US4508002A
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Method and apparatus for improved automatic harmonization
Assignee: Yamaha Corp
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Filing: 1981-06-17
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Granted: 1985-04-02
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Expires: 2001-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A method and associated apparatus for embellishing the melody played on an electronic musical keyboard instrument. A set of musically-derived tables relates harmonious accompaniment notes to the melody in accordance with the chosen harmony and is addressed to generate a signal that represents at least one appropriate accompaniment note. The latter signal causes sounding of selected accompaniment notes to produce the desired musical harmony. A choice of voicing style and an orchestration option are additionally provided within the scope of the apparatus and method herein.
Inventors
- 👤 George R. Hall
- 👤 Robert J. Hall
- 👤 Jack C. Cookerly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:21
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/36; G10H1/38; G10H2210/00; G10H2210/571; G10H2210/576; G10H2210/606; G10H2210/616; G10H2210/626; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for embellishing a melody represented by the actuation during a time frame of one or more playing keys of a musical instrument keyboard, which instrument is capable of sounding at least one chord selected during the time frame, said method comprising the steps, accomplished by the instrument itself, of: recognizing at least one note of the melody during the time frame; recognizing a chord selected during the time frame; deriving, for at least one note of the melody, at least one accompaniment note which is not a tone of the recognized chord and yet is harmonically related to said melody note and the recognized chord; and sounding said melody note and said at least one accompaniment note to produce an embellished melody.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for embellishing a melody represented by the actuation during a time frame of one or more playing keys of a musical instrument keyboard, which instrument is capable of sounding at least one chord selected during the time frame, said method comprising the steps, accomplished by the instrument itself, of: recognizing at least one note of the melody during the time frame; recognizing a chord selected during the time frame; deriving, for at least one note of the melody, at least one accompaniment note which is not a tone of the recognized chord and yet is harmonically related to said melody note and the recognized chord; and sounding said melody note and said at least one accompaniment note to produce an embellished melody.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method as defined in claim 1 further characterized by the steps of: providing a plurality of sets of tonal relationships, each of said sets associated with a musical chord type and containing a listing of at least one accompaniment note harmonically related to each melody note of the musical scale; selecting a set according to the type of said recognized chord; and obtaining said at least one accompaniment note from said set with reference to the recognized melody note.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the type of said chord is derived from at least one harmony note defined by the actuation during said time frame of one or more playing keys of said musical instrument keyboard.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 3 additionally including the step of deriving the root of said recognized chord.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as defined in claim 2 or 4 wherein the step of obtaining said at least one accompaniment note comprises the step of transposing said set so that said at least one accompaniment note is harmonically related to the melody note for the type and root of the recognized chord.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 5 wherein the transposing step comprises: defining a relationship between said melody note and said root; and, locating the accompaniment notes according to said relationship.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the step of defining a relationship between said melody note and said root comprises the step of performing modulo 12 addition of the difference of said root from a base root to said melody note.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said locating step comprises addressing said set in accordance with the relationship of the melody note and the chord root.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the providing step includes the step of providing a plurality of groups of sets of tonal relationships, each of said groups corresponding to a predetermined voicing style.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 9 in which said set of tonal relationships is selected from a group chosen in accordance with a predetermined voicing style.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said sounding step comprises orchestrating a predetermined musical sound.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
194 words
A method for deriving a signal representing at least one accompaniment note chosen for musical qualities in relation to a given melody note and chord type and root, said melody and chord type and root represented by the actuation of one or more keys of a musical instrument keyboard capable of representing a plurality of notes, said method comprising the steps of: generating a melody signal responsive to the actuation of at least one melody note during a predetermined time interval; generating a harmony signal responsive to the actuation of at least one harmony note during said predetermined time interval; storing a plurality of tables, each table comprising listings of accompaniment notes harmonically related to each melody note of the musical scale with respect to a musical chord type there being one table per chord type; deriving a root and chord type from said harmony signal; then storing said root and type; selecting a listing according to said chord type; and locating in said listing at least one accompaniment note according to said chord root and melody note; and then generating an accompaniment note signal responsive to said at least one accompaniment note located.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
194 words
A method for deriving a signal representing at least one accompaniment note chosen for musical qualities in relation to a given melody note and chord type and root, said melody and chord type and root represented by the actuation of one or more keys of a musical instrument keyboard capable of representing a plurality of notes, said method comprising the steps of: generating a melody signal responsive to the actuation of at least one melody note during a predetermined time interval; generating a harmony signal responsive to the actuation of at least one harmony note during said predetermined time interval; storing a plurality of tables, each table comprising listings of accompaniment notes harmonically related to each melody note of the musical scale with respect to a musical chord type there being one table per chord type; deriving a root and chord type from said harmony signal; then storing said root and type; selecting a listing according to said chord type; and locating in said listing at least one accompaniment note according to said chord root and melody note; and then generating an accompaniment note signal responsive to said at least one accompaniment note located.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 12 wherein said storing step comprises the step of entering said listings into the memory of a programmable device.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
227 words
A method for deriving a signal representing at lesat one accompaniment note chosen for musical qualities in relation to a given melody note and chord type and root, said melody and chord type and root represented by the actuation of one or more keys of a musical instrument keyboard capable of representing a plurality of notes, said method comprising the steps of: generating a melody signal responsive to the actuation of at least one melody note during a predetermined time interval; generating a harmony signal responsive to the actuation of at least one harmony note during said predetermined time interval; storing a plurality of listings of accompaniment notes harmonically related to each melody note of the musical scale with respect to musical chord type, by entering the listings into the memory of a programmable device; deriving the root and type of the chord from said harmony signal; then storing said root and type; selecting a listing according to said chord type; and locating in said listing at least one accompaniment note according to said chord root and melody note, said locating step comprising: generating an address of said listing according to the melody note and chord root; and reading the content of the listing at said address into a first register; and then generating an accompaniment note signal responsive to said at least one accompaniment note located.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
227 words
A method for deriving a signal representing at lesat one accompaniment note chosen for musical qualities in relation to a given melody note and chord type and root, said melody and chord type and root represented by the actuation of one or more keys of a musical instrument keyboard capable of representing a plurality of notes, said method comprising the steps of: generating a melody signal responsive to the actuation of at least one melody note during a predetermined time interval; generating a harmony signal responsive to the actuation of at least one harmony note during said predetermined time interval; storing a plurality of listings of accompaniment notes harmonically related to each melody note of the musical scale with respect to musical chord type, by entering the listings into the memory of a programmable device; deriving the root and type of the chord from said harmony signal; then storing said root and type; selecting a listing according to said chord type; and locating in said listing at least one accompaniment note according to said chord root and melody note, said locating step comprising: generating an address of said listing according to the melody note and chord root; and reading the content of the listing at said address into a first register; and then generating an accompaniment note signal responsive to said at least one accompaniment note located.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as defined in claim 14 wherein the step of generating an accompaniment note signal comprises: producing a stream of digital data bits by applying a clocking pulse to a second register; and entering a true indication into said second register only after the count of said first register is decremented to zero.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for sounding at least one accompaniment note with respect to a preselected combination of melody and harmony notes comprising: means for recognizing said melody notes and generating a signal responsive to the melody; means for recognizing a chord from said harmony notes and generating a signal in response to said chord; means for storing at least one accompaniment note which is a function of the harmonic relationship of the melody to the recognized chord and is not a tone of said chord; means responsive to said signals for locating said at least one accompaniment note; means for generating a signal representative of said at least one accompaniment note; and means responsive to said last-named means for sounding said at least one accompaniment note.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for sounding at least one accompaniment note with respect to a preselected combination of melody and harmony notes comprising: means for recognizing said melody notes and generating a signal responsive to the melody; means for recognizing a chord from said harmony notes and generating a signal in response to said chord; means for storing at least one accompaniment note which is a function of the harmonic relationship of the melody to the recognized chord and is not a tone of said chord; means responsive to said signals for locating said at least one accompaniment note; means for generating a signal representative of said at least one accompaniment note; and means responsive to said last-named means for sounding said at least one accompaniment note.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for storing comprises at least one memory location of a programmable device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said means for locating comprises means for addressing said at least one memory location.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-04-01 | 1988-10-01 | 1989-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-01 | 1992-10-01 | 1993-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-01 | 1996-10-01 | 1997-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |