JPS6412393B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to electronic stringed instruments, and in particular, each string is divided into a first part and a second part by a string divider, and the first part is divided into a first part and a second part by a string divider. The present invention relates to an electronic stringed instrument in which a second part is used to detect a plucked string in detecting the position of a fret in contact with a string based on pressure, and the functions of each string are assigned to separate parts of a single string.

<Prior art> In general, each string of an electronic stringed instrument is used to realize two types of functions: specifying the pitch of the musical tone to be sounded and specifying the timing at which the musical tone is generated. It was necessary to determine whether the information obtained through the vibration of strings, etc. was a specification of pitch or the timing of sound production of a musical tone.

Therefore, it has been proposed to share the above-mentioned two types of functions with separate strings; for example, European Patent Application No. 84303144.4 discloses an electronic musical instrument with two sets of strings. This electronic musical instrument has a plurality of pitch strings in its neck, and current is passed through these pitch strings, and when the pitch strings are pressed by the player, the pitch strings come into contact with the frets, causing the player to The pressed position is determined. On the other hand, trigger strings that are completely separate from the pitch strings are provided in the body section, corresponding to each of the plurality of pitch strings, and the player strings these trigger strings to determine the timing of musical sound generation. Supplies the tone generator.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> The electronic stringed instrument disclosed in the above European Patent Application No. 84303144.4 specifies the pitch of a musical tone to be produced and the timing of the tone to be produced in two sets of strings. Since the electrical circuits attached to the electronic stringed instrument no longer need to separate the input information, they can support each set of strings in the neck or body, and handle string tension, etc. Two sets of mechanisms are required to adjust the string support state. Moreover, for example, in the case of a pitch string support/adjustment mechanism, in order to bring the string into contact with a predetermined fret when the string is pressed, the distance between the string and the fret must be set accurately within a predetermined range. Stringed instruments had specific requirements depending on the role of each string, and the support and adjustment mechanism for each set of strings had a precise structure. Therefore, if we try to miniaturize such precise string support and adjustment mechanisms so that they do not interfere with the performance and place them in the narrow neck and body sections, electronic stringed instruments become complicated.
There was a problem that manufacturing costs increased.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention separates the realization of the function of specifying the pitch of a musical tone to be sounded and the realization of the function of specifying the timing of sound generation of a musical tone, and then provides a string support/adjustment mechanism. The aim is to simplify the process and reduce the manufacturing cost of electronic stringed instruments.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention provides a string that can propagate vibrations, a string tensioning means for tensioning and supporting the string and adjusting the tension state, and a string that is in contact with the middle part of the string and is connected to the string. a dividing means for dividing the string into a first part and a second part and for preventing vibrations propagating in either the first part or the second part from being transmitted to the other part, and the first part of the string is pressed. a plurality of frets, at least one of which the first portion can come into contact with; and fret position detection that detects the frets that the string is in contact with and generates a musical tone with a pitch corresponding to the fret based on the detection result. and plucked string detection means that detects the plucked string based on the vibration of the second portion when the player plucked the second portion of the string, and instructs generation of a musical tone based on the detection result. The gist is what has been constructed.

<Operations and Effects> The present invention provides that if a string is divided using a dividing means, vibrations propagating through one part of the divided string will not be transmitted to the other part, and each part of the divided string will have a different function. This was done with a focus on the ability to share the realization of the strings, and the first string is in contact with the middle part of the string, which is supported by the stringing means and is capable of transmitting vibrations.
Vibration isolation is performed by a dividing means that divides the vibration into a portion and a second portion and prevents vibrations propagating through either the first portion or the second portion from being transmitted to the other portion. When the string is thus divided into a first part and a second part, during performance, the first part is used to specify the pitch of the musical note to be sounded, and the second part is used to give the timing of the sound. . That is, when a performer presses a predetermined position of the first part of the string in order to generate a musical tone of a specific pitch, the first part of the string is pressed at least one of a plurality of frets depending on the pressed position. make contact with one. Therefore, when the fret position detecting means detects a fret in contact with the first portion of the string, the pitch of the musical tone to be produced is designated based on the detection result. Next, when the player plays the second part of the string, the plucked string detection means detects the plucked string based on the vibration of the second part, and based on the detection result, the production of a musical tone of a predetermined pitch is instructed. Ru. Therefore, a single string is divided into two parts, each of which contributes to the realization of a different function, but one set of strings is used for tensioning, supporting, and adjusting the strings. All that is required is a stringing means, as described in European Patent Application No.
It is sufficient to have half of the electronic string instruments disclosed in No. 84303144.4. As a result, the electronic stringed instrument can be simplified and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a six-string guitar, and numeral 11 indicates the body of the guitar. The neck portion 12 of the body 11 has n frets 13 ₁ , perpendicular to its longitudinal direction.
13 ₂ , . Strings 15 ₁ , . . . 15 _{2 .} . . , 15 ₆ of different steel bare wires (or windings) are stretched substantially parallel to each other. These string windings SH and the tail piece 14 constitute a tensioning means.
In the vicinity of the neck portion 12, there are six ceramic piezoelectric elements 16 ₁ as fret position detection means.
16 ₂ , . . . , 16 ₆ are in contact with the strings 15 ₁ , 15 _{2 ,} . , a pair of bolts planted in the body 11 pass through a bridge holder 17 so as to be able to slide vertically, and the bridge holder 17 connects the strings 15 ₁ , 15 to a nut 18 screwed onto the pair of bolts. It is pressed with an elastic force of ₂ ,..., ₁₅₆ . Holes having a substantially rectangular cross section are bored in the bridge holder 17 at regular intervals from each other, and strings 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ , . . . , 15 are inserted into these holes.
Adjustment screws 19 ₁ , 19 ₂ , ..., in a direction approximately parallel to ₆ .
19 ₆ is extended. These adjustment screws 19 ₁ , 1
The heads of the pieces 9 ₂ , . . . 19 ₆ are exposed on the side wall of the piece receiver 17 and can be rotated with a screwdriver or the like. Pieces 20 ₁ , 20 ₂ , ..., 20 ₆ carrying piezoelectric elements 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ , ..., 16 ₆ are screwed onto the adjustment screws 19 ₁ , 19 ₂ , ..., 19 ₆ ,
The rotation of pieces 20 ₁ , 20 ₂ , ..., 20 ₆ is done by piece receiver 1.
7, so the adjustment screws 19 ₁ , 19
By the rotation of ₂ ,..., ₁₉₆ , the pieces ₂₀₁ , ₂₀₂ ,...
..., 20 ₆ are adjustment screws 19 ₁ , 19 ₂ , ..., 19 ₆
in the axial direction, that is, the chords 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ , ..., 1
5 Move in the direction of extension of ₆ .

Referring again to FIG. 1, the piezoelectric elements 16 ₁ ,
_{16 2} , . damper 2
2 is attached. Strings 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ , ..., 1
5 ₆ comes into contact with the upper surfaces of _the piezoelectric elements 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ , _. They are in contact with the upper surfaces of 23 ₂ , ..., 23 ₆ , respectively. These piezoelectric elements 2
3 ₁ , 23 ₂ , ..., 23 ₆ are piezoelectric elements 16 ₁ , 16
₂ ,..., 16 ₆ , it is supported by the pieces shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Like this string 15
₁ , 15 ₂ , ..., 15 ₆ is string divider 2
1, the first portion of the piezoelectric elements 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ , ..., 16 ₆ contacts with the piezoelectric elements 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ , ..., 2
It is divided into 3 _{and 6} contacting second parts, and
Piezoelectric elements 16 are attached to the strings 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ , ..., 15 _6
1 , 16 ₂ , ..., 16 ₆ and string divider 2
Since a large Kosi angle (angle with the surface of the body 11) is formed between the strings 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ ,
The vibrations of the _first part and the second part of . The string divider 21 described above includes piezoelectric elements 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ , . . .
..., 16 Together with ₆ , it constitutes a sorting means.

The piezoelectric elements 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ , . . _. , 16 ₆ and the piezoelectric elements 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ , .
The details of this fret position/string discrimination circuit 24 will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. The electric circuits shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 are provided for each string 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ , . . . , 15 ₆ , but in the following explanation, one of them (string 15 ₁ related matters).

First, when the pulse generating circuit 31 generates a predetermined high-frequency pulse (or a high-frequency pulse) P1 at intervals of 3 to 10 milliseconds, the high-frequency pulse is applied from the transmitter 32 to the piezoelectric element ₁₆₁ (see FIG. a,
At time t ₁ ), the piezoelectric element 16 ₁ generates an ultrasonic wave of 400 KHz to 1 MHz (in the case of a bare string) depending on the frequency of the pulse, and the ultrasonic wave generated by the piezoelectric element 16 ₁ is transmitted to the first part of the string 15 ₁ . It spreads inside. Therefore, if a performer wishes to generate a musical tone of a specific pitch, the string 15
₁ to a predetermined position on the neck part 12, the string 1
At least one fret 13 ₁ , 13 ₂ , ..., 13n contacts the string 15 ₁ according to the pressed position of 5 ₁ ,
Depending on the contact position, the above-mentioned ultrasonic waves will be transmitted to any of the frets 13 ₁ , 13 ₂ , . . . that are in contact with the string 15 ₁ .
..., 13n to produce an echo.

Prior to the generation of an echo, the drive pulse generation circuit 34 of the receiving section 33 applies a set signal S1 to the RS flip-flop 35 upon detecting the generation of the high frequency pulse P1 (FIG. 5b). As a result, the RS flip-flop 35 supplies the gate opening signal S2 to the gate circuit 36, and the gate circuit 36 is opened (FIG. 5c). Therefore, the clock signal C1 is supplied from the clock oscillator 37 to the counter 38 via the gate circuit 36, and the counter 38 starts counting the clock signal C1 supplied from the clock oscillator 37 (FIG. 5e).

Therefore, at time _t2, the above-mentioned echo is transmitted to the piezoelectric element 16.
₁ , the piezoelectric element 16 ₁ generates an electric signal S3 similar to the waveform of the echo (FIG. 5f), and the electric signal S3 is supplied to the receiver 33. In the receiving section 33, after the electric signal S3 is amplified by the amplifier 39, a pulse signal P2 which shifts to a high level during the duration of the echo based on the electric signal S3 is outputted from the signal detection circuit 41 (Fig. 5g), and an OR circuit is generated. 42
is supplied to the reset terminal of the RS flip-flop 35 via the RS flip-flop 35. As a result, the gate open signal S2 output from the RS flip-flop 35 shifts to low level (FIG. 5c), and the counter 38
stops counting. Therefore, the counter 38 stores the number of clocks output between time _t1 and time _t2 (FIG. 5e). On the other hand, the falling differentiation circuit 43 forms a pulse signal P3 that rises at the trailing edge of the gate opening signal S2 (FIG. 5h), and the count value of the counter 38 is latched in the latch circuit 44 by this pulse signal P3. Since the pulse signal P3 is also applied to the delay circuit 45, at time t3, which is delayed for a certain period of time from time _t2 , the delay pulse P3 is applied from the delay circuit ₄₅ .
4 is applied to the reset terminal of counter 38 in preparation for the next count. Note that if the performer does not press any position on the string ₁₅₁ and therefore no echo is generated, the counter 38 overflows, and this overflow signal OF is sent to the receiving section 33.
is applied to the OR circuit 42 of RS flip-flop 35.

The count value of the counter 38 transferred to the latch circuit 44 is converted into a key code signal by a data conversion table 46, and the tone generator 47 specifies the pitch of the musical tone to be generated based on the key code signal KC.

Here, when the player plies the second part of the string 15 ₁ , the piezoelectric element 23 ₁ converts the vibration based on the plucked string into an electrical signal S4 having a waveform similar to the vibration.
After this electric signal S4 is amplified by the amplifier 61,
The signal is supplied to a signal detection circuit 62 to form a string signal KON. When this plucked string signal KON is applied to the tone generator 47, the tone generator 47 supplies a musical tone signal to the sound system 50 composed of an amplifier, a speaker, etc. according to instructions from the musical tone control switch circuit 48, 50 generates a predetermined musical tone.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, each string 15 ₁ , 1
_{5 2 , . _} Since it is supported, the string 15 ₁ ,
Adjustment of the tension, etc. of 15 ₂ , . . . , 15 ₆ can also be performed simultaneously for the first and second portions. Therefore, the structure of the electronic musical instrument can be simplified and manufacturing costs can be reduced. In addition, the vibration of the second part of _each string 15 ₁ , 15 _{2 ,} .
16 ₂ , ..., 16 ₆ , the piezoelectric elements 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ , ..., 16 ₆ are not affected by the vibration of the second part of the corresponding string due to the plucked strings. , frets 13 ₁ , 13 ₂ , ..., ₁₃ in contact with strings 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ , ..., 15 6
₆ can be accurately detected. On the other hand, since the vibrations generated by the plucked strings in the second part are rapidly attenuated by the damper 22, the electric signal S4 generated by the piezoelectric elements 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ , ..., 23 ₆ also has a steep waveform. and
The signal detection circuit 62 can accurately generate a plucked string signal KON corresponding to the plucked strings of the performer.

Note that pitch data may be stored in the data conversion table 46 instead of the key code signal KC, and the pitch data may be supplied to the tone generator 47.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the strings 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ ,...
Although the pulse generation circuit 31 and data conversion table 46 are provided for each string _{15 1} , 15 ₂ , 15 ₆ , the high frequency pulse P1 is sequentially supplied to the piezoelectric elements _{16 1 ,} 16 ₂ , . . . , 15 ₆ may be time-divisionally processed by a single receiving unit 33 to data conversion table 46. By time-divisionally processing the detection of the fret position in this manner, the configuration of the fret position and string discriminating circuit can be simplified.

Moreover, the detection of the plucked strings is also performed using the piezoelectric elements 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ ,...
..., 23 ₆ may be replaced with an electromagnetic pickup.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of one embodiment, Fig. 2 is a front view showing a piece holder of one embodiment, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the piece holder of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram of one embodiment. figure,
FIG. 5 is a timing chart of one embodiment, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram showing details of the receiving section of one embodiment. 13 ₁ to 13n...Frets, 14...Tailpiece, 15 ₁ to 15 ₆ ...Strings, 16 ₁ to 1
6 ₆ ...Piezoelectric element, 21...String divider,
23 ₁ to 23 ₆ ... piezoelectric element, SH ... string wound.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A string that can propagate vibrations; A string tensioning means that tensions and supports the string and adjusts the tensioned state thereof; dividing means for dividing the string into two parts and preventing vibrations propagating through one of the first part and the second part from being transmitted to the other; when the first part of the string is pressed, the first part is at least a plurality of frets that can be contacted with one; a fret position detection means that detects the fret that is in contact with the first portion of the string and generates a musical tone with a pitch corresponding to the fret based on the detection result; An electronic stringed instrument comprising: a plucked string detecting means for detecting the plucked string based on the vibration of the second part when a player plucked the second part of the string, and instructing generation of a musical tone based on the detection result.