Handheld musical tone controller

A musical tone control apparatus includes at least one grip device having the shape which can be held by player's hand. This grip device further includes plural push switches each having a piezoelectric element whose resistance is varied in response to depressing pressure applied thereto. Based on a combination of depressed push switches and its depressing pressures, an externally provided musical tone generating apparatus is controlled such that tone pitch, tone color, tone volume, touch response or the like of musical tone will be controlled. In addition, an angle detector for detecting a swing movement of a player's arm can be further provided. Thus, the detected swing movement of the player's arm can be additionally used for controlling the musical tone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a musical tone control apparatus, and more 
particularly to a musical tone control apparatus which controls a musical 
tone generating apparatus to thereby generate a musical tone in response 
to a movement of player's hand, fingers or the like. 
2. Prior Art 
Conventionally, the music is performed by operating a keyboard and some 
switches in an electronic musical instrument, for example. However, in 
order to perform such electronic musical instrument, the player's movement 
must be always restricted, and it is impossible to perform the music with 
dancing. Meanwhile, the present applicant has proposed the musical tone 
control apparatus capable of controlling the musical tone based on the 
movement of player in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 108,205 filed Oct. 
13, 1987. Such musical tone control apparatus can be played with dancing. 
However, this proposed musical tone control apparatus can not control the 
musical tone delicately. 
Meanwhile, another known electronic keyboard musical instrument detects the 
initial-touch and after-touch of keys to thereby vary the musical tone. 
Herein, the initial-touch is the touch response corresponding to the 
varying speed in depth or force of each key depression at the instant when 
the key is depressed. The after-touch is the touch response corresponding 
to the continuous variation degree of depressing pressure of each key in a 
period when the key is continuously depressed. As the method of detecting 
the initial-touch, each key provides a break contact which is "on" when 
the key is not depressed and a make contact which is "on" when the key is 
depressed. In this case, by counting the time interval between a first 
time when the key is depressed so that the break contact is off and a 
second time when the make contact is on, it is possible to obtain an 
initial-touch signal corresponding to the varying speed of depressing 
pressure at the instant when the key is depressed. As the method of 
detecting the after-touch, a pressure sensor for detecting the depressing 
pressure of key is provided. In this case, it is possible to obtain an 
after-touch signal corresponding to the continuous variation of depressing 
pressure based on the output of this pressure sensor. 
In order to detect the initial-touch in the conventional electronic 
keyboard musical instrument, each key must provide all of the break 
contact, make contact and counting circuit for measuring the time. 
Further, in order to detect the after-touch, each key must provide the 
pressure sensor additionally. Since the initial-touch and after-touch are 
detected by the different detecting means independently, the constitution 
of electronic keyboard musical instrument must be complicated. Further, 
since the key provides some contacts, there is a problem in that 
chattering might occur. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a 
musical tone control apparatus which can be performed by freely moving a 
player's hands or feet. 
In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a musical tone 
control apparatus comprising: 
(a) detecting means having a shape which can be held by one hand, the 
detecting means outputting a detection signal corresponding to depressing 
pressure applied thereto by corresponding finger when the detecting means 
is held by hand; and 
(b) musical tone control means for outputting musical tone control data 
based on the detection signal outputted from the detecting means, the 
musical tone control data controlling a musical tone generating apparatus, 
the musical tone generating apparatus being externally provided in order 
to generate a musical tone which is controlled in response to the 
depressing pressure of corresponding finger. 
In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a musical tone 
control apparatus comprising: 
(a) pressure detecting means for outputting a detection signal 
corresponding to depressing pressure applied to each key in a keyboard or 
depressing pressure of each operation button; 
(b) timing generating means for generating a timing signal when a 
predetermined time is passed after value of the detection signal exceeds 
over a reference value; and 
(c) storing means for inputting and storing the detection signal at every 
time when the timing signal is supplied thereto, 
the storing means outputting its stored data as a first signal 
corresponding to an initial-touch of each key, the detection signal being 
outputted as a second signal corresponding to an after-touch of each key. 
