EP4088275A1 - 2d user interface for a musical instrument for playing combined sequences of chords and tunes, and computer-readable storage medium - Google Patents
2d user interface for a musical instrument for playing combined sequences of chords and tunes, and computer-readable storage mediumInfo
- Publication number
- EP4088275A1 EP4088275A1 EP21777992.5A EP21777992A EP4088275A1 EP 4088275 A1 EP4088275 A1 EP 4088275A1 EP 21777992 A EP21777992 A EP 21777992A EP 4088275 A1 EP4088275 A1 EP 4088275A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- melody
- chord
- user interface
- tone
- zone
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 35
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 24
- 230000005236 sound signal Effects 0.000 claims description 15
- 230000001174 ascending effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000002194 synthesizing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000011295 pitch Substances 0.000 description 36
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003786 synthesis reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003292 diminished effect Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
- G10H1/0008—Associated control or indicating means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
- G10H1/36—Accompaniment arrangements
- G10H1/38—Chord
- G10H1/386—One-finger or one-key chord systems
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
- G10H1/32—Constructional details
- G10H1/34—Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
- G10H1/344—Structural association with individual keys
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- G10H2210/00—Aspects or methods of musical processing having intrinsic musical character, i.e. involving musical theory or musical parameters or relying on musical knowledge, as applied in electrophonic musical tools or instruments
- G10H2210/101—Music Composition or musical creation; Tools or processes therefor
- G10H2210/105—Composing aid, e.g. for supporting creation, edition or modification of a piece of music
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- G10H2210/00—Aspects or methods of musical processing having intrinsic musical character, i.e. involving musical theory or musical parameters or relying on musical knowledge, as applied in electrophonic musical tools or instruments
- G10H2210/395—Special musical scales, i.e. other than the 12- interval equally tempered scale; Special input devices therefor
- G10H2210/525—Diatonic scales, e.g. aeolian, ionian or major, dorian, locrian, lydian, mixolydian, phrygian, i.e. seven note, octave-repeating musical scales comprising five whole steps and two half steps for each octave, in which the two half steps are separated from each other by either two or three whole steps
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- G10H2210/00—Aspects or methods of musical processing having intrinsic musical character, i.e. involving musical theory or musical parameters or relying on musical knowledge, as applied in electrophonic musical tools or instruments
- G10H2210/571—Chords; Chord sequences
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- G10H2220/00—Input/output interfacing specifically adapted for electrophonic musical tools or instruments
- G10H2220/091—Graphical user interface [GUI] specifically adapted for electrophonic musical instruments, e.g. interactive musical displays, musical instrument icons or menus; Details of user interactions therewith
- G10H2220/096—Graphical user interface [GUI] specifically adapted for electrophonic musical instruments, e.g. interactive musical displays, musical instrument icons or menus; Details of user interactions therewith using a touch screen
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- G10H2220/00—Input/output interfacing specifically adapted for electrophonic musical tools or instruments
- G10H2220/155—User input interfaces for electrophonic musical instruments
- G10H2220/161—User input interfaces for electrophonic musical instruments with 2D or x/y surface coordinates sensing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- G10H2220/00—Input/output interfacing specifically adapted for electrophonic musical tools or instruments
- G10H2220/155—User input interfaces for electrophonic musical instruments
- G10H2220/221—Keyboards, i.e. configuration of several keys or key-like input devices relative to one another
- G10H2220/251—Keyboards, i.e. configuration of several keys or key-like input devices relative to one another arranged as 2D or 3D arrays; Keyboards ergonomically organised for playing chords or for transposing, e.g. Janko keyboard
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- G10H2230/00—General physical, ergonomic or hardware implementation of electrophonic musical tools or instruments, e.g. shape or architecture
- G10H2230/045—Special instrument [spint], i.e. mimicking the ergonomy, shape, sound or other characteristic of a specific acoustic musical instrument category
- G10H2230/245—Spint accordion, i.e. mimicking accordions; Electrophonic instruments with one or more typical accordion features, e.g. special accordion keyboards or bellows, electrophonic aspects of mechanical accordions, Midi-like control therefor
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a user interface for a musical instrument according to the subject matter of claim 1, a musical instrument according to the subject matter of claim 8, a method for generating combined chord and melody progressions according to the subject matter of claim 10, and a computer-readable storage medium according to the subject matter of claim 13.
- DE 10 2008 028 328 B4 discloses a device for generating note signals on which chords can be played with a finger. If you move your finger horizontally on an operating device of the device, different inversions of a selected chord are played. If you move your finger in a vertical direction, you change to a different chord. The generation of combined chord and melody sequences is not possible with the device.
- the object of the present invention to create a possibility of generating or playing combined chord and melody sequences in the most intuitive and simple way possible. It should be made possible, in particular, for a musically inexperienced user to play well-sounding and harmonically meaningful chord and melody sequences without having previous knowledge of music theory or harmony theory or having to learn how to play an instrument.
- the present invention is intended to create a possibility for implementing a musical instrument for playing combined chord and melody sequences, which is characterized by a high degree of user-friendliness and ease of use.
- the above object is achieved by a user station according to claim 1, a musical instrument according to claim 8, a method for generating combined chord and melody sequences according to claim 10 and a computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13.
- a user interface for a musical instrument in particular an electronic or virtual musical instrument, for playing combined chord and melody sequences, having a key matrix with a multiplicity of actuable zones arranged in columns and rows, each row of actuatable zones forms a region, each region being assigned a base chord which is preferably a scale chord of a scale, preferably a diatonic scale, each zone being assigned a melody tone which is preferably a melody tone of the scale, the user station being adapted to do so is to generate, upon actuation of a zone in a region, a tone generation command corresponding to the zone and region operated, the tone generation command comprising at least one base chord note command having a pitch contained in the base chord associated with the region operated and a melody note command whose pitch corresponds to the melody tone of the operated zone.
- a core idea of the invention consists in assigning both a base chord and a melody tone to each of the zones that can be activated, so that by actuating a zone a note command can be generated that includes both chord and melody tones.
- Combined chord and melody sequences can thus be generated by (sequentially) operating zones in a completely intuitive and simple manner, without the user having to have the knowledge or learned skills of how chord and melody tones are generated or which ones, as is the case with conventional instruments Tones have to be played on the instrument for this purpose. Since the same chord is assigned to all zones in a region, successive actuation of zones in the same region (i.e. playing movement on the key matrix within the same row) keeps the base chord fixed and only the melody tone changes.
- chord change only takes place when the keyboard matrix is played and a played region is left. It is thus possible for the user, when playing a melody, to see the times of chord changes on the one hand and the times of melody changes on the other page to determine easily and intuitively. Because generating combined chord and melody progressions requires only the sequential operation of zones, combined chord and melody progressions can be played with just one finger. This achieves extremely simple operability of the user station.
- Each note command includes a pitch specification that corresponds to the note to be played. If reference is made to the pitch of a note command, which can be specified by specifying the corresponding note, the terms "note” and “note command” are used synonymously within the scope of the present invention.
- the base chords assigned to the regions are preferably ladder chords of a musical scale. This ensures that the base chords assigned to the regions have a strong harmonic relationship to one another, so that chord changes sound harmonious.
- the scale that serves as the tonal material for the base chords is a diatonic scale.
- the basic chords are inherent chords of the diatonic scale.
- a major scale or a (natural) minor scale is preferably used as the diatonic scale.
- the invention is not limited to diatonic scales or the major and minor scales mentioned as basic tonal material.
- a chromatic scale, a whole tone scale, a pentatonic, octatonic, or other scale or tone scale can be used to provide a desired tonality.
- the tone generation commands generated when a zone is actuated are not limited to any particular format. They can be in the form of control commands for tone generation in a separate tone generator, or they can be configured for direct tone generation.
