WO2018021976A1

WO2018021976A1 - Device for making musical sounds

Info

Publication number: WO2018021976A1
Application number: PCT/SG2017/050388
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xinsheng LO
Original assignee: Manning Music Centre Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2016-07-29
Filing date: 2017-07-28
Publication date: 2018-02-01
Also published as: SG10201606277SA

Abstract

A device for making musical sounds. The device may include a board and a bar movably coupled to the board. The device may further include a plurality of stringlike elements coupled to the bar. The bar may be movable relative to the board between an engage position and a disengage position. The bar, in the engage position, may be oriented to rest the plurality of stringlike elements on a surface of the board. The bar, in the disengage position, may be oriented to space apart the plurality of stringlike elements from the surface of the board.

Description

DEVICE FOR MAKING MUSICAL SOUNDS

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments generally relate to a device for making musical sounds.

Background

[0002] Musical instruments are devices created or adapted to make musical sounds. Typically, each musical instrument can only produce one type of musical sounds characterized by its physical properties such as material, shape, size, construction as well as the way musical sounds are produced. Broadly, musical instruments may be classified into idiophones, which produce musical sounds by vibrating the body of the instrument itself; membranophones, which produce musical sounds by vibrating a membrane of the instrument; chordophones, which produce musical sounds by vibrating strings of the instrument; and aerophones, which produce musical sounds by vibrating columns of air in the instrument.

[0003] Recent developments in electronic technology have allowed electronic means to digitally create different types of musical sounds. Accordingly, creating different types of digital musical sounds across the different category of musical instruments using only one electronic musical instrument have been made possible. However, such electronic musical instruments may not be able to fully emulate the uniqueness of the analogue musical sounds characterized by the actual physical properties of the respective type of musical instruments as well as the way musical sounds is produced. Furthermore, such electronic musical instrument may erode the charm of playing conventional musical instruments as a performing art, as well as the challenge of mastering the skills of playing conventional musical instruments.

[0004] Accordingly, example embodiments seek to provide a device for making musical sounds that addresses at least some of the issues identified above

Summary

[0005] Various embodiments provide a device that allows making of musical sounds characterized by at least two different types of musical instruments while maintaining the respective musical sounds characteristics of the musical instruments and the respective ways of playing the musical instruments. [0006] Various embodiments provide a device that is a combination of at least two musical instruments from two different categories of musical instruments.

[0007] According to various embodiments, there is provided a device for making musical sounds. The device may include a board and a bar movably coupled to the board. The device may further include a plurality of stringlike elements coupled to the bar. The bar may be movable relative to the board between an engage position and a disengage position. The bar, in the engage position, may be oriented to rest the plurality of stringlike elements on a surface of the board. The bar, in the disengage position, may be oriented to space apart the plurality of stringlike elements from the surface of the board.

Brief description of the drawings

[0008] In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIGs. 1A and IB show schematic diagrams of a device for making musical sounds according to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 shows a device for making musical sounds according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3A shows a front view of a device for making musical sounds according to various embodiments;

FIGs. 3B and 3C show side views of the device of FIG. 3A illustrating the operation of the motion mechanism of the device according to various embodiments;

FIG. 4A shows a device for making musical sounds according to various embodiments;

FIGs. 4B and 4C show a head and a bridge of the device of FIG. 4A according to various embodiments; and

FIG. 5 shows the device of FIG. 4A, with the neck portion detached, in used according to various embodiments. Detailed description

[0009] Embodiments described below in context of the apparatus are analogously valid for the respective methods, and vice versa. Furthermore, it will be understood that the embodiments described below may be combined, for example, a part of one embodiment may be combined with a part of another embodiment.

