JP2621674B2 - Chord designation device and electronic musical instrument with chord pronunciation function using the device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a chord designation device capable of designating or producing a specific chord by a very simple fingering operation, and an electronic musical instrument having a chord pronunciation function using the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A chord, that is, a chord input in a conventional guitar-type electronic stringed musical instrument is performed in the same manner as that of inputting a chord using an acoustic guitar. That is, the operation is performed by simultaneously pressing a plurality of fret positions corresponding to each of the constituent sounds of the chord and designating the chord sound. Therefore, since the chord input operation is performed by simultaneously specifying a plurality of pitches constituting the chord, a complicated chord operation is required.
There was a problem that considerable skill was required.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a chord designation device capable of quickly and easily specifying a predetermined chord without requiring skill. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic musical instrument with a chord designation function capable of producing a predetermined chord quickly and easily at a specific timing without skill.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve such an object, the present invention is arranged in a matrix on a finger board.
Of the fingerboard in one of the pitch designation sections
One of the pitch designation sections located at
When the fingering operation is performed, the pitch at which the fingering operation is performed
Root designation for specifying the root of the chord corresponding to the specified part
Outputs a signal and outputs a plurality of sounds arranged in a matrix.
Of the high designation part, it is arranged in the other direction of the fingerboard
One of the pitch designation sections
When the fingering operation is performed,
Outputs a type designation signal to specify the corresponding chord type
And outputs the root note specifying signal and the type finger respectively.
The main point is that a chord specified by both signals with the constant signal is designated.

[0005] In addition, the present invention relates to a finger board .
Of the pitch designation sections arranged in a matrix,
Multiple pitch designation units arranged in one direction of the swinger board
When one of the fingering operations is performed,
The root of the chord corresponding to the pitch designation section where the galling operation was performed
Output a root note specifying signal for specifying
Of the pitch designation sections arranged in a
One of multiple pitch designation sections arranged in the other direction of the
When the fingering operation is performed, the fingering operation
Specify the type of chord corresponding to the pitch specified part
Output the type designation signal for the
When a manual operation of the operating element is performed under a state in which a chord specified by both the sound specifying signal and the type specifying signal is specified , in response to this, the specified chord is responded to. The key point is that the pronunciation is started.

[0006]

The structure of the first embodiment will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall external view of an electronic stringed musical instrument constructed by applying the present invention.
Is a main body case, and a string information input section 2 is provided at a central portion of the main body case 1, and the string information input section 2 is composed of six strings extended along the longitudinal direction of the main body case 1. 3
And a string information detecting device 4 for detecting string information when the strings 3 are flipped.

The string information detecting device 4 comprises, for example, a conductive member 30 and a conductive coil spring 32 as shown in FIG. 2A, and both ends of the coil spring 32 are insulated. It is supported via members 31, 31. Therefore, the conductive member 30 and the coil spring 32 have a biaxial relationship, and the conductive member 30
A constant gap is kept from the outer peripheral surface of the. On the other hand, one end of the conductive member 30 is swingably locked to the support portion 29 a of the switch mounting base 29 by a hemispherical stopper 35, and the other free end is connected to one end of the string 5. . Therefore, the playing of the conductive member 3
0 vibrates, and the coil spring 32 vibrates according to the displacement caused by the vibration. As a result, the relative position between the conductive member 30 and the coil spring 32 fluctuates. A trigger signal indicating a trigger is generated. This trigger signal is output to the printed circuit board 33 via the lead wire 32a. The trigger signal is detected by the CPU 15 shown in FIG. 4, and a predetermined tone signal is generated from the tone generator 16 based on the trigger signal. A storage case 36 is mounted on the switch mounting base 29 having the above-described configuration to prevent the right hand from touching during performance. The storage case 36 is a cover made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and is fitted and fixed to the switch mounting base 29. Further, the main body case 1 is provided with a tone color selection switch group 5, a mode changeover switch 6, and a speaker 7, and by selecting and specifying the tone color selection switch group 5, a desired tone can be selected. .

Reference numeral 8 denotes a musical scale information input unit constituted by arranging a plurality of membrane-type pitch designation switches in a matrix. The musical scale information input unit 8 is provided on a finger board 8A protruding from the extension of the string information input unit 2. A melody sound or a chord sound is designated and inputted. By operating the mode changeover switch 6, the mode is switched between a manual performance mode for playing a melody sound and a bass sound and a chord performance mode for playing a chord. That is, when the mode is switched to the manual performance mode, the same scale information as when played with the acoustic guitar can be input by pressing the scale information input section 8, and when the mode is switched to the chord performance mode, only the root note specification section is provided. The chord can be input by a pressing operation on the key or a pressing operation on the root specifying part and the type specifying part.

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

1 shows a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a principal part of a scale information input unit 8 cut along [external character 1]. The scale information input unit 8 includes a fret surface film 10, a spacer 11, and a circuit board in order from the top. 12 are stacked, and they are placed on a support 13 provided to protrude from the main body case 1 in an elongated manner.

The fret surface film 10 is a film having flexibility, and is formed with a plurality of frets 10a at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the strings 3, and between these frets 10a. Has a concave operation unit 10
b are formed. A movable contact 1 made of conductive rubber or the like is provided on the lower surface of the fret surface film 10.
.. Are provided in a matrix at positions corresponding to the respective operation units 10b. The spacer 11 is an insulating film. Openings 11a are formed at locations corresponding to the movable contacts 14a.
0 and the circuit board 12. That is, the spacer 11 and the fret surface film 10 are laminated on the circuit board 12 and, at the same time, the fixed contacts 14b are provided in correspondence with the openings 11a in the spacer 11. The fixed contacts 14b are made of conductive copper foil or the like, and come into contact with the movable contacts 14a through the openings 11a when the fret surface film 10 is pressed from above. I have.

As shown in a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3, the tip of the scale information input unit 8 having the above-mentioned structure is denoted by Root, m, m7, 7, and # 7 from left to right. The root designation part 8a of the leftmost one of the lines indicated by each symbol can specify the root, that is, the root of the chord, and the type designation part 8b from the line on the right to the rightmost column has the chord. Type can be specified. In addition, the lower side of these display symbols is divided into six lines corresponding to each display symbol, and the longitudinal direction thereof is also divided at a predetermined interval.
8a, C, C♯, D, E ♭, E, F, F from the top column to the bottom column in each column of the row corresponding to 8a.
♯, G, G♯..., Each of which represents a different root note of a chord. In addition, this root designation part 8a
Of the chord type also designates a major (M). For example, a C major can be designated by pressing one root C in the top row. On the other hand, other types of chords, for example, C minor, can be designated by simultaneously pressing two locations, ie, the position of C in the root designation portion 8a and any position in the type designation portion 8b. I have.

FIG. 4 is an overall circuit diagram of the electronic musical instrument. In the figure, reference numeral 15 denotes a CPU for controlling the entire circuit.
The output of the string information detecting device 4, the tone color selection switch group 5, the mode changeover switch 6, and the scale information input section 8 are input to U 15, and the number of the string information detecting devices 4 corresponds to the number of strings 3. One terminal is commonly connected to the power supply + V, and the scale information input unit 8 has a number corresponding to the number of the operation units 10b for 6 rows and n columns.
That is, it is configured by connecting 6 × n pitch designation switches PSW in a matrix.

As described above, the scale information input unit 8 can input the pitch data of the melody sound when the mode changeover switch 6 is off, and can input the chord sound when the mode changeover switch 6 is on. When the mode changeover switch 6 is turned on, each pitch designation switch provided at a position corresponding to the first to fifth strings (corresponding to the type designation unit 8b in FIG. 3) of the scale information input unit 8 The PSW functions as a type designation switch for designating the type of chord, and each pitch designation switch PSW provided at a position corresponding to the sixth string (corresponding to the root designation portion 8a in FIG. 3) has a root and a chord. It functions as a root designation switch that simultaneously designates majors of that type.

