A stringed musical instrument is disclosed herein. The stringed instrument comprises a body, a head, a neck, and one or more strings. The neck has a back plate and a cover integrated with the back plate. The back plate comprises a first array of openings and the cover comprises a second array of openings. The first array and second array of openings align to form an array of light housings. Each light housing is configured to house a light (e.g., LEDs). Also disclosed herein is an interactive stringed musical instrument teaching system comprising a stringed instrument and a mobile terminal (e.g., computer). Both the smart stringed instrument and the mobile terminal are in communication via one or more communication modules. The mobile terminal comprises a microphone, a tuning module, a database, a teaching module and a game module. The stringed instrument comprises a main control module, a sound wake-up module, an LED driver module and an LED matrix module.

A method and apparatus to facilitate tone challenged singers to sing intended notes. In one aspect, the singer determines a note to sing corresponding to an intended frequency f.sub.i. The singer utters a note continuously with fundamental frequency f.sub.u into a microphone of the natural ear apparatus. The note is processed by the apparatus to produce sound emphasizing the fundamental frequency f.sub.u and output through a speaker to the auditory organs of the singer. The singer detects differences between intended frequency f.sub.i and uttered fundamental frequency f.sub.u. The singer adjusts his vocal organs as he utters the note with the intention of changing f.sub.u to reduce difference between f.sub.i and f.sub.u.

A method and apparatus to facilitate tone challenged singers to sing intended notes. In one aspect, the singer determines a note to sing corresponding to an intended frequency f.sub.i. The singer utters a note continuously with fundamental frequency f.sub.u into a microphone of the natural ear apparatus. The note is processed by the apparatus to produce sound emphasizing the fundamental frequency f.sub.u and output through a speaker to the auditory organs of the singer. The singer detects differences between intended frequency f.sub.i and uttered fundamental frequency f.sub.u. The singer adjusts his vocal organs as he utters the note with the intention of changing f.sub.u to reduce difference between f.sub.i and f.sub.u.

A musical sound producing apparatus includes a plurality of keys; a sound production information generator configured to generate sound production information for producing a musical sound based on a first key operation on any key among the plurality of keys; a control information generator configured to generate control information for controlling, on the basis of a second key operation different from the first key operation, a mode of the musical sound produced on the basis of the first key operation; and a musical sound signal generator configured to generate a musical sound signal on the basis of the sound production information and the control information.

A musical sound producing apparatus includes a plurality of keys; a sound production information generator configured to generate sound production information for producing a musical sound based on a first key operation on any key among the plurality of keys; a control information generator configured to generate control information for controlling, on the basis of a second key operation different from the first key operation, a mode of the musical sound produced on the basis of the first key operation; and a musical sound signal generator configured to generate a musical sound signal on the basis of the sound production information and the control information.

Provided is a device for reporting a tuning status by sound on the basis of an audio signal acquired. The device includes: a signal acquisition means for acquiring the audio signal; a comparison means for comparing the frequency of the audio signal with a reference frequency corresponding to the audio signal; and a generation means for generating a first sound signal when the frequency of the audio signal is lower than the reference frequency and generating a second sound signal different from the first sound signal when the frequency of the audio signal is higher than the reference frequency.

A frequency detection and display device includes a body having a vibratory portion configured for vibrating at a predetermined frequency. In this manner, the vibratory portion provides a visible indication corresponding to the predetermined frequency in response to vibration of an object, such as a stringed musical instrument, to which the frequency detection and display device is attached.

A frequency detection and display device includes a body having a vibratory portion configured for vibrating at a predetermined frequency. In this manner, the vibratory portion provides a visible indication corresponding to the predetermined frequency in response to vibration of an object, such as a stringed musical instrument, to which the frequency detection and display device is attached.

A digital tuner that determines a tuning target period; receives an audio signal from an instrument to be tuned; obtains a plurality of different segments of the audio signal starting at times that correspond to integer multiples of the target period; produces waveform samples from the segments; and displays of a succession of waveform segments at same display position using said segments so that the shape of the waveform appears to move on the display at a speed and direction directly dependent on a difference of a wave period of the audio signal to be tuned and the tuning target period.

Methods and systems for assisting tonally-challenged singers. A microphone can be integrated with a sound reinforcement system used in a live performance. The microphone, which can transduce the performer's voice, can serve multiple purposes such as, for example, to feed input to the natural ear and to the sound reinforcement system. The processed sound of the performer's voice (with fundamental frequency emphasized) can be mixed into the signal fed to a stage “monitor” speaker facing the performer or a headset worn by the performer.