GB2328296A

GB2328296A - Metronome

Info

Publication number: GB2328296A
Application number: GB9717172A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wit James Peter De
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-08-13
Filing date: 1997-08-13
Publication date: 1999-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2017-08-13
Also published as: GB9717172D0; GB2328296B

Abstract

A Metronome 2 comprises beat producing means 4 for producing beats for assisting a person playing music in keeping musical time, and introductory count-in means 6 for providing an introductory count-in for the beats produced by the beat producing means 4, and the metronome 2 being such that after the introductory count-in the beat producing means 4 may produce the beats as off beats rather than on beats. A voice synthesizer may be used.

Description

MBTRoNoM APPARATUS This invention relates to metronome apparatus. Metronomes are well known devices which produce a beat for assisting a person playing music in keeping musical time. They are normally of a size and design which can conveniently be held in one hand, and stood on a flat surface. The known metronomes produce the beats at a speed which is selected to coincide with the desired tempo of a piece of music. The beat is usually an audible beat in the form of a clicking sound, or a visual beat in the form of a flashing light. The known metronomes are either mechanical metronomes powered by a clockwork drive mechanism, or electronic metronomes powered by one or more batteries.

In European musical terminology, beats 1 and 3 in a 4 beat bar of music are known as the "on" beats, and beats 2 and 4 are known as the "offs beats. In its normal application, the first beat of a known metronome is conceived as marking the first beat of a piece of music. In relation to a piece of music consisting of 4 beats in each bar, the known metronome may produce a beat on beats 1, 2, 3 and 4, that is with an equal emphasis on each beat. Alternatively, the known metronome may produce a beat on beats 1 and 3 (that is with an emphasis on the "on" beats) if the beat speed is set to half the desired tempo and each beat is conceived as representing two beats in the piece of music. In relation to a piece of music consisting of 3 beats in each bar, the known metronome is used to mark the first beat in the piece of music.

A pulse is provided on beats 1, 2 and 3 of each bar or, alternatively, on beat 1 of each bar (the "on" beat) if the speed of the beat is set to one third of the desired tempo and each beat is conceived as representing 3 beats of each bar. This is useful when playing exercises in the classical European music idiom. However, in the jazz idiom, the emphasis is normally on the "off" beats. That is to say, in a 4 beat bar of music, the emphasis in a jazz idiom would usually be on beats 2 and 4 rather than on beats 1 and 3. In a 3 beat bar of music, the emphasis in a jazz idiom would normally be on beats 2 and 3 rather than on beat 1.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide metronome apparatus in which the time keeping beat is on the off beats of each bar of music.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided metronome apparatus comprising beat producing means for producing beats for assisting a person playing music in keeping musical time, and introductory count-in means for providing an introductory count-in for the beats produced by the beat producing means, and the metronome apparatus being such that after the introductory count-in the beat producing means produces the beats as off beats rather than on beats.

The metronome apparatus of the present invention may thus be operated so that, in relation to a bar of music consisting of 4 beats, the beats may be produced on beats 2 and 4 rather than on beats 1, 2, 3 and 4, or beats 1 and 3, as is the case with known metronomes. In relation to a bar of music consisting of 3 beats, the metronome apparatus of the present invention may provide a beat on beats 2 and 3 rather than on beats 1, 2 and 3 or beat 1 as is the case with known metronomes.

The metronome apparatus will usually be one in which the beat producing means is a speed-selectable beat producing means which is such that it is operable at pre-selected speeds. The speed-selectable beat producing means may be the same as those used in known metronomes.

The beat producing means may produce audible and/or visual beats. The beat producing means may be the same as in known metronomes.

The introductory count-in means may be such that it gives an audible introductory count-in.

Preferably, the audible introductory count-in is a voice introductory count-in. The introductory countin means may include a voice synthesizer for giving the voice introductory count-in.

The introductory count-in means may be such that it gives an audible non-voice introductory count-in.

The audible non-voice introductory count-in may be in the form of clicking sounds. Sounds other than clicking sounds may be produced.

If desired, the introductory count-in means may give a visual count-in, for example in the form of light flashes. Different types of light flashes may be employed.

Usually, the metronome apparatus will be an electronic metronome apparatus. If desired, the metronome apparatus may however be a mechanical metronome apparatus.

The metronome apparatus may include a housing, the metronome apparatus then being in the form of a separate metronome. Alternatively, the metronome apparatus may form part of an electronic musical instrument.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block circuit diagram of metronome apparatus; Figure 2 shows metronome apparatus in the form of a separate metronome; and Figure 3 is a side view of the metronome apparatus shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown metronome apparatus 2 comprising beat producing means 4 for producing beats for assisting a person playing music in keeping musical time. The beat producing means 4 may comprise all of, or the majority of, a known electronic metronome. The metronome apparatus 2 further comprises introductory count-in means 6 for producing an introductory count-in for the beats produced by the beat producing means 4. The introductory count-in means 6 includes a voice synthesizer so that the introductory count-in means 6 gives a voice introductory count-in.

The metronome apparatus 2 includes time signature selection means 8 and program means 10. The time signature selection means 8 and the program means 10 are connected in circuit as shown between the introductory count-in means 6 and the beat producing means 4. The beat producing means 4 outputs via line 12 and switch means 14 to a speaker 16 for producing audible beats, and to a light source 18 for producing visual beats. The switch means 14 may operate such that audible and/or visual beats are obtainable. The light source 18 may be a light emitting diode.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the metronome apparatus 2 shown in Figure 1 may be provided in a housing 20 to produce a metronome 22. In Figures 2 and 3, similar parts as in Figure 1 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding.

The housing 20 is provided with a numbered scale, only some of the numbers of which have been shown for ease of illustration. These numbers represent a required beat speed per minute, e.g. "120" on the numbered scale represents a beat speed of 120 beats per minute. The required beat speed is obtainable by setting a pointer 24 to the required beat speed. The numbered scale and the pointer 24 form part of the time signature selection means 8.

By way of example, it is mentioned that the metronome apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2-3 may be operated in the case of a time signature of 4/4, to give a synthesized voice count which would, at the pre-selected speed/tempo, say "one" pause "two" pause "one two three four". The beat following "four", which would be conceived as representing beat 1 of the first bar of music, would be silent. After the synthesized voice introductory count-in, then the metronome apparatus would be programmed via the program means 10 to give audible beats in the form of clicking sounds from the speaker 16 and/or visual beats in the form light pulses from the light source 18. The audible and/or the visual beats would occur on beats 2 and 4 at the selected tempo of the piece of music being played. The combination of the introductory count-in and the subsequently produced beats enables the effect of a silent first beat to be provided.

The metronome apparatus 2 and the metronome 22 can be pre-programmed to any chosen time signature.

The desired time signature may be selected by means of switching apparatus commonly used in electronic keyboards, music synthesizers, drum machines and tone generators. For example, in a time signature of 5/4 the metronome apparatus 2 and the metronome 22 may be pre-programmed to provide clicking sounds on beats 2, 3 and 5, after the synthesized voice count-in of "1 2 3 4 5" at the selected tempo. In a time signature of 7/4, the metronome apparatus 2 and the metronome 22 may provide clicking sounds on beats 2, 4, 6 and 7, after a voice count-in of "1 2 3 4 5 6 7". In a time signature of 3/4, the metronome apparatus 2 and the metronome 22 would provide clicking sounds on beats 2 and 3.

It will be appreciated from the above that the metronome apparatus of the present invention is able to provide the effect of an off beat at any speed/tempo within the normal range of conventional metronomes. Additionally, the metronome apparatus of the invention provides the effect of an off beat in any time signature which has been pre-programmed into the metronome apparatus. The metronome apparatus is thus able to be used for practising music in which the rhythm emphasis is on the off beat rather than on the on beat. This is particularly useful for playing music in a jazz idiom.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be provided.

Thus, for example, instead of a synthesized voice count-in, the metronome apparatus of the present invention may be pre-programmed with a clicking sound count-in. The clicking sounds would coincide with the timing of a voice count. For example, in relation to music consisting of 4 beats in each bar, instead of one pause "two" pause "one two three four", the metronome apparatus would sound "click" pause "click" pause "click click click click" at the selected tempo.

The beat after the last "click" of the introductory count-in, that is to say the first beat of the first bar of music, would be silent. On the second and fourth beats, there would be a click. If desired, the metronome apparatus of the present invention may be such that both voice and click options for count-ins are included in the metronome apparatus and the desired voice or click count-in can be selected. A visual count-in option may also be provided if desired.

The metronome apparatus of the present invention may be such that it is able to be switched into a mode to enable the metronome apparatus to function as a conventional electronic metronome.

The metronome apparatus of the present invention may be built into housings such that the metronome apparatus of the present invention looks like a conventional metronome in its external appearance.

Naturally, if desired, the housing of the metronome apparatus may take any suitable and appropriate shape.

In addition, the metronome apparatus may be provided in electronic instruments to form an integral part of the electronic instruments.

The apparatus of the present invention may be readily constructed by manufacturers skilled in the manufacture of electronic metronomes, electronic keyboards, music synthesizers, tone generators, drum machines and music sequencers.

Claims

CLAZ

1. Metronome apparatus comprising beat producing means for producing beats for assisting a person playing music in keeping musical time, and introductory count-in means for providing an introductory count-in for the beats produced by the beat producing means, and the metronome apparatus being such that after the introductory count-in the beat producing means produces the beats as off beats rather than on beats.

2. Metronome apparatus according to claim 1 in which the beat producing means is a speed-selectable beat producing means which is such that it is operable at pre-selectable speeds.

3. Metronome apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the beat producing means produces audible and/or visual beats.

4. Metronome apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the introductory count-in means is such that it gives an audible introductory count-in.

5. Metronome apparatus according to claim 4 in which the audible introductory count-in is a voice introductory count-in.

6. Metronome apparatus according to claim 5 in which the introductory count-in means include a voice synthesizer for giving the voice introductory countin.

7. Metronome apparatus according to claim 4 in which the audible introductory count-in is in the form of clicking sounds.

8. Metronome apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3 in which the introductory count-in means is such that it gives a visual introductory count-in.

9. Metronome apparatus according to claim 8 in which the visual introductory count-in is in the form of light flashes.

10. Metronome apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and which is an electronic metronome apparatus.

11. Metronome apparatus according to any one of claims 1-9 in which the metronome apparatus is a mechanical metronome apparatus.

12. Metronome apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a housing, the metronome apparatus then being in the form of a separate metronome.

13. Metronome apparatus according to any one of claims 1-11 in which the metronome apparatus forms part of an electronic music instrument.

14. Metronome apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.