U.S. patent number 3,555,166 [Application Number 04/714,277] was granted by the patent office on 1971-01-12 for guitar-like electronic musical instrument with plural manuals.
Invention is credited to Robert A. Gasser.
United States Patent |
3,555,166 |
Gasser |
January 12, 1971 |
GUITAR-LIKE ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WITH PLURAL MANUALS
Abstract
An electronic musical instrument for simulating a stringed
instrument, such as a guitar, wherein the main body of the
instrument is coupled to an elongated fingerboard member extending
outwardly therefrom with the member having a plurality of
key-actuated switches thereon with the keys of the switches being
arranged in rows corresponding to the manual positions of strings,
each key and switch representing a particular position along a
string. Tone generator means carried by the body is coupled to the
switches to produce the various tones which simulate the plucking
of the strings. Means is provided on the body to interlock the
switches of several rows to permit various chords to be played by
actuating the keys in different rows. An accordion-type keyboard is
provided to operate the tone generator means in accompaniment with
the actuation of said keys. The member is shiftably mounted on the
body so that the instrument can be disassembled.
Inventors: |
Gasser; Robert A. (Campbell,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
24869394 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/714,277 |
Filed: |
March 19, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
84/600; 84/722;
84/601; 984/346 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G10H
1/342 (20130101); G10H 2230/145 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G10H
1/34 (20060101); G10h 001/00 (); G10h 005/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;84/1.01,1.04,1.06--1.08,1.11,1.14,1.16,1.17,1.19,1.24,(CDEGIKNV) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Ray; W. E.
Claims
I claim:
1. In an electronic musical instrument for simulating a stringed
instrument: a main body; an elongated member secured to and
extending from the body, the member presenting a fingerboard for
the instrument; a number of actuatable switches carried by said
member, each switch having an actuating key provided with a
generally flat outer surface substantially parallel to said member,
the keys being in spaced, respective rows extending longitudinally
of the member, at least one of said rows having a pair of parallel
rails secured to said member and disposed on opposed sides of the
keys of said one row; and means coupled with said keys for mounting
the same for reciprocation on said member with the keys in each row
being substantially in end-to-end alignment.
2. In a musical instrument as set forth in claim 1, wherein each
rail has a convex outer surface substantially spanning the distance
between the key and the proximal surface of said member.
3. In a musical instrument for simulating a stringed instrument; a
main body; an elongated member secured to an extending laterally
from the body; a plurality of tone generators; a first switch
carried by the member for each tone generator respectively, the
first switches having respective actuating keys disposed in
respective rows extending longitudinally of the member and movable
toward the member to actuate the switch and thereby the respective
tone generator; a number of second switches carried by said body,
there being a second switch for the first switches corresponding to
each row of keys respectively, said first and second switches being
coupled together to permit a tone generator to be energized when
the corresponding first and second switches are simultaneously
actuated; and interlock means coupled with said second switches for
simultaneously actuating at least a pair of the second
switches.
4. In a musical instrument as set forth in claim 3, wherein said
second switches and said interlock means include a number of
shiftable keys mounted on said body in a position to be accessible
to the fingers of one hand as the keys of the switches on said
member are accessible to the fingers of the other hand.
5. In a musical instrument as set forth in claim 3, wherein said
second switches have respective shiftable actuating keys, said
interlock means including a group of movable keys coupled to the
keys of said second switches, each key of said group being disposed
to simultaneously shift respective keys of said second
switches.
6. In a musical instrument as set forth in claim 3, wherein said
second switches have respective actuating keys, and wherein is
included a third group of keys arranged to simulate an
accordian-type keyboard, said third group of keys being disposed on
said body at a location adjacent to the keys of said second group
of keys; and tone generator structure carried by the body and
coupled with the keys of said keyboard.
7. In a musical instrument as set forth in claim 6, wherein is
included a plurality of pushbutton devices adjacent to said
keyboard and coupled to said tone generator structure, said devices
presenting chord buttons for use with said third group of keys.
8. In a musical instrument as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of
certain of said tone generators has means for varying the frequency
of the output tone thereof, and including a number of key actuated
switch devices secured to the body, each switch device being
coupled to the frequency varying means of a respective one of said
certain tone generators to vary the tone frequency of the same.
9. In a musical instrument for simulating a stringed instrument: a
main body; an elongated member having a plurality of actuatable
switches secured thereto; tone generator means carried by the body;
means mounting the member on said body for movement into and out of
an operative position with the member extending outwardly from the
body; and means interconnecting the switches and said tone
generator means to permit the latter to be energized in response to
the actuation of said switches.
10. A musical instrument as set forth in claim 9, wherein said
mounting means includes a hinge, said interconnecting means
including a flexible cable; and means for releasably locking the
member in said operative position.
11. In a musical instrument as set forth in claim 9, wherein the
mounting means includes a unit having a pin device and a socket
device for receiving the pins of said pin device, one of the
devices being connected to the body and the other device being
connected to the member.
12. In a musical instrument as set forth in claim 11, wherein the
pin device is mounted on one side of the member and the socket
device is mounted on the outer face of the body, said pins of the
pin device defining parts of said interconnecting means.
13. In a musical instrument as set forth in claim 11, wherein said
pin device includes a number of pins projecting outwardly from one
end face of said member, said socket device being secured to an end
wall of the body, said interconnecting means including a component
having respective parts on said one end of the member and said end
wall of the body.
14. A musical instrument for simulating a stringed instrument
comprising: a main body; an elongated member having a plurality of
first actuatable switches thereon, there being a shiftable
actuating key for each first switch respectively, said keys being
arranged in respective rows extending longitudinally of said
member; means mounting said member on said body for movement into
and out of operative position relative thereto with the member
extending outwardly from the body; a tone generator means carried
by the body and being energizable to produce different musical
tones; means coupling said tone generator man means to respective
switches on the member for energizing the tone generator means in
response to the shifting of respective keys; a number of second key
actuated switches mounted on the body and coupled to the first
switches of respective rows to permit the tone generator means to
be energized only when the corresponding first and second switches
are actuated; interlock means coupled with said second switches for
simultaneously moving respective keys thereof to thereby actuate
the corresponding second switches; a third group of key actuated
switches mounted on the body adjacent to said second switches and
coupled to a second set of tone generator means, said third group
of switches having keys arranged to present an accordian-type
keyboard; a number of pushbutton devices adjacent to said second
and third switches and connected to said tone generator means to
present chord buttons cooperable with said keyboard, said tone
generator means having structure for varying the frequencies of
certain musical tones thereof; manually actuated means carried by
the body and coupled to said structure of said tone generator means
for selectively varying the frequencies of said certain musical
tones; and a pair of parallel rails for at least one of said rows
of keys on the member, said rails extending longitudinally of the
member on opposite sides of said one row.
Description
This invention relates to improvements in musical instruments and,
more particularly, to electronic musical instruments for simulating
a stringed instrument.
The present invention is directed to improvements in electronic
musical instruments of the type having a finger board provided with
a number of rows of actuatable switches adjacent to the positions
along which the strings are normally disposed. In the present
invention, no strings are utilized, the switches being the only
actuatable parts on the fingerboard whereby tone generator means
carried by the main body of the instrument is actuated by the
actuation of the switches to provide various musical tones.
A quitarlike quitarlike musical instrument has been disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 3,340,343 wherein a fingerboard having key actuated
switches therein is secured to a main body which houses the tone
generators actuated by the switches. The keys on the fingerboards
are pivotally mounted thereon and present projections which are
spaced relatively widely apart.
The present invention provides improvements over an instrument of
the type described by providing means for permitting such an
instrument to be played more easily to reduce the instruction time
required to play the instrument and to allow the instrument to be
more versatile in producing musical sounds.
One significant improvement in the provision of switch-actuating
keys on the fingerboard of the instrument which more readily
conform to the configuration of a string and have guide means
thereon to facilitate the movement of the fingers from one key to
another. To this end, each key has an outer surface which is
generally parallel with the fingerboard so that the keys are,
except for small breaks therebetween, substantially continuous
along the fingerboard. Also, the keys are movable along a
rectilinear path into and out of the fingerboard rather than being
pivoted so that the keys will be depressed when they are engaged at
any location thereon by the fingers. Moreover, the elongated outer
surface of the keys are configured to allow the fingers to move
smoothly along the fingerboard from one key to another.
Another important aspect of the invention is the provision of
interlock means on the main body of the instrument for permitting
simultaneous actuation of the fingerboard switches in several rows.
Thus, the tone generating means corresponding to such actuated
switches can simultaneously produce a number of musical notes to
form specific chords.
An accordian-type keyboard can be provided on the main body of the
instrument and coupled to the tone generator means for producing
particular musical sounds in accompaniment with the musical notes
provided by actuating the fingerboard switches.
The main body of the instrument can also be provided with manually
actuated keys coupled to the tone generator means to change the
frequencies of certain of the musical tones produced thereby. This
feature permits the player to play different musical keys without
changing the fingering of the instrument. These shifts in pitch are
accomplished electronically and preferably cover the more popular
keys. This feature is analogous to the "Capo D'Astro" effect
presently used, for instance, by some guitarists.
A further important feature of the invention is the provision of
rails adjacent to and along the fingerboard keys of at least one
row. The keys protrude above the rails allowing the player to slide
his fingers up and down the fingerboard with ease, the rails acting
as guides for the fingers much as the strings do on a standard
instrument. This feature contributes greatly to the "feel" of the
instrument.
Another aspect of the invention is the provision of bars between
groups of keys on the fingerboard to simulate the frets on a
standard instrument. This feature provides for easier
identification of the keys and would assist the player in stopping
a hand movement as well as to improve the "feel" of the
instrument.
A further feature and improvement of the invention is the provision
of means by which keys on the fingerboard for playing the same
musical note are coupled in parallel to the same tone generator.
This feature minimizes the number of tone generators required to
play the instrument and thereby reduces its production cost.
Still another feature of the invention is the way in which the
fingerboard can be shiftably mounted on the main body of the
instrument and releasably held in a fixed operative position
thereon. This feature allows the instrument to be disassembled and
easily moved or stored when it is not being used.
The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved
stringless musical instrument having electronic tone generators
actuated by a number of switches on a fingerboard whereby the
instrument simulates a standard stringed instrument and can be
efficiently played in substantially the same manner as the standard
instrument while assuring that the switches are constructed and
located to provide "feel" of the instrument to minimize instruction
time required to play the same.
Another object of this invention is to provide a musical instrument
of the type described wherein the main body of the instrument has
key means thereon which control the switches on the fingerboard in
a manner to permit the switches simulating several strings of the
standard instrument to be played simultaneously to thereby permit
different musical chords to be produced.
A further object of this invention is to provide a musical
instrument of the type described wherein the fingerboard of the
instrument can be shiftably mounted on the main body thereof to
permit the latter to be disassembled so as to facilitate carrying
or storing the same.
Another object of this invention is to provide an instrument of the
type described which has key means on its main body for actuation
to produce musical sounds in accompaniment to the sounds played by
the actuation of the fingerboard switches to thereby provide
versatility for the instrument.
Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the
following specification progresses, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings for various illustrations of the
invention.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the musical instrument;
FIG. 1A and 1B show the comparison between the fingerboard of this
invention and a fingerboard of a standard guitar;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a number of interlock keys
thereof;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the fingerboard of
the instrument;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, top plan view of the fingerboard
of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the switches on
the fingerboard;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of the
fingerboard;
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the fingerboard of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, schematic view of the circuitry for the
instrument;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, schematic view of the instrument showing
one way of disassembling the same;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, schematic view of the instrument showing
a second form of the way in which it is disassembled; and
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the instrument showing
a third way in which it can be disassembled.
The musical instrument which forms the subject of this invention is
broadly denoted by the numeral 10 and includes a main body 12 and a
fingerboard member 14 secured to and extending outwardly from body
12 in the manner shown in FIG. 1. While the teachings of the
invention can be utilized to simulate any stringed instrument, it
will hereinafter be described with respect to an instrument for
simulating a guitar.
Member 14 is shown in FIG. 1A in comparison with a fingerboard
member 14a of a standard guitar having strings 14b extending
longitudinally thereof. The purpose of the comparison is to show
the relative positions of the various actuating keys 16 of member
for the plurality of switches 18 carried thereby with keys 16
representing the string segments denoted by the numeral 16a (FIG.
1B) of member 14a. Such string segments span the distance between
respective frets 16b on member 14a and the length of each key 16 is
essentially the same length as the corresponding segment 16a.
Moreover, there are the same number of transversely aligned sets of
keys 16 as the number of sets of string segments 16a. To this end,
there are six rows of keys 16 and there are approximately 20 keys
in each row. This corresponds to the standard fingerboard of a
guitar whose six strings cooperate with approximately 21 frets to
define the various sets of strings segments 16a.
Each key 16 has a switch 18 shown schematically in FIG. 8 which is
actuated when its key 16 is depressed. To this end, member 14 has,
in a preferred embodiment of the invention, slots 20 for each key
16 (FIG. 3), the inner end 22 thereof being coupled to the switch
for actuating the same. Any means of coupling the key with its
switch can be provided as desired.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 4, each pair of adjacent keys 16 has a
small bar 14 therebetween, bars 24 being secured in any suitable
manner to member 14. Bars 24 define frets and better identify the
positions of the keys relative to each other to enhance the "feel"
of the instrument.
A pair of longitudinally extending rails 26 are preferably provided
on member 14 on opposed sides of each row of keys 16 respectively.
Each key 16 extends above the adjacent rails 26, the latter having
convex outer surfaces as shown in FIG. 3. The rails allow the
fingers to slide along member 14 with the same ease as during the
fingering of strings of a standard instrument. Thus, the rails act
as guides for the fingers much the same way as do guitar strings.
This feature contributes to the "feel" of the instrument and
minimizes the instruction time required to learn how to play
instrument 10.
FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the arrangement of the keys
wherein no rails are provided and no frets are used. Also, member
14 may have the construction shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein the
keys 16 do not have rails 26 and the keys in each row are spaced
apart sufficiently to permit a fret 24a to be disposed between each
pair of sets of keys 16, frets 24a being coupled in any suitable
manner to member 14. Frets 24a resemble and feel like frets 16b
(FIG. 1B) to thereby contribute to the "feel" of the
instrument.
In all three embodiments of the key arrangement, each key 16 has an
elongated, outer surface 28 which is generally parallel with the
upper surface 31 of member 14 with both ends of surface 28 being
convex as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. The keys are shiftable along a
rectilinear path into and out of slots 20 of member 14 in contrast
to be rotatably mounted thereon. Thus, the switch associated with
each key 16 is effectively actuated regardless of where the key is
touched. A suitable means (not shown) is used to bias keys 16
outwardly of member 14 so that they will return to initial
positions after being depressed.
Interlock means 30 is mounted on body 12 and is coupled with keys
16. The purpose of means 30 is not only to couple switches 18 to an
electronic circuit containing specific tone generators (hereinafter
described) but also to permit switches 18 of two or more rows on
member 14 to be simultaneously actuated. This feature allows
various chords to be played by simulating the fingering of several
strings. Thus, there will be six keys 32 accessible to the fingers
of one hand when the fingers of the other hand are used to depress
keys 16. Keys 32 actuate respective switches 38 (FIG. 8), so that,
before any one of the keys 16 can cause a musical note to be
played, the corresponding key 32 must first be depressed.
To form a chord by the use of switches 18 in different rows, it is
desirable that corresponding keys 32 be depressed by a single
manual function. To this end, there are five secondary keys 34
which are capable of simultaneously depressing respective keys 32.
Thus, the first key 34 will depress the first two keys 32, and so
on. Keys 34 also have means for returning them to their normal
positions when they are released. Keys 32 and 34 thus provide a
right-hand function for the player as the left-hand is used to
actuate keys 16, assuming a right-handed player is using the
instrument.
A number of tone generators broadly denoted by the numeral 36 are
carried by body 12 preferably therewithin, assuming the body to be
a hollow housing. Each tone generator will be adapted to provide a
particular musical sound and is coupled in series with a
corresponding switch 18 (FIG. 8). Each switch 18 is of the
single-pole, double-throw type and one side of each switch
corresponding to a particular row is coupled in series with the
corresponding switch 38, the latter serving to connect switches 18
in a circuit containing a power source. When a switch 18 and the
corresponding switch 38 are actuated, the tone generator 36
corresponding to the actuated switch 18 is connected to the power
source to produce the tone. Also, switches 18 are arranged as shown
in FIG. 8 so that only the output of the tone generator 36
corresponding to the highest tone of a particular row of switches
will be actuated. For instance, if both switches 18 corresponding
to an F tone and a G tone are depressed, only the tone generator
corresponding to the G tone will be actuated. In FIG. 8, a key 34
is shown in dashed lines in a position to cause a pair of switches
38 corresponding to adjacent rows of switches 18 to be
simultaneously closed. This is the same as depressing key 34 to
simultaneously depress at least a pair of keys 32.
Another important feature of the invention is the way in which
switches 18 of different rows can be coupled in parallel to the
same tone generator to minimize equipment costs and to conserve
space and weight in body 12. As an example, the musical note C is
located in the second row at the first position, in the third row
at the fifth position, in the fourth row at the tenth position, and
in the fifth row at the fifteenth position. Thus switches 18
corresponding to these positions can be coupled to a single C tone
generator 36 to actuate the same. Similar duplications of musical
tones can be achieved at different locations on member 14, thus
reducing the number of tone generators required.
The keys can be provided with different colors or marked with
indicia or the like to quickly locate positions or groups of keys.
The different colors or indicia used to distinguish the keys would
be located at the positions where a standard guitar has the
position markers located. This feature minimizes the instruction
time required to learn how to play the instrument.
An accordian-type keyboard 40 is mounted on the front face of body
12 adjacent to interlock means 30. The keyboard has keys 42 which
can be depressed to actuate particular tone generators (not shown),
similar to tone generators 36 carried in body 12, to contribute
notes or melodies or combinations of both for accompaniment with
the musical sounds produced by actuating switches 18 and 38. The
keyboard will preferably have its own volume control and stop keys
for different effects. The keys would be arranged chromatically and
in positions to be readily accessible to the fingers of the hand
which actuates keys 32 and 34.
Adjacent to keyboard 40 are pushbuttons 44 coupled to particular
tone generators (not shown) which, when actuated one at a time,
would provide a chord accompaniment with the sounds produced by
depressing keys 42. Enough of these buttons could be provided to
enable many guitarists to accompany themselves with chords of
different types. Preferably, all six interlock switches
corresponding to keys 32 will be locked in the closed position
while the player accompanies himself with chords produced by
actuating pushbuttons 42.
A third group of keys 46 mounted on body 12 adjacent to interlock
means 30 are coupled to certain of the tone generators 36 for
shifting the frequencies of the output tones thereof. To this end,
each of such tone generators will have suitable frequency varying
structure 47 actuated by a respective switch 49 to permit such
frequency variations. Each switch 49 is operated by a respective
key 46. In this way, a person playing a song or chord can, by
merely depressing a key 46, cause the sound to be heard in a
different musical key without changing the fingering of keys
16.
To permit disassembly of instrument 10, member 14 is shiftably
mounted on body 12 for movement into and out of the operative
position of FIG. 1. One way of doing this is shown in FIG. 9
wherein a hinge 48 interconnects body 12 and member 14 so that the
member can swing into and out of its operative position. A flexible
cable 50 extends between the proximal ends of body 12 and member 14
and carries the electrical leads which interconnect switches 18 and
tone generators 36. A suitable structure (not shown) is provided to
releasably lock member 14 in its operative position.
A second way of mounting member 14 on body 12 is shown in FIG. 10
wherein body 12 has the female portion 52 of a pin and socket unit;
whereas, member 14 has the male portion 54 thereof. A pair of loops
56 are movable into align with each other and a pin is placed in
the aligned loops to releasably lock member 14 on body 12 when the
pins 58 of portion 54 are received within recesses 60 in portion
52. The pins of portion 54 can also serve as part of the electrical
connection between switches 18 and tone generators 36.
A third way of mounting member 14 on body 12 is to provide a number
of pins 62 on an end face 64 of member 14 for movement into aligned
holes 66 formed in an end wall 68 of body 12. A plate 70 having
keyways 72 is shiftably mounted on body 12 and movable transversely
of pin 62 so that the plate 70 is received within grooves 74 in
pins 62 to releasably lock member 14 to body 12. A suitable male
and female electrical connector unit 76 is mounted in two parts on
body 12 and member 14 for mutual interconnection when the member is
in the operative position of FIG. 1.
In use, instrument 10 is held so that one of the hands operates
keys 16 while the other hand operates the various keys on body 12.
The electronic circuitry of instrument 10 will include an audio
unit having a speaker mounted on body 12 or at a location remote
from instrument 10.
The instrument is played by depressing keys 16 to actuate switches
18 in a prescribed manner. However, before the tone generator of
each key can be actuated, the corresponding keys 32 must be
depressed to actuate switches 38. The various keys 32 can be
simultaneously depressed by a key or keys 34 so that the tone
generators of the corresponding rows of member 14 can be actuated
immediately upon depressing the corresponding key 16. Keyboard 40
can be used in accompaniment with the actuation of keys 16 to
produce particular types of musical sounds which accompany the
sounds caused by depressing switches 16. This feature provides for
increased versatility of instrument 10. Also, pushbuttons 44 can be
depressed along the keys of keyboard 40 to further provide for
distinctive sounds and tones.
During the actual manipulation of keys 16, keys 46 can also be
depressed to change the pitch of musical keys of one or more tone
generators to add to the musical effects caused by depressing keys
16.
When it is desired to disassemble instrument 10, member 14 is
shifted relative to body 12 and, to this end, member 14 can be
connected in any one of the three ways shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11
to effect this movement. The instrument can then be carried more
conveniently since it occupies less space and a suitable carrying
case can be provided for the instrument in this condition.
While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and
described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and
modifications of this device can be made without departing from the
true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *