A musical keyboard interface capable of controlling either a string instrument or synthesizer controller includes a small, consistent keyboard interface that moves with each hand along one or both edges of a stationary ruler. The ruler segments measure the static location of each note in chromatic order. The keys are oriented in length perpendicular to the length of the ruler and each key is as wide as each ruler segment. As the keyboard moves along the ruler and its keys realign with new ruler segments, the keys become able to articulate the notes indicated by their position. The transformation is gradual, smoothly sliding notes and chords in varying magnitudes and directions simultaneously.

A musical keyboard interface capable of controlling either a string instrument or synthesizer controller includes a small, consistent keyboard interface that moves with each hand along one or both edges of a stationary ruler. The ruler segments measure the static location of each note in chromatic order. The keys are oriented in length perpendicular to the length of the ruler and each key is as wide as each ruler segment. As the keyboard moves along the ruler and its keys realign with new ruler segments, the keys become able to articulate the notes indicated by their position. The transformation is gradual, smoothly sliding notes and chords in varying magnitudes and directions simultaneously.

Systems and methods are directed to generating music. In one example, an electronic musical instrument includes a first handheld unit. The electronic musical instrument further includes a second handheld unit, the second handheld unit being communicatively coupled to the first handheld unit. The first handheld unit includes a plurality of input controls configured to indicate a selection of a note of a musical scale. The second handheld unit is configured to initiate output of the selected note.

The present invention is a chromatic-emphasis hybrid-diatonic leverless keyboard configured to provide an extension, duplication, or representation of both heptatonic and pentatonic keys on the leverless keyboard. The extension enables the user to shift the physiological center of gravity for the keyboard to the area where pentatonic and heptatonic keys share space and are more isomorphic, thus assisting in gaining and applying understanding of the chromatic equality of the twelve tonalities in standard equal temperament, and in gaining and applying understanding of the one-dimensional nature of music.

A 128-note MIDI-range monophonic musical keyboard instrument (100) includes an octave keypad (106) with eleven keys arranged in an analog clock face format for octave selection with the thumb of one hand, a pitch keypad (108) with twelve pitch keys similarly disposed in a clockface arrangement around a central omnivalent thirteenth key (128), enabling the nondisjointed sounding of nonadjacent notes with the thumb of the other hand. Spatial manipulation of the device, such as tilting and jabbing, can switch octaves and activate other functions, enabling one-handed operation and overcoming small-screen space limitation. Aside from producing typical electronic piano or synthesizer sounds, the device can sing in human voice an extended monosyllabic solfege covering all twelve pitch families of the common chromatic 12-tone even-tempered scale. A pictograph-based music notation (156) mirrors the circular geometry of the pitch and octave keyboards and facilitates the intuitive reading and playing of a melody.

The present invention is a chromatic-emphasis hybrid-diatonic leverless keyboard configured to provide an extension, duplication, or representation of both heptatonic and pentatonic keys on the leverless keyboard. The extension enables the user to shift the physiological center of gravity for the keyboard to the area where pentatonic and heptatonic keys share space and are more isomorphic, thus assisting in gaining and applying understanding of the chromatic equality of the twelve tonalities in standard equal temperament, and in gaining and applying understanding of the one-dimensional nature of music.

Systems and methods are directed to generating music. In one example, an electronic musical instrument includes a first handheld unit. The electronic musical instrument further includes a second handheld unit, the second handheld unit being communicatively coupled to the first handheld unit. The first handheld unit includes a plurality of input controls configured to indicate a selection of a note of a musical scale. The second handheld unit is configured to initiate output of the selected note.