An accessory for modifying sound output of a musical instrument. The body of the instrument has a soundboard. The accessory includes a sound sensor, an actuator, a fastener, and a controller. The sound sensor engages the body and senses vibration of the body representing the sound output of the musical instrument. The actuator engages the soundboard and deforms the soundboard of the musical instrument so as to modify the sound output of the musical instrument. The sound sensor is preferably arranged distally to the actuator. The fastener engages the accessory to the musical instrument, to locate the actuator against the soundboard of the musical instrument. The controller is connected to the actuator and the sound sensor for receiving and analysing the sound output sensed by the sound sensor, and controlling the actuator in dependence on the sound output sensed by the sound sensor.

A children's toy with capacitive touch interactivity. The children's toy generally includes a user input overlay panel and one or more capacitive touch sensors. The overlay panel may be formed from a capacitive touch conductive natural organic material such as wood. The toy can be shaped and ornamented to resemble a musical instrument, and configured to play music in response to user input applied to the user input overlay panel and sensed by the capacitive touch sensors.

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).

Systems and methods are generally described for generation and transmission of musical performance data. In some examples, the musical input device may generate a first command encoding a first musical event. In various further examples, the musical input device may generate a first message corresponding to the first command, the first message encoding a first acoustic attribute type of the first musical event. In some examples, the musical input device may generate a second message corresponding to the first command, the second message encoding a second acoustic attribute type of the first musical event. In various examples, the musical input device may generate timestamp data denoting a time of an occurrence of the first musical event. In some examples, the musical input device may send the timestamp data, the first command, the first message and the second message to a computing device.

Systems and methods are generally described for generation and transmission of musical performance data. In some examples, the musical input device may generate a first command encoding a first musical event. In various further examples, the musical input device may generate a first message corresponding to the first command, the first message encoding a first acoustic attribute type of the first musical event. In some examples, the musical input device may generate a second message corresponding to the first command, the second message encoding a second acoustic attribute type of the first musical event. In various examples, the musical input device may generate timestamp data denoting a time of an occurrence of the first musical event. In some examples, the musical input device may send the timestamp data, the first command, the first message and the second message to a computing device.

A children's toy with capacitive touch interactivity. The children's toy generally includes a user input overlay panel and one or more capacitive touch sensors. The overlay panel may be formed from a capacitive touch conductive natural organic material such as wood. The toy can be shaped and ornamented to resemble a musical instrument, and configured to play music in response to user input applied to the user input overlay panel and sensed by the capacitive touch sensors.

A method and system for teaching oneself to learn to play a string instrument and master it by analyzing one's real-time hand/finger movement/technique/form, enabling oneself to progress and correct one's own mistakes simultaneously. In one aspect, a system for learning to play a string instrument is provided that includes a simulation instrument that includes a plurality of strings, wherein at least one of the strings includes at least one-touch sensing sensor thereon in communication with at least one processor to receive a signal from the at least one touch-sensing sensor and determine therefrom when and where on the at least one string a user applies pressure to the at least one string.

At least one electronic signal is converted into at least one electromagnetic field, where the electronic signal may be created or modulated by environmental, interactive, and programmed inputs. The at least one electromagnetic field vibrates a ferromagnetic element creating an acoustic sound and optionally a transducer converts the vibration into an electronic signal for processing.

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).

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an image sensor configured to sense a motion of a bow to the string instrument, a vibration sensor configured to sense a vibration generated by the string instrument, and a control module configured to determine a fingering position of a user with respect to the string instrument using the motion of the bow and the vibration.