US3554074A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stringed instrument music teaching device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-08-05
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1988-08-05
Abstract
Abstract A multisheet adjustable slide chart having a simulated violin fingerboard region coordinated with a central key signature region and a graphic notation region and in some forms including a chord index. The graphic notation region is aligned with a musical staff drawn through the key signature region and both regions are to the right of the fingerboard region. The fingerboard region visually displays the names of the tones and the proper fingering on a simulated violin fingerboard. The fingering and notation are also displayed in the graphic notation region with a color coordinated code visually assisting the student in moving from one region to the other. The graphic notation region is used for teaching the reading of music in general and includes openings or window forming portions and note and fingering indicia arranged to indicate whole and half step musical intervals of the scale for the various key signatures, as well as to show which notes are altered. The key signature region is a music teaching device having openings or window forming portions, indicia to indicate the number of altered notes, the name of the key, and the actual signature. In a modified form of this region the signature on the staff that is used is also spelled out. The fingerboard region shows the tones on a simulated violin fingerboard with half step spacing from the nut on each string, and in addition to the tones, also shows the fingering adjacent to the tones for a variety of major scales and fingering positions correlated with the key signature region and the graphic notation region.
Inventors
- 👤 James C Rickey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:22
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10G; G10G1/00; G10G1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A music teaching device comprising: a first information sheet having a plurality of music staff notation display-zone forming portions extending angularly therealong; first information indicia on said first information sheet aligned with said notation display-zone forming portions; at least one additional information sheet positioned beneath said first information sheet and having additional display-zone forming portions cooperating with said display-zone forming portions of said first information sheet for forming a display zone pattern having certain zones in part bounded by portions of the first information sheet and in part bounded by portions of the second information sheet, with the display zone pattern presenting notation indicia characterized by the display zones of adjacent notes having a whole step interval therebetween being relatively separated by a given direction and distance and by the display zones of adjacent notes having a half step interval therebetween being relatively separated by a different direction and distance; and means displaying notation indicia within the display zones thus formed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A music teaching device comprising: a first information sheet having a plurality of music staff notation display-zone forming portions extending angularly therealong; first information indicia on said first information sheet aligned with said notation display-zone forming portions; at least one additional information sheet positioned beneath said first information sheet and having additional display-zone forming portions cooperating with said display-zone forming portions of said first information sheet for forming a display zone pattern having certain zones in part bounded by portions of the first information sheet and in part bounded by portions of the second information sheet, with the display zone pattern presenting notation indicia characterized by the display zones of adjacent notes having a whole step interval therebetween being relatively separated by a given direction and distance and by the display zones of adjacent notes having a half step interval therebetween being relatively separated by a different direction and distance; and means displaying notation indicia within the display zones thus formed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The music teaching device of claim 1 wherein said additional sheet is slidable with respect to the first information sheet, and said means providing notation indicia is a third information sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The music teaching device of claim 2 wherein said first information indicia are treble clef indicia.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The music teaching device of claim 2 wherein said first information indicia are fingering indicia.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The music teaching device of claim 4, wherein said notation indicia indicate the natural and altered notes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The music teaching device of claim 2 wherein the display zone pattern lies generally along a line that extends upwardly to the left at an angle of less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The music teaching device of claim 2 wherein certain of the display zone forming portions of said first information sheet includes a plurality of equally sized spaces each capable of being formed into a notation window.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The music teaching device of claim 7, wherein there are at least two such spaces aligned longitudinally of said first information sheet, one of such spaces indicating an altered note and another such space indicating a natural note.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The music teaching device of claim 2 wherein said information indicia includes a color code.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The music teaching device of claim 2 wherein the display-zone pattern lies generally along a line that extends upwardly to the right at an angle of less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The music teaching device of claim 2 wherein certain of the display zone forming portions of said first information sheet each constitute a plurality of equally sized spaces each capable of being formed into a notation window, certain of said notation window forming portions having more spaces longitudinally of said first information sheet thaN transversely thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The music teaching device of claim 1 wherein half steps are indicated by display zones located adjacent to one another and whole steps are indicated by said display zones being double spaced from one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The music teaching device of claim 1 wherein half steps are indicated by display zones being offset from one another and whole steps are indicated by said display zones being aligned transversely of one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
174 words
A music teaching device comprising: a first information sheet having a plurality of notation window forming portions extending angularly therealong; first information indicia on said first information sheet aligned with said notation window forming portions; a second information sheet positioned beneath said first information sheet and having a plurality of additional notation window forming portions extending angularly therealong and parallel to said notation window forming portions in said first information sheet, certain of formed notation windows being in part bounded by portions of the first sheet and in part bounded by portions of the second sheet, with the notation windows being arranged in a pattern so that the indicia of adjacent notes having a whole step interval therebetween are separated a given direction and distance and the indicia of adjacent notes having a half step interval therebetween are separated a different direction and distance; and an additional information sheet positioned beneath said second information sheet and having a plurality of rows of notation indicia positioned for selective alignment with said notation windows thus formed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
