Electronic keyboard instrument

Abstract

An electronic keyboard instrument is basically configured by a keyboard, a microcomputer, a tone generator and a sound system as well as sensors, switches and foot switches. Each of keys of the keyboard is equipped with a variety of sensors and switches such as a touch sensor, make switches, a key-stroke sensor, key-depression pressure sensors and a hammer-depression pressure sensor, while the foot switches correspond to a damper pedal, a soft pedal and a sostenuto pedal as well as a slur foot switch and a portamento foot switch. Herein, various acoustic instruments are related to different performance techniques respectively. So, operating a foot switch designate a specific performance technique detection rule in response to a desired tone color corresponding to an acoustic instrument whose sounds are being simulated. Then, a performance technique is detected in accordance with the performance technique detection rule on the basis of outputs of the sensors, at least one of which is selectively used. Thus, the tone generator generates musical tones with respect to the tone color, wherein the musical tones are controlled in response to the performance technique with respect to at least one tone factor (e.g., a tone volume, tone color and pitch). Incidentally, operating the slur foot switch designate a slur-related performance technique detection rule for detection of performance techniques such as slur and staccato. In addition, operating the portamento foot switch designate a portamento-related performance technique detection rule for detection of performance techniques such as portamento and glissando.