Training apparatus for learning to play the guitar

A self teaching apparatus for training a user to play a guitar by converting encoded MIDI music data into a user guiding sequence of illuminated finger positions on frets of a six string guitar, the apparatus comprising:

• a guitar comprising:
• a body;
• a neck secured to the body;
• a fret board having 24 frets spaced along and secured onto the fret board, the fret board secured to the neck;
• a headstock secured to an upper portion of the neck;
• six adjustable machine heads for receiving, adjusting and tuning guitar strings, the heads secured to the headstock;
• a bridge secured to the body;
• at least one electronic pickup secured to the body;
• and
• six strings extending and tensioned between the machine heads and the bridge;
• an electronic computer based logic system secured within the body of the guitar, the logic system comprising:
• a programmable logic processor;
• and
• a memory means comprising at least one memory device;
• a plurality of light emitting transparent panels secured to the fret board between the frets, wherein the transparent panels illuminate to indicate finger placement positions during a practice session, and are configured to display other indicators including symbols, numbers, characters, and musical symbols to identify musical properties including pitch, interval, and scale degree, the panels interfaced to the electronic computer based logic system;
• a hard disk secured within the body of the guitar, the hard disk storing encoded MIDI music, instructional exercises and references, the hard disk interfaced to the electronic logic system;
• a backlit graphic display screen, the screen secured to the body, the display screen viewable by the user playing the guitar, the display electronically interfaced to the electronic logic system, the screen for displaying status, controls, options, musical scores, staff notation, tablature;
• a control and edit panel secured to the body of the guitar, the panel including controls for tempo, metronome clicks, transposition, repetition, play, stop, pause, rewind, fast forward, cue, paste, cut and record;
• a plurality of interface connectors secured to the body and interfaced to the electronic logic system, the interface connectors comprising:
• at least one universal serial bus (USB) port for interfacing to a computer;
• at least one FireWire serial bus interface port for interfacing to a computer;
• at least one RCA type analog audio input connector;
• at least one RCA type analog audio output connector;
• at least one Sony/Philips digital interface (S/PDIF) digital audio interface connector;
• an optical data input connector;
• an optical data output connector;
• at least one musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) connector for interfacing to a computer;
• an audio output connector for attaching headphones;
• and
• an audio output connector for connection to an external amplifier;
• an audio speaker secured to the guitar body and interfaced to the electronic logic system;
• a recessed flash memory card receptacle with electronic interface, the flash memory card receptacle secured to the guitar body, the receptacle for receiving a flash memory card, the flash memory card for storing recorded music, encoded MIDI music, lessons, exercises;
• and
• a rechargeable battery pack secured within the guitar body, the battery pack for powering the self instructional apparatus.