US3681508A - Electronic organ - Google Patents

Electronic organ Download PDF

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Publication number
US3681508A
US3681508A US55911A US3681508DA US3681508A US 3681508 A US3681508 A US 3681508A US 55911 A US55911 A US 55911A US 3681508D A US3681508D A US 3681508DA US 3681508 A US3681508 A US 3681508A
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United States
Prior art keywords
tone signal
conducting
key
notes
conducting path
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Expired - Lifetime
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US55911A
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English (en)
Inventor
Rainer Bohm
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Individual
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Individual
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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
    • G10H1/36—Accompaniment arrangements
    • G10H1/38—Chord
    • G10H1/386—One-finger or one-key chord systems

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an electronic organ and more particularly relates to an electronic organ wherein the depressionof at least one key, preferably in the low range of the key board, results in a rhythmically broken-up note.
  • an accompaniment i.e., a rhythmic sequence of notes
  • a pedal By means of a pedal.
  • a predetermined note is associated with each key of the manual and pedal keyboards.
  • To perform the accompaniment appropriate keys must be depressed with the left hand with a frequency and sequence corresponding to the desired rhythm.
  • a similar technique must be used on appropriate pedals. For thesereasons, the-accompaniment makes high demands on the skill and concentration of the player.
  • certain keys of a manual maybe arranged to produce not only individual notes, but also predetermined chords, so that the keys associated with the individual notes of the chords need not be simultaneously depressed.
  • this arrangement facilitates playing to only a small extent, since the player must still play each note and pedal in the proper rhythm.
  • heavy demands are made on the players manual dexterity and sense of rhythm.
  • Another known electronic organ frees the player from the necessity of playing keys in the proper rhythm by employing a rhythm-providing means which automatically breaks up the accompanying notes into a predetermined rhythm pattern.
  • a rhythm-providing means which automatically breaks up the accompanying notes into a predetermined rhythm pattern.
  • the manual and pedal keys associated with desired chords must still be selected by the player. As a rule this involves the playing of a plurality of keys one after the other for the same chord (i.e., alternating basses and bass melodies). Therefore, the player must possess good musical knowledge, considerable skill, excellent technique, and the ability to concentrate. This is a difiicult task since he must also play the melody with his right hand.
  • rhythm means are provided to effect a rhythmic production of various chords, individual notes and/or individual notes and chords in predetermined sequence whenever an appropriate key is depressed. If only one key is held, this rhythm means enables the production of a plurality of notes or chords, one after the other, in accordance with a predetermined rhythm.
  • the keys producing the rhythmic note sequences are provided with a plurality of contacts which, upon depression of a key, connect the note generators associated with the particular notes or chords of the desired rhythmic note sequence to control means.
  • the control means are connected between the contacts and the output of the electronic organ and are controlled by the rhythm means which enables the control means to conduct note generator signals in accordance with the desired rhythm pattern.
  • the player is relieved of almost the entire work involved in the accompaniment.
  • a rich and full accompaniment may be supplied by inexperienced players having little musical knowledge or skill. If the player depresses a key producing the accompaniment, there is produced a predetermined sequence consisting of chords, individual notes, alternating basses and bass melodies (which may also be built up from the chords) at the instants of time corresponding to the desired rhythm. These instants of time may be determined by the rhythm means which, in predetermined sequence, supplies switching pulses to the control means.
  • the percussion instrument can be actuated when a new rhythm commences.
  • the percussion instrument can also be controlled by the switching-in of the other notes of the accompaniment scale (i.e., by other switching pulses of the rhythm means).
  • FIG. 1 shows an electronic organ 1 which stands on legs and comprises a lower portion 2 which has a loudspeaker 3.
  • a manual 5 is'disposed in an upper portion 4 of the organ.
  • the left-hand side of the upper portion has keys 6 which produce an accompaniment according to the invention.
  • switching means 7 Arranged over the keys 6 are switching means 7 by which the rhythm may be altered (i.e., for example from a waltz to a foxtrot).
  • supplemen-' tary key contacts may be switched in so that, upon depressing one of the keys 6, not only the rhythmic note sequences, but also the notes associated with keys 6 become audible.
  • switching means 7 there are also provided the conventional register or stop switches 8, 9 and, where appropriate, loudspeaker regulators (not shown).
  • FIG. 2 shows the characteristic elements of a preferred circuit for the production of rhythm according to the invention.
  • a sound generator 10 produces tone signals corresponding to all the sounds necessary for the production of rhythm and the formation of 5 notes.
  • Exemplary notes produced by the generator are indicated by letters superimposed on generator 10.
  • plain lower case letters indicate notes in the region of middle C
  • lower case letters bearing the exponent 2 indicate notes an octave above the plain'lower case letter notes
  • plain upper case letters indicate notes an octave below the plain lower case letter notes
  • underlined upper case letters indicate notes two octaves below the plain lower case letter notes.
  • Electrical devices capable of operating as generator are wellknown to those skilled in the electronic organ art.
  • Two of the keys 6 are indicated by broken lines 11 and 12, and all the contacts of a key are simultaneously closed by depressing the key.
  • a contact 13 is closed, so that the ac. voltages associated with the notes 0 a and j are fed, via resistors 14, 15 and 16, a contact 13, a connecting lead 17, a control stage 18 and a resistor 19, to a sound forming means 20, in which the appropriate sound is mixed.”
  • the ac voltage mixture thus produced appears across the output 21 of the sound forming means and, if appropriate after amplification, is fed to a loudspeaker, such as amplifier and loudspeaker 21A.
  • a.c. voltages associated with the notes 0, a and f are fed via resistors 22, 23 and 24, a contact 25, a connecting lead 26, control stage 27, and a resistor 28, to the sound-forming means 20.
  • An ac. voltage associated with the note C is fed, via the resistor 29, a contact 30, a connecting lead 31, a control stage 32, a resistor 33 and a resistor 34, to the sound-forming means 20.
  • An ac. voltage corresponding to the note F is fed, via a resistor 35, a contact 36, a connecting lead 37, a control stage 38,.a resistor 39 and resistor 34, to'the sound-forming means 20. Simultaneously, the said ac.
  • control pulses derived from a rhythm provider 46 which, on appearing, on every occasion, switch the control stages 18, 27, 32 and 38 into a conductive condition (if so required with a predetermined adjustment time), so that the conductors 17, 26, 31 and 37 are connected with the sound-forming means 20.
  • the passage through the control stages 18, 27, 32 and 38 is once again interrupted, if necessary, after apredetermined time corresponding to naturally occurring buildup and decay times.
  • Apparatus, such ,as relays or transistor switches, capable of operating as control stages 18, 27, 32 and 38 are well-known to those skilled in the art.
  • the opening and closing of the control stages 18, 27, 32 or 38 is effected with a predetermined rhythm and in a, predetermined sequence, depending on the rhythm desired.
  • rhythm signals in the form of pulses from the rhythm provider 46 may appear on the leads 42 to 45, in the following sequence: 42, 45, 45, 42, 45, 45, 42 45, 45, etc.
  • the sequence may for example be: 42, 45, 43, 45, 42, 45, etc. or 42, 44, 42, 45, 42, 44, etc.
  • a contact 47 which directly connects a note associated with key 11 to the sound former 20. In this way, when key 11 is depressed, a corresponding continuous note is produced. Additional switches may be provided which directly connect all notes associated with a key to the sound-forming means 20, so that the notes sound continuously as long as the key is depressed.
  • Key 12 has contacts 48, 49, 50 and 51 which are connected to the collecting leads 17, 26, 31, 37 in the same. manner as the contacts of key 11. When key 12 is depressed, these contacts pass a.c. voltages corresponding to notes produced by sound generator 10, via resistors 52-59, to the control stages 18, 27, 32 and 38. Associated with key 12 are other notes (i.e., C and G) and also other chords 0, e, g and also c ,'e g. A contact 60 of key 12 produces a note which sounds continuously when a key is depressed. This note may, together with the corresponding notes of other keys, belong to a normal scale, so that, with the aid of these contacts, it becomes possible to play a bass melody by actuating the accompanying keys.
  • buttons 11 and 12 are indicated, but the number of keys may be any desired number. If desired, all the keys of a manual, a supplementary keyboard or a pedal board may be used.
  • rhythm provider 46 supplies a switch-through pulse to one or the other of the control stages 18, 27, 32 or 38. In this way, the corresponding a.c. voltages are switched through in correspondence with the rhythm adjusted at the rhythm provider 46.
  • This arrangement is especially advantageous when the player fails to release key 11 soon enough. Even though the note is held, no sound will be generated until the rhythm provider produces the next note in the rhythm sequence. If key 11 is released too soon, the only result will be that some notes or chords will drop out of the rhythm. However, the rhythm itself will not be fundamentally influenced. Thus, even though the rhythmic tone sequence is relatively complicated, the rhythm always remains relatively uninfluenced by the manner in which the player depresses the accompaniment keys.
  • rhythmic tone sequence from major to minor harmonies and other types of chords.
  • special harmony switches (not shown here) with the aid of which tones, triads or chords corresponding to these harmonies may be connected to the keys ll, 12 etc.
  • an electronic organ comprising a first key and a second key and a sound-forming means for mixing tone signals and producing notes
  • apparatus for causing the notes to sound in a predetermined rhythmic pattern comprising:
  • generator means for transmitting a first tone signal corresponding to a first note over a first conducting path, for transmitting a second tone signal corresponding to a second note over a second conducting path, for transmitting a third tone signal corresponding to a third note over a third conducting path, for transmitting a fourth tone signal corresponding to a fourth note over a fourth conducting path, for transmitting a fifth tone signal corresponding to a fifth note over a fifth conducting path, and for transmitting a sixth tone signal corresponding to a sixth note over a sixth conducting path, said first, second, and third notes forming the notes of a first harmonic chord, and said fourth, fifth, and sixth notes forming the notes of a second harmonic chord different from the first harmonic chord;
  • rhythm means for generating at least first, second,
  • first control means for conducting a tone signal to the sound-forming means in response to the first rhythm signal
  • third control means for conducting a tone signal to the sound-forming means in response to the third rhythm signal
  • first switch means connected in the first conducting path responsive to depression of the first key for conducting the first tone signal to the first control means
  • third switch means connected in the third conducting path responsive to depression of the first key for conducting the third tone signal to the third control means
  • fourth switch means connected in the fourth conducting path responsive to depression of the second key for conducting the fourth tone signal to the first control means
  • generator means for transmitting a first tone signal corresponding to a first note over a first conducting path, for transmitting a second tone signal corresponding to a second note over the first conducting path, for transmitting a third tone signal corresponding to a third note over the first conducting path, for transmitting a fourth tone signal corresponding to a fourth note over a second conducting path, for transmitting a fifth tone signal corresponding to a fifth note over a third conducting path, for transmitting a sixth tone signal corresponding to a sixth note over a fourth conducting path, for transmitting a seventh tone signal corresponding to a seventh note over the fourth conducting path, for transmitting an eighth tone signal corresponding to an eighth note over the fourth conducting path, for transmitting a ninth tone signal corresponding to a ninth note over a fifth conducting path, and for transmitting a tenth tone signal corresponding to a tenth note over a sixth conducting path, said first, second, third, fourth and fifth notes forming the notes of a first harmonic chord, and said sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and
  • rhythm means for generating at least first, second and third rhythm signals having a predetermined rhythmic pattern
  • first control means for conducting a tone signal to the sound-forming means in response to the first rhythm signal
  • third control means for conducting a tone signal to the sound-forming means in response to the third rhythm signal
  • first switch means connected in the firstconducting path responsive to depression of the first key for conducting the first, second and third tone signals to the first control means
  • third switch means connected in the third conducting path responsive to depression of the first key for conducting the fifth tone signal to the third control means
  • Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, and further comprising seventh switch means responsive to the depression of the first key for directly conducting a seventh tone signal to said sound-forming means, whereby said seventh tone signal is conducted continuously and said first through sixth tone signals are conducted according to said rhythmic pattern.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
US55911A 1969-09-30 1970-07-17 Electronic organ Expired - Lifetime US3681508A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE1949313A DE1949313C3 (de) 1969-09-30 1969-09-30 Elektronische Orgel

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3681508A true US3681508A (en) 1972-08-01

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ID=5746931

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US55911A Expired - Lifetime US3681508A (en) 1969-09-30 1970-07-17 Electronic organ

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3681508A (fr)
AT (1) AT313036B (fr)
BE (1) BE754552A (fr)
CH (1) CH514213A (fr)
DE (1) DE1949313C3 (fr)
FR (1) FR2060557A5 (fr)
GB (1) GB1323437A (fr)
NL (1) NL167531C (fr)
SE (1) SE374446B (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4292874A (en) * 1979-05-18 1981-10-06 Baldwin Piano & Organ Company Automatic control apparatus for chords and sequences
US4306481A (en) * 1977-06-08 1981-12-22 Marmon Company Dynamic one finger chording system
US20040173083A1 (en) * 2003-01-22 2004-09-09 Hidefumi Konishi Music data producing system, server apparatus and music data producing method
US20050066798A1 (en) * 2003-09-25 2005-03-31 Yamaha Corporation Electronic keyboard instrument
US8800455B2 (en) 2011-03-21 2014-08-12 Dana Monroe Audio mixing console case

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3706837A (en) * 1971-06-17 1972-12-19 Wurlitzer Co Automatic rhythmic chording unit
DE2510993C3 (de) * 1975-03-13 1983-05-19 Böhm, Rainer, Dr., 4950 Minden Elektronisches Rhythmusgerät
DE2542837C2 (de) * 1975-09-25 1983-10-27 D.H. Baldwin Co., Cincinnati, Ohio Elektronische Orgel
GB1589984A (en) * 1976-08-23 1981-05-20 Nippon Musical Instruments Mfg Electronic musical instrument
US4127048A (en) * 1977-05-18 1978-11-28 Cbs Inc. Pedal tone generator having means for automatically producing tone patterns based on tonic note
DE3037511C2 (de) * 1980-10-03 1982-12-02 Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo Elektronisches Musikinstrument mit Tastatur und Eingabemöglichkeit von Rhythmen

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3235648A (en) * 1962-05-07 1966-02-15 Thomas J George Semi-automatic electronic rhythm instrument
US3247307A (en) * 1962-08-17 1966-04-19 Seeburg Corp Rhythm tempo control system
US3340344A (en) * 1965-04-15 1967-09-05 Wurlitzer Co Transistorized electronic percussion generator with organ
US3358068A (en) * 1964-06-26 1967-12-12 Seeburg Corp Automatic rhythm device
US3461217A (en) * 1966-06-27 1969-08-12 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd Piano keyboard type electronic musical instrument having a bass pedal and single continuous keyboard
US3476864A (en) * 1966-03-09 1969-11-04 Baldwin Co D H Electronic organ reiteration system utilizing a zero-crossing preference circuit
US3499092A (en) * 1968-08-12 1970-03-03 Baldwin Co D H Accompaniment chord rhythm system
US3499091A (en) * 1967-02-10 1970-03-03 Baldwin Co D H Stepping rhythmic interpolater
US3546355A (en) * 1968-06-24 1970-12-08 Motorola Inc Automatic tone generating system for an electronic organ
US3549777A (en) * 1967-08-31 1970-12-22 Baldwin Co D H Electronic musical instrument system for sounding voices reiteratively in alternation
US3549778A (en) * 1969-03-07 1970-12-22 Baldwin Co D H Electronic organ with alternate reiteration by three-note groups
US3553335A (en) * 1969-04-14 1971-01-05 Baldwin Co D H Electronic organ having plural tone sources and loudspeakers with alternate reiterative gating, cross gating, and method

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2645968A (en) * 1950-06-23 1953-07-21 Hammond Instr Co Electrical musical instrument
DE1204057B (de) * 1963-09-23 1965-10-28 Seeburg Corp Schaltung zur Rhythmussteuerung von Klanggeneratoren fuer ein elektronisches Musikinstrument
DE1245694B (de) * 1964-07-02 1967-07-27 Warwick Electronics Inc Rhythmusgeraet fuer ein elektronisches Musikinstrument

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3235648A (en) * 1962-05-07 1966-02-15 Thomas J George Semi-automatic electronic rhythm instrument
US3247307A (en) * 1962-08-17 1966-04-19 Seeburg Corp Rhythm tempo control system
US3358068A (en) * 1964-06-26 1967-12-12 Seeburg Corp Automatic rhythm device
US3340344A (en) * 1965-04-15 1967-09-05 Wurlitzer Co Transistorized electronic percussion generator with organ
US3476864A (en) * 1966-03-09 1969-11-04 Baldwin Co D H Electronic organ reiteration system utilizing a zero-crossing preference circuit
US3461217A (en) * 1966-06-27 1969-08-12 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd Piano keyboard type electronic musical instrument having a bass pedal and single continuous keyboard
US3499091A (en) * 1967-02-10 1970-03-03 Baldwin Co D H Stepping rhythmic interpolater
US3549777A (en) * 1967-08-31 1970-12-22 Baldwin Co D H Electronic musical instrument system for sounding voices reiteratively in alternation
US3546355A (en) * 1968-06-24 1970-12-08 Motorola Inc Automatic tone generating system for an electronic organ
US3499092A (en) * 1968-08-12 1970-03-03 Baldwin Co D H Accompaniment chord rhythm system
US3549778A (en) * 1969-03-07 1970-12-22 Baldwin Co D H Electronic organ with alternate reiteration by three-note groups
US3553335A (en) * 1969-04-14 1971-01-05 Baldwin Co D H Electronic organ having plural tone sources and loudspeakers with alternate reiterative gating, cross gating, and method

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4306481A (en) * 1977-06-08 1981-12-22 Marmon Company Dynamic one finger chording system
US4292874A (en) * 1979-05-18 1981-10-06 Baldwin Piano & Organ Company Automatic control apparatus for chords and sequences
US20040173083A1 (en) * 2003-01-22 2004-09-09 Hidefumi Konishi Music data producing system, server apparatus and music data producing method
US20050066798A1 (en) * 2003-09-25 2005-03-31 Yamaha Corporation Electronic keyboard instrument
US7473842B2 (en) * 2003-09-25 2009-01-06 Yamaha Corporation Electronic keyboard instrument
CN100562924C (zh) * 2003-09-25 2009-11-25 雅马哈株式会社 电子键盘乐器
US8800455B2 (en) 2011-03-21 2014-08-12 Dana Monroe Audio mixing console case
US9585267B2 (en) 2011-03-21 2017-02-28 Dana Monroe Audio mixing console case

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1949313C3 (de) 1983-11-03
NL167531B (nl) 1981-07-16
DE1949313B2 (de) 1976-06-10
AT313036B (de) 1974-01-25
BE754552A (fr) 1971-01-18
DE1949313A1 (de) 1971-04-08
NL7013954A (fr) 1971-04-01
GB1323437A (en) 1973-07-18
FR2060557A5 (fr) 1971-06-18
SE374446B (fr) 1975-03-03
NL167531C (nl) 1981-12-16
CH514213A (de) 1971-10-15

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