- the tone generation commands can be configured in the form of MIDI commands that can be output to a corresponding MIDI tone generator for generating an audio signal. These MIDI commands can be predefined and stored on a storage medium for faster access.
- the tone generation commands can be configured to trigger the playback of predefined audio waveforms stored in a storage medium and having corresponding pitches that match those of the zone correspond to associated base chord notes and melody notes. It is also conceivable that the tone generation commands trigger a sound synthesis in a corresponding tone generator or synthesizer.
- the tone generation commands are suitable for causing the direct or indirect generation of a tone or audio signal that has the pitches assigned to the activated zone, so that by actuating a zone of the user interface, the generation of an audio signal with the chord assigned to the zone - and melody tones can be triggered.
- the generation of the tone generation commands is also not subject to any particular restriction.
- the zones are in communication with a computing unit such as a microcontroller or the like.
- the user interface Upon actuation of a zone, the user interface generates an actuation signal associated with the actuated zone.
- the arithmetic unit receives the actuation signal and generates the tone generation command according to the invention based on the assignment of base chords and melody tones to the actuated zone, for example stored in a suitable memory.
- the arithmetic unit can be designed as part of the user interface or be provided separately from it and be designed to receive actuation signals.
- the generation of the tone generation commands can be software-based if the user interface is designed as a software or computer-implemented user interface.
- the user interface can be embodied as part of a MIDI controller, which is also considered a musical instrument within the scope of the present invention.
- the tone generation commands can be output to a MIDI interface via which a correspondingly configured tone generator can be connected to the MIDI controller in order to generate or output corresponding audio signals based on the tone generation commands.
- the assignment of the base chords and melody tones to the zones and regions can be fixed or can be adapted by appropriate user inputs while using the user interface.
- the arrangement of the zones in rows and columns of the key matrix can correspond to an orthogonal grid in which the zones are next to and one above the other are arranged. However, it is also possible for the zones to be arranged in a partially overlapping manner, in particular within a region.
- the layout of the key matrix is also not restricted to a strictly orthogonal arrangement in which the rows are perpendicular to the columns.
- the zones of adjacent regions can also be arranged offset from one another.
- the columns and rows of the key matrix can be arranged so that the columns are vertical and the rows are horizontal. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to design the key matrix in such a way that the columns run horizontally and the rows vertically.
- the basic chords that are assigned to adjacent regions have a tonal distance of a fifth from one another.
- This embodiment is particularly preferred when a diatonic scale, in particular a major scale or a (natural) minor scale, is used as the basic tone material.
- the base chords of neighboring regions have a particularly strong harmonic reference, so that when changing from one region to a neighboring region, a particularly catchy and euphonious chord change is effected without the user having to have any relevant knowledge of harmonics.
- the basic chords which are assigned to adjacent regions have a tonal distance of one third from one another. It is also particularly preferred for this embodiment if a diatonic scale, in particular a major scale or a (natural) minor scale, is used as the tonal material for the base chords and the melody tones.
- a diatonic scale in particular a major scale or a (natural) minor scale
- the zones in each region are assigned melody tones in ascending pitch.
- the melody tones associated with successive zones in each region form a scale, preferably a diatonic scale, more preferably a major scale or a (harmonic) minor scale. It is particularly preferred if the melody tones form the same scale on which the basic chords are based. This embodiment enables an intuitively accessible creation of melodies within each region, since an ascending or descending tonal movement can be realized by a movement in the corresponding direction within the region. If the melody tones are also selected from the same scale that also serves as the tonal material for the base chords, the melody tones are harmoniously matched to the base chords, so that sonically particularly appealing chord and melody sequences can be generated without any previous musical knowledge.
- the same melody tone is assigned to the zones in each column of the key matrix.
- the melody tone when moving along a column of the key matrix, the melody tone remains stable and only the base chord changes. This allows the melody note to act as a harmonic bridge connecting the two base chords. In this way, particularly catchy and at the same time aesthetic and emotionally expressive chord changes can be generated in a simple and intuitive way.
