JPH0641275Y2 - Electronic stringed instrument - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to an electronic stringed instrument, and more particularly to an electronic stringed instrument having an improved spacing between frets arranged on a neck.

(Prior Art) Generally, in an electronic stringed instrument, the position of the fret with which the string pressed by the player is in contact is determined, and the pitch of the musical tone to be generated is specified based on the result of the determination, and It detected the timing of the strings and pronounced that particular musical tone according to that timing.

When determining the fret position during the sounding process of such an electronic stringed instrument, since the string vibrates at the period corresponding to the string length when the string is struck, the vibration of the string is an electrical signal similar to the vibration of the string by an electromagnetic pickup. Was converted to and based on the peak interval of the waveform.

However, when converting the string vibration based on the above-mentioned string to an electric signal, it took a long time from the string to the generation of a musical sound, which gave the player an unnatural impression.
The applicant of the present application has proposed, in Japanese Patent Application No. 240138 of 1985, an electronic stringed instrument for determining the fret position based on scanning by ultrasonic waves. In this electronic stringed instrument, an electric signal is converted into an ultrasonic signal by a piezoelectric element, the ultrasonic signal is transmitted to the string, and the echo reflected by the fret in contact with the string is transmitted from the ultrasonic signal. The fret position was determined based on the time required until reception.

FIG. 4 shows the electronic guitar according to this prior application, and FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of the frets.

In FIG. 4, 1 indicates the neck of the electronic guitar and 3 indicates the body.

As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the fret 5 as the scale forming means is arranged on the neck 1 along the string tension direction of the string 7 at a predetermined interval. Specifically, the distance from the nut 9 (0th fret) to the first fret 5a is 1, the distance l2 from the first fret 5a to the second fret 5b, and the following, in order, from the 23rd fret 5c to the 24th fret 5d. Is set to l24. The spacing between each of these frets 5 is the fret 5 placed on the treble side.
The interval is gradually decreasing. That is, it is the following formula.

1>l2>...>l23> l24 ln + 1 = 0.94 × ln (where n is a positive integer) Then, in this case, the interval between the frets 5 is gradually reduced in geometric progression. This is based on the equal temperament.

As shown in FIG. 4 again, the bridge 11 erected on the body 3 supports the piezoelectric element 13, and the electric signal DET from the piezoelectric element 13 is input to the fret position determination means 15.
Further, the electric pulse signal SC from the fret position determination means 15
AN is output to the piezoelectric element 13. Further, 17 is an electromagnetic pickup that generates a timing signal ON for the string string, and 19 is a tail piece for the string. Further, 21 indicates a tone generator and 23 indicates a sound system.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) However, in such an electronic stringed instrument according to the prior application, the frets were arranged at the same fret spacing as that of the natural musical instrument (as the fret spacing on the treble side increased. Since it decreased at a rate based on the equal temperament), there was a problem that the frets on the high-pitched side were too small to hold with the fingers because the fret spacing was too small.

That is, in this electronic guitar, the pressed fret position is detected by the time required for the ultrasonic signal to propagate from the piezoelectric element to the string and to make a round trip to and from the fret position. Therefore, the fret spacing does not necessarily have to be gradually reduced at a constant rate with respect to the string length as in an acoustic guitar. As a result, it may be possible to increase the fret interval of the high-pitched sound section arranged on the bridge side to a certain length so that it can be easily pressed. However, if all the fret intervals on the treble side are uniformly set in this way, the overall length of the neck is significantly increased, and the neck cannot be used for actual performance. In addition, the fret spacing on the bass side is similar to that on an acoustic guitar, while the fret spacing on the treble side is completely different from that on an acoustic guitar. There was a problem of difficulty.

(Means for Solving Problems) Therefore, the present invention provides an electronic stringed instrument having a plurality of frets on the neck, wherein the plurality of frets are provided on the bass side fret located on the bass side and on the treble side. It is divided into the treble-side fret located, and the interval between the frets on the bass side is reduced at a rate based on the equal temperament as it goes to the treble side, while the interval between the frets on the treble side becomes as it goes to the treble side. It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems by providing an electronic string instrument reduced in a rate smaller than the above rate.

(Operation and Effect) In the electronic stringed instrument according to the present invention, the bass-side fret spacing is the same as the bass-side fret spacing of the conventional acoustic guitar. The fret interval on the treble side gradually decreases as compared with the case where the fret interval gradually decreases at a rate based on the equal temperament. Since the reduction rate of the fret spacing on the high-pitched side is small,
Among these fret intervals, the interval on the high tone side has a larger width than in the conventional case. That is, in the low-pitched part, it is possible to play with a feeling similar to that of a conventional acoustic guitar, and on the high-pitched side, the interval is wider than that of a conventional electronic guitar. Easy to press. Further, in this case, since the fret spacing in the high-pitched sound portion is reduced, the length of the neck as a whole does not become excessive. Further, since the gradual decrease tendency is maintained, the player can perform with a feeling almost equal to that of an acoustic guitar.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of an electronic stringed instrument according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are views showing an embodiment of an electronic stringed instrument according to the present invention. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to an electronic guitar.

