Electrical string-instrument

Claim 1

An electrical string-instrument comprising: N strings A 1 , A 2 , . . . A N ; a support member having a major surface including a string receiving surface and stretching the strings A 1 to A N in opposing relation thereto to extend in substantially the same plane in parallel relation to one another; a plurality of frets disposed on the string receiving surface, which frets are sequentially disposed in the direction of extension of the strings A 1 to A N to extend in the direction perpendicular thereto; electromechanical transducer means C 1 , C 2 , . . . C N disposed in the area other than the string receiving area in the area opposite to the strings A 1 to A N on the major surface of the support member for converting mechanical vibrations of the strings A 1 , A 2 , . . . A N into corresponding electrical signals E 1 , E 2 , . . . E N , respectively; means by which, based on the electrical signals E 1 , E 2 , . . . E N , in the case where the electrical signal E i (i = 1, 2, . . . N) is obtained and then one (hereinafter identified by E p ) of the electrical signals E 1 to E N except E i is obtained, a gate signal S i is produced which has a value "1" in the binary representation from the moment of generation of the electrical signal E i to the moment of generation of the electrical signal E p ; and N gate means X 1 , X 2 , . . . X N for gating N signals based on the electrical signals E 1 , E 2 , . . . E N derived from the electromechanical transducer means C 1 , C 2 , . . . C N under the control of the electrical signals S 1 , S 2 , . . . S N , respectively.