- the pitch of the at least one base chord note command is selected for each zone in such a way that it is below or above the pitch of the melody note command.
- the base chord note command comprises multiple notes, it is preferable that the pitch of all base chord notes is below or above the pitch of the melody tone.
- melody tones can be arranged at any position within the set of notes of the tone generation command with regard to their pitch. Setting the pitches of the base chord notes below the pitch of the melody tone improves the audibility of the melody tone. In some cases it may be desirable to use tones of the base chord as upper parts to the melody tone. In this case, the pitches of the base chord notes are set to be above the pitch of the melody note. It is possible that the pitches of all base chord notes are above the pitch of the melody note. It is also possible to choose the pitches of the base chord notes in such a way that only part of the base chord notes, especially just a base chord note, is above the pitch of the melody tone. In this case, the base chord note, which is pitched above the melody tone, acts as a treble to the melody tone, which may be tonally preferable.
- the base chord note command can also be assigned a different timbre and/or volume than the melody note note command. If the tone generation commands are implemented as MIDI commands, this can be done, for example, by assigning a different MIDI channel and/or a different velocity value to the base chord note command than to the melody note note command.
- the pitch of the at least one base chord note command is selected in such a way that the tonal distance between the melody note command and the nearest base chord note command is greater than a minor second, or alternatively greater than a major second, is. On the one hand, this improves the perceptibility of the melody tone and also avoids the formation of sound combinations from basic chord tones and melody tones, which can be perceived as dissonant.
- the tone generation command for each zone includes a bass note command that corresponds to one of the tones of the base chord, preferably the root of the base chord, and has a pitch that is lower than the pitch of the other note commands. It is also preferred that the bass note command is assigned a different timbre and/or volume than the other note commands. Furthermore, it is preferred that the bass note command is selected in such a way that its pitch does not leave a predetermined pitch range. In a further preferred development, the pitch of the bass tone note command is not changed when zones are operated in succession within the same region.
- the object of the invention is further achieved by a musical instrument, having a user interface according to the above description, and a tone generator that is designed to, based on the tone generation Commands to generate an audio signal for output via an audio output interface.
- the features described in the context of the user interface according to the invention can also be applied to the musical instrument according to the invention, and the advantages and effects achieved thereby also apply to the musical instrument.
- the musical instrument according to the invention makes it possible for users with no musical experience to play combined chord and melody sequences in a simple and intuitive manner without having to have musical knowledge or having to learn skills on an instrument.
- the user can create a combination of chord tones and a melody tone with just one finger. Combined chord and melody sequences can be generated with just one finger by pressing zones one after the other.
- the musical instrument according to the invention with the user interface according to the invention provides a way of playing combined chord and melody sequences that is characterized by a high degree of user-friendliness and ease of use.
- the tone generator is not subject to any particular limitation and only has to be adapted to the format of the tone generation commands. If the tone generation commands are configured as MIDI commands, the tone generator can be designed, for example, as a computer-implemented software instrument or as a MIDI sound module. If the tone generation commands are designed to trigger the playback of predefined audio waveforms stored in a storage medium or to generate sounds by means of sound synthesis, the tone generator can be implemented in a processing unit, for example a microcomputer, of the musical instrument.
- the key matrix of the user interface can be in the form of a keyboard made up of mechanically actuated keys on the musical instrument.
- the musical instrument has a touch-sensitive touch screen, on which the key matrix can be displayed and the zones can be actuated by touching corresponding display areas of the touch screen. This enables a particularly simple transition between adjacent zones when playing the musical instrument.
- the object of the invention is further achieved by a method for generating combined chord and melody progressions, which is carried out using a user interface as described above, and preferably using a musical instrument of the type described above. The procedure has the following steps:
- the features and advantages that are disclosed in the context of the description of the user interface according to the invention and the musical instrument according to the invention can also be transferred to the method according to the invention.
- the user interface can be provided by providing an appropriate arrangement of haptic, mechanical keys, or by displaying the key matrix on a touch-sensitive touch screen. To generate combined chord and melody progressions, the last two steps of the above method are repeatedly performed.
