Method and apparatus for teaching playing of stringed instrument

• US 6,483,018 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2001
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carolyn Mead
• Original Assignee: Carolyn Mead
• Inventors: Mead, Carolyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US09/915,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20020011142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 842/93, 843/14.R, 844/70.R, 844/77.R, 844/85.R
• US Class Current: 84/477.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/003 with indication of the keys or strings to be played on instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/023 Electrically operated

Abstract

A chromatic fingerboard map is provided for teaching the playing of an unfretted stringed instrument such as a cello, violin, viola or bass, having strings extending from a nut at the top to a bridge at the bottom. The map contains a graphic representation of a fingerboard of such an instrument, including the strings, the relative location of the top of the fingerboard, the relative location of the bottom of the fingerboard and the relative location of the shoulder of the instrument. The finger locations of the harmonic notes are shown by a first symbol or indicia. The finger locations of the resonant notes are shown by a second indicia, with the resonant notes within each harmonic region of the fingerboard being shown by a separate, third indicia. In addition, the finger locations of the natural notes may be shown by a fourth indicia and marked with the letter corresponding to the note that is produced when the finger is placed at that location. The finger locations of the sharp and flat notes may be shown by a fifth indicia. By learning the relative locations of the harmonic notes and the resonant notes, the student is able to use such locations as landmarks to locate the finger locations of all notes. By reference to the map, the student is more readily able to learn the relative location of the notes along the fingerboard of the instrument, including the location of the resonant and harmonic notes, the relationship between pitch and the overtone series, and the confirmation of accurate pitch.

Claims

1. An apparatus for teaching the playing of an unfretted stringed instrument having strings extending along a fingerboard from a nut positioned at one end of said fingerboard to a bridge located at the other end of said fingerboard, comprising a graphic representation of said fingerboard depicting:

(a) said strings of said instrument;

(b) the relative location of the top of said fingerboard;

(c) the relative location of the bottom of said fingerboard; and

(d) the relative location of the shoulder of said instrument intermediate said nut and said bridge,

wherein the finger locations of the harmonic notes are each shown by a common indicia.

2. An apparatus for teaching the playing of an unfretted stringed instrument having strings extending along a fingerboard from a nut positioned at one end of said fingerboard to a bridge located at the other end of said fingerboard, comprising a graphic representation of said fingerboard depicting:

(a) said strings of said instrument;

(b) the relative location of the top of said fingerboard;

(c) the relative location of the bottom of said fingerboard; and

(d) the relative location of the shoulder of said instrument intermediate said nut and said bridge,

wherein the octave and unison intervals are shown.

3. An apparatus for teaching the playing of an unfretted stringed instrument having strings extending along a fingerboard from a nut positioned at one end of said fingerboard to a bridge located at the other end of said fingerboard, comprising a graphic representation of said fingerboard depicting:

(a) said strings of said instrument;

(b) the relative location of the top of said fingerboard;

(c) the relative location of the bottom of said fingerboard; and

(d) the relative location of the shoulder of said instrument intermediate said nut and said bridge,

wherein the finger locations of the resonant tones are shown by a common indicia.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the finger locations of the resonant notes within each harmonic region are shown by a separate, second indicia, said second indicia in any harmonic region being different than said second indicia in any other harmonic region.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the finger locations of the resonant notes playable in the first position, the fourth position, the thumb position and the high thumb position are each shown by a second, third, fourth and fifth indicia, respectively.

6. An apparatus for teaching the playing of an unfretted stringed instrument having strings extending along a fingerboard from a nut positioned at one end of said fingerboard to a bridge located at the other end of said fingerboard, comprising a graphic representation of said fingerboard depicting:

(a) said strings of said instrument;

(b) the relative location of the top of said fingerboard;

(c) the relative location of the bottom of said fingerboard; and

(d) the relative location of the shoulder of said instrument intermediate said nut and said bridge,

wherein the finger locations of the natural notes are shown by a first indicia, the finger locations of the sharp and flat notes are shown by a second indicia, the finger locations of the harmonic notes are shown by a third indicia, and the finger locations of the resonant notes are shown by a fourth indicia.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the finger locations of the resonant notes in each harmonic region are shown by a separate, fifth indicia, said fifth indicia in any harmonic region being different than said fifth indicia in any other harmonic region.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said strings are depicted in either an audience view or a reverse view.