# US 2009/0260507 A1 · Systems and methods for composing music

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- Number: US 2009/0260507 A1
- Document ID: US20090260507A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/290,929
- Filed: 2008-11-05
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-22
- Inventors: Peter Gannon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260507A1

## CPC

- G10H 1/383: {Chord detection and/or recognition, e.g. for correction, or automatic bass generation}
- G10H 1/0025: {Automatic or semi-automatic music composition, e.g. producing random music, applying rules from music theory or modifying a musical piece (automatically producing a series of tones G10H1/26)}
- G10H 2210/086: for transcription of raw audio or music data to a displayed or printed staff representation or to displayable MIDI-like note-oriented data, e.g. in pianoroll format
- G10H 2210/111: Automatic composing, i.e. using predefined musical rules
- G10H 2210/141: Riff, i.e. improvisation, e.g. repeated motif or phrase, automatically added to a piece, e.g. in real time
- G10H 2210/395: Special musical scales, i.e. other than the 12-interval equally tempered scale; Special input devices therefor
- G10H 2240/131: Library retrieval, i.e. searching a database or selecting a specific musical piece, segment, pattern, rule or parameter set
- G10H 2240/155: Library update, i.e. making or modifying a musical database using musical parameters as indices
- G10H 2250/211: Random number generators, pseudorandom generators, classes of functions therefor
- G10H: ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE

## Abstract

A system and method for generating a new composition based on a database of pre-recorded performances of existing compositions. A system and method for generating an automated method for converting existing performances and associated MIDI transcriptions to a database and generating a new composition from the database. Musical improvisations are performed by musicians, in digital audio format. The digital audio data is transcribed to MIDI data and stored in a song file. The tempo, chord symbols used and key signature are input, and added to the song file. The digital audio file is analyzed and markers for the start and the end of phrases are added in a phrase marker text file. The system analyzes the MIDI transcriptions, chords, and phrase marker text. Information about sections and phrases of the solo from the phrase market text are stored in a “Riffs” file. The MIDI data transcriptions, the chord symbols and the Riffs files are combined into a Soloist Database File, consisting of one or more MIDI transcriptions of the audio improvisations. The musician's performances are stored as digital audio files such as WAV format files. An Options file is created by the user to control parameters about the solo to be generated. The system then generates a new improvisation based on any input chord progression and key, and the Options file, by choosing portions of the Soloist Database and corresponding portions of the digital audio files to construct the new improvisation. MIDI transcriptions corresponding to the digital audio performance are displayable as notation, piano roll, and on-screen instrument keyboard or fretboard.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for generating a musical composition, the method comprising:
receiving a component of the musical composition;
determining a first parameter based on the component;
retrieving a portion of a pre-recorded musical composition from a database that includes portions of one or more pre-recorded musical compositions;
determining a second parameter based on the retrieved portion;
comparing the first parameter to the second parameter to determine a degree of similarity between the component and the portion; and
selecting the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition based on the degree of similarity between the first and second parameters.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the component received includes at least one of the following:
a chord included in the musical composition,
a chord, a root of the chord, and an extension of the chord included in the musical composition,
a chord progression included in the musical composition,
a key signature for the musical composition, and
a musical style for the composition.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first parameter includes at least one of the following:
a scale associated with the component, wherein the scale includes tones that when played simultaneously with the component are in harmony with the component,
one or more tones included in the component,
a relative root of the component.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first parameter includes at least one of the following:
a scale associated with the component, wherein the scale is defined by a chord root of a chord of the component, and a chord extension of the chord of the component.
one or more tones included in the component,
a relative root of the component.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first parameter includes at least one of the following:
a scale associated with the component, wherein the scale includes tones that when played simultaneously with at least one chord of the component are in harmony with the at least one chord,
one or more tones included in at least one chord of the component,
a relative root of at least one chord of the component, and
a key signature of the component.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein each portion of the one or more pre-recorded musical compositions included in the database is retrieved.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the second parameter includes at least one of the following:
one or more tones of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition,
one or more tones of one or more chord extensions of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition,
one or more tones of a scale associated with one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition, wherein the one or more tones are in harmony with the one or more chords, when the one or more tones are played simultaneously with the one or more chords,
a key signature of the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition,
the number of beats in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition, and
the number of times that the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition has been previously selected to be included in the musical composition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition is selected if at least one of the following are met:
one or more tones of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition are the same as one or more tones of the component,
one or more tones of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition are the same as one or more tones included in a scale associated with the component, wherein the one or more tones included in the scale are in harmony with the component when played simultaneously with the component,
one or more tones of one or more chord extensions of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition are the same as one or more tones of the component,
one or more tones of one or more chord extensions of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition are the same as one or more tones included in a scale associated with the component, wherein the one or more tones included in the scale are in harmony with the component when played simultaneously with the component,
one or more tones of a scale associated with one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition, wherein the one or more tones are in harmony with the one or more chords, when the one or more tones are played simultaneously with the one or more chords, are the same as one or more tones of the component,
one or more tones of a scale associated with one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition, wherein the one or more tones are in harmony with the one or more chords, when the one or more tones are played simultaneously with the one or more chords, are the same as one or more tones included in a scale associated with the component, wherein the one or more tones included in the scale are in harmony with the component when played simultaneously with the component,
a key signature of the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition is the same as the key signature of component,
the number of beats in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition exceeds 4, and
the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition has not been previously selected to be included in the musical composition.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition based on the degree of similarity between the first and second parameters includes selecting the portion to be included in a subgroup of portions of one or more pre-recorded musical compositions that is to be evaluated again relative to the other portions selected to be included in the subgroup.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1:
wherein the degree of similarity is a first degree of similarity; and
further comprising selecting the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition based on a second degree of similarity between the first and second parameters, wherein the first and second parameters are less similar in the second degree of similarity than the first and second parameters in the first degree of similarity.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising assembling the selected portion to the component to generate the musical composition.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 further comprising:
playing a part of the musical composition, and
visually displaying a part of the musical composition while the part is played.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 further comprising:
playing a part of the musical composition, and
receiving user input that triggers playing a portion of the pre-recorded composition while the part of the musical composition is played.

### Claim 14

A system for generating a musical composition, the method comprising:
a receiver operable to receive a component of the musical composition;
a retriever operable to retrieve a portion of a pre-recorded musical composition from a database that includes portions of one or more pre-recorded musical compositions;
a determiner operable to determine a first parameter based on the component, and a second parameter based on the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition;
a comparator operable to compare the first parameter to the second parameter to determine a degree of similarity between the component and the portion; and
a selector operable to select the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition based on the degree of similarity between the first and second parameters.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14 wherein the component received includes at least one of the following:
a chord included in the musical composition,
a chord, a root of the chord, and an extension of the chord included in the musical composition,
a chord progression included in the musical composition,
a key signature for the musical composition, and
a musical style for the composition.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14 wherein the first parameter includes at least one of the following:
a scale associated with the component, wherein the scale includes tones that when played simultaneously with the component are in harmony with the component,
one or more tones included in the component,
a relative root of the component.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14 wherein the first parameter includes at least one of the following:
a scale associated with the component, wherein the scale is defined by a chord root of a chord of the component, and a chord extension of the chord of the component.
one or more tones included in the component,
a relative root of the component.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14 wherein the first parameter includes at least one of the following:
a scale associated with the component, wherein the scale includes tones that when played simultaneously with at least one chord of the component are in harmony with the at least one chord,
one or more tones included in at least one chord of the component,
a relative root of at least one chord of the component, and
a key signature of the component.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14 wherein the retriever is operable to retrieve each portion of the one or more pre-recorded musical compositions included in the database.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14 wherein the second parameter includes at least one of the following:
one or more tones of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition,
one or more tones of one or more chord extensions of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition,
one or more tones of a scale associated with one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition, wherein the one or more tones are in harmony with the one or more chords, when the one or more tones are played simultaneously with the one or more chords,
a key signature of the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition,
the number of beats in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition, and
the number of times that the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition has been previously selected to be included in the musical composition.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14 wherein the selector is operable to select the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition if at least one of the following are met:
one or more tones of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition are the same as one or more tones of the component,
one or more tones of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition are the same as one or more tones included in a scale associated with the component, wherein the one or more tones included in the scale are in harmony with the component when played simultaneously with the component,
one or more tones of one or more chord extensions of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition are the same as one or more tones of the component,
one or more tones of one or more chord extensions of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition are the same as one or more tones included in a scale associated with the component, wherein the one or more tones included in the scale are in harmony with the component when played simultaneously with the component,
one or more tones of a scale associated with one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition, wherein the one or more tones are in harmony with the one or more chords, when the one or more tones are played simultaneously with the one or more chords, are the same as one or more tones of the component,
one or more tones of a scale associated with one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition, wherein the one or more tones are in harmony with the one or more chords, when the one or more tones are played simultaneously with the one or more chords, are the same as one or more tones included in a scale associated with the component, wherein the one or more tones included in the scale are in harmony with the component when played simultaneously with the component,
a key signature of the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition is the same as the key signature of component,
the number of beats in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition exceeds 4, and
the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition has not been previously selected to be included in the musical composition.

