Musical instrument capable of changing style of performance through idle keys, method employed therein and computer program for the method

A method for producing tones, comprising the steps of:

• a) assigning at least one musical performance style different from a default musical performance style to at least one manipulator, which is located outside of a group of other manipulators continuously arranged in a manipulator array for designating pitch names of tones to be produced, in response to a user's instruction;
• b) periodically checking said manipulator array to see whether or not said user manipulates said at least one manipulator and whether or not said user selectively manipulates said other manipulators;
• c) producing tones at pitch names identical with the pitch names assigned to the manipulated manipulators in said default musical performance style if said user has not manipulated said at least one manipulator;
• d) producing tones at pitch names identical with the pitch names assigned to the manipulated manipulators in said at least one musical performance style without execution at said step c) if said user has manipulated said at least one manipulator;
• and
• e) repeating said steps b), c) and d) for producing said tones selectively in said default musical performance style and said at least one musical performance style.

A computer program for a method of producing tones, comprising the steps of:

• a) assigning at least one musical performance style different from a default musical performance style to at least one manipulator, which is located outside of a group of other manipulators continuously arranged in a manipulator array for designating pitch names of tones to be produced, in response to a user's instruction;
• b) periodically checking said manipulator array to see whether or not said user manipulates said at least one manipulator and whether or not said user selectively manipulates said other manipulators;
• c) producing tones at pitch names identical with the pitch names assigned to the manipulated manipulators in said default musical performance style if said user has not manipulated said at least one manipulator;
• d) producing tones at pitch names identical with the pitch names assigned to the manipulated manipulators in said at least one musical performance style without execution at said step c) if said user has manipulated said at least one manipulator;
• and
• e) repeating said steps b), c) and d) for producing said tones selectively in said default musical performance style and said at least one musical performance style.