174 words
A music teaching device comprising: a first information sheet having a plurality of notation window forming portions extending angularly therealong; first information indicia on said first information sheet aligned with said notation window forming portions; a second information sheet positioned beneath said first information sheet and having a plurality of additional notation window forming portions extending angularly therealong and parallel to said notation window forming portions in said first information sheet, certain of formed notation windows being in part bounded by portions of the first sheet and in part bounded by portions of the second sheet, with the notation windows being arranged in a pattern so that the indicia of adjacent notes having a whole step interval therebetween are separated a given direction and distance and the indicia of adjacent notes having a half step interval therebetween are separated a different direction and distance; and an additional information sheet positioned beneath said second information sheet and having a plurality of rows of notation indicia positioned for selective alignment with said notation windows thus formed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The music teaching device of claim 14 further comprising fingering indicia displayed along with the notation indicia.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
108 words
The music teaching device of claim 15 wherein said additional information sheet is a fourth information sheet and further including a fixed third information sheet haVing an opening in alignment with said notation window forming portions of said first information sheet and positioned between said second and fourth information sheets; and at least one of said notation window forming portions of said first information sheet including at least two spaces longitudinally of said first information sheet, each space being capable of forming a notation window, indicating by the location thereof in said notation window forming portion of said first information sheet whether a note is natural or altered.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
167 words
A tone location teaching device for stringed instruments comprising: a first information sheet having a relatively large fingerboard framing opening, a nut indicating line aligned with said framing opening, and a plurality of string simulating lines spaced along and perpendicular to said nut indicating line; a second information sheet positioned beneath said first information sheet for slidable movement in a direction parallel to said nut indicating line and having a plurality of window forming portions and continuing string simulating lines, alignable with said string simulating lines on said first information sheet; a fixed third information sheet positioned beneath said second information sheet and having tone indicia alignable with said window forming portions in said second information sheet within said fingerboard opening, additional continuing string simulating lines alignable with said string simulating lines on said first information sheet and a plurality of window forming portions; and a slidable fourth information wheel having finger location indicia alignable with said window forming portions of said second and third information sheets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
167 words
A tone location teaching device for stringed instruments comprising: a first information sheet having a relatively large fingerboard framing opening, a nut indicating line aligned with said framing opening, and a plurality of string simulating lines spaced along and perpendicular to said nut indicating line; a second information sheet positioned beneath said first information sheet for slidable movement in a direction parallel to said nut indicating line and having a plurality of window forming portions and continuing string simulating lines, alignable with said string simulating lines on said first information sheet; a fixed third information sheet positioned beneath said second information sheet and having tone indicia alignable with said window forming portions in said second information sheet within said fingerboard opening, additional continuing string simulating lines alignable with said string simulating lines on said first information sheet and a plurality of window forming portions; and a slidable fourth information wheel having finger location indicia alignable with said window forming portions of said second and third information sheets.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tone location teaching device of claim 17 further including finger location indicia on said fixed third information sheet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The tone location teaching device of claim 17 wherein said first information sheet also includes key name and position windows and said second information sheet includes key name and position indicia alignable with their respective windows of said first information sheet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The tone location teaching device of claim 19, wherein said tone location indicia are spaced further from said nut indicating line as increasing position indicia are registered in said position window so as to simulate finger location on the fingerboard of an actual string instrument.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
The tone location teaching device of claim 20 further including nut indicating marks on said fixed third information sheet and being exposed for use in various keys to shift the nut indicating line so as to simulate finger location on the fingerboard of an actual stringed instrument for those particular keys.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
81 words
The tone location teaching device of claim 17, further including: a pattern of preselected colors surrounding rows of said tone indicia each color associated with a particular simulated string on the fingerboard; and a notation portion having notes surrounded by a pattern of colors corresponding to the colors associated with simulated strings of the fingerboard and said tone indicia whereby a visual correlation is obtained between the strings and tones of the fingerboard and the corresponding notes of a musical scale.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
The tone location teaching device of claim 22 in combination with a music teaching device which includes a key signature indicator which names a selected key, gives the number of altered tones in said key and presents said key signature on the lines and spaces of a musical staff at a fixed space from a treble clef sign.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
219 words
A music teaching device having a key signature portion comprising: a first information sheet having a plurality of window forming portions in indicate musical key name and key signature on the lines and spaces of a musical staff, and additional window forming portions spaced from said musical staff, and a clef sign on said musical staff; a second information sheet positioned beneath said first information sheet and having a plurality of window forming portions, and flat key signature indicia aligned with the musical staff of said first information sheet and key name indicia and altered note number indicia aligned with said window forming portions spaced from said musical staff; a third information sheet positioned beneath said second information sheet having sharp key signature indicia aligned with the window forming portions of said second sheet and the window forming portions of said first sheet; said second sheet being adjustable with respect to said first and third sheets such that key name indicia, altered note number indicia and key signature indicia selectively appear in the window forming portions of said first sheet whereby a selected key is named, the number of altered tones in said key is given and said key signature is presented on the lines and spaces of said musical staff at a fixed distance from said clef sign.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
219 words
A music teaching device having a key signature portion comprising: a first information sheet having a plurality of window forming portions in indicate musical key name and key signature on the lines and spaces of a musical staff, and additional window forming portions spaced from said musical staff, and a clef sign on said musical staff; a second information sheet positioned beneath said first information sheet and having a plurality of window forming portions, and flat key signature indicia aligned with the musical staff of said first information sheet and key name indicia and altered note number indicia aligned with said window forming portions spaced from said musical staff; a third information sheet positioned beneath said second information sheet having sharp key signature indicia aligned with the window forming portions of said second sheet and the window forming portions of said first sheet; said second sheet being adjustable with respect to said first and third sheets such that key name indicia, altered note number indicia and key signature indicia selectively appear in the window forming portions of said first sheet whereby a selected key is named, the number of altered tones in said key is given and said key signature is presented on the lines and spaces of said musical staff at a fixed distance from said clef sign.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The music teaching device of claim 24 wherein said window forming portions of said first information sheet are reiterated.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The music teaching device of claim 24 wherein said key signature indicia of said third information sheet are reiterated sharp symbols and wherein a mask is used to progressively mask-out the flat symbols and to progressively expose the sharp symbols.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The music teaching device of claim 24 further including a notation portion having notes aligned on their respective lines and spaces of said musical staff of said first information sheet.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The music teaching device of claim 27 further including fingering indicia in said notation portion.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
230 words
A teaching device for a stringed instrument comprising: a multiple-sheet chart having a fingerboard region, a key signature region to the right of said fingerboard region, and a notation region to the right of said key signature region; a first information sheet having a fingerboard framing opening, key signature window forming portions, notation window forming portions, and information indicia adjacent to each, and said kEy signature window forming portions and said notation window forming portions being on the lines and spaces of a musical staff; a second information sheet slidably positioned beneath said first information sheet and having string simulating lines displayable through said fingerboard framing opening, flat symbols displayable in said key signature window forming portions and window forming portions alignable with said respective fingerboard framing opening, said key signature window forming portions, and said notation window forming portions of said first information sheet; and at least one underlying additional sheet having information indicia and at least one of the sheets underlying said first sheet having a plurality of slots lying within and spanning said fingerboard framing opening, such underlying information indicia being viewable through said slots in said fingerboard framing opening with notation information being readable from the musical staff in said notation region while at the same time tone information corresponding to said notation information on an instrument is illustrated through said slots in said fingerboard region.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
230 words
A teaching device for a stringed instrument comprising: a multiple-sheet chart having a fingerboard region, a key signature region to the right of said fingerboard region, and a notation region to the right of said key signature region; a first information sheet having a fingerboard framing opening, key signature window forming portions, notation window forming portions, and information indicia adjacent to each, and said kEy signature window forming portions and said notation window forming portions being on the lines and spaces of a musical staff; a second information sheet slidably positioned beneath said first information sheet and having string simulating lines displayable through said fingerboard framing opening, flat symbols displayable in said key signature window forming portions and window forming portions alignable with said respective fingerboard framing opening, said key signature window forming portions, and said notation window forming portions of said first information sheet; and at least one underlying additional sheet having information indicia and at least one of the sheets underlying said first sheet having a plurality of slots lying within and spanning said fingerboard framing opening, such underlying information indicia being viewable through said slots in said fingerboard framing opening with notation information being readable from the musical staff in said notation region while at the same time tone information corresponding to said notation information on an instrument is illustrated through said slots in said fingerboard region.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
59 words
The teaching device defined by claim 29 wherein said additional information sheet is fixed and wherein said information indicia on said additional information sheet and displayable within said fingerboard framing opening includes tone location indicia, said indicia displayable in said key signature forming windows includes sharp symbols, and said indicia displayable in said notation window forming portions includes notes.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
55 words
The teaching device of claim 29 wherein said additional information sheet is a fixed sheet having tone location indicia and carrying sharp symbols displayable in said key signature window forming portions, and said device further includes a slidable sheet carrying fingering indicia displayable in said fingerboard framing opening and in said notation window forming portions.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The teaching device of claim 31 wherein said slidable sheet also includes notation indicia selectively displayable in said notation window forming portions.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
37 words
The teaching device of claim 29 further including a chord region having chord windows and chord name indicia on said first information sheet and chord note indicia on said second information sheet displayable in said chord windows.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The teaching device of claim 29 wherein said indicia and said window forming portions are programmed by chromatic half steps and by diminished fifths.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The teaching device of claim 29 wherein said indicia and said window forming portions are programmed by perfect fifths.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
The teaching device of claim 29 wherein said first information sheet includes a position window, said second information sheet includes a position slot, and said additional information sheet includes position indicia.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The teaching device defined by claim 29 wherein said information indicia of said fingerboard and notation regions include a correlated color code.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |