JPH0973294A - Electronic musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cover two to three octaves of pitch extent using a smaller number of fret switches and to play the instrument as playing a guitar. SOLUTION: The instrument is provided with fret type switches corresponding to the frets of a guitar. Note, however, these fret switches are operated by a left hand. Moreover, three columns of fret switches are provided and each column consists of plural fret switches which are capable of individually specifying at least five continuous series among twelve musical scales. Furthermore, each pitch is assigned so that adjacent three column fret switches generate one octave interval and the pitch information assigned to the operated fret switch is outputted. The key-on operators are operated by a right hand and operation signals corresponding to the amount of operation are outputted. Pitch shift operators are positioned so that they are simultaneously operable with the right hand similar to the key-on operators and shift the assigned pitch condition assigned to each fret switch in a column unit. A musical sound generating means generates the musical tone corresponding to the pitch information from the fret switches and the operation signals from the key-on operators and outputs the sounds.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument having a fret switch provided for a fret of a guitar or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an electronic musical instrument having a fret type switch (hereinafter referred to as a fret switch) provided corresponding to a fret of a guitar or the like, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-
There is one described in Japanese Patent No. 62099. This is a simple imitation of the structure of a guitar, and the appearance and the like are almost the same as a normal guitar. That is, this electronic musical instrument is composed of a rod and a body, and the neck portion has 19 to 24 fret switches for one string (row) for six strings (row). These fret switches determine a musical scale or a musical scale and a musical tone output timing of the musical scale. Therefore, when the fret switch determines only the scale, another switch for determining the musical tone output timing of the scale is provided in the body portion for each string (row).

[0003]

However, the conventional electronic musical instrument having the fret switch is merely an imitation of the structure of the guitar, and its external size is about the same as that of a normal guitar. Also, the number of fret switches is 6
In the case of a string, 114 to 154 pieces are required in total, the structure is complicated, and the cost is high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and covers a range of about 2-3 octaves with a smaller number of fret switches than the conventional one, and has a playing method similar to that of a guitar or the like. An object is to provide an electronic musical instrument that can be played.

[0005]

An electronic musical instrument according to the present invention is an operator operated by one hand of an operator, and individually designates at least five consecutive tone strings in a 12-tone scale. 3 rows of possible fret switches
Each pitch is assigned to have a pitch of one octave by three adjacent rows of fret switches, and the first flute switch outputs the pitch information assigned to the operated fret switch. A second operating element that is an operating element that is operated by the operator's other hand and that outputs an operating signal according to an operation amount, and the second element is operated by the other hand of the operator. No. 3, which is a manipulator provided at a position operable simultaneously with the manipulator of (3), which shifts the pitch allocation state allocated to each fret switch of the pitch designating means in column units. When,
The musical tone generating means for generating musical tones according to the pitch information from the first manipulator means and the operation signal from the second manipulator means are provided on the same main body.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a fret switch type electronic musical instrument according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the fret switch type electronic musical instrument according to the present invention. The fret switch type electronic musical instrument 1 has a total length of about 50 cm, and the neck portion and the body portion are not clearly separated from each other as in an ordinary guitar, but both are integrally formed. The pitch designation means 2 is provided at a position corresponding to the neck portion, and the body portion is provided with an ON operator 5, a tone shift operator 6, and a wheel 7. The speaker 8, the volume operator 9 and the LE are provided between the neck portion and the body portion.
D10 is provided.

The pitch designating means 2 has a structure similar to that of a guitar fret which can be operated (pressed) with one hand (usually the left hand). The pitch designating means 2 is composed of 7 fret switches per string (row), and the row is provided for 4 strings (row). That is, the fret switches 11 to 17 are on the first string and the fret switches 21 to 21 are on the second string.
27, the fret switches 31 to 37 on the third string,
Fret switches 41 to 47 are provided on the fourth string. (Note that reference numerals 21 to 27 and 31 to 37 are not shown.) Therefore, the pitch designating means 2 has 28 fret switches in total, and 28 pitches are designated. It becomes possible to do. Judging from the fact that a normal guitar has 114 to 154 frets, it can be easily understood that the electronic musical instrument according to this embodiment is composed of an extremely small number of fret switches.

The initial pitch assigned to each fret switch of the pitch designating means 2 corresponds to the pitch of the first to seventh frets of the sixth to third strings of the guitar. . That is, the pitch "F2" is assigned to the fret switch 41 corresponding to the sixth string of the guitar, the pitch "F # 2" is assigned to the fret switch 42, and the pitch "G2" is assigned to the fret switch 43. 44, the pitch “G # 2”, and the fret switch 45, the pitch “A # 2”.
2 ”and the pitch“ A # 2 ”on the fret switch 46,
The pitch "B2" is assigned to each of the fret switches 47. On the fret switch 31 corresponding to the fifth string of the guitar, the pitch "A # 2" is displayed on the fret switch 3
2 has a pitch of "B2", fret switch 33 has a pitch of "C3", and fret switch 34 has a pitch of "C # 3".
However, the pitch "D3" is assigned to the fret switch 35, the pitch "D # 3" is assigned to the fret switch 36, and the pitch "E3" is assigned to the fret switch 37. The fret switch 21 corresponding to the fourth string of the guitar has a pitch "D # 3", the fret switch 22 has a pitch "E3", and the fret switch 23 has a pitch "F3".
However, the fret switch 24 has the pitch “F # 3”, the fret switch 25 has the pitch “G3”, the fret switch 26 has the pitch “G # 3”, and the fret switch 27 has the pitch “G # 3”. A3 ”is assigned to each. The fret switch 11 corresponding to the third string of the guitar has a pitch "G
# 3 ”, the pitch“ A3 ”on the fret switch 12,
The fret switch 13 has a pitch "A # 3", the fret switch 14 has a pitch "B3", and the fret switch 1 has
The pitch "C4" is assigned to 5, the pitch "C # 4" is assigned to the fret switch 16, and the pitch "D4" is assigned to the fret switch 17.
Are assigned respectively.

The pitch corresponding to the open string of the guitar, that is, the pitch "E2" of the sixth string, the pitch "A2" of the fifth string,
The pitch "D3" of the fourth string and the pitch "G3" of the third string are not assigned because the operation of pressing the fret switch to play the open string sound is not familiar to the guitar playing method. . As described above, the pitch designating means 2 has three or more rows of a plurality of fret switches capable of individually designating at least five continuous tone strings in the 12-tone scale, and the adjacent three rows of fret switches. It goes without saying that other pitch assignment methods may be used as long as the pitches are assigned so that the pitch is one octave.

Each of the fret switches constituting the pitch designating means 2 has a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber and outputs a touch signal corresponding to the pressing force. Note that a technique for outputting such a touch signal is well known, and therefore its description is omitted.

The on-operator means 5 is an operator having a novel shape that has not existed in the past, and its detailed configuration is as shown in FIG. The on-operator means 5 is, as shown in the figure, a wide bow-shaped main body operation part 50 corresponding to the vertical line of the letter "E" and a wedge-shaped auxiliary operation part 51 corresponding to the three horizontal lines of the letter "E". ~ 53. The on-operator means 2 is adapted to be operated by the hand (usually the right hand) opposite to the hand operating the pitch designating means 2, and the main body operation unit 5 is provided.
0 can be operated anywhere with the palm or finger of the right hand, the auxiliary operation unit 51 is operated with the index finger, the auxiliary operation unit 52 is operated with the middle finger, and the auxiliary operation unit 53 is operated with the ring finger.

As shown in FIG. 3, the on-operator means 5 has an E-shaped opening (a shape consisting of a main body operating portion 50 and auxiliary operating portions 51 to 53) provided on the main body front plate 1U of the electronic musical instrument 1. The main body operation unit 50 and the auxiliary operation units 51 to 53 are embedded in the main body of the electronic musical instrument 1 so as to project therefrom. The on-operator means 5 is rotatably provided via a shaft 59 with respect to a frame 58 provided inside the main body back plate 1B of the electronic musical instrument 1. That is, the on-operator means 5 is rotatable about the shaft 59 as a rotation axis, and the spring 5 provided inside the main body back plate 1B.
6 always projects from the E-shaped opening. The amount of protrusion from the opening of the on-operation member means 5 depends on the stopper felt 57 provided on the main body front plate 1U.
Fine-tuned by

A magnet 54 is attached to the back side of the main body operating portion 50 of the ON operator 5. Then, the Hall element 55 is provided at a position facing the magnet 54 on the back plate 1B of the main body.
Is provided. This magnet 54 and Hall element 5
The amount of rotational movement of the ON operator 5 is detected by 5. The detection signal of the Hall element 55 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 70 as shown in FIG.

The pitch shift operator 6 is an operator provided at a position where it can be operated simultaneously with the on operator 5, and has an up switch UP for shifting the pitch up and a down switch for shifting the pitch down. And a switch DN. The down switch DN can be operated near the wrist of the ball of the right palm of the palm of the right hand, and the up switch UP can be operated near the wrist of the ball of the little finger of the right palm. When this pitch shift operator 6 is operated, the pitch assignment state assigned to each fret switch in accordance with the pitch shift direction (up or down) of the operated side is shifted in column units. It is supposed to do. The wheel 7 is also an operator provided at a position where it can be operated simultaneously with the on operator 5, and controls the pitch and modulation.

The volume operator 9 is for adjusting the sounding volume of this electronic musical instrument, and the LED 10 is for displaying the current shift state by the pitch shift operator 6.
For example, when the LED lights red and blue and the pitch of the fret switch is upshifted by one row, red L
One ED lights up, and two red LEDs light up when two columns are upshifted. Conversely, if the pitch of the fret switch is downshifted by one row, the blue LED
When one LED is turned on and two blue LEDs are downshifted, two blue LEDs are turned on. Needless to say, other display methods may be used, and any arrangement may be used as long as the shift amount can be recognized.

Next, the overall configuration of the fret switch type electronic musical instrument of the present invention will be described with reference to the system configuration diagram of FIG. The pitch designation operator 2 is a group of 28 (fret switches) on / off switches as shown in FIG.
The on / off signal is taken into the bit conversion circuit 61. The bit conversion circuit 61 converts into a digital note number NN based on the ON / OFF signal from the pitch designating operator 2 and outputs it to the 0 side terminal of the selector circuit 62. For example, when an ON signal is generated from the fret switch 41 corresponding to the sixth string of the guitar, the bit conversion circuit 61 causes the digital note number NN = corresponding to the pitch "F2".
51 is output. The bit conversion circuit 61 outputs the note number NN and outputs the latch signal L1 to the OR circuit 7.
1 to the first input terminal. In addition, pitch designation operator 2
Outputs the pressing signal ATS corresponding to the operation amount of each fret switch to the tone signal forming circuit 68 as described above.

The selector circuit 62 sets the note number NN converted by the bit conversion circuit 61 to low level "0".
The note number NN or NA latched by the latch circuit 66 is input to the high level "1" side input terminal, and the input signal of the selection terminal S, that is, the logical sum signal from the OR circuit 69 (high level). According to "1" or low level "0"), the note number NN is input to the input terminal on the low level "0" side or the latch circuit 66 is input to the input terminal on the high level "1" side. Either one of the note numbers NN or NA that has been output is output to the addition / subtraction circuit 64. The shift value storage register 63 is a register that stores a shift value when the assigned pitch of the fret switch is shifted in a column unit as described above.
In the case of this embodiment, the numerical value "5" corresponding to 5 semitones is stored. The adder / subtractor circuit 64 adds or subtracts the value “5” of the shift value storage register 63 to the note number NN or NA selected by the selector circuit 62, and sets the note number NA indicating the operation result to the high level “of the selector circuit 65. Output to 1 ”side input terminal. The calculation contents of the adder / subtractor circuit 64, that is, whether to add or subtract is determined according to a signal from the up switch UP or the down switch DN of the pitch shift operator 6. In this embodiment, the high level “1” signal of the up switch UP is input to the addition side terminal + of the addition / subtraction circuit 64, and the high level “1” signal of the down switch DN is the subtraction side terminal − of the addition / subtraction circuit 64. Since the up switch UP is operated and its ON signal is generated, the adder / subtractor circuit 64 adds "5" to the note number NN or NA, and the down switch DN is operated to generate the ON signal. The adder / subtractor circuit 64 is a note number NN or N.
Subtract "5" from A.

The selector circuit 65 uses the note number NN or NA output from the selector circuit 62 in the preceding stage as the low-level "0" side input terminal, and outputs the operation result from the adder / subtractor circuit 64 (shifted-up or down-shifted note number). NA) is input to each of the high-level "1" side input terminals, and the input signal of the selection terminal S, that is, the logical sum signal from the OR circuit 69 (high level "1" or low level "0").
According to the above, either the low-level “0” side note number NN or the high-level “1” side note number NA is output to the latch circuit 66. The latch circuit 66 is the note number NN or NA selected by the selector circuit 65.
Is latched at the input timing of the latch signal L1 or L2 from the OR circuit 71, which is output to the latch circuit 67 at the next stage and fed back to the high-level "1" side input terminal of the selector circuit 62. The latch circuit 67 is a note number NN or NA latched by the latch circuit 66.
Is latched at the input timing of the key-on signal KON to the latch terminal L and is output to the tone signal forming circuit 68 as a note number NE. The OR circuit 69 is a high level “1” signal of the up switch UP or the down switch D.
The high level “1” signal of N is taken in and the logical sum signal of both is output to the selection terminal S of the selector circuits 62 and 65 and the delay circuit 70. The delay circuit 70 delays the logical sum signal from the OR circuit 69 by a predetermined time (a time corresponding to the operation time of the addition / subtraction circuit 64) and outputs it as a latch signal L2 to the second input terminal of the OR circuit 71. The OR circuit 71 receives the latch signal L1 from the bit conversion circuit 61 and the delay circuit 7
The logical sum is obtained with the latch signal L2 from 0, and the logical sum signal is output to the latch terminal L of the latch circuit 66.

On the other hand, the detection signal of the Hall element 55, which is a constituent means of the ON operator 5, is converted into a digital pressing signal DTS by the A / D converter 80 and taken into the A terminal of the comparator 82. The comparator 82 inputs the predetermined value from the register 72 to its B terminal, and when the detection signal (press signal DTS) from the hall element 55 becomes larger than the predetermined value, the high-level "1" key-on signal KON. The AND circuit 83 outputs the signal to the latch terminal L of the latch circuit 67.
It is output to the enable terminal EN of. The AND circuit 83 outputs the high-level "1" key-on signal KON from the comparator 82.
While being input to the enable terminal EN, the digital pressing signal DTS output from the A / D converter 80 is output to the tone signal forming circuit 68. That is, the hall element 55
While the detection signal (pressing signal DTS) from is larger than a predetermined value, the pressing signal DTS is continuously output to the tone signal forming circuit 68.

The tone signal forming circuit 68 includes a latch circuit 67.
Note number NE and AND circuit 83 latched in
Digital pressing signal DTS from Pitch and pitch designating means 2
The press signal ATS from is input and the tone signals whose pitch and volume are controlled are generated in accordance with these signals. Any tone signal generation method may be used in the tone signal forming circuit 68. For example, a memory reading method for sequentially reading tone waveform sample value data stored in a waveform memory according to address data that changes corresponding to the pitch of a tone to be generated, or a predetermined frequency using the above address data as phase angle parameter data. A well-known method such as an FM method for performing a modulation operation to obtain musical tone waveform sample value data or an AM method for performing a predetermined amplitude modulation operation using the address data as phase angle parameter data to obtain a tone waveform sample value data. You may employ suitably. The tone signal generated from the tone signal forming circuit 68 is sounded from the speaker 8 via an amplifier (not shown). Although not shown, the control signals from the wheel 7 and the volume operator 9 are also taken into the tone signal forming circuit 68 and used in the tone signal forming process. Further, although not shown, a signal from the pitch shift operator 6 is counted by the up / down counter, and the LED 10 is turned on according to the count value.

Next, an operation example of the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention will be described. First, when the operator presses one of the fret switches of the pitch specifying means 2, the bit conversion circuit 61 causes the note number NN corresponding to the pressed pitch.
To the selector circuit 62. At this point in time, since the pitch shift operator 6 is not operated at all, the selector circuits 62 and 65 output the signal of the low level "0" side input terminal, that is, the note number NN to the latch circuit 66.
At this time, since the latch signal L1 output from the bit conversion circuit 61 is input to the latch circuit 66 via the OR circuit 71, the note number NN output from the bit conversion circuit 61 is directly latched by the latch circuit 66. .

Immediately after this, when the operator turns on the up switch UP of the pitch shift operator 6, the ON signal of the up switch UP causes the selection terminal S of the selector circuits 62 and 65 and the delay circuit via the OR circuit 69. In addition to being input to 70, it is input to the addition side terminal + of the addition / subtraction circuit 64. As a result, the selector circuit 62 receives the signal being input to the high-level “1” side input terminal, that is, the latch circuit 6.
The note number NN latched in 6 is output to the conversion downhill circuit 64. At this time, since the ON signal is input to the addition side terminal + of the addition / subtraction circuit 64, the addition / subtraction circuit 64 adds the value “5” of the shift value storage register 63 to the note number NN, and the operation result NA = NN + 5. Selector circuit 6
It outputs to the high level "1" side input terminal of 5. The selector circuit 65 outputs the signal being input to the high-level “1” side input terminal, that is, the operation result NA to the latch circuit 66. When the operation result NA is input to the latch circuit 66, the ON signal of the up switch UP delayed by the delay circuit 70 is input to the latch terminal of the latch circuit 66 as the latch signal L2. Means that a new note number NA will be latched.

When the operator depresses the on-operator means 5, this time the comparator 82 outputs the key-on signal KON.
Is output. The key-on signal KON is the latch circuit 6
7 and the enable terminal EN of the AND circuit 83. The latch circuit 67 uses this key-on signal K
At the input timing of ON, the note number NA latched in the latch circuit 66 is latched, and the tone signal forming circuit 6
Output to 8. At the same time, the AND circuit 83 outputs the digital pressing signal DTS output from the A / D converter 80 to the tone signal forming circuit 68. In this way, the note number NE finally input to the tone signal forming circuit 68 is input.
Is the note number NN output from the bit conversion circuit 61.
The pitch is 5 semitones higher than that of. Conversely, the pitch is set to 5 by operating the down switch DN.
It can be lowered by a semitone. In addition, the pitch can be increased or decreased in the order of 5 semitones, 10 semitones, and 15 semitones according to the number of times the up switch UP or the down switch DN is operated.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the ON-operator means 5 having a special shape has been described, but any other operator may be used as long as it outputs a key-on signal or a touch signal. Needless to say. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sensor including the magnet 54 and the hall element 55 is used to detect the rotational movement amount of the ON operator 5, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the ON operator 5 is not limited thereto. Any sensor may be used as long as it can detect the operation amount. For example, a reflecting plate may be provided instead of the magnet, and the moving amount of the reflecting plate may be detected by using an optical element, or the rotational moving amount of the on-operation member means 5 may be directly detected by a rotary transformer or an encoder. Good. In the above-described embodiment, only one of the fret switches of the pitch designating means 1 is effective, and when a plurality of fret switches are operated, the one with the lowest pitch or the one with the highest pitch is selected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any switch may be enabled for each column. That is, in the case of the above-described embodiment, sounds for four strings may be generated. In this case, it suffices to preferentially produce the high pitched one according to the playing style of the guitar.

In the above embodiment, the case where the pitch is shifted by operating the pitch shift operator after operating the fret switch has been described. However, when the pitch shift operator is operated once, the shift is performed. You may make it maintain a state. Further, the case where the pitch shift amount is 5 semitones has been described, but this is because it is adapted to the guitar playing style. Therefore, it goes without saying that a pitch shift other than this may be performed. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the sound is produced by operating the on-operator after operating the fret switch has been described.
Not limited to this, the key-on signal and the pitch signal may be output only by operating the fret switch. Further, the tone signal forming circuit may control the sounding sound volume of the tone according to the multiplication value of the pressing signal DTS and ATS, or may control the volume according to the pressing signal DTS and / or ATS. The tone pitch may be controlled according to the pressing signal DTS and / or ATS. When the volume is controlled by the pressing signal DTS, a similar effect to playing a tremolo guitar can be produced. When the tone pitch is controlled by the press signal ATS, it is possible to produce an effect similar to a playing method such as choking, finger vibrato, or choking vibrato of a guitar.

[0026]

According to the electronic musical instrument using the fret switch of the present invention, the musical range of about 2-3 octaves can be covered with a smaller number of fret switches than the conventional one, and a playing method similar to that of a guitar or the like can be achieved. The effect is that you can play with.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a fret switch type electronic musical instrument according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a fret switch type electronic musical instrument according to the present invention.

3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of an ON operator 5 in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Fret switch type electronic musical instrument, 2 ... pitch designation operator, 5 ... on operator, 6 ... pitch shift operator, 7 ... wheel, 8 ... speaker, 9 ... volume operator, 10 ... L
ED

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An operator, which is operated by one hand of an operator, comprising three rows of a plurality of fret switches capable of individually designating at least five consecutive tone rows in a 12-tone scale. The first operation for outputting the pitch information assigned to the operated fret switch, in which the pitches are assigned so that the pitches for one octave are provided by the adjacent three rows of fret switches. An operator operated by the child means and the other hand of the operator,
A second manipulator means for outputting a manipulating signal corresponding to a manipulating amount; and a manipulator provided at a position operable simultaneously with the second manipulator by the other hand of the operator. Third manipulator means for shifting the pitch allocation state allocated to each fret switch of the pitch designating means in column units; pitch information from the first manipulator means and the second manipulator An electronic musical instrument having on the same main body a musical tone generating means for generating a musical tone according to an operation signal from the means.