The invention relates to a user interface for a musical instrument, in particular an electronic or virtual musical instrument, for playing combined sequences of chords and tunes, comprising a key matrix (1) having a plurality of zones 111, 121, . . . ; 112, 122, . . . ; 11n, 12n, . . . that can be activated, these zones being arranged in columns and rows, each row of activatable zone 111, 121, . . . ; 112, 122, . . . ; 11n, 12n, . . . forming a region 101, 102, . . . , each region 101, 102, . . . being associated with a basic chord that preferably is a chord of a scale, preferably of a diatonic scale, the chord being specific of the scale, and each zone 111, 121, . . . ; 112, 122, . . . ; 11n, 12n, . . . being associated with a musical tone of the tune, which is preferably a musical tone of the tune of the scale. The user interface is designed to produce, when a zone 111, 121, . . . ; 112, 122, . . . ; 11n, 12n, . . . in a region 101, 102, . . . is activated, a musical tone-producing command in accordance with the activated zone 111, 121, . . . ; 112, 122, . . . ; 11n, 12n, . . . and region 101, 102, . . . , and the musical tone-producing command comprises at least one basic chord note command of a pitch that is contained in the basic chord associated with the activated region 101, 102, . . . and comprises a tune note command the pitch of which corresponds to the musical tone of the tune of the activated zone 111, 121, . . . ; 112, 122, . . . ; 11n, 12n, . . . . The invention also relates to a musical instrument, a method for producing combined sequences of chords and tunes, and a computer-readable storage medium.

An electronic musical instrument includes: a chord-playing input device; a sounding part that emits chord sounds; and a display part that displays an image. The chord-playing input device includes: a chord designating button group assigned with chords; a chord changing button group assigned with change methods for changing an assignment state for the chord designating button group; a sounding information generating part that generates sounding information for making the sounding part emit the sound of the chord corresponding to operation for the chord designating button group and chord changing button group; and a display information generating part that generates display information for making the display part display a plurality of chord images and change method images in the same arrangement order as those of the chord designating button group and chord changing button group.

In a performance operator group, a partial region including at least one first performance operator and at least one second performance operator is set as a first key region. An allocator allocates musical sound data to the first key region. An operation detector detects an operation using each of the plurality of first and second performance operators of the performance operator group. A reproduction controller carries out first control relating to a reproduction method of the allocated musical sound data in response to detection of an operation using one of the first and second performance operators in the first key region, and carries out second control relating to the reproduction method of the allocated musical sound data and being different from the first control in response to detection of an operation using another one of the first and second performance operators in the first key region.

An apparatus, method, and computer-readable storage medium that generate a harmonized musical piece. The method includes receiving a chord selection including a musical key and a scale selection, generating, within a digital audio work session, a chord progression sequence based on the received chord selection, in response to a detected chord selection change, modifying the chord progression sequence to include a chord progression corresponding to the chord selection change, setting the chord progression sequence as a master sequence, in response to detecting a second progression sequence within the digital audio work session, transmitting an identifier to the second progression sequence setting it as a slave sequence, and establishing a synchronized communication link between the master and the slave sequences such that changes made in the master sequence are automatically effectuated in the slave sequence, and combining the master sequence and the slave sequence to form a composed musical piece.

An apparatus, method, and computer-readable storage medium that generate a harmonized musical piece. The method includes receiving a chord selection including a musical key and a scale selection, generating, within a digital audio work session, a chord progression sequence based on the received chord selection, in response to a detected chord selection change, modifying the chord progression sequence to include a chord progression corresponding to the chord selection change, setting the chord progression sequence as a master sequence, in response to detecting a second progression sequence within the digital audio work session, transmitting an identifier to the second progression sequence setting it as a slave sequence, and establishing a synchronized communication link between the master and the slave sequences such that changes made in the master sequence are automatically effectuated in the slave sequence, and combining the master sequence and the slave sequence to form a composed musical piece.

A harmony generation device and a program for the same which can generate a natural harmony sound are provided. The harmony generation device (1) generates first and second harmony tones to which a voice input through a microphone (M) is shifted in pitch by first and second shift amounts calculated based on both the voice input through the microphone (M) and a chord determined from performance information of an electric guitar (G) input through an input device (34). That is, since the first and second harmony tones can be tones based on the chord of the electric guitar (G) that changes from moment to moment, the harmony sound obtained by mixing the first and second harmony tones with the voice input through the microphone (M) can be a natural harmony sound that is rich in variation according to the chord of the electric guitar (G).

A system for playing a multi-string instrument utilizing a device in conjunction with hardware and software that once programmed on a computer using a touchscreen, solenoids press the strings down on the frets on the neck of a multi-string instrument, requiring a user to only need to touch the touchscreen and simultaneously strum the strings by any method.

An keytar (1) includes a keyboard (2) on which a plurality of keys (2a) are arranged, a ribbon (5) in which a front surface panel (81) is arranged, and the degree of the same type of musical sound effect applied to each of tones (A-D) produced by the key (2a) is changed corresponding to detection positions in an X-direction in the front surface panel (81). Accordingly, because the degrees of the musical sound effects can be respectively changed for each of the tones (A-D) corresponding to the detection positions in the X-direction of the front surface panel (81), for the change of the same type of musical sound effect toward the tones (A-D), the monotony of this change can be suppressed and an expressive performance can be achieved.

A wind instrument such as a harmonica has a mouthpiece with one or more air channels, an electric power source, and a means for generating an electrical output signal from strain gages exposed to airflow in the channels. First and second strain gages having variable flow-induced resistance are bonded to a flexible substrate and suspended within an air channel, which includes a divider shelf for directing a first airflow to the first strain gage and a second airflow to the second strain gage. Complimentary strain gages are mounted to an opposite side of the substrate for inverse flexure to enable temperature correction for the first and second strain gages. When a user forces air through a channel in a direction biased to one side of the divider shelf a difference signal is generated by the first and second strain gages and detected by comparing their outputs. The difference signal can be used to adjust a variable control signal in applications such as volume control, dimming lights, or bending notes generated by the harmonica.

An apparatus, method, and computer-readable storage medium that generate a harmonized musical piece. The method includes receiving a chord selection including a musical key and a scale selection, generating, within a digital audio work session, a chord progression sequence based on the received chord selection, in response to a detected chord selection change, modifying the chord progression sequence to include a chord progression corresponding to the chord selection change, setting the chord progression sequence as a master sequence, in response to detecting a second progression sequence within the digital audio work session, transmitting an identifier to the second progression sequence setting it as a slave sequence, and establishing a synchronized communication link between the master and the slave sequences such that changes made in the master sequence are automatically effectuated in the slave sequence, and combining the master sequence and the slave sequence to form a composed musical piece.