KeyGuitar Project
KeyGuitar is a technology allowing the keyboard musician to imitate in detail guitar performance technique. The technology is based on the original algorithm of chord transformation and musical voices construction (Method For Chord Transforming, Russian Federation patent# 2145121, US patent pending).
The unique features
of KeyGuitar combined with a standard MIDI-keyboard and the sound module made
it possible to develop a new kind of keyboard electronic musical instrument.
This instrument provides some revolutionary unique opportunities to a keyboard
musician, such as:
- guitar music performing, using the basic elements of real guitar performance
technique;
- multi-instrumental ensemble music performing (simultaneous playing of various
musical parts such as melody, harmony, bass and percussion, using the timbres
of different instruments).
The KeyGuitar performance technique is an original symbiosis of piano and guitar
playing principles and requires some additional skills from a musician.
Playing principles
Standard MIDI
keyboard is virtually devided into two parts - left hand Zone for assigning
chords and right hand zone for triggering chords (producing sound).
Close harmony chord assigned in the left hand zone is automatically transformed
into open harmony guitar chord.
Keys of right hand zone are predetermined to perform various guitar strokes
(up/down strum, up/down muted strum, up/down slow arpeggio strum, individual
voices/bass note, etc.). Using fixed keys user can trigger 6-voice strummed
chord by pressing a single key; or perform individual voices of the chord; also
special keys are assigned to trigger root and alternative bass notes).
Video Demos
Video demos of KeyGuitar live performance are available at http://www.keyguitar.com/video
All the samples
have been performed manually without the use of any kind of sequencer, pre-recorded
tracks, or auto-accompaniment. Korg 01/W has been used as both a MIDI keyboard
and a sound module.
(IMPORTANT. Since samples are DivX-video files, you may need to download
DivX 4.12 codec or later to
view them).
Areas of use
The KeyGuitar technology can be embedded into any electronic keyboard that can add brand new and unique features never find in other instruments. Releasing the above mentioned technology as an optional MIDI unit (KeyGuitar box, for instance) can add new features to millions of existing keyboards.
Proposed technologies
- real time intelligent transformation of close harmony chords into open guitar voicings (the existing technologies don't allow the user to control resulting chord's melodic position (inversion))
- close emulation of guitar performance techniques on a piano keyboard using a row of keys virtually assigned to produce various guitar strokes for triggering chord/voice/root note (no known analogues)
- using numerous prerecorded rhythm patterns from Guitar Rhythm Pattern Library for triggering chords/voices to produce automated guitar MIDI performances in a wide range of music styles (chords can be either taken on a MIDI keyboard or assigned as chord symbols in a track) (no competitors in musical quality, style variaty and flexibility of handling)
- the whole lot of musical functions featured in the above mentioned technology let it be employed as a core element in developing of various new software and hardware products in musical entertainment and education.
Contact
information
E-mail: info@keyguitar.com