- base chords and melody tones By assigning base chords and melody tones to the zones in accordance with the user interface description above, a user can easily and intuitively generate sonically appealing chord and melody sequences by sequentially actuating different zones of the key matrix with just one finger.
- the method further includes the following steps:
- the method is in the form of a computer-implemented method, the provision of the user interface including the display of the key matrix on a touch screen. That's it possible to carry out the method on mobile digital terminals such as smartphones or tablets, which are immediately available to many users.
- a computer-readable storage medium is also specified within the scope of the invention, which contains instructions which cause at least one processor to execute a computer-implemented method according to the above description when the instructions are executed by the at least one processor.
- the user interface described above and the method described above for generating combined chord and melody progressions can thus be implemented as a virtual instrument that can be installed and executed on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or tablet.
- FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a key matrix of a user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 shows a section of the key matrix from FIG. 1 with note commands which can be generated when the zones shown are actuated;
- FIG. 3 shows a region of the key matrix according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for a method for generating combined chord and melody sequences according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- 1 shows a schematic representation of a key matrix 1 for a user interface of a musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the key matrix 1 can be implemented in the form of mechanical keys or displayed on a touch-sensitive touch screen.
- the key matrix 1 has a multiplicity of actuable zones 111, 12i , II2, 12z, 11n, 12n, which in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are arranged in an orthogonal grid in columns and rows.
- Each zone 1 li, 12i , II2, 122, 11n, 12n is assigned a base chord and a melody tone.
- a tone generation command is generated which includes at least one base chord note command having a pitch contained in the associated base chord and a melody note command having a pitch contained in the corresponds to the assigned melody tone.
- each row of zones forms a region 10i, IO2, ..., 10 n , each of which is associated with a base chord.
- the assignment of the melody tones is selected in such a way that the same melody tone is assigned to all zones within a column (indicated by dashed lines) of the key matrix 1 .
- the base chords assigned to the regions 10i, IO2 , ..., 10n are indicated on the left in each of the regions 10i, IO2 , ..., 10n in FIG.
- the melody tones assigned to the columns are indicated at the lower end of the key matrix 1.
- the region IO4 is assigned the base chord C (C major), region IO3 the base chord Em (E minor), and region 10i the base chord B° (B diminished).
- the zones 1li, II2, ..., lln in the first column each have the melody tone c assigned to them.
- the tones of the C major scale are assigned as melody tones in ascending order to the zones in the following columns.
- the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is thus configured in such a way that all basic chords are chords belonging to the scale of the diatonic scale of C major.
- the tonal distance of the basic chords of adjacent regions is respectively a third.
- All melody tones are also inherent chords of the diatonic scale C major. Zones within the same column are each assigned the same melody tone, so that adjacent zones of adjacent regions are assigned the same melody tone. Successive zones within each region are assigned (left to right) consecutive melodic tones of the diatonic scale of C major in ascending order.
- the zones are designed differently.
- the zones to which a melody tone is assigned, which is also contained in the assigned base chord, are highlighted.
- Zones assigned a melody note that is not included in the base chord are shown dark. It is also conceivable that in each region the zone to which the fundamental tone of the base chord assigned to the region is assigned as the melody tone has a further distinguishable visual configuration.
- the visual design for distinguishing the zones is not limited to the distinction shown in FIG.
- the zones can also be designed to be visually distinguishable by having different sizes, colors or shapes, or by being marked with symbols.
- FIG. 2 shows regions IO3 and IO4 as a section of key matrix 1 from FIG.
- the melody tones assigned to the zones are indicated on the zones for the sake of clarity. Adjacent to each zone are shown notes that may be included in a tone generation command upon actuation of the respective zones. Notes included in the base chord note command are rendered dark. Notes included in the melody note command are rendered brightly.
- the base chord note commands of all zones of region IO3 correspond to tones of the associated base chord E minor, ie the tones e, g and b.
