Electronic musical instrument with musical performance assisting system that controls performance progression timing, tone generation and tone muting

• US 5,777,251 A
• Filed: 12/03/1996
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Iwamoto, Kazuhide, Hotta, Harumichi, Torimura, Hiroyuki, Chihana, Masanobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DONELS, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US08/759,745
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 84/609, 84/616, 84/619, 84/613, 84/634, 84/637, 84/743
• US Class Current: 84/609
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0041 in coded form
• 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 2210/095 Inter-note articulation aspects, e.g. legato or staccato
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/171 Ad-lib effects, i.e. adding a musical phrase or improvisation automatically or on player's request, e.g. one-finger triggering of a note sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 7/002 using a common processing for different operations or calculations, and a set of microinstructions (programme) to control the sequence thereof

Abstract

An electronic musical instrument apparatus includes a pad and fret switches. When the pad is stricken while any one of the fret switches is depressed, at least a musical tone is generated. The apparatus has different modes of performance operation including a first melody mode, a second melody mode, a base mode, a first chord mode, a second chord mode, an ad-lib mode and the like. In the first melody mode, each time the pad is operated, a note event is read out from a memory, a previous tone that has been generated is muted and, at the same time, a next tone for the note event read out is immediately generated so that a legato-like performance can be performed. If desired, a mute switch is operated to mute a previous tone that is being generated so that a staccato like performance is performed. In the second melody mode, the base mode, the first chord mode and the second chord mode, performance data for note events is successively and continuously read out from a memory. Each time the pad is operated, the apparatus generates at least a tone for a note event that is read out at a moment of operation of the pad. In the ad-lib mode, different tones for ad-lib performance are assigned to the fret switches. When the pad is operated while any of the fret switches is depressed, at least a tone having a pitch assigned to the fret switch is generated.

Claims

1. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

a first operation member;

a second operation member;

a memory device that stores performance data for a performance;

a sound source circuit;

a reading device that reads out the performance data from the memory device in response to operation of the first operation member and instructs the sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the performance data, wherein, at each operation of the first operation member, the reading device renews a progression position of the performance and gives an instruction to mute a tone that has already been instructed to generate; and

a mute instructing device that instructs the sound source circuit to mute the tone in response to operation of the second operation member.

2. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

a first operation member;

a second operation member;

a memory device that stores performance data for a performance;

a sound source circuit;

a reading device that successively reads out the performance data from the memory device with progression of the performance;

a tone generation and muting instructing device that, in response to operation of the first operation member, gives an instruction to the sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the performance data being read out at a time of the operation of the first operation member and gives an instruction to mute a tone that has been previously generated; and

a mute instructing device that gives an instruction to the sound source circuit to mute the tone in response to operation of the second operation member.

3. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

a first operation member;

a second operation member;

a memory device that stores first and second performance data for a performance;

a sound source circuit;

a first reading device that reads out the first performance data from the memory device in response to operation of the first operation member and gives an instruction to the sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the first performance data, wherein the first reading device gives an instruction at each operation of the first operation member to renew a progression position of the performance;

a second reading device that successively reads out the second performance data from the memory device and gives an instruction to the sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the second performance data; and

a switching device that selectively renders effective the tone based on the first performance data read out by the first reading device and the tone based on the second performance data read out by the second reading device, wherein when the second operation member is operated while the tone caused by the first reading device is rendered effective, the tone caused by the second reading device is rendered effective instead of the tone caused by the first reading device.

4. An electronic musical instrument defined in claim 3, wherein when the first operation member is operated while the tone caused by the second reading device is rendered effective, the tone caused by the first reading device is rendered effective instead of the tone caused by the second reading device.

5. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

a first operation member;

a second operation member;

a memory device that stores performance data for a performance;

a reading device that successively reads out the performance data from the memory device with progression of the performance;

a note pitch changing device that changes a pitch of the performance data read out by the reading device in response to operation of the second operation member;

a sound source circuit; and

a tone generation instructing device that, in response to operation of the first operation member, gives an instruction to the sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the performance data being read out at a time of the operation of the first operation member and having the pitch changed by the note pitch changing device.

6. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

a first operation member having a plurality of operating sections;

a second operation member;

a memory device that stores performance data for a performance;

a sound source circuit;

an assigning device that determines pitches for a scale matching at least one of a key of the performance data and a chord progression of the performance data and assigns the pitches of the scale to the plurality of operating sections of the first operation member; and

a tone generation instructing device that, in response to operation of the second operation member and one of the operating sections of the first operation member, gives an instruction to the sound source circuit to generate at least one tone based on one of the pitches assigned to the one of the operating sections of the first operation member.

7. An electronic musical instrument as defined in claim 6, wherein the assigning device determines a plurality of scales matching at least one of a key of the performance data and a chord progression of the performance data, each of the scales containing a plurality of scale tones, and assigns the plurality of scale tones of one of the determined scales to the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member.

8. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

a first operation member having a plurality of operating positions;

a second operation member;

a memory device that stores performance data for performance;

a sound source circuit;

an assigning device that determines a frequency of appearance of each note included in the performance data and determines a plurality of notes appearing at higher frequencies than other notes within a predetermined frequency range as scale notes for the performance and assigns the scale notes to the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member; and

a tone generation instructing device that, in response to operation of the second operation member and one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member, gives an instruction to the sound source circuit to generate a tone based on one of the scale notes assigned to the one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member.

9. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

a first operation member having a plurality of operating positions;

a second operation member;

a memory device that stores performance data for performance;

a sound source circuit;

a reading device that successively reads out the performance data from the memory device with progression of the performance;

an assigning device that, in response to operation of the second operation member, detects a plurality of notes included in the performance data read out at a time of the operation of the second operation member, determines the detected plurality of notes as chord composing notes that form a chord and assigns the determined chord composing notes to the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member; and

a tone generation instructing device that, in response to operation of the second operation member and one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member, gives an instruction to the sound source circuit to generate a tone based on a note pitch assigned to the one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member.

10. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

a first operation member having a plurality of operating positions;

a second operation member;

a memory device that stores performance data for performance;

a reading device that successively reads out the performance data from the memory device;

a sound source circuit;

a scale determining device that determines a frequency of appearance of each note included in the performance data and determines a plurality of notes appearing at higher frequencies than other notes within a predetermined frequency range as scale composing notes forming a scale for the performance;

an assigning device that detects, in response to operation of the second operation member, a plurality of notes included in the performance data read out from the reading device at a time of operation of the second operation member, determines the detected plurality of notes as chord composing notes that form a chord and assigns the determined chord composing notes to the plurality of positions of the first operation member, wherein when the number of the detected plurality of notes does not reach a specified number appropriate notes are selected from the determined scale composing notes and added to the chord composing notes to reach the specified number; and

a tone generation instructing device that, in response to operation of the second operation member and one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation, gives an instruction to the sound source circuit to generate a tone based on a note pitch assigned to the one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member.

11. A method of operating an electronic musical instrument, comprising the steps of:

storing performance data for a performance in a memory;

reading out the performance data from the memory in response to operation of a first operation member and instructing a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the performance data, wherein at each operation of the first operation member a progression position of the performance is renewed and an instruction to mute a tone that has already been instructed to generate is given; and

instructing the sound source circuit to mute the tone in response to operation of a second operation member.

12. A method of operating an electronic musical instrument, comprising the steps of:

storing performance data for a performance in a memory;

successively reading out the performance data from the memory with progression of the performance;

instructing, in response to operation of a first operation member, a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the performance data being read out at a time of the operation of the first operation member and giving an instruction to mute a tone that has been previously generated; and

instructing the sound source circuit to mute the tone in response to operation of a second operation member.

