An adjustable length strap assembly adapted for use with a stringed musical instrument such as a guitar is disclosed. The strap assembly comprises: a first portion defined in part by a length of a strapping material having a terminal end configured to be secured to an anchoring point located on a head portion of a body of the stringed musical instrument, said length of strapping material threaded through a first leveraging portion of a substantially ring-shaped leveraging member and folded, such that a section of the length of the strapping material is folded over itself, to form a two ply configuration of strapping material consisting of a first top ply and a second bottom ply, with slid-able longitudinal movement of each ply relative to the other leveraged by said first leveraging portion of the substantially ring-shaped leveraging member; and a second portion defined by a tongue capable of swivelling about a second leveraging portion of the substantially ring shaped leveraging member; wherein the slid-able longitudinal movement of the second bottom ply relative to the first top ply is regulated by movement of a slider of a longitudinally oriented slide-fastening mechanism formed integrally to the first top ply.

Exemplary embodiments of stringed instruments including extended string retaining saddle straps are disclosed. The exemplary embodiments include an extended string retaining saddle strap connected to each of, and between, a string connection to the instrument's strings at a bottom portion of a body portion of the stringed instrument and a saddle strap connector at an upper portion of the body portion of the stringed instrument. In an aspect, the saddle strap connector may be connected to a neck block portion joining a neck portion of the stringed instrument to the body portion, within a hollow interior of the body portion. In an aspect, connecting the extended string retaining saddle strap to each of, and between, the string connection and the saddle strap connector creates a tension that tends to pull the string connection and the saddle strap connector towards each other.

The presence of saxophonists furthering their musical horizons by playing keyboard instruments inspires the invention of a novel device to connect a light-weight keyboard or MIDI grid controller to a saxophone to facilitate the convenient and rapid switching between playing either instrument. Battery power and Bluetooth technology combine with innovations in plastics technology to facilitate the creation of strong, lightweight structures to facilitate such a device. With the addition of looping software on a laptop computer, a saxophonist so equipped can create music to accompany themselves, obviating the need for other musicians to function as a musical ensemble. This innovation may be the harbinger for other musicians on other single note instruments—trumpet, trombone, violin, etc. to join this trend using either instrument-attached, strap-on or wearable keyboards. This could blend the boundaries between acoustic and electronic instruments, and increase the enjoyment and musical enrichment of musicians and audiences alike.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wind instrument apparatus, comprising: an attachment element configured to attach the apparatus to a wind instrument, a spring structure attached to or comprised by the attachment element, and a support bar. The support bar is partially insertable into the elastic structure and the apparatus comprises a fastening mechanism configured to selectively fasten the support bar in relation to the elastic structure, so that the flexibility of the attachment element is adjustable in relation to the support bar.

A spinner assembly for an instrument having valves and/or slides. A clamp sub-assembly attaches to the instrument while a hand strap sub-assembly encircles a player's conjoined hand. A bearing rotatably connects the clamp sub-assembly to the hand strap sub-assembly about a drive axis (D) that is offset from the natural balance axis of the instrument (X). The clamp sub-assembly includes a mounting plate fashioned with three side-by-side cradles that nest against the horn valves. A lashing holds the cradles in position. The hand strap sub-assembly includes a generally rigid palm plate that fits in the player's palm. The palm plate has a hypothenar end, a web end and a distal edge. The distal edge has a ring finger relief adjacent the hypothenar end. A driver boss is affixed to the backside of the palm plate adjacent the web end. A flexible belt secures the player's hand to the palm plate.

Particular embodiments described herein provide for a cocktail drum basket. The cocktail drum basket can include a lower cocktail basket portion, where the lower cocktail basket portion is supported by a rim of a first drum and an upper cocktail basket portion, where the upper cocktail basket portion supports a second drum over the first drum. The cocktail drum basket can be used to position a second drum over a first drum in a three-dimensional (3D) plane using the cocktail drum basket to position the second drum along an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis relative to the first drum.

A marching carrier is worn by a percussion player and supports an instrument at a front of a body of the player. The marching carrier includes a belly plate that covers an abdomen region of the player and includes a belly pad in a section that contacts the abdomen region, and a carrier main body that is put on shoulders of the player and is fixed to the belly plate. The carrier main body includes shoulder pads in sections that contact the shoulders. The carrier main body includes a rod that includes two front extending portions. The front extending portions extend from the shoulders toward the abdomen region. The carrier main body is configured to adjust a position in a front-rear direction of the belly pad.

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of haptic systems for digital musical instruments. In embodiments, the haptic systems comprise a shoulder rest that has been modified with haptic elements capable of generating a feedback signal to a user of a digital musical instrument.

The present invention is an apparatus used to connect a typical guitar strap in non-traditional positions on the body of a guitar or bass guitar, which affixes to the instrument to provide stability and balance. The core components of the apparatus are a resilient hollow plastic outer shell with an external protrusion extending from the apex, a protective non-slip thermoplastic rubber inner layer, and metal hardware, suitable for use with virtually all guitar straps presently in use, attached to the external protrusion. The invention can be used to attach a strap to a guitar or bass guitar securely, without damaging the finish or affecting the tonal integrity of the instrument. Furthermore, it should be noted that the apparatus is generally a parabolic shape, intended to securely fit over the upper or lower horn of a guitar or bass guitar.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wind instrument apparatus, comprising: an attachment element configured to attach the apparatus to a wind instrument, a spring structure attached to or comprised by the attachment element, and a support bar. The support bar is partially insertable into the elastic structure and the apparatus comprises a fastening mechanism configured to selectively fasten the support bar in relation to the elastic structure, so that the flexibility of the attachment element is adjustable in relation to the support bar.