Chord training and assessment systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8957296-B2
Application number	US-75793810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2010
Priority date	Apr 9, 2010
Publication date	Feb 17, 2015
Grant date	Feb 17, 2015

Abstract

The invention relates to systems, methods, and apparatus for assessing a musical performance of a chord, a chord series, or a chord progression. The performance can include a user's performance of a musical instrument. MIDI or audio notes are input and compared to the notes of music track. An indication can be provided to assess the performance. The assessment can be on the basis of timing and/or pitch errors. A new chord can be displayed to a user based on the assessment of the user's performance of the previous chord.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for assessing a musical performance, the method comprising:
displaying a first graphical depiction of a sequence of chords including a first chord and a second chord;
displaying a second graphical depiction of a musical instrument that is different than the first graphical depiction, wherein fingering positions for said sequence of chords are indicated on said second graphical depiction;
receiving a first input corresponding to said first chord played by a user in correlation with said first chord displayed in said sequence of chords;
comparing the first input to notes of said first chord in said sequence;
displaying a first result of said comparing;
in response to said first chord being played correctly by said user,
advancing the sequence of chords;
receiving a second input corresponding to said second chord played by said user in correlation with said second chord displayed in said sequence of chords;
comparing a second input to notes of said second chord in said sequence; and
displaying a second result of said comparing.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising displaying assessment results for one or more recent performances, the assessment results including a timeline for each performance, each timeline indicating one or more positions in which the percentage of correct notes was below a predetermined threshold, and wherein the user can select one of the positions and re-perform notes of the selected position.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first or second input is a polyphonic audio signal and individual notes within the polyphonic audio signal are identified using spectral analysis prior to comparing the first or second input to the sequence of chords.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising displaying a pitch error, timing error, or both for any incorrectly played notes.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second displayed results of comparing comprises a real-time performance rating icon, the icon indicating a percentage substantially equal to a percentage of correct notes within a pre-determined time frame.

6. A system comprising:
a processor;
a display device;
a first module configured to control the processor to display on said display device a first graphical depiction of a sequence of chords including a first chord and a second chord;
a second module configured to control the processor to display on said display device a second graphical depiction of a musical instrument that is different than the first graphical depiction, wherein fingering positions for said sequence of chords are indicated on said second graphical depiction;
a third module configured to control the processor to compare a received first input corresponding to notes of said first chord played in correlation with said first chord in displayed sequence of chords, determining that said first chord was played correctly by said user, advancing the sequence of chords; receiving a second input corresponding to said second chord played by said user in correlation with said second chord in said displayed sequence of chords; comparing said received second input to notes of said second chord in said sequence; and
a fourth module configured to control the processor to display on said display device a result of the comparing by the processor in accordance with said third module.

7. The system according to claim 6 , further comprising a fifth module configured to control the processor to display assessment results for one or more recent performances, the assessment results including a timeline for each performance, each timeline indicating one or more positions in which the percentage of correct notes was below a predetermined threshold, and wherein the user can select one of the positions and re-perform notes of the selected position.

8. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the received first or second input is a polyphonic audio signal and individual notes within the polyphonic audio signal are identified using spectral analysis prior to comparing the first or second input to the sequence of chords.

9. The system according to claim 7 , further comprising a sixth module to display a pitch error, timing error, or both for any incorrectly played notes of said sequence of chords.

10. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the received first or second input includes MIDI data.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first and second displayed results of comparing comprises a real-time performance rating icon, the icon indicating a percentage substantially equal to a percentage of correct notes within a pre-determined time frame.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to assess a musical performance, the instructions comprising:
displaying a first graphical depiction of a sequence of chords including a first chord and a second chord;
displaying a second graphical depiction of a musical instrument that is different than the first graphical depiction, wherein fingering positions for said sequence of chords are indicated on said second graphical depiction;
receiving a first input corresponding to said first chord played by a user in correlation with said first chord displayed in said sequence of chords;
comparing the first input to notes of said first chord in said sequence;
displaying a first result of said comparing;
in response to said first chord being played correctly by said user,
advancing the sequence of chords;
receiving a second input corresponding to said second chord played by said user in correlation with said second chord displayed in said sequence of chords;
comparing a second input to notes of said second chord in said sequence; and
displaying a second result of said comparing.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , the instructions further comprising displaying assessment results for one or more recent performances, the assessment results including a timeline for each performance, each timeline indicating one or more positions in which the percentage of correct notes was below a predetermined threshold, and wherein the user can select one of the positions and re-perform notes of the selected position.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the first or second input is a polyphonic audio signal and individual notes within the polyphonic audio signal are identified using spectral analysis prior to comparing the first or second input to the sequence of chords.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , the instructions further comprising displaying a pitch error, timing error, or both for any incorrectly played notes.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the first and second displayed results of comparing comprises a real-time performance rating icon, the icon indicating a percentage substantially equal to a percentage of correct notes within a pre-determined time frame.

Assignees

• Helms Jan-Hinnerk
• Gilley Greg
• Lengeling Gerhard
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Helms Jan-Hinnerk
• Gilley Greg
• Lengeling Gerhard

Classifications

• G10H1/383 Primary

  Chord detection and/or recognition, e.g. for correction, or automatic bass generation · CPC title

• G10H1/0016

  Means for indicating which keys, frets or strings are to be actuated, e.g. using lights or leds · CPC title

• G10H2210/091

  for performance evaluation, i.e. judging, grading or scoring the musical qualities or faithfulness of a performance, e.g. with respect to pitch, tempo or other timings of a reference performance · CPC title