### Claim 22 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14:
wherein the degree of similarity is a first degree of similarity; and
further comprising the selector operable to select the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition based on a second degree of similarity between the first and second parameters, wherein the first and second parameters are less similar in the second degree of similarity than the first and second parameters in the first degree of similarity.

### Claim 23 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14 further comprising assembling the selected portion to the component to generate the musical composition.

### Claim 24

A storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to:
determine a first parameter based on a component of a musical composition that is received by the program;
retrieve a portion of a pre-recorded musical composition from a database that includes portions of one or more pre-recorded musical compositions;
determine a second parameter based on the retrieved portion;
compare the first parameter to the second parameter to determine a degree of similarity between the component and the portion;
select the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition based on the degree of similarity between the first and second parameters.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The medium of claim 24 wherein the program, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to determine the first parameter which includes at least one of the following:
a scale associated with the component, wherein the scale includes tones that when played simultaneously with the component are in harmony with the component,
one or more tones included in the component,
a relative root of the component.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The medium of claim 24 wherein the program, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to determine the first parameter which includes at least one of the following:
a scale associated with the component, wherein the scale is defined by a chord root of a chord of the component, and a chord extension of the chord of the component.
one or more tones included in the component,
a relative root of the component.

### Claim 27 (depends on 24)

The medium of claim 24 wherein the program, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to determine the first parameter which includes at least one of the following:
a scale associated with the component, wherein the scale includes tones that when played simultaneously with at least one chord of the component are in harmony with the at least one chord,
one or more tones included in at least one chord of the component,
a relative root of at least one chord of the component, and
a key signature of the component.

### Claim 28 (depends on 24)

The medium of claim 24 wherein the program, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to retrieve each portion of the one or more pre-recorded musical compositions included in the database.

### Claim 29 (depends on 24)

The medium of claim 24 wherein the program, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to determine the second parameter which includes at least one of the following:
one or more tones of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition,
one or more tones of one or more chord extensions of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition,
one or more tones of a scale associated with one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition, wherein the one or more tones are in harmony with the one or more chords, when the one or more tones are played simultaneously with the one or more chords,
a key signature of the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition,
the number of beats in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition, and
the number of times that the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition has been previously selected to be included in the musical composition.

### Claim 30 (depends on 24)

The medium of claim 24 wherein the program, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to select the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition if at least one of the following are met:
one or more tones of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition are the same as one or more tones of the component,
one or more tones of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition are the same as one or more tones included in a scale associated with the component, wherein the one or more tones included in the scale are in harmony with the component when played simultaneously with the component,
one or more tones of one or more chord extensions of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition are the same as one or more tones of the component,
one or more tones of one or more chord extensions of one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition are the same as one or more tones included in a scale associated with the component, wherein the one or more tones included in the scale are in harmony with the component when played simultaneously with the component,
one or more tones of a scale associated with one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition, wherein the one or more tones are in harmony with the one or more chords, when the one or more tones are played simultaneously with the one or more chords, are the same as one or more tones of the component,
one or more tones of a scale associated with one or more chords in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition, wherein the one or more tones are in harmony with the one or more chords, when the one or more tones are played simultaneously with the one or more chords, are the same as one or more tones included in a scale associated with the component, wherein the one or more tones included in the scale are in harmony with the component when played simultaneously with the component,
a key signature of the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition is the same as the key signature of component,
the number of beats in the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition exceeds 4, and
the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition has not been previously selected to be included in the musical composition.

### Claim 31 (depends on 24)

The medium of claim 24 wherein the degree of similarity is a first degree of similarity and the program, when executed by a computer, further causes the computer to select the portion of the pre-recorded musical composition based on a second degree of similarity between the first and second parameters, wherein the first and second parameters are less similar in the second degree of similarity than the first and second parameters in the first degree of similarity.

### Claim 32 (depends on 24)

The medium of claim 24 wherein the program, when executed by a computer, further causes the computer to assemble the selected portion to the component to generate the musical composition.

### Claim 33

A method for generating a database containing two or more portions of one or more pre-recorded musical compositions, the method comprising:
storing a performance of a musical composition;
determining and storing a key signature, tempo, chord progressions and bar location times of the musical composition;
transcribing the stored performance into MIDI format;
locating one or more phrases included in the musical composition;
marking the stored performance at the start and at the end of the one or more phrases;
storing the location of the start and end markers;
determining chord data for one or more chords in each phrase; and
storing the chord data.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33 wherein storing the performance of a musical composition includes storing the performance as at least one of the following data types: digital data and analogue data.

### Claim 35 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33 wherein a first phrase is located and a second phrase is located that starts before the first phrase ends.

### Claim 36 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33 wherein a first phrase is located and a second phrase is located that starts after the first phrase begins, and ends before the first phrase ends.

### Claim 37 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33 wherein the performance of the musical composition is stored in a first file, the transcribed performance is stored in a second file, the start and end markers are stored in a third file, and the chord data is stored in a fourth file.

### Claim 38 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33 wherein the determining chord data includes determining chord data for each chord in each phrase.

### Claim 39 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33 wherein the chord data includes at least one of the following:
a chord included in the phrase,
a chord, a root of the chord, and an extension of the chord included in the phrase,
a chord progression included in the phrase,
a key signature for the phrase, and
a musical style for the phrase.

### Claim 40 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33 further comprising:
determining scale data for one or more chords in each phrase, wherein the scale data represents a scale that includes tones that, when played simultaneously with the chord, is in harmony with the chord; and
storing the scale data.

### Claim 41

A storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to:
store a performance of a musical composition;
store a key signature, tempo, chord progressions and bar location times of the musical composition;
transcribe the stored performance into MIDI format;
mark a start location and an end location of one or more phrases in the stored performance;
store the location of the start and end markers; and
store chord data for one or more chords in each phrase.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The medium of claim 41 wherein the program, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to store the performance of a musical composition in at least one of the following data types: digital data and analogue data.

### Claim 43 (depends on 41)

The medium of claim 41 wherein the program, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to store the performance of the musical composition in a first file, the transcribed performance in a second file, the start and end markers in a third file, and the chord data in a fourth file.

### Claim 44 (depends on 41)

The medium of claim 41 wherein the program, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to store chord data that includes at least one of the following:
a chord included in the phrase,
a chord, a root of the chord, and an extension of the chord included in the phrase,
a chord progression included in the phrase,
a key signature for the phrase, and
a musical style for the phrase.

### Claim 45 (depends on 41)

The medium of claim 41 wherein the program, when executed by a computer, further causes the computer to store scale data for one or more chords in each phrase, wherein the scale data represents a scale that includes tones that, when played simultaneously with the chord, is in harmony with the chord.

### Claim 46

A system for generating a database containing two or more portions of one or more pre-recorded musical compositions, the system comprising:
a first determining element operable to determine a key signature, tempo, chord progressions and bar location times of a performance of a musical composition;
a transcribing element operable to transcribe the performance into MIDI format;
a locating element operable to locate one or more phrases included in the musical composition;
a marking element operable to mark the performance at a start and at an end of the one or more phrases;
a second determining element operable to deter chord data for one or more chords in each phrase; and
a storing element operable to store:
the performance of the musical composition,
the key signature, the tempo, the chord progressions and bar location times of the musical composition,
the location of the start and end markers, and
the chord data.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

The system of claim 46 wherein the storing element is operable to store the performance of a musical composition as at least one of the following data types: digital data and analogue data.

### Claim 48 (depends on 46)

The system of claim 46 wherein the locating element is operable to locate a first phrase and a second phrase that starts after the first phrase begins, and ends before the first phrase ends.

### Claim 49 (depends on 46)

The system of claim 46 wherein the storing element is operable to store:
the performance of the musical composition in a first file,
the transcribed performance in a second file,
the start and end markers in a third file, and
the chord data in a fourth file.

### Claim 50 (depends on 46)

The system of claim 46 wherein the second determining element is operable to determine chord data for each chord in each phrase.

### Claim 51 (depends on 46)

The system of claim 46 wherein the chord data includes at least one of the following:
a chord included in the phrase,
a chord, a root of the chord, and an extension of the chord included in the phrase,
a chord progression included in the phrase,
a key signature for the phrase, and
a musical style for the phrase.

### Claim 52 (depends on 46)

The method of claim 46 further comprising a third determining element operable to determine scale data for one or more chords in each phrase, wherein the scale data represents a scale that includes tones that, when played simultaneously with the chord, is in harmony with the chord.