Electronic music instrument

Claim 1

An electronic musical instrument for electrically forming output signals having at least one frequency component and an amplitude defining envelope to simulate musical notes and chords from a stringed musical instrument, comprising: (a) input means for receiving an indication from a user of the output signal to be formed, said input means comprising: (1) a plurality of string touch pad means corresponding in number of the number of strings on the musical instrument being simulated, each of said string touch pad means representing one of the strings being simulated; (2) touch circuit means individually associated with each of said string touch pad means for forming an electrical signal when the string touch pad means associated therewith is contacted; (3) control input means for permitting the user to specify the envelope of the output signal being formed; (4) input switch means for permitting the user to selectively form harmonic frequencies of notes being formed in the instrument; (5) control knob means, equal in number to said string touch pad means, for permitting a user to indicate the level of the harmonic frequencies being formed; (b) oscillator means for forming a reference clock frequency pulse signal; (c) digital circuit means for forming digital count signals defining the frequency component of the output signal to be formed in response to receipt of electrical signals from said touch circuit means; (d) digital counter means responsive to the digital count signal from said digital circuit means for dividing the frequency of the reference clock frequency pulse signal to form the output signal frequency; and (e) envelope control circuit means for forming the envelope of the output signal in response to that specified by said control input means.