- the base chord note commands of all zones of region IO4 correspond to tones of the associated base chord C major, i.e. c, e and g.
- the pitch of the melody note command is set to be above the pitch of all the base chord note commands.
- the tonal distance between the melody tone and the nearest base chord note is always greater than a large second in order to avoid note combinations within the respective tone generation commands that could be perceived as dissonant.
- the minimum distance between the melody note and the nearest base chord note can be chosen to be greater than a minor second.
- the base chord notes are also chosen according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 so that the tonal distance between the melody tone and the nearest base chord note is less than a fifth is.
- the tone generation commands each include two basic chord note commands. As is indicated for the last zones at the left end of the regions IO3, IO4 with notes shown in broken lines, more than two basic chord note commands can also be provided for a fuller sound.
- the base chord notes are layered so as to be as close to each other as possible. However, it is also possible to choose the base chord notes in larger tonal intervals and to distribute them over several octaves, or to assign base chord notes in different octaves several times. It is also possible to assign base chord note commands to the zones with a pitch higher than the pitch of the melody tone.
- the base chord remains unchanged and only the melodic character of the sound produced by the tone generation commands is changed. the User is thus able to play a melody over a fixed base chord.
- the melody tone remains stable and the base chord is changed.
- the melody tone acts as a harmonic bridge connecting successive base chords.
- By layering the base chords of successive regions in thirds, moving along a column creates chord changes that are particularly expressive due to the successive alternations between major and minor base chords.
- Due to the layering of the basic chords in thirds the basic chords of neighboring regions also have a high tonal agreement, so that the harmonic changes that occur when moving from one region to the neighboring region sound particularly fluid and melodically understandable. It is thus possible to play combined chord and melody sequences with just one finger by successively actuating a number of zones, for example zones adjacent to one another. This makes the user interface very user-friendly and allows playing combined chord and melody progressions without any special musical knowledge.
- the targeted change between tense and relaxed sounds when generating combined chord and melody sequences is further supported and facilitated by the visual design of the zones shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Due to the visual design, the user without any theoretical knowledge of music is intuitively able to between tense sounding and relaxed-sounding chord and melody tone combinations: the relaxed-sounding tone combinations are created by activating the brightly shown zones, to which a tone is assigned as the melody tone that is also contained in the assigned base chord. The zones shown in dark show an association of base chord note commands and melody note commands that have a tense sound character. Thus, the user interface allows a simple change between tense and relaxed combinations of chord and melody tones without requiring any knowledge of music theory.
- the present invention is not limited to the melody tones assigned to the zones originating from the same tonal material as the base chords assigned to the regions.
- 3 shows a schematic representation of a region 10 n according to a further embodiment of the present invention, in which the melody tones associated with the zones in the region 10 n form a chromatic scale, while the base chord associated with the region is a scale-specific chord of the diatonic scale is C major.
- Zones in region 10 n are partially overlapping. Zones associated with a melody tone contained in the base chord associated with the region 10 n (C major in the example shown in Fig. 3) are highlighted and arranged in a bottom row in the region 10 n . Zones associated with a melody tone that is not contained in the base chord associated with the region, but is contained in the diatonic scale associated with the base chord, are shown dark and offset above the light zones.
- the region 10 n also contains zones that are assigned a melody tone that is not contained in the diatonic scale associated with the base chord. These zones 14' n , 15' n , 16' n are offset upwards relative to the dark zones.
- the arrangement and visual representation of the zones is chosen in such a way that zones are arranged according to increasing tonal tension between the base chord and melody tone, so that the increase and reduction of tonal tension when generating combined chord and melody sequences can be intuitively implemented by the user.
- 4 schematically shows a flow chart of a method for generating combined chord and melody progressions according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the method shown in FIG User interface is included, or executed as a computer-implemented method when the user interface is embedded in a virtual musical instrument that is installed and executed on a digital user device such as a smartphone or a tablet.
- a zone of the user interface is actuated.
- An input signal is generated from the user interface that contains information about which zone and region of the key matrix was actuated.
- the input signal includes other information such as velocity when actuating the zone, information about gestures performed on the user interface in the case of implementation on a touch screen, and the like.
- a tone generation command is generated in step 210.
- Generation of the tone generation command may be accomplished, for example, by loading pre-stored tone generation commands associated with the actuated zone.
- the tone generation command can be calculated in real time based on the information contained in the input signal.
- the tone generation commands generated in step 210 can be stored in a memory 240 in order to ensure optimal tonal voice guidance, which can be ensured by a corresponding advantageous selection of the pitches of the base chord note commands and the melody note command.
- the previously generated tone generation commands can be retrieved from memory 240.
- a tone generation command can thus be generated not only on the basis of the input made in step 200 via the user interface, but also as a function of previously generated tone generation commands.
- This information or control signals include, for example, voice leading rules for determining the pitches of base chord and melody note commands, definitions of pitch ranges within which base chord, bass or melody notes must lie, specifications regarding tonal minimum and maximum distances between base chord notes and melody tones, information about timbres, volumes and/or, where appropriate, MIDI channels of bass, base chord and melody note instructions and the like.
- an audio signal corresponding to the tone generation command is generated on the basis of the tone generation command generated in this way. This can be done, for example, by loading one or more previously stored audio samples from a storage medium, or by calculating or synthesizing audio signals with pitches corresponding to the tone generation command in real time.
- the audio signal generated in step 220 is output via an audio output interface.
- the audio output interface can be a wired, wireless or other communication interface, such as a jack, a Bluetooth connection or a data network connection such as an Internet connection, via which the audio signal is forwarded to a sound generating device.
- the audio output interface can be formed by a loudspeaker or headphones, via which a direct sound reproduction of the audio signal takes place.
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Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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DE102020125748.1A DE102020125748B3 (en) | 2020-10-01 | 2020-10-01 | User interface for a musical instrument for playing combined chord and melody sequences, musical instrument, method for generating combined chord and melody sequences and computer-readable storage medium |
PCT/EP2021/075330 WO2022069227A1 (en) | 2020-10-01 | 2021-09-15 | 2d user interface for a musical instrument for playing combined sequences of chords and tunes, and computer-readable storage medium |
Publications (2)
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EP4088275A1 true EP4088275A1 (en) | 2022-11-16 |
EP4088275B1 EP4088275B1 (en) | 2024-02-21 |
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EP21777992.5A Active EP4088275B1 (en) | 2020-10-01 | 2021-09-15 | 2d user interface for a musical instrument to play combined chord and melody sequences |
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US (1) | US20230326435A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP4088275B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN116457868A (en) |
DE (1) | DE102020125748B3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2022069227A1 (en) |
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US6703552B2 (en) | 2001-07-19 | 2004-03-09 | Lippold Haken | Continuous music keyboard |
US6670535B2 (en) * | 2002-05-09 | 2003-12-30 | Clifton L. Anderson | Musical-instrument controller with triad-forming note-trigger convergence points |
DE102008028328B4 (en) | 2008-06-13 | 2010-06-10 | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. | Apparatus and method for generating a note signal upon manual input |
US8426716B2 (en) | 2011-01-07 | 2013-04-23 | Apple Inc. | Intelligent keyboard interface for virtual musical instrument |
US8940992B2 (en) | 2012-03-06 | 2015-01-27 | Apple Inc. | Systems and methods thereof for determining a virtual momentum based on user input |
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2020
- 2020-10-01 DE DE102020125748.1A patent/DE102020125748B3/en active Active
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2021
- 2021-09-15 CN CN202180077299.9A patent/CN116457868A/en active Pending
- 2021-09-15 EP EP21777992.5A patent/EP4088275B1/en active Active
- 2021-09-15 US US18/028,113 patent/US20230326435A1/en active Pending
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CN116457868A (en) | 2023-07-18 |
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US20230326435A1 (en) | 2023-10-12 |
WO2022069227A1 (en) | 2022-04-07 |
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