A modified and improved electronic bongo instrument embodying a kick drum and an operatively associated, selectively foot-activated kick pedal to create a new single unified instrument. The instrument has a novel hourglass shell for housing its own stand-alone power source, amplification and input/output units, with analog/digital upload capabilities, while additionally affording functionality associated with a new, completely portable and innovative method of musical collaboration, as well as a meditative and therapeutic application, and a physical exercise tool, and/or a children's toy.

A modified and improved electronic bongo instrument embodying a kick drum and an operatively associated, selectively foot-activated kick pedal to create a new single unified instrument. The instrument has a novel hourglass shell for housing its own stand-alone power source, amplification and input/output units, with analog/digital upload capabilities, while additionally affording functionality associated with a new, completely portable and innovative method of musical collaboration, as well as a meditative and therapeutic application, and a physical exercise tool, and/or a children's toy.

Provided is an electrophonic chordophone system (20) comprising sensor (24) configured to be operatively responsive to respective strings of a guitar (22). The system (20) also includes non-transitory processor-readable storage means (26) which contains first and second user-configurable tonal formats (28) and (30). Also included is processor (32), arranged in signal communication with the sensor (24) and storage means (26), and adapted to associate a melody group of notes producible by the strings with the first tonal format (28) in a one-to-one mapping or direct correlation, and to associate a control group of notes producible by the strings with the second tonal format (30) in a one-to-many mapping or indirect correlation. Also included is a synthesiser (34), arranged in signal communication with the processor (32), and configured to produce both the first and second tonal formats simultaneously in substantial real-time. The first tonal format (28) is actuatable via the melody group of notes and the second tonal format (30) is dynamically selectable via the control group of notes and also actuatable via the melody group of notes. In this manner, a melody is producible via the first tonal format (28) with a dynamic backing track producible via the second tonal format (30), all using one guitar (22).

A transducer apparatus for a labrosone is disclosed, the labrosone having a labrosone resonant chamber. A labrosone speaker delivers a sound signal to the labrosone resonant chamber. A labrosone microphone receives a resultant sound from the labrosone resonant chamber. A mouthpiece microphone receives sound from a labrosone mouthpiece. An electronic processor is connected to the labrosone speaker, and receives signals from the labrosone microphone and the mouthpiece microphone. The electronic processor generates an excitation signal which is delivered as an acoustic excitation signal to the labrosone resonant chamber by the labrosone speaker. The electronic processor uses the signals from the labrosone microphone and the mouthpiece microphone to determine a desired musical note which a player of the labrosone wishes to play. The electronic processor then synthesizes and outputs the desired musical note to an output device, whereby the musical note is played audibly and/or displayed visually to the player.

A hand-held strumming device includes a hollow body, a power source, a motor, a regulator, and a strummer. The power source is disposed in the hollow body. The motor is in electrical communication with the power source. The regulator is in electrical communication with both the motor and the power source. The regulator is configured to selectively adjust a rotational speed of the motor. The strummer is rotatably disposed on the disk. The strummer is configured to be presented to strings of a stringed instrument upon rotation of the motor to strum the strings.

A pickup holder for use with a stringed musical instrument is provided, comprising a housing, comprising a cavity for receiving a pickup device within the housing, engagement means for holding the pickup device in the cavity to form an over-string pickup; and fastening means for attaching the pickup holder to at least one mount, the mount being engageable with the body of the stringed instrument.

Methods and apparatus to classify media based on a pitch-independent timbre attribute from a media signal are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an interface to receive a media signal; a timbre database to store reference pitch-less timbre spectrums; and a processor to: compare a pitch-less timbre spectrum of the media signal to the reference pitch-less timbre spectrums; and classify the media signal based on data corresponding to a reference pitch-less timbre spectrum of the reference pitch-less timbre spectrums that matches the pitch-less timbre spectrum, the classification corresponding to at least one of an instrument or a genre.

A sound acquisition device, particularly for acoustic guitars, comprising sound acquisition elements connected to output and power supply elements. The sound acquisition elements comprise at least one microphone and are associated with a clip-like body adapted to be coupled along the edge of the sound hole of a soundbox of an acoustic musical string instrument, the clip-like body being configured to support the sound acquisition elements inside the soundbox.

A sound acquisition device, particularly for acoustic guitars, comprising sound acquisition elements connected to output and power supply elements. The sound acquisition elements comprise at least one microphone and are associated with a clip-like body adapted to be coupled along the edge of the sound hole of a soundbox of an acoustic musical string instrument, the clip-like body being configured to support the sound acquisition elements inside the soundbox.

With reference to FIG. 7a the present invention relates to transducer apparatus (200) for use with a reed instrument (201) having an air chamber (15) forming a resonant cavity whose resonance characteristics are controlled by opening and closing of tone holes (17A, 17B) connecting the air chamber to the exterior of the reed instrument. The transducer apparatus comprises attachment means (202) for releasably securing the transducer apparatus to a mouthpiece (201) of the reed instrument in place of a reed. A reed replacement section (203) has a housing with an abutment surface for abutting a surface part of the mouthpiece which would be abutted by a reed secured to the mouthpiece. An air passage extends through the housing of the reed replacement section (203) from an air inlet (211) through which a player of the instrument can blow to an air outlet (213) through which air blown by the player is delivered to atmosphere, without passing through the air chamber (15) within the reed instrument. A speaker (208) is supported by the housing and delivers sound to the air chamber (15). An air chamber microphone (209) is supported by the housing and receives sound in the air chamber (15). An electronic processing unit (204) has: an excitation unit (101) which produces an excitation signal for driving the speaker (208); a processor (102) for receiving a measurement signal produced by the microphone and for detecting from the measurement signal a musical note played by the instrument; a synthesizer (220) for generating an electronic signal embodying a musical note which corresponds to the detected musical note; and output means (103) for transmitting the musical note generated by the synthesizer to a receiver external of the transducer apparatus. The invention also relates to a system for representing the sounds of a reed instrument having the components of the transducer apparatus, to an electronic system for determining a musical note played by a reed instrument having the components of the transducer apparatus and to a method of practising playing of a reed instrument comprising use of the components of the transducer apparatus.