13. A method of operating an electronic musical instrument, comprising the steps of:

storing first performance data and second performance data for a performance in a memory;

reading out the first performance data from the memory in response to operation of a first operation member and instructing a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the first performance data, wherein at each operation of the first operation member a progression position of the performance is renewed;

successively reading out the second performance data from the memory and giving an instruction to the sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the second performance data; and

selectively rendering effective one of the tone based on the first performance data read out and the tone based on the second performance data, wherein when the second operation member is operated while the tone based on the first performance data is rendered effective, the tone based on the second performance data is rendered effective instead of the tone based on the first performance data.

14. A method of operating an electronic musical instrument defined in claim 13, wherein when the first operation member is operated while the tone based on the second performance data is rendered effective, the tone based on the first performance data is rendered effective instead of the tone based on the second performance data.

15. A method of operating an electronic musical instrument, comprising the steps of:

storing performance data for a performance in a memory;

successively reading out the performance data from the memory with progression of the performance;

changing a pitch of the performance data read out in response to operation of a second operation member;

instructing, in response to operation of a first operation member, a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the performance data read out at a time of the operation of the first operation member and having the changed pitch.

16. A method of operating an electronic musical instrument, comprising the steps of:

providing a first operation member having a plurality of operating sections and a second operation member;

storing performance data for a performance in a memory;

determining pitches for a scale matching at least one of a key of the performance data and a chord progression of the performance data and assigning the pitches of the scale to the plurality of operating sections of the first operation member; and

instructing, in response to operation of the second operation member and one of the plurality of operating sections of the first operation member, a sound source circuit to generate one of the pitches assigned to the one of the plurality of operating sections of the first operation member.

17. A method of operating an electronic musical instrument as defined in claim 16, wherein a plurality of scales matching at least one of a key of the performance data and a chord progression of the performance data are determined, each of the scales containing a plurality to scale tones, and the plurality of scale tones of one of the scales is assigned to the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member.

18. A method of operating an electronic musical instrument, comprising the steps of:

providing a first operation member having a plurality of operating positions and a second operation member;

storing performance data for a performance;

determining a frequency of appearance of each note included in the performance data, determining a plurality of notes appearing at higher frequencies than other notes within a predetermined frequency range as scale notes for the performance and assigning the scale notes to the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member; and

instructing, in response to operation of the second operation member and one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member, a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on one of the scale notes assigned to the one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member that is operated.

19. A method of operating an electronic musical instrument, comprising:

providing a first operation member having a plurality of operating positions;

providing a second operation member;

storing performance data for a performance in a memory;

successively reading out the performance data from the memory with progression of the performance;

detecting, in response to operation of the second operation member, a plurality of notes included in the performance data read out at a time of the operation of the second operation member, determining the detected plurality of notes as chord composing notes that form a chord and assigning the determined chord composing notes to the plurality of positions of the first operation member; and

instructing, in response to operation of the second operation member and one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member, a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on one of the notes assigned to the one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member that is operated.

20. A method of operating an electronic musical instrument, comprising the steps of:

providing a first operation member having a plurality of operating positions;

providing a second operation member;

storing performance data for a performance in a memory;

successively reading out the performance data from the memory;

determining a frequency of appearance of each note included in the performance data and determining a plurality of notes appearing at higher frequencies within a predetermined range as scale composing notes forming a scale for the performance;

detecting, in response to operation of the second operation member, a plurality of notes included in the performance data read out at a time of operation of the second operation member, determining the detected plurality of notes as chord composing notes that form a chord and assigning the determined chord composing notes to the plurality of positions of the first operation member, wherein when the number of the detected plurality of notes does not reach a specified number appropriate notes are selected from the determined scale composing notes and added to the chord composing notes to reach the specified number; and

instructing, in response to operation of the second operation member and one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member, a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on a note pitch assigned to the one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member that is operated.

21. A machine readable media containing instructions for causing an apparatus to perform a method of generating musical tones, the method comprising:

storing performance data for a performance in a memory;

reading out the performance data from the memory in response to operation of a first operation member and instructing a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the performance data, wherein at each operation of the first operation member a progression position of the performance is renewed and an instruction to mute a tone that has already been instructed to generate is given; and

instructing the sound source circuit to mute the tone in response to operation of a second operation member.

