Colorall fingering

• US 20030000364A1
• Filed: 03/19/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robin Kay Deverich
• Original Assignee: Robin Kay Deverich
• Inventors: Deverich, Robin Kay
• Granted Patent: US 6,660,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/47
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/02 Boards or like means for providing an indication of notes
• CPC Class Codes: G10G 1/02 Chord or note indicators, fixed or adjustable, for keyboard of fingerboards

Abstract

A method for teaching stringed instrument students how to play sheet music through the use of colored fingering numbers. This method assists the user in knowing which finger to use on which string as they play instrumental music. It also indicates which position their hand should be in as they play sheet music. Numbers correspond to which finger should be used to play a particular note. Separate, distinctly identifiable colors are assigned to notes that should be played on a particular string in a particular position, and are visually displayed as colored fingering numbers that indicate which string and in which position the user should play the fingered notes on.

Claims

1. A method for instructing stringed instrument students to play music:

(a) in combination with sheet music having a musical staff and musical notation, the improvement comprising of colored fingering numbers placed above musical notes, and;

(b) separate, distinctly identifiable colors are assigned to identify each of the strings of the musical instrument, and;

(c) the use of colored fingering numbers indicates to the user which string they should place their finger on, and;

(d) the use of colored fingering numbers indicates to the user which finger is to be used, and;

(e) separate, distinctly identifiable colors of a particular brightness, saturation and/or hue are assigned to identify which hand position on the fingerboard is to be used, and the use of colored fingering numbers indicates to the user in which position the hand should be when the user places their fingers, and;

(f) colored dashes indicate that a shift to a new hand position is about to take place, and the specific color used by the dash indicates which hand position and on which string the user should prepare to shift in order to play the next printed note,

(g) whereby users will be able to quickly play printed music on the correct string, with the correct finger, in the correct hand position.

2. Customizing tools enable the user to:

(a) select the region in order to make changes, and;

(b) edit the default colors and replace or alter them with colors of their own choosing, and;

(c) edit the fingering and change or replace fingering numbers with fingering numbers of their own choosing, and;

(d) edit the shifts and change or replace default shifting of hand positions and corresponding fingering with shifts and fingering of their own choosing, and;

(e) add or eliminate the use of colored fingering in selected regions or throughout the music,

(f) save the changes they make or restore the default fingering and colors,

(g) whereby users will be able to improve their ability to learn how to finger and play music without assistance.