Relative chord keyboard instructional method

• US 20040118267A1
• Filed: 07/23/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winston Harrison
• Original Assignee: Winston Harrison
• Inventors: Harrison, Winston
• Granted Patent: US 6,881,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/470R
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02

Abstract

A relative chord method for playing a series of chords on a music keyboard by prescribed finger transitions from one chord to the next dependent upon the musical interval between the chords.

Claims

1. A relative chord music keyboard playing method comprising:

positioning a number of fingers on alternate notes on a music keyboard to form a first chord;

making a finger movement of at least one finger from one of the alternate notes on the music keyboard to an adjacent note away from the other notes having fingers positioned thereon to form a second chord according to a relative transition technique based on the musical interval between the first chord and the second chord so that the musical interval between the first chord and the second chord determines the finger movement according to the formula;

if the second chord has a musical interval a third up from the first chord, the finger movement comprises moving one finger to the left one note;

if the second chord has a musical interval a fifth up from the first chord, the finger movement comprises moving two fingers to the left one note each;

if the second chord has a musical interval a seventh up from the first chord, the finger movement comprises moving three fingers to the left one note each;

if the second chord has a musical interval a third down from the first chord, the finger movement comprises moving one finger to the right one note;

if the second chord has a musical interval a fifth down from the first chord, the finger movement comprises moving two fingers to the right one note each;

if the second chord has a musical interval a seventh down from the first chord,

the finger movement comprises moving three fingers to the right one note each.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising a music instruction method employing annotations for the finger movements indicated in proximity to the respective musical interval indications for each of a series of second chords relative to a previous chord, the first chord.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the annotation for the movement of one finger from one note to an adjacent note to the left comprises the symbol −

1 for a musical interval of a third up.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the annotation for the movement of two fingers each from one note to an adjacent note to the left comprises the symbol −

2 for a musical interval of a fifth up.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the annotation for the movement of three fingers each from one note to an adjacent note to the left comprises the symbol −

3 for a musical interval of a seventh up.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the annotation for the movement of one finger from one note to an adjacent note to the right comprises the symbol +1 for a musical interval of a third down.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the annotation for the movement of two fingers each from one note to an adjacent note to the right comprises the symbol +2 for a musical interval of a fifth down.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the annotation for the movement of three fingers each from one note to an adjacent note to the right comprises the symbol +3 for a musical interval of a seventh down.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the music instruction method further comprises instructions, a formula for changing chords, examples of well known chord progressions that are found in many popular songs, and a chord shape chart all employing the annotations for the finger movements indicated in proximity to the respective musical interval indications for each of a series of second chords relative to a previous chord.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the music instruction method is printed in a book form.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the music instruction method is stored in an electronic form.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the music instruction method is capable of being utilized in conjunction with a computer.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the music instruction method is capable of being transmitted via the Internet.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein the music instruction method is capable of being presented in a medium provided with a music keyboard.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein the method is used for four part harmony with three fingers of one hand employing the relative movement from one chord to the next and a finger of the other hand holding the root position.