Fixed-location method of composing and performing and a musical instrument

• US 6,156,965 A
• Filed: 02/10/1999
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeff K. Shinsky
• Original Assignee: Jeff K. Shinsky
• Inventors: Shinsky, Jeff K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US09/247,378
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 84/613, 84/619, 84/637, 84/650, 84/657, 84/669
• US Class Current: 84/650
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0025 Automatic or semi-automatic music composition, e.g. producing random music, applying rules from music theory or modifying a musical piece automatically producing a series of tones G10H1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/22 for suppressing tones; Preference networks
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/38 Chord
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/101 Music Composition or musical creation; Tools or processes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/335 Chord correction, i.e. modifying one or several notes within a chord, e.g. to correct wrong fingering or to improve harmony
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/525 Diatonic scales, e.g. aeolian, ionian or major, dorian, locrian, lydian, mixolydian, phrygian, i.e. seven note, octave-repeating musical scales comprising five whole steps and two half steps for each octave, in which the two half steps are separated from each other by either two or three whole steps
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/535 Hexatonal or hexatonic scales, i.e. six pitches or notes per octave, e.g. whole tone scale, augmented scale, Prometheus scale, blues scale
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/541 Pentatonal or pentatonic scale, i.e. five pitches or notes per octave, e.g. basic Chinese musical scale, black piano keys, Javanese gamelan slendro scale or Japanese shakuhachi flute
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/576 Chord progression
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/581 Chord inversion
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/591 Chord with a suspended note, e.g. 2nd or 4th
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/596 Chord augmented
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/601 Chord diminished
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/616 Chord seventh, major or minor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/626 Chord sixth
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/311 MIDI transmission G10H2240/056 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for composing and performing music on an electronic instrument in which individual chord progression chords can be triggered in real-time, while simultaneously making the individual notes of the chord, and/or possible scale and non-scale notes to play along with the chord, available for playing in separate fixed-locations on the instrument. The method of composition involves the designation of a chord progression section on the instrument, then assigning chords or individual chord notes to this chord progression section according to the defined customary scale or customary scale equivalent of a song key. Further, as each chord is played in the chord progression section, the individual notes of the currently triggered chords are simultaneously made available for playing in separate fixed locations on the instrument. Fundamental and alternate notes of each chord may be made available for playing in separate fixed locations for composing purposes. Possible scale and/or non-scale notes to play along with the currently triggered chord, may also be simultaneously made available for playing in separate fixed locations on the instrument. All composition data can be stored in memory or on a storage device, and can later be retrieved and performed by a user from a fixed location on the instrument. The composition data may also be performed from a reduced number of input controllers. Further, multiple instruments of the present invention can be utilized together to allow interaction among multiple users during composition and/or performance, with no knowledge of music theory required.

Claims

1. A method for sounding notes on an electronic instrument, the instrument having a plurality of input controllers, the method comprising the steps of:

providing first musical data utilizing a first input controller, wherein said first musical data includes first note-identifying information identifying notes forming a first chord, and wherein said first musical data is provided in response to a performance of said first input controller;

providing second musical data utilizing a second input controller, wherein said second musical data includes second note-identifying information identifying notes forming a second chord, and wherein said second musical data is provided in response to a performance of said second input controller;

providing additional musical data utilizing at least one additional input controller, wherein said additional musical data includes additional note-identifying information identifying either one or more chord notes, one or more scale notes, or one or more chord notes and one or more scale notes, and wherein at least a portion of said additional note-identifying information is provided according to an event representative of at least a chord change or scale change, said event initiated in response to either said performance of said first input controller or said performance of said second input controller;

providing for at least said first input controller at least one relative chord position indicator which indicates the relative position of said first chord as it relates to a song key which corresponds to said first input controller;

selecting a song key corresponding to at least said first input controller, wherein at least a portion of any new note-identifying information provided utilizing any of said input controllers after said song key selection is made is provided according to said song key selection, said song key selection being made according to user-selectable input; and

