Techniques are disclosed herein for generating harmonious audio. An input for changing a mode of an electronic device from a first mode to a second mode can be received and, in response, a controller of the electronic device can modify electrical connections between a matrix circuit and a set of keys of the electronic device. In modifying the electrical connections, a set of tones associated with a first subset of keys of the set of keys can be associated with a second subset of keys of the set of keys. Keys of the second subset of keys can be adjacent to at least one other key of the second subset of keys and tones of the set of tones can be associated with respective keys of the second subset of keys. Audio output when one key is operated can be harmonious with audio output when other keys are operated.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses may be used to determine fretted positions associated with a stringed instrument. Stringed instruments may be used for interfacing with at least one musical synthesizer interface. A specially-modified stringed musical instrument or system applied to a stringed musical instrument may be used to determine where a guitarist is pressing guitar strings against guitar frets (e.g., stopped positions or fretted positions) without resorting to sending electrical current down the strings or having segmented frets. Special techniques may be used to determine when a pluck of a string occurs. A guitarist may be allowed to play a guitar in a normal manner and control a musical synthesizer or other sound generating device with the same level of predictability that keyboard players have enjoyed for years.

Techniques are described that relate to various aspects of converting the mechanical energy of instrument strings to digital representations for use in a variety of applications.

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method of generating a sound by using a touch screen. A sound modulation apparatus according to the present invention includes: a sensor information input unit configured to receive sensing information on a position, at which a touch input of a user is applied to the screen, and pressure according to the touch input applied to the screen; and a sound modulation unit configured to set a tone frequency and volume of a sound to be output, and set the tone frequency according to the position, to which the touch input of the user is applied, and set the volume according to a size of the pressure according to the touch input.

Techniques are described that relate to various aspects of converting the mechanical energy of instrument strings to digital representations for use in a variety of applications.

A keyboard unit includes: a key; a plurality of members which include the key, and each of which has an engaged section for forming an engaged state, the engaged state changed by turning of the key, at least a portion of the engaged section formed of a conductor; a detector which is configured to detect information on the engaged state of the plurality of members by detecting a conduction state between the at least portions of the engaged sections which are in contact with each other; and a determiner which is configured to determine a musical sound parameter based on a detection result of the detector.

The present invention provides touch sensor means for detecting the touch location along the length of an outfitted piano key as it is pressed, so as to then offset the notes of an associated piano keyboard accordingly during play. When such an outfitted key is pressed in combination with other piano keys, the touch location along the length of the outfitted key, and the separation intervals and timing of the key presses, are analyzed to determine the intended chord, such that before any notes are sounded, the notes of the pressed keys are configured for the sounding of that chord. This arrangement enables playing a wide range of notes using just a few keys, so as to provide a substantially reduced-size keyboard with full-sized keys sufficient for real-time playing. This arrangement also enables configuring the note offsets of those pressed keys to conform to a selected musical key, so as to simplify the layout of the keyboard by eliminating its black keys, while still supporting the playing of non-conforming notes. This arrangement further enables applying pitch variation to those note offsets in order to emulate the string stretching, whammy bar, and fretless neck playing techniques for guitars and basses. This arrangement even further enables playing advanced chords in a simplified manner. Finally, this arrangement enables providing a wide assortment of keyboards that can differ in the type, number, size, and functionality of their outfitted keys.

The present invention provides touch sensor means for detecting the touch location along the length of an outfitted piano key as it is pressed, so as to then offset the notes of an associated piano keyboard accordingly during play. When such an outfitted key is pressed in combination with other piano keys, the touch location along the length of the outfitted key, and the separation intervals and timing of the key presses, are analyzed to determine the intended chord, such that before any notes are sounded, the notes of the pressed keys are configured for the sounding of that chord. This arrangement enables playing a wide range of notes using just a few keys, so as to provide a substantially reduced-size keyboard with full-sized keys sufficient for real-time playing. This arrangement also enables configuring the note offsets of those pressed keys to conform to a selected musical key, so as to simplify the layout of the keyboard by eliminating its black keys, while still supporting the playing of non-conforming notes. This arrangement further enables applying pitch variation to those note offsets in order to emulate the string stretching, whammy bar, and fretless neck playing techniques for guitars and basses. This arrangement even further enables playing advanced chords in a simplified manner. Finally, this arrangement enables providing a wide assortment of keyboards that can differ in the type, number, size, and functionality of their outfitted keys.

An electronic instrument including a keyboard having multiple keys. The electronic instrument includes: a normal musical sound generation device, configured to generate a normal musical sound in a case where a position of the key reaches a sound generation start position after the key is pressed; and a key release processing device, configured to perform a key release AT process, which is a predetermined musical sound control process at a time of key release of the key, in a case where the position of the key reaches an AT detection position as a position deeper than the sound generation start position through further pressing the key after the position of the key reaches the sound generation start position.