Electronic musical instruments as disclosed, include sensors to digitize and alter the sound using FSR sensors in the mouthpieces and other elements of the instrument to mimic the variations available in analog instruments.

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.

The invention describes the design and the technique for creating the ideal bed and for positioning sensors to the neck of a stringed instrument, such as a guitar. The problem solved addresses the need of the performer to easily identify, activate or deactivate one or more sensors while, at the same time, playing the instrument and without, for instance, unnatural or uncomfortable torsions of the hand or unwanted pauses. The solution provided consists on an ad-hoc chamfered flat surface on the back part of the guitar's neck; such flat surface is the ideal bed where sensors can be located and accessed.

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.

Electronic musical instruments as disclosed, include sensors to digitize and alter the sound using FSR sensors in the mouthpieces and other elements of the instrument to mimic the variations available in analog instruments.

A video game includes an audio-video stream combined with game graphics and game sounds. The game graphics are overlaid on the video stream and updated in synchronization with the stream. Update of the game graphics and sounds depends on inputs received from a game player. The game player may provide input using a game controller coupled to the video game by an adapter. The video game may play on a Blu-ray player.

An ergonomic, portable, electronic, string-like instrument that utilizes a string-like interface. The string-like interface is tactile for sightless playability and capable of advanced input such as force and pressure sensitivity. The string-like interface functions to select a note, trigger a selected note, select and play a note on the instrument or an external peripheral. The instrument is played using the techniques of multiple stringed instruments and the ergonomics allow the user to hold and handle the device consistent with playing techniques familiar to musicians of multiple instruments. It is internally or externally powered and connects directly to industry-standard musical hardware such as MIDI devices, amplifiers and multi-track recorders.

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.

Electronic musical instruments as disclosed, include sensors to digitize and alter the sound using FSR sensors in the mouthpieces and other elements of the instrument to mimic the variations available in analog instruments.

An electronic stringed musical instrument is provided which is capable of performing string-pressing detection while maintain a neck strength without lowering reliability. Here, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags where wiring is not necessary are arranged between frets for each of the first to sixth strings, whereby its neck strength is maintained. When a string comes close to an RFID tag in response to a string-pressing operation, the RFID tag wirelessly transmits first identification information including at least its own fret number (string-pressed point) using electrical power acquired by receiving a radio wave transmitted from the string that functions as an antenna. Then, this information is received and demodulated via the string that functions as an antenna. That is, the string-pressed point is detected by non-contact detection, so that string-pressing detection can be performed without lowering reliability.