A musical instrument with novel configurations and performance techniques that can play notes and scale tones is disclosed. The musical instrument implements design and ergonomic changes to a Theremin's traditional configuration and use. The musical instrument includes an additional sound generation device such as an actuator that is operated to provide rhythm and tonal results. The musical instrument includes a pitch antenna that is configured in a horizontal position, which creates a different plane of reference with respect to performance motions employed for modifying the pitch. The musical instrument allows for a user to play notes and scale tones in a standing, seated, or ambulatory position. Improved playing interfaces, accessory items, and other characteristics for enhancing the playing of the musical instrument are provided.

A button unit is suspended vertically and has a button body with an actuating surface and a shaft extending downwardly therefrom. An X-Y sensor unit is arranged below the button body for detecting X-Y positions on the actuating surface. The X-Y sensor unit has one opening such that the shaft can move therethrough. One transfer element is elastically suspended below the shaft and moved downwardly upon downward movement of the shaft. A Z sensor unit is arranged below the transfer element. The Z sensor unit has a detection element for detecting downward movement of the transfer element. The X-Y sensor unit may include a capacitive sensor. The Z sensor unit may include an inductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, or a magnetic sensor. The shaft and the extension may include a translucent material to form a light guide for illuminating the button body via a light source.

A tactile touch sensor (TTS) system and method allowing physical augmentation of a high-resolution touch sensor array (TSA) is disclosed. Physical augmentation is accomplished using a TSA physical overlay (TPO) placed on top of the TSA. The TPO is constructed to transmit forces to the underlying TSA. Force transmission is accomplished by either using a flexible overlay or with a rigid mechanical overlay that transmits user forces exerted on the overlay to the underlying TSA. Incorporation of TPO identifiers (TPI) within the TPO permits identification of the TPO by a TPO detector (TPD) allowing operational characteristics of the TSA to be automatically reconfigured to conform to the currently applied TPO structure by a user computing device (UCD). The UCD may be configured to automatically load an appropriate application software driver (ASD) in response to a TPI read by the TPD from the currently applied TPO.

A musical instrument, for example, a keyboard guitar, includes a body, an elongated neck coupled to the body, neck keys disposed on the elongated neck, and an output for transmitting an electrical signal generated by the musical instrument. Activation of each neck key generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note. The musical instrument may also include body keys disposed on the body, and a strum bar that generates an electrical signal at the output representing a pitch associated with a musical note based on which of the body keys are activated during activation of the strum bar. Further, the musical instrument may include a continuous graphic image spanning the front face of the body and the body keys, forming a continuous pattern that is unbroken across a transition between key surfaces of the body keys and the front face of the body.

A pressure measurement device for use with a musical instrument is provided. The pressure measurement devices has at least one inlet to receive air from a player of the musical instrument as the player plays the musical instrument. The pressure measurement device also has at least one sensor associated with the at least one inlet. The sensor is configured to sense information relating to pressure from the received air in real time as the musical instrument is played.

A control device (1) for controlling the sound of an electric musical instrument has a tread plate (2) and a signal generator (3). The tread plate (2) is mounted pivotally about a first axis (4a) and is mounted pivotally about a second axis (4b). The signal generator is configured such that it generates a first electrical signal for controlling the sound and a second electrical signal for controlling the sound, the first electrical signal being the result of a rotation of the tread plate (2) about the first axis (4a) and the second electrical signal being the result of a rotation of the tread plate (2) about the second axis (4b). A control system comprises a control device of this type and the electric musical instrument.

A sensing system for a keyboard. Each key sensor comprises passive and active resonant circuits. The passive resonant circuit has a resonant frequency and the active resonant circuit excites the passive resonant circuit at the resonant frequency. A sensor driver drives the active resonant circuit with an RF drive signal, a multiplexing system multiplexes the drive signal such that simultaneously driven key sensors are separated by at least (k−1) keys, and a detector detects a level of RF signal from a driven key sensor for sensing a position and/or velocity of a key.

An electronic wind instrument includes a breath sensor, an operating element, a speaker, and an acoustic tube. The operating element receives an instruction related to a pitch. The speaker outputs a sound based on musical performance information obtained from at least one of the breath sensor and the operating element. The speaker has an inner space therein. The acoustic tube that has an inner space therein. The inner space of the acoustic tube is continuous with the inner space of the speaker. The acoustic tube extends in a direction away from the speaker.

An electronic wind instrument includes a breath sensor, an operating element, a speaker, and an acoustic tube. The operating element receives an instruction related to a pitch. The speaker outputs a sound based on musical performance information obtained from at least one of the breath sensor and the operating element. The speaker has an inner space therein. The acoustic tube that has an inner space therein. The inner space of the acoustic tube is continuous with the inner space of the speaker. The acoustic tube extends in a direction away from the speaker.

A new and improved Digital Musical Instrument includes a hardware segment that electronically detects the physical inputs of a musicians musical playing style or articulated intent; a Software segment that interprets and formulates the data output from the hardware segment, to be applied to any digitally modulated synthesizer or recording sampler; and an optional expanded method of sampling or digitally recording articulated sounds of acoustic instruments.