GB2232523A

GB2232523A - Musical instrument keyboard

Info

Publication number: GB2232523A
Application number: GB8912586A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Calvert
Original assignee: Calvert & Co Ltd
Current assignee: Calvert & Co Ltd
Priority date: 1989-06-01
Filing date: 1989-06-01
Publication date: 1990-12-12
Also published as: GB8912586D0

Abstract

A musical instrument keyboard having a plurality of adjacent keys 1-6, adapted to produce sounds by the normal actuation thereof, wherein the sound produceable by one key differs by a whole tone from the sound produceable by an adjacent key; the keyboard also including secondary means which are actuatable whereby sounds are produceable interposed in frequency to differ by a semi-tone from the sounds produceable by the normal actuation of each of said keys. The generating means may either be a second set of keys or a shift key S to shift the frequencies produceable by the set of keys by a semi-tone. The keys may vibrate to indicate which key to depress, or a liquid crystal display LCD may give such an indication. Octave shift keys D, U shift the notes produced down or up an octave. <IMAGE>

Description

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT The present invention relates to a musical instrument and in particular to a keyboard instrument which utilises sets of playing keys having a linear scale.

In pianofortes and electronic keyboards, the keys are based on a scale which is a derivative of the Pythagoras octave and which comprises two tetrachords segmented by a tone. It is necessary with this conventional type of keyboard for the skilled instrumentalist to learn some 82 scales.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a musical instrument keyboard based on a linear scale to facilitate playing and learning of the instrument.

According to the present invention there is provided, a musical instrument keyboard having a plurality of adjacent keys, adapted to produce sounds by the normal actuation thereof, wherein the sound produceable by one key differs by a tone from the sound produceable by an adjacent key; the keyboard also including secondary means which are actuatable whereby sounds are produceable interposed in frequency to differ by a semi-tone from the sounds produceable by the normal actuation of each of said keys.

The second set of sounds may be provided by means of a shift key to shift the notes produceable by actuation the keys.

Preferably, the instrument will provide the player with the necessary music by means of a floppy disc and a liquid crystal display unit.

A musical instrument in accordance with the present invention has a keyboard in which there are no concealed semi-tones in the equivalent to the white keys of a piano.

Every note played on the keyboard may be shown directly on the stave so that there is no need for key signatures or accidentals and it is therefore not necessary to master any scales as is usually the case with such instruments.

The following description is given merely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a keyboard according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a keyboard in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a keyboard in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 shows an example of notation suitable for use with an instrument in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 5 shows another example of notation suitable for use with an instrument in accordance with the present invention.

Where relevant, the term 11octave" used in the description, claims and drawings refers to a musical octave, that is to a sequence of musical notes wherein the first note in the sequence is half the frequency of the last note in the sequence.

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention in which the keyboard is constructed with an equal number of white and black keys per octave. Each white key in the set of adjacent white keys produces a sound a full tone apart from the sound produceable by its adjacent white keys. The set of black keys follows the same relationship, producing sounds having frequencies interposed between the frequencies produce able by the white keys and differing by a semi-tone from the notes produceable from the white keys on either side thereof.

Instead of having lettered notes in an octave, the notes are preferably numbered in order to facilitate playing. Thus, the white keys are numbered from 1 to 6 for each octave whilst the black keys are numbered from 1.5 to 6.5. This notation can be easily learnt and relates directly to a particular key. In order to raise the pitch, the music can simply be written a line or more higher on the stave.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a keyboard in accordance with the present invention, in which there is provided a single set of six note keys. A shift key, shown to the left of the six note keys, upon actuation shifts the frequencies of the sounds normally produced up by a semi-tone. It is therefore possible, by using the shift key, to obtain those notes produced by the separate black keys in the embodiment of Figure 1. An up shift key U and a down shift key D move the frequencies produceable by the six playing keys up or down an octave respectively.

In an alternative arrangement a single shift key can be used to shift through more than one octave in accordance with the number of times it is depressed.

Figure 3 shows in more detail an embodiment of the present invention in which the six playing keys 1-6 are arranged to be played with the index, middle and annular fingers of the left and right hands. The shift key S is adapted to shift the notes produceable by the six playing keys up by a semi-tone and is situated to the left of the first three playing keys. The octave shift keys U and D, for moving the sounds which can be generated by the six playing keys up and down an octave respectively, are situated to be depressed by the respective thumbs. By this arrangement, it is possible to play music with the instrument without having to move the position of one's fingers. This is especially useful for, eg., visually handicapped people.

The keyboard may also be provided with a music input unit MU for inputting music into the instrument and also a liquid crystal display for displaying, on an appropriate stave, the notes to be played.

The music may be stored on a cassette or disc or similar storage device which is then used by the music input unit MU to read the music and display it on the liquid crystal display on an appropriate stave. The music input unit, under control from a control unit CU, moves the music along the display in accordance with the playing of the keys.

The control unit CU controls the transfer of the music from the music input unit to the liquid crystal display and also controls the circuits of the instrument to produce the sounds generated by the activation of the keys.

The control unit can be adapted to produce accompaniment tunes and the like.

In order further to assist visually handicapped people to use such an instrument, the playing keys of the embodiment of Figure 3, together with the shift and up/down shift keys, may be adapted to vibrate or be provided with a vibratable pin, as is common in aids for the visually handicapped. Such a sensory device can indicate to the player the particular key or keys which need to be played at that instant. The key, or pin, will vibrate for a period of time representing the length of time for which the note is to be played.

Software may be provided to enable the control unit to correct any mistakes the player makes, or to indicate any suitable teaching programme.

It is envisaged that a new, simpler stave can be used consisting of only three lines as shown in Figure 4.

In order to denote different octaves, a tail is added to the note, a downward pointing tail indicating the lower octave and an upward pointing tail indicating a higher octave, as is shown in Figure 5.

Claims

1. A musical instrument keyboard having a plurality of adjacent keys, adapted to produce sounds by the normal actuation thereof, wherein the sound produceable by one key differs by a tone from the sound produceable by an adjacent key; the keyboard also including secondary means which are actuatable whereby sounds are produceable interposed in frequency to differ by a semi-tone from the sounds produceable by the normal actuation of each of said keys.

2. A keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said secondary means comprises a set of keys positioned at the junctions between said adjacent keys.

3. A keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said secondary means comprises a shift key actuation of which causes the sounds produceable by actuation of said keys to be shifted by a semi-tone from the sounds produced upon normal actuation thereof.

4. A keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 3, including two octave shift keys adapted to shift the notes produceable by said keys up or down an octave.

5. A keyboard according to claim 1, 3 or 4, wherein the keys and shift keys are arranged so as to provide a single key for each finger, the instrument being playable without having to move ones fingers from key to key.

6. A musical instrument having a keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims, including a music input unit to input music data from a storage means; and means to communicate the music data from said music input unit to a user of said instrument.

7. An instrument according to claim 6, wherein said storage means is a floppy disc unit or tape reproducing means.

8. An instrument according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said means for communicating the music data to said operator includes a liquid crystal display unit.

9. An instrument according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein means are provided to cause a key or keys to vibrate in accordance with the music data read from said music input unit to indicate the key or keys to depress.

10. A musical instrument substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 or Figure of the accompanying drawings.

10. An instrument according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein each key is provided with a pin adapted to vibrate in accordance with music data read out from said music input unit.

11. A musical instrument keyboard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A musical instrument substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A musical instrument keyboard having a plurality of adjacent keys, adapted to produce sounds by the normal actuation thereof, wherein the sound produceable by one key differs by a tone from the sound produceable by an adjacent key; the keyboard also including secondary means which are actuatable whereby sounds are produceable interposed in frequency to differ by a semi-tone from the sounds produceable by the normal actuation of each of said keys, said secondary means comprising a shift key actuation of which causes the sounds produceable by actuation of said keys to be shifted by a semi-tone from the sounds produced upon normal actuation thereof.

2. A keyboard according to claim 1, including two octave shift keys adapted to shift the notes produceable by said keys up or down an octave.

3. A keyboard according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the keys and shift keys are arranged so as to provide a single key for each finger, the instrument being playable without having to move one's fingers from key to key.

4. A musical instrument having a keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims, including a music input unit to input music data from a storage means; and means to communicate the music data from said music input unit to a user of said instrument.

5. An instrument according to claim 4, wherein said storage means is a floppy disc unit or tape reproducing means.

6. An instrument according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said means for communicating the music data to said operator includes a liquid crystal display unit.

7. An instrument according to claim 4, 5 or 6, herein means are provided to cause a key or keys to vibrate in accordance with the music data read from said music input unit to indicate the key or keys to depress.

8. An instrument according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein each key is provided with a pin adapted to vibrate in accordance with music data read out from said music input unit.

9. A musical instrument keyboard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.