22. A machine readable media containing instructions for causing an apparatus to perform a method of generating musical tones, the method comprising:

storing performance data for a performance in a memory;

successively reading out the performance data from the memory with progression of the performance;

instructing, in response to operation of a first operation member, a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the performance data being read out at a time of the operation of the first operation member and giving an instruction to mute a tone that has been previously generated; and

instructing the sound source circuit to mute the tone in response to operation of a second operation member.

23. A machine readable media containing instructions for causing an apparatus to perform a method of generating musical tones, the method comprising:

storing first performance data and second performance data for a performance in a memory;

reading out the first performance data from the memory in response to operation of a first operation member and instructing a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the first performance data, wherein at each operation of the first operation member a progression position of the performance is renewed;

successively reading out the second performance data from the memory and giving an instruction to the sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the second performance data; and

selectively rendering effective one of the tone based on the first performance data read out and the tone based on the second performance data, wherein when the second operation member is operated while the tone based on the first performance data is rendered effective, the tone based on the second performance data is rendered effective instead of the tone based on the first performance data.

24. A machine readable media containing instructions for causing an apparatus to perform a method of generating musical tones, the method comprising:

storing performance data for a performance in a memory;

successively reading out the performance data from the memory with progression of the performance;

changing a pitch of the performance data read out in response to operation of a second operation member;

instructing, in response to operation of a first operation member, a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on the performance data read out at a time of the operation of the first operation member and having the changed pitch.

25. A machine readable media containing instructions for causing an apparatus to perform a method of generating musical tones, the method comprising:

storing performance data for a performance in a memory;

determining pitches for a scale matching at least one of a key of the performance data and a chord progression of the performance data and assigning the pitches of the scale to a plurality of operating sections of a first operation member; and

instructing, in response to operation of a second operation member and one of the plurality of operating sections of the first operation member, a sound source circuit to generate one of the pitches assigned to the one of the plurality of operating sections of the first operation member.

26. A machine readable media containing instructions for causing an apparatus to perform a method of generating musical tones, the method comprising:

storing performance data for a performance;

determining a frequency of appearance of each note included in the performance data, determining a plurality of notes appearing at higher frequencies than other notes within a predetermined frequency range as scale notes for the performance and assigning the scale notes to a plurality of operating positions of a first operation member; and

instructing, in response to operation of the second operation member and one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member, a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on one of the scale notes assigned to the one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member that is operated.

27. A machine readable media containing instructions for causing an apparatus to perform a method of generating musical tones, the method comprising:

determining a first operation member having a plurality of operating positions and a second operation member;

storing performance data for a performance in a memory;

successively reading out the performance data from the memory with progression of the performance;

detecting, in response to operation of the second operation member, a plurality of notes included in the performance data read out at a time of the operation of the second operation member, determining the detected plurality of notes as chord composing notes that form a chord and assigning the determined chord composing notes to the plurality of positions of the first operation member; and

instructing, in response to operation of the second operation member and one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member, a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on one of the notes assigned to the one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member that is operated.

28. A machine readable media containing instructions for causing an apparatus to perform a method of generating musical tones, the method comprising:

determining a first operation member having a plurality of operating positions and a second operation member;

storing performance data for a performance in a memory;

successively reading out the performance data from the memory;

determining a frequency of appearance of each note included in the performance data and determining a plurality of notes appearing at higher frequencies within a predetermined range as scale composing notes forming a scale for the performance;

detecting, in response to operation of the second operation member, a plurality of notes included in the performance data read out at a time of operation of the second operation member, determining the detected plurality of notes as chord composing notes that form a chord and assigning the determined chord composing notes to the plurality of positions of the first operation member, wherein when the number of the detected plurality of notes does not reach a specified number appropriate notes are selected from the determined scale composing notes and added to the chord composing notes to reach the specified number; and

instructing, in response to operation of the second operation member and one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member, a sound source circuit to generate a tone based on a note pitch assigned to the one of the plurality of operating positions of the first operation member that is operated.