In these figures, 101 is the neck of the electronic guitar, 103
Indicates the body, respectively.

A bridge 105 is erected on the body 103, and six piezoelectric elements 107 are supported by the bridge 105. Each piezoelectric element 107 has its upper end abutted against and pressed by six strings 109 stretched on the neck 101. Note that 111
Indicates a tail piece for fixing one end of each string 109, and 113 indicates a nut (0 fret) with which the other end of the string 109 is engaged.

This neck 101 is shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, there is a scale mark on the upper surface of the neck 101.
4th fret 115a, 115b, 115c, ..., 115w, 115x
Are arranged in order from the nut 113 side toward the bridge 105 side, that is, along the string tension direction of the string 109.

Further, the respective frets 115a, ..., 115x are arranged at predetermined intervals on the neck 101 along the stringing direction. Specifically, from nut 113 (0 fret) to first fret 115
It is assumed that the distance to a is 1, the distance from the first fret 115a to the second fret 115b is l2, and in the following order, the distance from the 23rd fret 115w to the 24th fret 115x is l24. The spacing between these frets, 1 to l24, is divided into two and the nut 113
Side (bass side) fret spacing 1-12 and bridge 10
The fret interval 13 to l24 on the 5 side (treble side) is different from the setting method of the interval.

In the former case (1 to 12), the interval between the frets arranged on the high-pitched side is gradually reduced, but the decreasing tendency is made in a geometric progression based on the equal temperament. That is, it is the following formula.

ln + 1 = 0.94 × ln (where n is a positive integer, 1 ≦ n ≦ 12) Also, in the latter case (13 to l24), the distance between the frets arranged on the treble side also decreases gradually. , Its declining trend is decreasing as follows. For example, 13-14
Is 12-1 mm, 15-18 is 12-1.5 mm,
Furthermore, 19 to l24 is 12-2 mm.

As a result, the fret spacing as a whole is given by the following equation.

1>l2>...> 12 13 = 14> 15 = 16 = 17 = 18> 19 = l20 = l21
= L22 = l23 = l24 On the other hand, the electric signal DET from the piezoelectric element 107 is input to the fret position determination means 121. Also, the fret position determination means 1
From 21, the electric pulse signal SCAN is intermittently output to the piezoelectric element 107. Reference numeral 123 indicates an electromagnetic pickup. The electric signal ON from the electromagnetic pickup 123, which accompanies the raised string, is input to the tone generator 125. Reference numeral 127 shows a known sound system.

Therefore, in the electronic guitar having the above configuration, the piezoelectric element 107 transmits the ultrasonic wave to the string 109 by the input of the electric signal SCAN from the fret position determination means 121. The ultrasonic wave propagating through the string 109 is reflected by the pressed fret as an echo, and the piezoelectric element 107 inputs the electric signal DET to the fret position discriminating means 121 by this reflected wave. The fret position is discriminated by the time between these, and the pitch is specified. Further, the electric signal ON representing the timing of the crossed strings is directly input to the tone generator 125 by the electromagnetic pickup 123, and the specific pitch is sounded via the timing signal sound system 127 of the ON signal.

In this case, in the electronic guitar, the arrangement of the frets, especially the fret spacing of the nut 113 side (1 to 12) is gradually reduced like that of the acoustic guitar, and that of the bridge 105 side (13 to l24) is more than that. Since the reduction rate of the fret is small, the low-pitched frets 115a to 115l can be operated at the same intervals as before. On the other hand, the fret on the treble side is 115 m
The 115x's wide spacing makes them easy to operate.
Further, at that time, since the fret interval is narrower toward the higher tone side, there is less discomfort during the operation. Further, it is possible to eliminate the uncertainty of the fret position determination due to the collapse of the waveform of the reflected ultrasonic wave.

That is, it was possible to obtain an electronic guitar whose fret pressing operation was easy as a whole.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of an electronic stringed instrument according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing an electronic stringed instrument according to one embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of frets according to one embodiment. A front view thereof, FIG. 4 is a side view showing an electronic stringed instrument of the prior application, and FIG. 5 is a front view showing arrangement of frets of the electronic stringed instrument of the prior application. 101 ... Neck, 105 ... Bridge, 113 ... Nut, 115 ... Fret.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An electronic stringed instrument having a plurality of frets arranged on a neck, wherein the plurality of frets are divided into a bass side fret located on the bass side and a treble side fret located on the treble side. At the same time, the spacing between the frets on the bass side is reduced at a rate based on the equal temperament toward the treble side, while the spacing between the frets on the treble side is reduced at a rate smaller than the above rate toward the treble side. An electronic stringed instrument characterized by that.