altered instantly and dynamically during a musical performance, b) a microprocessor used to sample the status and activity of said electronic BPK-TPK-CSB unit at regular intervals for the purpose of generating digital musical information, c) a data transfer interface electronically connected to said microprocessor that facilitates the transfer of musical data obtained and generated by said microprocessor to and from an external communication device, such as a sound module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification