Musical instrument with isomorphic button arrangement, switchable from diatonic to chromatic layouts

摘要

A musical instrument comprises buttons for playing notes, wherein the buttons are arranged in an isomorphic layout consisting of rows and columns, characterized by means for choosing between a diatonic and a chromatic layout of the buttons and by means for choosing between different keys and scales. The buttons can be velocity and/or pressure sensitive, they can be backlit in different colours and they can have dynamic note information thereon. When the layout is diatonic, the scales are arranged horizontally in rows, the rows being vertically spaced in relative fourths: when the layout is chromatic, the buttons corresponding to the scale notes of the selected key are lit in way different from the other keys. The instrument allows easy playing of scales or chords in any key and may be played by users with little musical training. The user can learn a chord shape in one key and scale and easily transpose it to any other key or scale.