Patent ID: 7935876

Claim:
A pitch alteration device for a stringed instrument, said instrument comprising a plurality of strings, a tension of a first string of said plurality of strings being substantially independently adjustable by said pitch alteration device, thereby enabling said first string to vibrate at a plurality of pitches, said pitch alteration device comprising: (a) a tension transfer portion adapted to engage with said first string, comprising a bearing portion, and being movable into a plurality of positions relative to said instrument, said plurality of positions substantially corresponding to said plurality of pitches; (b) a rotating portion rotating about an axis of rotation when an input force is applied thereto; and (c) a camming surface portion being supported by and rotating with said rotating portion and having a curved length and a substantially increasing radial distance from said axis of rotation to substantially all sequential points along said curved length, said sequential points substantially corresponding to said plurality of positions of said tension transfer portion; wherein said bearing portion is adapted to apply a string force of substantially consistent general direction to said camming surface portion while said rotating portion rotates, said string force being proportional to said tension; such that a rotation of said rotating portion causes said camming surface portion to rotate and said bearing portion to move, substantially resulting in a change in a pitch of said first string.