Method and apparatus for computer-generated music

• US 7,947,888 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Master Key LLC
• Original Assignee: Master Key LLC
• Inventors: Lemons, Kenneth R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels; Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US12/148,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 844/64.R, 844/70.R, 844/71.R, 844/72, 844/54, 844/58, 844/832
• US Class Current: 84/464.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G10G 1/00 Means for the representation of music
• 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

Abstract

The present disclosure relates computer music generation methods and devices. A method and associated apparatus is provided that operates with a computer to automatically create or “compose” music that is original as well as sufficiently complex to provide ongoing interest for listeners.

Claims

1. A method of automating the generation of musical compositions comprising the steps of:

(1) generating a first musical structure randomly from a list of possible musical structures;

(2) generating a first representation of said first musical structure;

(3) generating a second musical structure based on analysis of said first musical structure; and

(4) generating a second representation of said second musical structure;

wherein;

said first representation of said first musical structure and said second representation of said second musical structure are generated according to a method comprising the steps of;

(a) placing twelve labels in a pattern of a circle, said twelve labels corresponding to twelve respective notes in an octave, such that moving clockwise or counter-clockwise between adjacent ones of said labels represents a musical half-step;

(b) identifying an occurrence of a first one of the twelve notes within said musical structure;

(c) identifying an occurrence of a second one of the twelve notes within said musical structure;

(d) identifying a first label corresponding to the first note;

(e) identifying a second label corresponding to the second note;

(f) creating a first line connecting the first label and the second label, wherein;

(1) said first line is a first color if the first note and the second note are separated by a half step;

(2) said first line is a second color if the first note and the second note are separated by a whole step;

(3) said first line is a third color if the first note and the second note are separated by a minor third;

(4) said first line is a fourth color if the first note and the second note are separated by a major third;

(5) said first line is a fifth color if the first note and the second note are separated by a perfect fourth; and

(6) said first line is a sixth color if the first note and the second note are separated by a tri-tone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises arranging each of the twelve labels to be substantially evenly spaced from each adjacent label.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (a) further comprises arranging each of the twelve labels to be spaced 30 degrees from each adjacent label.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(g) if the first note and the second note comprise the same note, highlighting the label corresponding to the note.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first color is red, the second color is orange, the third color is yellow, the fourth color is green, the fifth color is blue and the sixth color is purple.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first color has a first frequency that is lower than a second frequency of the second color; and

the second frequency is lower than a third frequency of the third color; and

the third frequency is lower than a fourth frequency of the fourth color; and

the fourth frequency is lower than a fifth frequency of the fifth color; and

the fifth frequency is lower than a sixth frequency of the sixth color.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(g) identifying the occurrence of a third one of the twelve notes within said musical structure;

(h) identifying a third label corresponding to the third note;

(i) creating a second line connecting the second label and the third label; and

(j) creating a third line connecting the third label and the first label.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said analysis comprises the steps of:

(1) determining a list of musical structures that fall within the same key signature as the first musical structure

(2) randomly choosing said second musical structure from said list.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said analysis comprises the steps of:

(1) determining a list of musical structures that share common musical tones with the first musical structure

(2) randomly choosing said second musical structure from said list.

10. A method of automating the generation of musical compositions comprising the steps of:

(1) generating a first musical structure randomly from a list of possible musical structures;

(2) generating a first representation of said first musical structure;

(3) generating a second musical structure based on analysis of said first musical structure; and

(4) generating a second representation of said second musical structure;

wherein;

said first representation of said first musical structure and said second presentation of said second musical structure are generated according to a method comprising the steps of;

(a) providing a plurality of labels in a pattern of a helix, wherein;

(1) each turn of the helix has a respective plurality of labels corresponding to a plurality of respective sounds in a respective plurality of frequency ranges; and

(2) moving clockwise or counter-clockwise on the helix between any one of said labels represents a first frequency interval;

(b) identifying an occurrence of a first sound;

(c) identifying which of the plurality of respective sounds and which respective plurality of frequency ranges corresponds to the first sound;

(d) identifying an occurrence of a second sound;

(e) identifying which of the plurality of respective sounds and which respective plurality of frequency ranges corresponds to the second sound;

(f) identifying a first label corresponding to the first sound;

(g) identifying a second label corresponding to the second sound;

(h) creating a first line connecting the first label and the second label, wherein;

(1) the first line is a first color if the first sound and the second sound are separated by the first frequency interval;

(2) the first line is a second color if the first sound and the second sound are separated by a second frequency interval;

(3) the first line is a third color if the first sound and the second sound are separated by a third frequency interval;

(4) the first line is a fourth color if the first sound and the second sound are separated by a fourth frequency interval;

(5) the first line is a fifth color if the first sound and the second sound are separated by a fifth frequency interval; and

(6) the first line is a sixth color if the first sound and the second sound are separated by a sixth frequency interval.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of respective sounds comprise a plurality of musical notes and the plurality of frequency ranges comprise a plurality of octaves.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein like notes from all octaves lie in a substantially straight line.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein step (a) further comprises arranging each one of the labels to be substantially evenly spaced from each adjacent label.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of labels comprises twelve labels and step (a) further comprises arranging each of the labels to be spaced 30 degrees from each adjacent label.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first color is red, the second color is orange, the third color is yellow, the fourth color is green, the fifth color is blue and the sixth color is purple.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the first interval is a half-step, the second interval is a whole step, the third interval is a minor third, the fourth interval is a major third, the fifth interval is a perfect fourth, and the sixth interval is a tri-tone.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said analysis comprises the steps of

(1) determining a list of musical structures that fall within the same key signature as the first musical structure

(2) randomly choosing said second musical structure from said list.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said analysis comprises the steps of:

(1) determining a list of musical structures that share common musical tones with the first musical structure

(2) randomly choosing said second musical structure from said list.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said analysis further comprises the steps of:

(3) randomly choosing a third musical structure from said list;

(4) repeating the first, second and third musical structures.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said analysis further comprises the steps of:

(5) determining a melody structure by randomly selecting individual notes from said key signature which have common tones to said first, second or third musical structures;

(6) outputting said first, second, and third musical structures sequentially while simultaneously outputting said melody structure.