Patent ID: 8022288

Claim:
A stringed musical apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a series of strings and frets configured to produce musical notes when activated by a user, the strings running perpendicular to the frets to form a series of string and fret locations; an IR transmitter associated with each string and fret location of the musical device used to produce sound; at least one IR receiver corresponding to each IR transmitter; and a system, connected to the at least one IR transmitter and each IR receiver, for causing each of the at least one IR transmitters to emit IR light and for determining whether each corresponding IR receiver is receiving IR light; wherein IR light is emitted by an IR transmitter and is reflected back to and detected by its corresponding IR receiver when a user's body part moves near the at least one string and fret combination of the musical device to produce sound; and wherein the IR light detected by the corresponding IR receiver causes the musical device to activate loops, functions or voices corresponding to movement of the user's body part.