[00010] It should be understood that the terms "on", "over", "top", "bottom", "down", "side", "back", "left", "right", "front", "lateral", "side", "up", "down" etc., when used in the following description are used for convenience and to aid understanding of relative positions or directions, and not intended to limit the orientation of any device, or structure or any part of any device or structure. In addition, the singular terms "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word "or" is intended to include "and" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[00011] FIG. 1A shows a schematic diagram of a device 100 for making musical sounds according to various embodiments. The device 100 may include a board 112. The device 100 may further include a bar 130 movably coupled to the board 112. The device 100 may also include a plurality of stringlike elements 150 coupled to the bar 130. The bar 130 may be movable relative to the board 112 between an engage position and a disengage position. Accordingly, the bar 130, in the engage position, may be oriented to rest the plurality of stringlike elements 150 on a surface of the board 112. Further, the bar 130, in the disengage position, may be oriented to space apart the plurality of stringlike elements 150 from the surface of the board 112.

[00012] In other words, the device 100 may include a plurality of narrow strips of material resembling a cord or a string that is attached to a link arm. The link arm may be connected to a slab of material in a manner in which the link arm may be movable relative to the slab of material. Further, the link arm may be movable between two positions. In a first position, the link arm may be positioned relative to the slab of material such that the plurality of narrow strips of material may be moved and brought into contact with the slab of material. For example, portions of the plurality of narrow strips of material may be placed flat onto a surface of the slab of material such that, when the slab of material is vibrated due to striking of the slab of material, the plurality of narrow strips of material may be caused to vibrate against the slab of material to produce rattling sounds. In a second position, the link arm may be positioned relative to the slab of material such that the plurality of narrow strips of material may be moved and lifted off the surface of the slab of material such that the plurality of narrow strips of material may no longer be in contact with the surface of the slab of material and vibrations of the slab of material may not cause the plurality of narrow strips of material to vibrate against the slab of material.

[00013] FIG. IB shows a schematic diagram of a device 101 for making musical sounds according to various embodiments. The device 101 may, similar to the device of 100 of FIG. 1A, include a board 112. The device 100 may, similar to the device of 100 of FIG. 1A, further include a bar 130 movably coupled to the board. The device 100 may, similar to the device of 100 of FIG. 1A, also include a plurality of stringlike elements 150 coupled to the bar 130. The bar 130 may be movable relative to the board 112 between an engage position and a disengage position. Accordingly, the bar 130, in the engage position, may be oriented to rest the plurality of stringlike elements 150 on a surface of the board 112. Further, the bar 130, in the disengage position, may be oriented to space apart the plurality of stringlike elements 150 from the surface of the board 112.

[00014] According to various embodiments, the device 101 may further include a damping element 160. When the bar 130 is in the disengage position, the bar 130 may be further oriented to rest the plurality of stringlike elements 150 on a surface of the damping element 160. The damping element 160 may include any one of an elastic element, a viscoelastic element, or a felt element.

[00015] According to various embodiments, the device may further include a motion mechanism 170 configured to movably couple the bar 130 to the board 112. The motion mechanism 170 may include any one of a rotary-to-linear motion mechanism, a rotary motion mechanism, or a linear motion mechanism. The motion mechanism 170 may include any one of a knob, a lever, a switch or a trigger.

[00016] According to various embodiments, the device may further include a hollow body 110, wherein the board 112 may be a part of the hollow body 110. The hollow body 110 may include any one of a guitar body, a violin body, a viola body, a cello body, a double bass body, a bass body, a ukulele body, a banjo body, a mandolin body, a lute body, a guzheng body, a pipa body, a zither body, a cajon body or a body of any other suitable musical instrument.

[00017] According to various embodiments, the bar 130 and the plurality of stringlike elements 150 may be inside a hollow space of the hollow body 110.

[00018] According to various embodiments, the hollow body 110 may include a sound hole 114.

[00019] According to various embodiments, the hollow body 110 may include a plurality of strings 116 attached to an exterior surface of the hollow body 110.

[00020] According to various embodiments, the hollow body 110 may include a 180 bridge configured to attach the plurality of strings 116 to the exterior surface of the hollow body 110. The bridge 180 may further include a bridge locking mechanism 182 configured to detachably attach the bridge 180 to the exterior surface of the hollow body 110.

[00021] According to various embodiments, the hollow body 110 may further include a neck portion 120. The neck portion 120 may include a neck locking mechanism 122 configured to detachably attach the neck portion 120 to the hollow body 110.

[00022] According to various embodiments, the hollow body 110 may include a slot 118 configured to receive the detached neck portion 120 for inserting into the hollow body 110.

[00023] According to various embodiments, the neck portion may further include a fingerboard 124 coupled to the neck portion 120.

[00024] According to various embodiments, the neck portion may further include a locking nut or a clamp 192 for clamping the plurality of strings 116 to the neck portion 120.

[00025] According to various embodiments, the hollow body 110 may further include a strap 190 attached to the hollow body 110.

[00026] According to various embodiments, the stringlike elements 150 may include any one of a snare wires, snare cords, snare cables, wires, strings, cords, or cables.

[00027] FIG. 2 shows a device 200 for making musical sounds according to various embodiments. The device 200 may include a board 212. The board 212 may be a flat slab or a sheet of wood or other suitable material. As shown, the board 212 may be of a guitar shape. Accordingly, the board 212 may be a part of a hollow guitar body. According to various embodiments, the board 212 may be of any shapes. The device 200 may further include a bar 230 movably coupled to the board 212. The bar 230 may be in the form of a link arm or a rod or other suitable elongated piece of material. The device 200 may also include a plurality of stringlike elements 250 coupled or attached to the bar 230. The plurality of stringlike elements 250 may include a plurality of narrow strips of material resembling a cord or a sting. The stringlike elements 250 may include any one of a snare wires, snare cords, snare cables, wires, strings, cords, or cables. According to various embodiments, the bar 230 may be movable relative to the board 212 between a first position, i.e. an engage position, and a second position, i.e. a disengage position. In the engage position, the bar 230 may be oriented to rest the plurality of stringlike elements 250 on a surface 211 of the board 212. Accordingly, the bar 230 may be positioned relative to the board 212 such that the plurality of stringlike elements 250 coupled to the bar 230 may be moved and brought into contact with the surface 211 of the board 212. For example, in the engage position, portions of the plurality of stringlike elements 250 may be placed flat onto the surface 211 of the board 212 such that, when the board 212 is vibrated due to striking of the board 212, the plurality of stringlike elements 250 may be caused to vibrate against the board 212 to produce rattling sounds. On the other hand, in the disengage position, the bar 230 may be oriented to space apart the plurality of stringlike elements 250 from the surface 211 of the board 212. Accordingly, the bar 230 may be positioned relative to the board 212 such that the plurality of stringlike elements 250 may be moved and lifted off the surface 211 of the board 212 such that the plurality of stringlike elements 250 may no longer be in contact with the surface of the board 212 and vibrations of the board 212 may not cause the plurality of stringlike elements 250 to vibrate against the board 212 to produce any rattling sounds.

[00028] According to various embodiments, the device 200 may further include a damping element 260. The damping element 260 may include any one of an elastic element, a viscoelastic element, or a felt element. The damping element 260 may be suspended above the board 212 such that, when the bar 230 is in the disengage position, the bar 230 may be further oriented to rest the plurality of stringlike elements 250 on a surface of the damping element 260 after the plurality of stringlike elements 250 is lifted off the surface 211 of the board 212. Accordingly, the damping element 260 may further prevent the plurality of stringlike elements 250 from vibrating or producing any sound when the bar is in the disengage position and the board 212 is being struck.

[00029] According to various embodiments, the device 200 may further include a motion mechanism 270 configured to movably couple the bar 230 to the board 212. The motion mechanism 270 may include any one of a rotary-to-linear motion mechanism, a rotary motion mechanism, or a linear motion mechanism. The motion mechanism 270 may include any one of a knob, a lever, a switch or a trigger. As shown in FIG. 2, the motion mechanism 270 may include a pin joint 272 having a pin 271. The pin joint 272 may be at en edge 213 of the board 212 with a rotational axis of the pin 271 parallel to the surface 211 of the board 212. The pin 271 may be coupled to a knob 274. Further, the motion mechanism 270 may include a L- shape connecting arm 276 having a first portion 278, and a second portion 279 perpendicular to the first portion 278. The first portion 278 of the L-shape connecting arm 276 may be parallel to the rotational axis of the pin 271. An end 275 of the first portion 278 of the L-shape connecting arm 276 may be fixed to the pin 271 via a link 273. The link 273 may be perpendicular to both the first portion 278 of the L-shape connecting art and the pin 271. An end 277 of the second portion 279 of the L-shape connecting arm 276 may be attached to the bar 230. Accordingly, rotating the knob 274 may rotate the pin 271 about its rotational axis, which may in turn translate into moving the first portion 278 of the L-shape connecting arm 276 towards or away from the surface 211 of the board 212. As the first portion 278 of the L-shape connecting arm 276 is moved away from the surface 211 of the board 212, the bar 230 may be moved and brought closer to the surface 211 of the board 212 such that the plurality of stringlike elements 250 may contact the surface 211 of the board 212. On the other hand, when the first portion 278 of the L-shape connecting arm 276 is moved towards the surface 211 of the board 212, the bar 230 may be moved away from the surface 211 of the board 212 such that the plurality of stringlike elements 250 may be spaced apart from the surface 211 of the board 212 and be in contact with the damping element 260. [00030] FIG. 3A shows a front view of a device 300 for making musical sounds with the internal components shown in dotted lines according to various embodiments. The device 300 may include a hollow body 310. The hollow body 310 may include a board 312 similar to the board 212 of FIG. 2, which may be a flat slab or a sheet of wood or other suitable material. The board 312 may be a part of the hollow body 310. As shown in FIG. 3A, the hollow body 310 may be a guitar body and the board 312 may be a back piece of the guitar body. According to various embodiments, the hollow body 110 may include any one of a guitar body, a violin body, a viola body, a cello body, a double bass body, a bass body, a ukulele body, a banjo body, a mandolin body, a lute body, a guzheng body, a pipa body, a zither body, a cajon body or a body of any other suitable musical instrument.

[00031] As shown, the device 300 may further include a bar 330 movably coupled to the board 312. The bar 330 may, similar to the bar 230 of FIG. 2, be in the form of a link arm or a rod or other suitable elongated piece of material. The device 300 may also include a plurality of stringlike elements 350 coupled or attached to the bar 330. The plurality of stringlike elements 350 may, similar to the plurality of narrow strips of material 250 of FIG. 2, include a plurality of narrow strips of material resembling a cord or a sting. The stringlike elements 350 may include any one of a snare wires, snare cords, snare cables, wires, strings, cords, or cables. As shown, the bar 330 and the plurality of stringlike elements 350 may be inside a hollow space of the hollow body 310. Accordingly, the hollow body 310 may further include a side panel (or side panels) 304 and a top board 302 enclosing the bar 330 and the plurality of stinglike elements 350 inside the hollow space of the hollow body 310. According to various embodiments, the hollow body 310 may include a sound hole 314. The sound hole 314 may be in the top board 302 of the hollow body 310. The sound hole 314 may be of a circular shape or any other suitable shape.

[00032] According to various embodiments, the bar 330 may be movable relative to the board 312 of the hollow body 310 between a first position, i.e. an engage position, and a second position, i.e. a disengage position. In the engage position, the bar 330 may be oriented to rest the plurality of stringlike elements 350 on a surface 311 of the board 312, which may be the back piece of the hollow body 310. Accordingly, the bar 330 may be positioned relative to the board 312 of the hollow body 310 such that the plurality of stringlike elements 350 coupled to the bar 330 may be moved and brought into contact with the surface 311 of the board 312. For example, in the engage position, portions of the plurality of stringlike elements 350 may be placed flat onto the surface 311 of the board 312 of the hollow body 310 such that, when the board 312 of the hollow body 310 is vibrated due to striking of the board 312, the plurality of stringlike elements 350 may be caused to vibrate against the board 312 of the hollow body 310 to produce rattling sounds. On the other hand, in the disengage position, the bar 330 may be oriented to space apart the plurality of stringlike elements 350 from the surface 311 of the board 312 of the hollow body 310. Accordingly, the bar 330 may be positioned relative to the board 312 such that the plurality of stringlike elements 350 may be moved and lifted off the surface 311 of the board 312 of the hollow body 310 such that the plurality of stringlike elements 350 may no longer be in contact with the surface 311 of the board 312 and vibrations of the board 312 may not cause the plurality of stringlike elements 350 to vibrate against the board 312 of the hollow body 310 to produce any rattling sounds. Further, when the hollow body 310 is a body of any musical instrument, such as a guitar body or the like, and with the plurality of stringlike elements 350 lifted off the surface 311 of the board 312, playing the musical instrument normally may not cause the plurality of stringlike elements 350 to vibrate against the board 312 of the hollow body 310.

[00033] According to various embodiments, the device 300 may further include a damping element 360. The damping element 360 may, similar to the damping element 260 of FIG. 2, include any one of an elastic element, a viscoelastic element, or a felt element. The damping element 360 may be suspended above the board 312 inside the hollow body 310 by attaching each end of the damping element 360 to a corresponding side panel 304. The damping element 360 may be suspended such that, when the bar 330 is in the disengage position, the bar 330 may be further oriented to rest the plurality of stringlike elements 350 on a surface of the damping element 360 after the plurality of stringlike elements 350 is lifted off the surface 311 of the board 312. Accordingly, the damping element 360 may further prevent the plurality of stringlike elements 350 from vibrating or producing any sound when the bar 330 is in the disengage position. Accordingly, when the hollow body 310 is a body of any musical instrument, such as a guitar body or the like, and with the plurality of stringlike elements 350 resting on the damping element 360, the plurality of stringlike elements 350 may be prevented from vibrating or producing any sound when the musical instrument is being played in the normal playing of the musical instrument or when the board 312 is being struck.

[00034] According to various embodiments, the device 300 may further include a motion mechanism 370 configured to movably couple the bar 330 to the board 312 of the hollow body 310. The motion mechanism 370 may, similar to the motion mechanism 270 of FIG. 2, include any one of a rotary-to-linear motion mechanism, a rotary motion mechanism, or a linear motion mechanism. The motion mechanism 370 may include any one of a knob, a lever, a switch or a trigger. FIGs. 3B and 3C show a side view of the device 300 illustrating the operation of the motion mechanism 370 of the device 300 according to various embodiments. As shown in FIGs. 3A to 3C, the motion mechanism 370 may include a pin joint 372 having a pin 371. The pin joint 372 may be mounted on a side panel 304 of the hollow body 310 with a rotational axis of the pin 371 parallel to the surface 311 of the board 312 of the hollow body 310. The pin 371 may be coupled to a knob 374. Further, the motion mechanism 370 may include a L-shape connecting arm 376 having a first portion 378, and a second portion 379 perpendicular to the first portion 378. The first portion 378 of the L-shape connecting arm 376 may be parallel to the rotational axis of the pin 371. An end 375 of the first portion 378 of the L-shape connecting arm 376 may be fixed to the pin 371 via a link 373. The link 373 may be perpendicular to both the first portion 378 of the L-shape connecting art and the pin 371. An end 377 of the second portion 379 of the L-shape connecting arm 376 may be attached to the bar 330. Accordingly, rotating the knob 374 may rotate the pin 371 about its rotational axis, which may in turn translate into moving the first portion 378 of the L-shape connecting arm 376 towards or away from the surface

311 of the board 312. As the first portion 378 of the L-shape connecting arm 376 is moved away from the surface 311 of the board 312 of the hollow body 310, the bar 330 may be moved and brought closer to the surface 311 of the board 312 such that the plurality of stringlike elements 350 may contact the surface 311 of the board

312 of the hollow body 310. On the other hand, when the first portion 378 of the L- shape connecting arm 376 is moved towards the surface 311 of the board 312 of the hollow body 310, the bar 330 may be moved away from the surface 311 of the board 312 such that the plurality of stringlike elements 350 may be spaced apart from the surface 311 of the board 312 of the hollow body 310 and be in contact with the damping element 360.

[00035] According to various embodiments, the hollow body 310 may include a plurality of strings 316 attached to an exterior surface of the hollow body 310. As shown in FIGs. 3A to 3C, the plurality of strings 316 may be attached to the top board 302 of the hollow body 310. The plurality of strings 316 may be the musical strings of a predetermined type of string musical instruments playable to produce musical sounds. For example, when the hollow body 310 is a guitar body, the plurality of strings 316 may include six guitar strings attached to the top board 302 of the hollow body 310 such that the device 300 may be played as a guitar.

[00036] According to various embodiments, the hollow body 310 may include a bridge 380 configured to attach the plurality of strings 316 to the exterior surface of the hollow body 310. For example, when the hollow body 310 is a guitar body, the bridge 380 may be a guitar bridge having six bridge pins, each bridge pin configured to attach an end of each corresponding guitar string to the bridge 380.

[00037] According to various embodiments, the hollow body 310 may further include a neck portion 320. The neck portion 320 may be an elongated extension of the hollow body 310. For example, when the hollow body 310 is a guitar body, the neck portion 320 may be a neck of the guitar. The device 300 may further include a head 328 (FIG. 4B) with tuning keys 329 at the end of the neck portion 320. Each of the tuning key 329 of the head 328 may be configured to receive another end of each corresponding guitar string. According to various embodiments, the neck portion 320 may further include a fingerboard 324 coupled to the neck portion 320. The plurality of strings 316 may run over the fingerboard 324 between the head 328 and the bridge 380.

[00038] FIG. 4A shows a device 301 for making musical sounds according to various embodiments. As shown, the neck portion 320 may be detachable from the hollow body 310 of the device 301. Accordingly, the bridge 380 of the device 301 may further include a bridge locking mechanism configured to detachably attach the bridge 380 to the exterior surface of the hollow body 310. The neck portion 320 may also include a neck locking mechanism configured to detachably attach the neck portion 320 to the hollow body 310. The bridge locking mechanism and the neck locking mechanism may be any suitable locking mechanism including, but not limited to, snap-fit mechanism, pin locking mechanism, latch locking mechanism, screw mechanism, or magnetic locking mechanism. As shown in FIG. 4A, the bridge locking mechanism may be a snap-fit mechanism. The hollow body 310 may include a depression 384 forming the receiver portion of the snap-fit mechanism, and the bridge 380 may be inserted into the depression 384 to be snap-fitted in place. The neck locking mechanism may also be a snap-fit mechanism. The hollow body 310 may include a recess portion 326 for receiving an end 325 of the neck portion 320. The recess portion 326 may include a hole 327 for receiving a corresponding protrusion (not shown) at the back of the end 325 of the neck portion 320. Accordingly, the protrusion at the back of the end 325 of the neck portion 320 may be snap-fitted into the hole 327 for locking the neck portion 320 to the hollow body 310.

[00039] According to various embodiments, the hollow body 310 may include a slot (not shown) configured to receive the detached neck portion 320 for inserting into the hollow body 310. In this embodiment, after the neck portion 320 is detached from the hollow body 310, the neck portion 320 may be stored inside the hollow body 310.

[00040] FIGs. 4B and 4C show the head 328 and the bridge 380 of the device 301 according to various embodiments. As shown, the neck portion 320 may include a locking nut or a clamp 392 for clamping the plurality of strings 316 at a position between the neck portion 320 and the head 328. Further, the bridge 380 may include securing points 386 for securing the plurality of strings to the bridge 380. According to various embodiments, with the locking nut or the clamp 392 and the securing points 386, the plurality of strings 316 may remain attached to the head 328 and the bridge 380, as shown in FIG. 4A, after the bridge 380 and the neck portion 320 are detached from the hollow body 310. This may allow easy storage of the plurality of strings 316, as well as easy re-attachment of the plurality of strings 316 when the bridge 380 and the neck portion 320 are re-attached back to the hollow body 310.

[00041] FIG. 5 shows the device 301, with the neck portion 320 detached, in used according to various embodiments. As shown, the hollow body 301 may further include a strap 390 attached to the hollow body 310. The hollow body 310 may include an attachment point 392 on the hollow body 310 for attaching a strap 390. In use, the device 301 may be placed in front of the player with the board 312 of the hollow body 310 facing the audience such that the player may tap on the board 312 of the hollow body 310 and play the device 301 as a cajon.

[00042] Various embodiments have provided a device for making musical sounds that allows a player to activate or deactivate rattling sounds when striking the device. For example, a cajon that allows the player to use it as a Flamenco/snare cajon with rattling sounds or a Peruvian cajon (a cajon typically without strings or snare wires) without rattling sounds.

[00043] Various embodiments have also provided a device for making musical sounds that is usually produced by at least two different types of musical instruments while maintaining the respective musical sounds characteristics of the respective musical instruments and the respective ways of playing the musical instruments. Accordingly, the player may use the device to produce musical sounds that belong to at least two different types of musical instruments. For example, the device according to various embodiments may be used to produce musical sounds of a string instrument such as a guitar, a violin, a viola, a cello, a double bass, a bass, a ukulele, a banjo, a lute, a guizheng, a pipa, a zither or a mandolin, and to also produce musical sounds of a Flamenco/snare cajon, The device accordingly to various embodiments may produce musical sounds that sound perfectly with the characteristics of the respective musical instruments.

[00044] Various embodiments have provided a device that is effectively a combination of at least two musical instruments from two different categories of musical instruments, allowing the player may use only a single device rather than using two different musical instruments for producing the respective musical sounds.

[00045] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modification, variation in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.

Claims

1. A device for making musical sounds, comprising:

a board;

a bar movably coupled to the board; and

a plurality of stringlike elements coupled to the bar,

wherein the bar is movable relative to the board between an engage position and a disengage position, and wherein the bar, in the engage position, is oriented to rest the plurality of stringlike elements on a surface of the board, and the bar, in the disengage position, is oriented to space apart the plurality of stringlike elements from the surface of the board.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a damping element, wherein the bar, in the disengage position, is further oriented to rest the plurality of stringlike elements on a surface of the damping element.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the damping element comprises any one of an elastic element, a viscoelastic element, or a felt element.

4. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a motion mechanism configured to movably couple the bar to the board.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the motion mechanism comprises any one of a rotary-to -linear motion mechanism, a rotary motion mechanism, or a linear motion mechanism.

6. The device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the motion mechanism comprises any one of a knob, a lever, a switch or a trigger.

7. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a hollow body, wherein the board is a part of the hollow body.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hollow body comprises any one of a guitar body, a violin body, a viola body, a cello body, a double bass body, a bass body, a ukulele body, a banjo body, a mandolin body, a lute body, a guzheng body, a pipa body, a zither body or a cajon body.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the bar and the plurality of stringlike elements are inside a hollow space of the hollow body.

10. The device as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the hollow body comprises a sound hole.

11. The device as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the hollow body comprises a plurality of strings attached to an exterior surface of the hollow body.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the hollow body comprises a bridge configured to attach the plurality of strings to the exterior surface of the hollow body.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the bridge comprises a bridge locking mechanism configured to detachably attach the bridge to the exterior surface of the hollow body.

14. The device as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein the hollow body comprises a neck portion.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the neck portion comprises a neck locking mechanism configured to detachably attach the neck portion to the hollow body.

16. The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the hollow body comprises a slot configured to receive the detached neck portion for inserting into the hollow body.

17. The device as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the neck portion further comprises a fingerboard coupled to the neck portion.

18. The device as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the neck portion further comprises a clamp.

19. The device as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 17, wherein the hollow body further comprise a strap attached to the hollow body.

20. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the stringlike elements comprises any one of a snare wires, snare cords, snare cables, wires, strings, cords, or cables.