SLIDE RULE FOR COMPUTING MUSICAL RELATIONSHIPS

• US 3,592,099 A
• Filed: 04/11/1969
• Issued: 07/13/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delbert F. Gibby
• Original Assignee: Delbert F. Gibby
• Inventors: Gibby, Delbert F.
• Application Number:
  US04/815,283
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• US Class Current: 84/473
• CPC Class Codes: G06G 1/0005 characterised by a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/007 using disc-shaped boards

Abstract

A slide rule capable of computing through mathematical constants substantially all significant musical relationships as they apply to any given key including chord structure and interval patterns of major and relative minor diatonic scales. The slide rule comprises a plurality of slidable members on the face and the back in cooperation with at least one stationary member, and may be linear or circular in form. A variety of marks and symbols representing musical tones, scales and chords are geometrically inscribed upon the moveable and stationary members so as simultaneously to depict an array of relationships, including interval patterns of major and relative minor diatonic scales and multiple chord combinations and variations applicable thereto in any major or relative minor key.

Claims

1. A slide rule for computing musical relationships comprising at least one base member forming a portion of the face of a said slide rule, said base member having a scale of equally spaced marks thereon representing the steps of a chromatic scale and numerical designators for designating major and relative minor diatonic scales with respect to said chromatic scale and further having a plurality of chord indicators inscribed thereon for indicating basic major and minor musical chords, and a plurality of movable members forming the remaining portion of said slide rule face and positioned to move with respect to said base member and with respect to themselves, said movable members having a scale of equally spaced marks thereon representing said steps of said chromatic scale and further having alphabetical and symbolical designators for defining the musical tones represented by said chromatic scale, and said base and movable members being positioned relative to each other at a plurality of positions determined by said scale of equally spaced marks with each position simultaneously displaying a plurality of musical relationships defined by said marks, scales, designators and chord indicators, which relationships include chord indication and transposition.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said slide rule has a linear form with said movable members slidable in parallel directions with respect to said base member and with respect to themselves.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said base member as further inscribed thereon two cycle-of-fifths scales of numerical indicators spaced to correspond with said equally spaced chromatic scale marks on said movable members and cooperating with either movable member to display a complete and different cycle-of-fifths in the major and minor musical domains for each different setting of said chromatic scale marks with respect to said cycle-of-fifths scales.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said slide rule has a circular form with said movable members rotatable about an axis common to themselves and to said base member.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said base member has further inscribed thereon two cycle-of-fifths scales of numerical indicators spaced to correspond with said equally spaced chromatic scale marks on said movable members and cooperating with either movable member to display a complete and different cycle-of-fifths in the major and minor musical domains for each different setting of said chromatic scale marks with respect to said cycle-of-fifths scales.

6. A slide rule for computing musical relationships comprising a base member forming a portion of the face of said slide rule and having a scale of equally spaced marks thereon representing the steps of a chromatic scale and numerical designators for designating major and relative minor diatonic scales with respect to said chromatic scale and further having a plurality of chord indicators inscribed thereon for indicating basic major and minor musical chords, and first and second movable members forming a portion of said face and each having a scale of equally spaced marks thereon representing said steps of said chromatic scale and further having alphabetical and symbolical designators for defining the musical tones represented by said chromatic scale, and a third movable member forming a portion of said face and having a scale of equally spaced marks inscribed upon the rim thereof representing said steps of said chromatic scale and furtHer having a plurality of differing chord indicators thereon for modifying said basic major and minor musical chords in any preselected key, said base member and said movable members cooperating with each other for changing between a plurality of positions determined by said scale of equally spaced marks the relative orientation of said marks, scales, designators and chord indicators with respect to each other thereby providing for simultaneous transposition of musical notes and chords between different keys and modifications of said chords.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said slide rule has a linear form with said first and second movable members slidable in parallel directions with respect to said base member and with respect to themselves.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said base member has further inscribed thereon two cycle-of-fifths scales of numerical indicators spaced to correspond with said equally spaced chromatic scale marks on said first and second movable members and cooperating with either of said first or second movable member to display a complete and different cycle-of-fifths in the major and minor musical domains for each different setting of said chromatic scale marks with respect to said cycle-of-fifths scales.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein said slide rule has a circular form with said first second and third movable members rotatable about an axis common to themselves and to said base member.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said base member has further inscribed thereon two cycle-of-fifths scales of numerical indicators spaced to correspond with said equally spaced chromatic scale marks on said first and second movable members and cooperating with either first or second movable member to display a complete and different cycle-of-fifths in the major and minor musical domains for each different setting of said chromatic scale marks with respect to said cycle-of-fifths scales.