When any one of the operation units 10b in the scale information input unit 8 is pressed, a pitch designation switch PSW corresponding to the pressed operation unit 10b is turned on. CPU
15 detects the pitch data designated by this ON operation and sends it to the tone generation circuit 16 together with the tone data previously specified by the tone selection switch group 5, so that the tone generation circuit 16 The tone data is generated from the tone generation circuit 16 at the timing when the corresponding trigger switch TSW in the string information detecting device 4 is turned on. As a result, the tone data is transmitted to the amplifier 18. The sound is emitted as a musical tone by the speaker 7 via the speaker 7.

In the above-described tone release operation, when the mode changeover switch 6 is in the ON state and the scale information input section 8 functions as a chord input means, the CPU 15 outputs each constituent sound of the designated chord acoustically. In order to emit the sound in a state similar to playing on a guitar, the order in which the chord constituent sounds should be sounded, the time difference between string and string operation,
The control is performed according to a predetermined program.

[0016]

[Operation of the First Embodiment] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment, which is started when the mode changeover switch 6 is turned on and the scale information input section 8 is set to the chord playing mode, and the CPU 15 executes step S1. In, it is determined whether the root designation section 8a (FIG. 3) is designated,
For example, if the root C is pressed as shown by 8a-1, the process proceeds to step S2 as YES, and stores the specified root C, and then checks whether the type designation unit 8b is pressed in step S3. Judge whether.

If the decision result in the step S3 is NO
In step S4, only the designated root C is stored as a major in step S4, and the process proceeds to step S6. In addition to the root C, for example, as shown by 8b-1, m7
Any of the operation units 10b in the row of (Major Seven)
Is pressed and the result is YES, the specified type m7 is stored in step S5, and then the process proceeds to step S6, where the trigger switch TSW is executed in accordance with the operation of the string.
Is turned on, and if no string operation has been performed, and if there is no change in the operation state of the root note / type, step S7 is circulated to wait for the string operation.

If the decision result in the step S6 is YES, the CPU 15 advances to a step S8, in which the CPU 15 outputs a tone to the tone generating circuit 16 at a pitch corresponding to the root tone and / or the type previously specified. After giving the pronunciation instruction, in step S9, it is determined whether or not there is no designation operation for the root note. If the root designation operation is still continued, the determination is NO, and the process proceeds to step S10, where it is determined whether or not the operation state of the type has changed, and on the condition that the operation state has not changed (NO). Returning to step S6, it is determined whether the next string operation is performed. If there is no string operation and there is a change in the operation state regarding the root tone and the type, the determination result in step S7 is Y
It becomes ES and returns to step S1 to determine a new root designation. In step S9, when the fingertip is released from the position of the designated root tone, the process proceeds to step S11, where an instruction is given to start silencing so as to rapidly attenuate the tone generated at the pitch corresponding to the root tone. And then step S
Return to 1. Therefore, even when the fingertip is not released from the type-designating operation unit 10b during the designation operation, if the fingertip is released from the root-tone designation operation unit 10b, the generated chord is immediately muted ( (Mute) state.

Here, if there is a designation of a new root note and a type designation, and if there is no designation operation for the root note after one string operation, steps S2, S3, S5, S5
6. Process sound generation through S8.

As described above, when only the root designation section 8a is operated, the processing is performed as if the major of the chord types was designated, and the two of the root designation section 8a and the type designation section 8b were designated.
If the pressing operations at the two places are performed at the same time, it is determined that a type other than the major (for example, minor, minor seven) is designated.

