A device integrally joined with the ported opening of a musical bass drum resonant drumhead for regulating the amount of vibrating airflow passing through the inside of a bass drumshell and continuing through the ported opening for effectively controlling undesirable higher frequency drum sounds precipitated by the airflow produced upon the striking of the batter head.

A polyphonic multi-dimensional controller (PMC) provides for independently expressing multiple concurrently sounding musical notes. The PMC includes rows and columns of force-sensing potentiometers (FSPs) that define an array of single-touch zones (STZs). Using a z-axis switch configuration, touches are detected and the forces associated with the touches are measured. For STZs for which a touch is detected, a fine x position and a fine y position are determined respectively using an x-axis switch configuration and a y-axis switch configuration. By repeatedly scanning the STZs, the x-axis position, the y-axis position, and the z-axis force can be tracked and translated into 3-axis note expression data. The PMC is multi-touch so that the 3-axis note expression data can be polyphonic.

An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of pads, each of the plurality of pads including a touch sensor and an acceleration sensor, a sound output interface configured to output sounds that are set to the respective pads, a display configured to display visual feedback, and a processor configured to, in response to the touch sensor in a pad among the plurality of pads detecting a touch of the pad, and the acceleration sensor in the pad detecting an intensity of the touch that is greater than or equal to a value, determine that a beat is performed on the pad, control the sound output interface to output a sound that is set to the pad on which the beat is determined to be performed, with a magnitude corresponding to an intensity of the beat, and control the display to display the visual feedback corresponding to the beat determined to be performed.

A music generating system enables a user to generate independent and sequential musical melodies, having reduced latency periods, without playing an electronic percussion instrument. The music generating system includes an electronic percussion instrument, a MIDI controller coupled to the electronic percussion instrument, a unidirectional USB communication link coupled to the MIDI controller, a MIDI converter coupled to the unidirectional USB communication link, a bidirectional USB-MIDI communication link coupled to the MIDI converter, and a rhythm drum machine in communication with the bidirectional USB-MIDI communication link. The MIDI converter is configured to independently and sequentially receive and learn a first audio control signal and a second audio control signal in a non-overlapping pattern, and thereby independently and sequentially generates and transmits to the rhythm drum machine a first musical melody and a second musical melody corresponding to the first audio control signal and the second audio control signal, respectively.

A percussion instrument includes a drum shell, a batter head maintained under tension by a rim secured to the top of the drum shell, a flexible member supported at the bottom end of the drum shell, a contact microphone retained on a central section of the flexible member, an acoustic transmission structure in contact with the batter head, and a drive foot coupled to a lower end of the acoustic transmission structure. The contact microphone can be coupled to the flexible support member with a first double-sided adhesive tape member. A foam cushion disposed between the drive foot and the contact microphone can be coupled to the drive foot on a top side with a second double-sided adhesive tape member and on the opposite bottom side with a third double-sided adhesive member to reduce unwanted microphonics or feedback, and allow rapid reversion of the signal from the contact microphone.

Apparatus and methods for securing a string to an acoustic, stringed instrument are disclosed. Example apparatus include string anchors secured to a bridge of the stringed instrument. The apparatus provide components enabling selective tensioning of the string. A seat arrangement provided by string anchors receives an anchor end of string and the string passes from the seat arrangement through a base arrangement and towards a headstock of the acoustic instrument.

Provided is an electronic percussion instrument that is capable of simulating a playing technique for an acoustic percussion instrument. A tubular body part is opened on an axial end surface, and a head is attached to the axial end surface to be struck on the front surface. A capacitance sensor includes an electrode that generates a capacitance with respect to a detected conductor, such as a human body, positioned on the front surface side of the head. Because the capacitance sensor detects a change of a capacitance corresponding to a distance between the electrode and the detected conductor, whether the detected conductor approaches (contacts) the head or presses the head can be determined. As a result, the playing technique for the acoustic percussion instrument is simulated.

An apparatus, system, and method for a magnetically and releaseably attachable trigger for an instrument is provided along with a choking device for use of the trigger in connection with a cymbal or like percussion device. The trigger and securing device are disposed on either side of a cymbal surface or a cymbal stand via magnetic force and the choking mechanism is in electrical connection with the trigger to interrupt the signal for choking purposes and is mounted on a surface of the cymbal to be choked.

A stringed instrument comprises a substantially hollow body that includes a front soundboard, a rear diaphragm, and a side wall, all defining an internal volume therein that has a first curved interface between the side wall and the front soundboard and a second curved interface between the side wall and the rear diaphragm, such that when the front soundboard vibrates in reaction to the strings being strummed, struck, or picked the rear diaphragm is driven by the side walls and the first and second curved interface. The stringed instrument may take the form of a guitar that includes a primary sound aperture in the front soundboard, a neck having a fretboard with a plurality of frets, a heel fixed at a proximal end thereof, and a string nut at a distal end thereof. A tuning head projects away from the string nut and includes a plurality of tuning mechanisms.

A percussion controller comprises an instrumented striker including devices for obtaining inertial measurements and a wireless transmitter, a sensor-enabled striking surface that receives an impact from the instrumented striker, and a data processing system that receives the inertial measurements and predicts at least one of the force or location of impact of the instrumented striker on the sensor-enabled striking surface before impact actually occurs.