In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a musical tone 
control apparatus comprising: 
(a) pressure detecting means having a shape which can be held by one hand, 
the detecting means outputting a detection signal corresponding to 
depressing pressure applied thereto by corresponding finger when the 
detecting means is held by hand; 
(b) angle detecting means for detecting a swing angle of player's arm to 
thereby generate an angle signal corresponding to detected swing angle; 
and 
(c) musical tone control means for outputting musical tone control data 
based on the detection signal and the angle signal, the musical tone 
control data controlling a musical tone generating apparatus, the musical 
tone generating apparatus being externally provided in order to generate a 
musical tone which is controlled in response to the depressing pressure of 
corresponding finger and the swing angle of player's arm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Now, description will be given with respect to the preferred embodiments of 
the present invention in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like 
reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the 
several views. 
[A] FIRST EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the whole constitution of a musical tone 
control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present 
invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing appearances of grip devices IR and IL 
for a player's right and left hands, and FIG. 3 is a front view showing 
the appearance of a player who mounts the musical tone control apparatus 
according to the first embodiment. 
First, description will be given with respect to the constitutions of the 
grip devices 1R and 1L for a player's right and left hands in conjunction 
with FIG. 2. These grip devices 1R and 1L are constituted symmetrically. 
Hence, description of the left grip device 1L will be omitted, and 
description will be given with respect to the right grip device 1R only. 
The left grip device 1L is constituted by the parts corresponding to those 
of the right grip 1R, wherein these parts are labeled with the letter "L" 
instead of the letter "R". 
In the right grip device 1R, 2R designates a case having the shape which 
can be held by the right hand. In other words, in order to fit the holding 
case 2R with the right hand, a curved face 2Ra which can be in close 
contact with the root portion between the thumb and index finger of right 
hand and another stopping portion 2Rb which is held between the third 
finger and middle finger of right hand are respectively formed at the 
holding case 2R (see FIG. 3). In addition, the holding case 2R has seven 
pressure sensors SR1 to SR7 each of which is constituted by a push button 
and piezoelectric element. This piezoelectric element has resistance which 
is varied in response to depressing pressure of the push button. 
Next, description will be given with respect to the arrangement of these 
pressure sensors SR1 to SR7. Each of these pressure sensors SR1 to SR7 is 
arranged at a predetermined position such that each pressure sensor can be 
easily depressed by each of five fingers when the grip device 1R is held 
by the right hand. More specifically, the pressure sensors SR1 and SR2 are 
arranged laterally such that these pressure sensors SR1 and SR2 can be 
depressed by the thumb, the pressure sensors SR3 and SR4 are arranged 
vertically such that these pressure sensors SR3 and SR4 can be depressed 
by the index finger, and the pressure sensors SR5 to SR7 are arranged 
vertically such that these pressure sensors SR5 to SR7 can be respectively 
depressed by the middle finger, third finger and little finger. Because of 
such arrangement, these pressure sensors SR1 to SR7 can be smoothly 
depressed by five fingers of right hand without effort. 
When each pressure sensor is depressed by a corresponding finger tip, the 
depressing pressure acts on the corresponding piezoelectric element whose 
resistance is varied. These pressure sensors SR1 to SR7 are connected to a 
belt type main unit (i.e., musical tone control data generating means) 5 
via a cable 3R and connector 4R. As shown in FIG. 3, this main unit 5 is 
mounted to the player's waist. FIG. 4 shows an appearance of this belt 
type main unit 5. 
Next, in FIG. 1, one terminal of each of the pressure sensors SR1 to SR7 is 
connected in common to the main unit 5 via the cable 3R and then grounded 
On the other hand, other terminals of these pressure sensors SR1 to SR7 
are connected to the main unit 5 via the cable 3R and then pulled up 
respectively by pull-up resistors r. In addition, these other terminals 
are respectively connected to key-on/touch detecting circuits 6R1 to 6R7. 
Each of these key-on/touch detecting circuits 6R1 to 6R7 outputs key-on 
signal KON, initial touch-data ITD and after-touch data ATD based on the 
detection voltage supplied from each of the pressure sensors SR1 to SR7. 
The key-on signal KON is outputted when the depressing pressure applied to 
each pressure sensor becomes larger than the predetermined pressure. In 
addition, the initial-touch data ITD are the data whose value corresponds 
to the varying speed of initial touch, i.e., the varying speed of 
depressing pressure at the instant when each pressure sensor is depressed. 
Further, the after-touch data ATD are the data whose value corresponds to 
the continuous variation of depressing pressure while each finger starts 
and then stops to depress each pressure sensor. 
Each of these key-on/touch detecting circuits 6R1 to 6R7 has the same 
constitution, hence, description will be given with respect to the 
constitution of key-on/touch detecting circuit 6R1 only. 
More specifically, the key-on/touch detecting circuit 6R1 is constituted by 
an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 7, comparator circuit 8, delay 
circuit 9, AND gate 10 and register 11. The A/D converter 7 converts the 
detection voltage supplied from the pressure sensor SR1 into digital 
detection voltage data VD of predetermined bits. Such data VD are 
outputted as the after-touch data ATD. Then, the comparator circuit 8 
compares the detection voltage data VD with the reference voltage data 
Vref. In the case where VD&gt;Vref, the output level of comparator circuit 8 
is turned to "H" level. This output signal of comparator circuit 8 is 
supplied to a first terminal of AND gate 10. In addition, this output 
signal is delayed by the predetermined time T in the delay circuit 9 and 
then supplied to a second terminal of AND gate 10. Therefore, when the 
predetermined time T has passed after VD&gt;Vref, the output level of AND 
gate 10 turns to "H" level so that such output signal of AND gate 10 
having the "H" level is outputted as the key-on signal KON. Meanwhile, the 
output signal of delay circuit 9 is also supplied to a load terminal L of 
register 11. When the output level of delay circuit 9 is turned to "H" 
level, the register 11 latches the detection voltage data VD, and then 
such latched data are outputted as the initial-touch data ITD. 
Next, description will be given with respect to the reason why the data 
latched by the register 11 are outputted as the initial-touch data ITD 
when the predetermined time T has passed after VD&gt;Vref in conjunction with 
FIG. 5. 
FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relation between the depressing pressure 
applied to the pressure sensor and its resistance. In FIG. 5, it is 
supposed that the resistance of the pressure sensor reaches Rref so that 
the detection voltage VD will be equal to the reference voltage Vref when 
the depressing pressure reaches P0. Then, in the case where the depressing 
pressure is applied to the pressure sensor with relatively weak touch 
(i.e., in the case where the varying speed of depressing pressure is 
relatively slow), the depressing pressure reaches P1 so that the 
resistance will be equal to Rinit1 when the predetermined time T is passed 
away. But, in the case where the depressing pressure is applied to the 
pressure sensor with relatively strong touch (i.e., in the case where the 
varying speed of depressing pressure is relatively fast), the depressing 
pressure reaches P2 (&gt;P1) so that the resistance will be equal to Rinit2 
(&lt;Rinit1). As described above, the resistance of pressure sensor when the 
predetermined time T has, passed after the depressing pressure exceeds P0 
depends on the intensity of touch. The resistance will be Rinit2 when the 
touch is strong, while the resistance will be Rinit1 when the touch is 
weak. Since the detection voltage data VD outputted from the A/D converter 
7 corresponds to the resistance of the piezoelectric element within the 
pressure sensor, it is possible to obtain the initial-touch data ITD by 
latching such detection voltage data VD in the register 11. 
The above-mentioned key-on/touch detecting circuits 6R1 to 6R7 are 
respectively provided for the pressure sensors SR1 to SR7. Similarly, 
key-on/touch detecting circuits 6L1 to 6L7 are provided for the pressure 
sensors SL1 to SL7 of the left grip device 1L. The key-on signal KON, 
initial-touch data ITD and after-touch data ATD outputted from each of the 
key-on/touch detecting circuits 6R1 to 6R7 and 6L1 to 6L7 are supplied to 
a multiplexer 12. 
Based on a channel select signal CS supplied to its select terminal, the 
multiplexer 12 selects and outputs the key-on signal KON, initial-touch 
data ITD and after-touch data ATD outputted from one of the key-on/touch 
detecting circuits 6R1 to 6R7 and 6L1 to 6L7. Meanwhile, 14 designates a 
central processing unit (CPU), 16 designates a read only memory (ROM) for 
storing programs used in the CPU 14, and 17 designates a random access 
memory (RAM) which is used as a work area. The CPU 14 sequentially changes 
the channel select signal CS to thereby scan the output data of 
key-on/touch detecting circuits with high speed. Then, the CPU 14 
transmits the selected output data to the RAM 17. Based on such selected 
output data, the CPU 14 generates key code data KC for designating the 
tone pitch, tone volume data VOL for designating the tone volume and tone 
color designating data TD for designating the tone color. Incidentally, 
these key-on signal KON, key code data KC, tone volume data VOL and tone 
color designating data TD are called musical tone control data MCD. 
In addition, 18 designates a console panel including push switches (see 
FIG. 4) and an encoder which encodes and outputs the outputs of push 
switches to the CPU 14. Further, 19 designates a liquid crystal display 
(LCD) indicator (see FIG. 4), and 20 designates a transmitter which 
modulates the musical tone control data MCD with the carrier wave to 
thereby output the modulated data from an antenna 20a by wireless. A MIDI 
circuit 21 converts the musical tone control data MCD into the data of 
MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) standard, and such data of 
MIDI standard will be outputted to an external device (not shown) via an 
output terminal 21a. 
Next, description will be given with respect to the operation of the 
musical tone control apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
In order to perform the music, the player mounts the belt type main unit 5 
at his waist as shown in FIG. 3. Then, the connectors 4R and 4L at the 
tips of cables 3R and 3L which are stretched from the grip device 1R and 
1L are respectively connected to connectors 5R and 5L of the main unit 5 
(see FIG. 4). Further, in the case where the musical tone generating 
apparatus is driven by use of wire, the connection cable is connected 
between the output terminal 21a and musical tone generating apparatus. 
Thereafter, the power is applied to the main unit 5 mounted at the 
player's waist and the musical tone generating apparatus. Next, the push 
switches of console panel 18 are operated so that wire-transmission or 
wireless transmission (i.e., the method for transmitting the data to the 
musical tone generating apparatus) is designated. In addition, functions 
are assigned to each pressure sensor of the grip devices 1R and 1L. 
In the first embodiment, one of first to fourth octaves is designated based 
on the outputs of pressure sensors SR1 to SR4 in the right grip device 1R. 
In addition, based on the combination of the outputs of pressure sensors 
SR5 to SR7, one of musical scales C.sup.n, D.sup.n, . . . , B.sup.n and 
C.sup.n+l is designated. In this case, the value "1" corresponds to the 
key-on and the value "0" corresponds to the key-off in the outputs of 
pressure sensors SR5 to SR7. Further, based on the outputs of pressure 
sensors SL1 to SL4 in the left grip device 1L, the key-on and touch 
intensity are designated. Furthermore, based on the outputs of pressure 
sensors SL5 to SL7, the tone color is designated. 
Next, the player holds the grip devices 1R and 1L by his right and left 
hands respectively. Then, the player operates the push button in the 
console panel 18 for commanding the start timing to thereby start the 
performance. Thereafter, the CPU 14 sequentially transmits the key-on 
signal KON, initial-touch data ITD and after-touch data ATD to the RAM 17, 
18 wherein these data are obtained from one of the key-on/touch detecting 
circuits 6R1 to 6R7 and 6L1 to 6L7. Based on the transmitted data, the CPU 
14 generates the musical tone control data MCD, which are then outputted 
to the MIDI circuit 21. The MIDI circuit 21 converts the supplied musical 
tone control data MCD into the data of MIDI standard, which are then 
outputted to the external musical tone generating apparatus via the output 
terminal 21a and connection cable. Thus, the musical tone generating 
circuit generates the musical tone from its speaker based on the data of 
MIDI standard. 
In this case, the functions as shown in FIG. 6 are assigned to the pressure 
sensors of the grip devices 1R and 1L. For example, the right thumb 
depresses the pressure sensor SR1 to thereby designate the first octave, 
the right middle finger depresses the pressure sensor SR5 to thereby 
designate musical scale G.sup.n, and the left little finger depresses the 
pressure sensor SL7 to thereby designate the flute. In such state, when 
the left thumb depresses the pressure sensor SL1, the musical tone 
generating apparatus generates the musical tone having the touch 
corresponding to its depressing intensity, the tone color of flute and the 
musical scale G.sup.1. Thereafter, when the left index finger depresses 
the pressure sensor SL3, the musical tone generating apparatus generates 
the musical tone having the touch corresponding to its depressing 
intensity and the tone pitch which is higher than the scale G.sup.1 by 
half-tone. On the other hand, when the left index finger depresses the 
pressure sensor SL4, the musical tone generating apparatus generates the 
musical tone having the touch corresponding to its depressing intensity 
and the tone pitch which is lower than the scale G.sup.1 by half-tone. 
In the period when the pressure sensors SR1 to SR4 for designating the 
octave and the pressure sensors SL5 to SL7 for designating the tone color 
are depressed, the CPU 14 judges the designation of the depressed pressure 
sensor valid. Incidentally, it is possible to maintain the designations of 
these pressure sensors SR1 to SR4 and SL5 to SL7. As shown in FIG. 7, it 
is possible to assign some musical effects such as the tone volume, 
vibrato and wow based on the outputs of pressure sensors SL5 to SL7 of the 
left grip device 1L. These musical effects can be arbitrarily set by the 
player who operates the push switches of the console panel 18. 
In the case where "wireless" is selected as the method of transmitting the 
data to the musical tone generating apparatus, the musical tone control 
data MCD are supplied to the transmitter 20. Then, the LCD indicator 19 
displays the operation contents and the like of the console panel 18. 
In the first embodiment described heretofore, the thumb and index finger 
capable of moving delicately operate two of four pressure sensors SR1 to 
SR4 (or SL1 to SL4), while the remaining middle finger, third finger and 
little finger operate one of the pressure sensors SR5 to SR7 (or SL5 to 
SL7). Hence, the ten fingers can operate the fourteen pressure sensors 
without effort. 
In addition, in the first embodiment, it is possible to detect both of the 
initial-touch and after-touch based on the output signal of single 
pressure sensor (i.e., SR1 to SR7 and SL1 to SL7). 
Incidentally, it is possible to apply this musical tone control apparatus 
to the normal electronic keyboard musical instrument such that the 
initial-touch and after-touch of key can be detected. In addition, it is 
possible to re-design the first embodiment so that the analog detection 
voltage of each pressure sensor will be directly used without converting 
such analog detection voltage into the digital detection voltage data VD 
in the A/D converter 7. 
[B] SECOND EMBODIMENT 
Next, description will be given with respect to the second embodiment. This 
second embodiment as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is characterized by further 
comprising angle detectors 30R and 30L for player's right and left arms as 
compared to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 8, parts 
corresponding to those of first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are designated 
by the same numerals, hence, description thereof will be omitted. 
In FIG. 8, similar to the grip devices 1R and 1L described before, the 
angle detectors 30R and 30L are constituted symmetrically. Therefore, 
hereinafter, description will be given with respect to the right angle 
detector 30R only, and description of the left angle detector 30L will be 
omitted. 
As shown in FIG. 10, the angle detector 30R is mounted to a supporter 33 
via plane fasteners 31 and 32, and this supporter 33 is mounted to the 
player's right arm. More specifically, the positive plane fastener 31 is 
attached to the angle detector 30R, while the negative plane fastener 32 
is attached to the supporter 33. Therefore, the angle detector 30R can be 
freely mounted to and removed from the supporter 33. As shown in FIG. 11, 
the angle detector 30R is constituted by a case 35 and two mercury 
switches Ra and Rb. These mercury switches Ra and Rb are arranged such 
that an angle of 45 degrees is formed between a reference line SL and each 
of these mercury switches. As shown in FIG. 12, in each mercury switch, 
mercury liquid 37 is enclosed in a glass tube 36 and one part of each of 
the electrodes 38a and 38b is inserted into the inside of this glass tube 
36. In the state as, shown in FIG. 12, the electrodes 38a and 38b are not 
conducting. However, when the mercury switch is revolved in a direction C, 
the electrodes 38a and 38b to conduct due to the mercury liquid 37. Of 
course, similar to the mercury switches Ra and Rb, the left angle detector 
30L provides mercury switches La and Lb. 
In FIG. 11, when the angle detector 30R is revolved around a reference 
point 0 in a direction A or B, each of the mercury switches Ra and Rb is 
independently turned on or off. More specifically, in the state where the 
reference line SL is in parallel with the ground (or earth) as shown in 
FIG. 11, the mercury switch Ra is turned on but the mercury switch Rb is 
turned off. Then, when the angle detector 30R is revolved around the 
reference point 0 in the direction A by more than 45 degrees, both of the 
mercury switches Ra and Rb are turned on. On the contrary, when the angle 
detector 30R is revolved in the direction B by more than 45 degrees, both 
of the mercury switches Ra and Rb are turned off. Such on/off signals of 
the mercury switches Ra and Rb are guided into the grip device 1R via a 
cable 39R and then further guided into the main unit 5 via the cable 3R. 
In FIG. 8, first terminals of the mercury switches Ra and Rb are connected 
in common and then guided into the grip device 1R via the cable 39R 
wherein this common line is further connected to first terminals of the 
pressure sensors SR1 to SR7 in common and then guided into the main unit 5 
via the cable 3R. Then, such common line is grounded in the main unit 5. 
On the other hand, the second terminals of the pressure sensors SR1 to SR7 
are guided into the main unit 5 via the cable 3R and then pulled up by 
pull-up resistors r. In addition, each of these second terminals are 
connected to each of the key-on/touch detecting circuits 6R1 to 6R7. 
Further, second terminals of the mercury switches Ra and Rb are guided 
into the grip device 1R via the cable 39R. Then, these second terminals 
are pulled up by the pull-up resistors r and then connected to the 
multiplexer 12 respectively. 
Based on the channel select signal CS, the multiplexer 12 selects one group 
of the key-on signal KON, initial-touch data ITD and after-touch data ATD 
outputted from the key-on/touch detecting circuits or the multiplexer 12 
selects one of the on/off signals (hereinafter, referred to as angle data) 
outputted from the mercury switches Ra, Rb, La and Lb. Therefore, the CPU 
14 scans the output data of key-on/touch detecting circuits and angle data 
outputted from the mercury switches with high speed to thereby obtain the 
key-on signal KON, initial-touch data ITD, after-touch data ATD and angle 
data, which are then sequentially transmitted to the RAM 17. Based on such 
transmitted data, the CPU 14 generates the key code data KC, tone volume 
data VOL, tone color designating data TD and the key-on signal KON, all of 
which are called the musical tone control data MCD. 
As shown in FIG. 13, the functions are assigned to each of the pressure 
sensors in the second embodiment. More specifically, the key-on and touch 
intensity are designated based on the outputs of pressure sensors SR1 to 
SR4; the tone volume, vibrato and wow are respectively designated based on 
the outputs of pressure sensors SR5 to SR7; first to fourth octaves are 
respectively designated based on the outputs of pressure sensors SL1 to 
SL4; the tone color is designated based on each of the outputs of pressure 
sensors SL5 to SL7; and musical scales C.sup.n, D.sup.n, . . . , B.sup.n, 
C.sup.n+1, D.sup.n+1 are designated based on a combination of on/off 
states of the mercury switches Ra, Rb, La and Lb. Such assignment of 
functions can be arbitrarily set by operating the push switches of the 
console panel 18. 
In the second embodiment, the player mounts the angle detectors 30R and 30L 
at his right and left arms respectively by use of the supporter 33, and 
then the player holds the grip devices 1R and 1L by his right and left 
hands respectively. Thereafter, the push switch for commanding the start 
in the console panel 18 is operated so that the performance will be 
started. 
For example, in the state where the player stretches both arms horizontally 
(so that the mercury switches Ra and La are turned on), the musical scale 
"G.sup.n " is designated; the left thumb depresses the pressure sensor SL1 
so that the "first octave" is designated; and the left little finger 
depresses the pressure sensor SL7 so that the tone color of "saxophone" is 
designated. In such state, when the right thumb further depresses the 
pressure sensor SR1, the musical tone generating apparatus generates the 
musical tone having the touch response corresponding to the depressing 
intensity of such pressure sensor SR1, the tone color of saxophone and 
musical scale G.sup.1. Next, when the right index finger depresses the 
pressure sensor SR3, the musical tone generating apparatus generates the 
musical tone having the touch response corresponding to the depressing 
intensity thereof and the tone pitch which is higher than the musical 
scale G.sup.1 by half-tone. On the other hand, when the right index finger 
depresses the pressure sensor SL4, the musical tone generating apparatus 
generates the musical tone having the touch response corresponding to the 
depressing intensity thereof and the tone pitch which is lower than the 
musical scale G.sup.1 by half-tone. In addition, when the right middle 
finger depresses the pressure sensor SR5, the tone volume is varied in 
response to its depressing intensity. When the right third finger 
depresses the pressure sensor SR6, the vibrato intensity is varied. 
Further, when the right little finger depresses the pressure sensor SR7, 
the wow effect is applied to the musical tone. 
Above is the whole description of the preferred embodiments of the present 
invention. This invention may be practiced or embodied in still other ways 
without departing from the spirit or essential character thereof. 
Therefore, the preferred embodiments described herein are illustrative and 
not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the 
appended claims and all variations which come within the meaning of the 
claims are intended to be embraced therein.