[0021]

Second Embodiment FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the scale information input section 8, in which a root designation section 8a is assigned to two rows (corresponding to the fifth and sixth strings) and a type designation section 8b is assigned. Four rows (corresponding to the first to fourth strings) are assigned. That is,
In this embodiment, the scale note corresponding to the white key of the keyboard is assigned to the leftmost row (the sixth string), and the scale note corresponding to the black key is assigned to the row on the right (the fifth string). Therefore,
While the first embodiment assigns one octave of scale to twelve fret positions, in this embodiment,
Since the scale sound for one octave is assigned to the six fret positions, the movement range of the hand at the time of performance is half that of the first embodiment, and the performance is easy. The entire circuit of this embodiment conforms to FIG. 4, and the root designation switch PSW has two lines corresponding to the fifth and sixth strings, and its operation is controlled according to the flowchart of FIG.

[0022]

Third Embodiment FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the scale information input unit 8. In this embodiment, the scale arrangement in the root designation unit 8a is C, C in the second embodiment of FIG. D, E, F, G, A,
Instead of B and C, E, A, D, G, C, F,
B is configured to have advanced four times. Since this arrangement is similar to the chord progression during actual performance,
The movement range of the finger is the smallest and it is easy to play and to remember. The entire circuit of this embodiment is based on FIG. 4, and the root designation switch lines are two corresponding to the fifth and sixth strings, and the operation is controlled according to the flowchart of FIG.

[0023]

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the scale information input section 8. In this embodiment, the scale information input section 8 is connected to the lower range side scale information input section in the longitudinal direction of the fingerboard A. A part 8-1 and a treble side scale information input part 8-2 are divided into two parts, and different timbres are assigned to them.
As shown in FIG. 9, the entire circuit is composed of two tone generators 16a and 16b having A or B tone generators for generating musical tones of different tones, amplifiers 18a and 18b, and speakers 7a and 7b. The circuit operation is controlled according to the flowchart of FIG.

That is, the flowchart of FIG. 10 starts when the mode changeover switch 6 is turned on and the scale information input section 8 is set to the chord playing mode, and
In steps T1 to T7, the PU 15 performs the same processing as in the above steps S1 to S7, and when a string operation is performed (step T6), the PU 15 proceeds to step T8.
Therefore, it is determined whether or not the treble scale information input unit 8-2 has been pressed. If the decision result in step T8 is YE
If S, the process proceeds to step T9, in which a tone generation instruction is issued to the tone generating circuit 16a, which is the A tone generator, and then the process proceeds to step T11.
In step 10, after instructing the tone generation circuit 16b, which is the B sound source circuit, to generate a tone, the process proceeds to step T11 where it is determined whether or not the root tone designation operation has been eliminated. The flow after step T11 is the same as the flow after step S9 described above. If the decision result in step T11 is NO and there is no change in the type designation operation, the flow returns to step T6 via step T12 (corresponding to step S10). But YE
In the case of S, a mute instruction is issued in step T13 (corresponding to step S11), and the process returns to step T1.

As described above, in this embodiment, the pressing operation of the low-pitched-scale information input section 8-1 or the pressing of the high-pitched-scale information input section 8-2 is performed. Since the chord can be specified by musical tones of different tones, a variety of performances can be performed.

[0026]

Fifth Embodiment FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the scale information input section 8. In this embodiment, the fret area in the range from the first fret 81 to the sixth fret 86 is input to the scale information for manual performance. As the unit 8-3, the fret area in the range from the seventh fret 87 or higher is configured as a scale information input unit 8-4 for chord performance. With such an arrangement, when performing ensemble with other musical instrument sounds, For example, it is not necessary to operate the mode changeover switch to selectively perform the manual performance and the chord performance.
-3, 8-4 only by changing the pressing position, instantaneously from solo performance (manual performance) to accompaniment (chord)
The performance form can be changed from a performance or an accompaniment performance to a solo (manual) performance.

In the above embodiment, the order in which the chords should be produced and the time difference between the strings when the string is manipulated are determined by the CPU.
Control according to a predetermined program,
The present invention is not limited to such a control method,
For example, a chord data ROM may be provided, and chord data to be used may be stored therein, and the chord data may be sequentially read out based on designated chord data and given to the tone generation circuit.

[0028]

According to the present invention, as described above, a plurality of matrixes arranged on a finger board in a matrix form.
Of the number of pitch designation sections,
Any of the multiple pitch designation sections placed is fingering
When operated, the pitch specified by the fingering operation
Root specifying signal for specifying the root of the chord corresponding to the part
And a plurality of pitch fingers arranged in a matrix.
Of the fixed part, the
One of the pitch designation sections is fingered
Corresponds to the pitch designation section where the fingering operation was performed.
Output a type designation signal for designating the type of chord
The output of the root designation signal and the type designation signal
To specify the chord specified by the other signal.
So, without the need for skill, you can quickly and
Can be easily specified. Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of matrixes arranged in a matrix on the finger board are provided.
Of the number of pitch designation sections,
Any of the multiple pitch designation sections placed is fingering
When operated, the pitch specified by the fingering operation
Root specifying signal for specifying the root of the chord corresponding to the part
And a plurality of pitch fingers arranged in a matrix.
Of the fixed part, the
One of the pitch designation sections is fingered
Corresponds to the pitch designation section where the fingering operation was performed.
Output a type designation signal for designating the type of chord
The root designation signal and the type designation signal output respectively
A chord specified by both signals
When the manual operation of the operator is performed under
The specified chord is configured to start sounding.
So, without the need for skill, you can quickly and
Sound can be easily generated at a specific timing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a guitar-type electronic musical instrument configured by applying the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams of FIG.

[External character 2] and

Sectional drawing of the principal part of a string information input part and a scale information input part along [external character 1].

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a scale information input unit.

FIG. 4 is an overall circuit diagram of the electronic stringed instrument.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a flowchart of the circuit operation of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are diagrams illustrating second, third, and fourth embodiments of the scale information input unit.

9 and 10 are an overall circuit diagram and a flowchart of a circuit operation according to a fourth embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a fifth embodiment of a scale information input unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 String information input unit 3 String 4 String information detection device 5 Tone selection switch group 6 Mode changeover switch 8 Scale information input unit 15 CPU 16 Music generation circuit

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A matrix arrangement on a finger board.
Among the plurality of pitch designation sections arranged and the pitch designation sections arranged in a matrix.
Of multiple pitch designation sections arranged in one direction
When one of the fingers is operated, the finger
Specify the root of the chord corresponding to the
Output a root tone designation signal for
Finger pitch of the pitch designations
One of a plurality of pitch designation sections arranged in the other direction
When a fingering operation is performed, the fingering operation
A chord designation signal output unit for outputting a type designation signal for designating a type of a chord corresponding to the pitch designation unit, and the root designation signal and the type designation respectively output from the chord designation signal output unit And a chord designation unit for designating a chord specified by both the signal and the signal. 2. A matrix arrangement on a finger board.
Among the plurality of pitch designation sections arranged and the pitch designation sections arranged in a matrix.
Of multiple pitch designation sections arranged in one direction
When one of the fingers is operated, the finger
Specify the root of the chord corresponding to the
Output a root tone designation signal for
Finger pitch of the pitch designations
One of a plurality of pitch designation sections arranged in the other direction
When a fingering operation is performed, the fingering operation
A chord designation signal output unit for outputting a type designation signal for designating a type of a chord corresponding to the pitch designation unit, and the root designation signal and the type designation respectively output from the chord designation signal output unit A chord designating means for designating a chord specified by both signals; a manipulable manipulator; and, in response to a manual operation of the manipulator, causing the chord designated by the chord designating means to start sounding. An electronic musical instrument with a chord sounding function, comprising: a chord start instructing means. 3. The electronic musical instrument with a chord sound generation function according to claim 2, wherein said operation element is a string stretched on a stringed musical instrument main body having said fingerboard.