Method of and means for producing musical note relationships

• US 5,415,071 A
• Filed: 08/14/1991
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Notepool Limited
• Original Assignee: Notepool Limited
• Inventors: Davies, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, EDDIE C H
• Application Number:
  US07/761,775
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 84/471 R, 84/471 SR, 84/479 R, 84/479 A, 84/483.1, 84/483.2, 84/485 R, 84/485 SR
• US Class Current: 84/471.0SR
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/005 of the slide type
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/006 with indication of the keys or strings to be played on instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/007 using disc-shaped boards
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/04 with sound emitters
• CPC Class Codes: G10C 3/12 Keyboards; Keys
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/344 Structural association with individual keys electrically operated wind-actuated organs G10B3/22
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/251 arranged as 2D or 3D arrays; Keyboards ergonomically organised for playing chords or for transposing, e.g. Janko keyboard special keyboards for playing chords, e.g. accordion G10H2230/245

Abstract

In a method of and means for producing musical note relationships there is provided an array of staggered lines or rows (1) of symbols, in which each symbol represents a musical note. Each line (1) comprises a repeated series of twelve symbols forming a musical series of semitones known as a chromatic scale, and each line is staggered with respect to adjacent lines such that groups of the symbols which represent the same musical note relationship, such as intervals, scales, chords, etc, form the same visual configuration, for example diagonal configurations (6 to 9) or vertical configuration (14 to 19), at respective locations in the array. In one embodiment, a device including means bearing such an array may be used as a learning aid comprising two overlapping members slidably movable relative to each other. Alternatively the contact positions of a keyboard of a keyboard musical instrument or a fingerboard of a stringed musical instrument may be arranged in accordance with the array.

Claims

1. A device for producing musical note relationships including first and second overlapping members movable relative to each other, said first member bearing an array of symbols, each symbol representing a musical note and the array consisting of rows of said symbols, any given row being arranged relative to an adjacent row such that successive symbols of said given row each lie substantially between two successive symbols of said adjacent row, said successive symbols of each row representing the musical notes of a chromatic scale wherein, for each symbol in said given row which lies substantially between two successive symbols of said adjacent row, the two successive symbols represent notes which form musical intervals with the note represented by said symbol of a major third and a minor third respectively, said second member having a plurality of windows formed therein through which symbols on said first member are visible, said windows being formed in said second member in groups of different configurations, said groups being positioned and arranged relative to the symbols on said first member such that different ones of said groups produce visual representations of different musical note relationships including scales, chords, intervals and modes, which are all directly identifiable from said device, and by moving said first and second members relative to each other, for any given group of windows, the same musical note relationship in different musical keys is visible through the windows of said group.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second member comprises an outer sleeve within which said first member is slidable.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein windows are formed on both sides of said sleeve and said first member bears said array on both sides thereof.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second members are disc-shaped, and are rotatable relative to each other, said symbols of said array being arranged in concentric circular rows on said first member.