providing data representative of at least a chord change or scale change.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first input controller is designated for the performance of chords which represent scale chords, and wherein said second input controller is designated for the performance of chords which represent non-scale chords as defined by a particular corresponding song key.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of providing for said second input controller an indicator representative of a non-scale chord.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the relative position of a given non-scale chord is indicated as it relates to said particular corresponding song key.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing for said first input controller an indicator representative of a major song key chord and providing for said second input controller an indicator representative of a relative minor song key chord as defined by a particular corresponding song key.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein more than one relative chord position indicator is provided for at least said first input controller, wherein at least two of the relative chord position indicators are different from one another.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said first input controller and said second input controller are each utilized in a given performance to initiate at least one event representative of at least a chord change or scale change, wherein a performance of said first input controller in said given performance and a performance of said second input controller in said given performance each sound the same chord root and type but with a different inversion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said song key selection represents at least the Circle of 4ths or Circle of 5ths.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing in at least one instance for said at least one additional input controller an indicator which is representative of either a fundamental chord note or an alternate chord note, wherein said indicator representative of either a fundamental chord note or an alternate chord note is dynamically provided in accordance with said event.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one additional input controller is designated for the performance of notes which represent fundamental chord notes, and wherein an indicator representative of a fundamental chord note is provided for said at least one additional input controller.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one additional input controller is designated for the performance of notes which represent alternate chord notes, and wherein an indicator representative of an alternate chord note is provided for said at least one additional input controller.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein there is at least a first additional input controller which is designated for the performance of notes which represent fundamental chord notes, and at least a second additional input controller which is designated for the performance of notes which represent alternate chord notes, wherein said first additional input controller and said second additional input controller are located consecutively in a row of input controllers.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing for said first additional input controller an indicator representative of a fundamental chord note and providing for said second additional input controller an indicator representative of an alternate chord note.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of any note-identifying information provided utilizing said first input controller and at least a portion of any note-identifying information provided utilizing said at least one additional input controller can each be shifted independently of the other in a given performance according to user-selectable inputs.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of any stored data representative of a musical performance originally effected utilizing at least said first input controller and at least a portion of any stored data representative of a musical performance originally effected utilizing said at least one additional input controller can each be identified as either a chord section performance or a melody section performance for re-performance purposes.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of varying at least a portion of any note-identifying information provided utilizing said at least one additional input controller according to stored musical data which is representative of at least a chord change or scale change.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said input controllers are those on a standard MIDI keyboard, wherein the note range of the MIDI keyboard is divided into at least a chord section and a melody section and at least said first input controller, said second input controller, and said at least one additional input controller are included in the note range.

18. A method for sounding notes on an electronic instrument, the instrument having a plurality of input controllers, the method comprising the steps of:

providing first musical data utilizing a first input controller, wherein said first musical data includes first note-identifying information identifying notes forming a first chord, and wherein said first musical data is provided in response to a performance of said first input controller;

providing second musical data utilizing a second input controller, wherein said second musical data includes second note-identifying information identifying notes forming a second chord, and wherein said second musical data is provided in response to a performance of said second input controller;

providing additional musical data utilizing at least one additional input controller, wherein said additional musical data includes additional note-identifying information identifying one or more notes representative of remaining scale notes, said remaining scale notes defined in accordance with chord notes and scale notes, and wherein at least a portion of said additional note-identifying information is provided according to an event representative of at least a chord change or scale change, said event initiated in response to either said performance of said first input controller or said performance of said second input controller; and

providing data representative of at least a chord change or scale change.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of providing for at least said first input controller at least one relative chord position indicator which indicates the relative position of said first chord as it relates to a song key which corresponds to said first input controller.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said first input controller is designated for the performance of chords which represent scale chords, and wherein said second input controller is designated for the performance of chords which represent non-scale chords as defined by a particular corresponding song key.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of providing in at least one instance for said at least one additional input controller an indicator which is representative of either a fundamental chord note or an alternate chord note, wherein said indicator representative of either a fundamental chord note or an alternate chord note is dynamically provided in accordance with said event.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said at least one additional input controller is designated for the performance of notes which represent alternate chord notes, and wherein an indicator representative of an alternate chord note is provided for said at least one additional input controller.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein there is at least a first additional input controller which is designated for the performance of notes which represent fundamental chord notes, and at least a second additional input controller which is designated for the performance of notes which represent alternate chord notes, wherein said first additional input controller and said second additional input controller are located consecutively in a row of input controllers.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein said first input controller and said second input controller are each utilized in a given performance to initiate at least one event representative of at least a chord change or scale change, wherein a performance of said first input controller in said given performance and a performance of said second input controller in said given performance each sound the same chord root and type but with a different inversion.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of any note-identifying information provided utilizing said first input controller and at least a portion of any note-identifying information provided utilizing said at least one additional input controller can each be shifted independently of the other in a given performance according to user-selectable inputs.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of any stored data representative of a musical performance originally effected utilizing at least said first input controller and at least a portion of any stored data representative of a musical performance originally effected utilizing said at least one additional input controller can each be identified as either a chord section performance or a melody section performance for re-performance purposes.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein said input controllers are those on a standard MIDI keyboard, wherein the note range of the MIDI keyboard is divided into at least a chord section and a melody section and at least said first input controller, said second input controller, and said at least one additional input controller are included in the note range.

28. A method for sounding notes on an electronic instrument, the instrument having a plurality of input controllers, the method comprising the steps of:

providing first musical data utilizing a first input controller, wherein said first musical data includes first note-identifying information identifying notes forming a first chord, and wherein said first musical data is provided in response to a performance of said first input controller;

providing second musical data utilizing a second input controller, wherein said second musical data includes second note-identifying information identifying notes forming a second chord, and wherein said second musical data is provided in response to a performance of said second input controller; and

providing additional musical data utilizing a plurality of additional input controllers, wherein said additional musical data includes additional note-identifying information identifying notes representative of non-scale notes, said non-scale notes defined in accordance with either scale notes, or chord notes and scale notes, and wherein said additional note-identifying information is provided in a given performance which includes a plurality of events each of which is representative of at least a chord change or scale change.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of selecting a song key corresponding to at least said first input controller, wherein at least a portion of any new note-identifying information provided utilizing any of said input controllers after said song key selection is made is provided according to said song key selection, said song key selection being made according to user-selectable input.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein at least a portion of any note-identifying information provided utilizing said first input controller and at least a portion of any note-identifying information provided utilizing said additional input controllers can each be shifted independently of the other in a given performance according to user-selectable inputs.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of said events is initiated in response to either said performance of said first input controller or said performance of said second input controller.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of providing for at least said first input controller at least one relative chord position indicator which indicates the relative position of said first chord as it relates to a song key which corresponds to said first input controller.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said first input controller and said second input controller are each utilized in a given performance to initiate at least one event representative of at least a chord change or scale change, wherein a performance of said first input controller in said given performance and a performance of said second input controller in said given performance each sound the same chord root and type but with a different inversion.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said input controllers are those on a standard MIDI keyboard, wherein the note range of the MIDI keyboard is divided into at least a chord section and a melody section and at least said first input controller, said second input controller, and said additional input controllers are included in the note range.

35. A method for sounding notes on an electronic instrument, the instrument having a plurality of input controllers, the method comprising the steps of:

providing first note-on data including note-identifying information identifying one or more notes to be turned on, said first note-on data provided in response to a first performance of a first input controller on the instrument;

providing additional note-on data including note-identifying information identifying one or more notes to be turned on, said additional note-on data provided in response to a first performance of a second input controller on the instrument;

automatically providing at least either note-off data for turning off at least one note originally turned on by either of said performances or note-on data for turning on at least one new note for either of said input controllers, wherein the at least one note is automatically turned off or the at least one new note is automatically turned on in accordance with an event representative of at least a chord change or scale change; and

allowing one or more notes turned on by either of said performances to play through said event, wherein said one or more notes turned on by either of said performances are representative of a melody section performance on the instrument.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein data representative of performance data is stored in a given musical performance and one or more notes in the given musical performance are corrected based on at least a portion of the stored data representative of performance data and in accordance with said event.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein any notes turned on by said first performance of said first input controller are automatically turned off and one or more new notes are automatically turned on for said first input controller in accordance with said event.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein any of the notes being automatically turned off for said first input controller or any of the new notes being automatically turned on for said first input controller are done so based on data representative of either a particular note or of one or more particular groups of notes.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said data representative of either a particular note or of one or more particular groups of notes is representative of a plurality of chord notes.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein said data representative of either a particular note or of one or more particular groups of notes is representative of either a plurality of scale notes or a combination of chord and scale notes.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein said any notes being automatically turned off for said first input controller and said one or more new notes being automatically turned on for said first input controller are representative of fundamental chord notes in a given performance, and wherein said any notes being automatically turned off for said first input controller are different than said one or more new notes being automatically turned on for said first input controller.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of providing for said first input controller an indicator representative of a fundamental chord note.

43. A method for sounding notes on an electronic instrument, the instrument having a plurality of input controllers, the method comprising:

providing first musical data utilizing a first input controller, wherein said first musical data includes first note-identifying information identifying notes forming a first chord, and wherein said first musical data is provided in response to a performance of said first input controller;

providing second musical data utilizing a second input controller, wherein said second musical data includes second note-identifying information identifying notes forming a second chord, and wherein said second musical data is provided in response to a performance of said second input controller;

providing additional musical data utilizing at least one additional input controller, wherein said additional musical data includes additional note-identifying information identifying either one or more chord notes, one or more scale notes, or one or more chord notes and one or more scale notes, and wherein at least a portion of said additional note-identifying information is provided according to an event representative of at least a chord change or scale change, said event initiated in response to either said performance of said first input controller or said performance of said second input controller;

providing for at least said first input controller a first relative chord position indicator which indicates the relative position of a given chord to be performed from said first input controller as said given chord relates to a first song key which currently corresponds to said first input controller; and

providing for at least said first input controller a second relative chord position indicator which indicates the relative position of a given chord to be performed from said first input controller as said given chord relates to a second song key currently corresponding to said first input controller, wherein said second relative chord position indicator represents a different relative chord position than said first relative chord position indicator.

44. A method for providing a musical performance in a given performace, wherein the given performance includes a plurality of events each of which is representative of at least a chord change or a scale change, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of notes from musical data containing note-identifying information;

utilizing stored data to include notes representative of fundamental chord notes among said plurality of notes; and

utilizing at least a portion of the note-identifying information for sounding notes for indicating to a user at least a plurality of chord changes in the given performance.

45. The method of claim 44, said given performance being representative of an original user composition.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

turning on at least one first note in said given performance to indicate to the user a first chord change in said given performance;

turning off said at least one first note in said given performance to indicate a second chord change in said given performance; and

turning on at least one other note in said given performance to indicate to the user said second chord change, said at least one other note being different than said at least one first note.