AU2004100464A4 - The Transposer - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INOVATION PATENT The Transposer The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.

The Transposer The transposition of music is a common task amongst musicians. The process involves moving all the notes in a song up or down, one or several half notes. It is often done to allow a singer to sing a song which was otherwise not within their vocal range. It is also often done by musicians who play an instrument, to allow them to play along with a group of instruments in different keys, and to allow a musician to play a song in a key in which they are more proficient.

Less proficient musicians are often daunted by the transposition process and spend lengthy periods transposing a piece of music using a piece of scrap paper. The transposition process may be considered by some, to be too difficult or tedious.

The musician, not being proficient enough to play in the particular key that the music is in, may therefore be discouraged from playing their instrument along with their friends in a band or group.

This invention has been specially devised in order to simplify the transposition process. It is a durable, pocket size aid for musicians, particularly with a musical instrument, to help transpose their piece of music from one key, or chord pattern, to another key or chord pattern. Saxophones and French horns for example, are not C instruments. Music for these instruments (and others) must be either purchased in the correct key or transposed to the correct key, to play along with other instruments/piano.

Guitar players in particular, also find it useful to transpose music so that they can play a song in their favoured key, or chord pattern, while staying in tune with other instruments by using their capo. For example, a piece of music may be in the key of Eb, which is not the easiest of chord patterns for a guitarist. Having accomplished the above transposition process, the guitarist must then work out where to place their capo on their guitar fret board to stay in tune with other instruments.

My invention therefore, involves two parts. Not only does it aid in music transposition, but also aids the guitarist (only) in indicating on which fret to place their capo.

The Transposer, in accordance with this invention is comprised of two flat, thin, circular disks, one directly on top of the another, the lower having a radius slightly larger than the upper, centrally fastened to rotate relative to each other on a common axis, the two disks containing markings relevant to music transposition and capo placement.

The circular disk on top, (hereafter referred to as the face plate), rotates freely on the bottom disk (hereafter referred to as the base plate), having a radius slightly greater than the said face plate. The base and face plates are preferably in two different colours and with a preferred thin, plastic washer between said plates to prevent chaffing of print, but neither of the above are absolutely necessary.

The outer section of the face plate is divided equally into twelve sectors by radial indicia, each sector containing one of the twelve notes of the chromatic musical scale in sequence in ascending order, (text facing towards centre) in a clockwise direction. The face plate, apart from indicating the name of the said device, patent and copyright markings, also contains a preferred circular, 'viewing window' which when appropriately aligned with the base plate, reveals pertinent information for capo placement.

Likewise, the outer section of the base plate is divided, equally into twelve sectors by radial indicia, each sector containing one of the twelve notes of the chromatic musical scale in sequence, in ascending order (text facing towards centre) in a clockwise direction.

The said base plate, also contains information useful in determining on which fret a guitarist needs to place their capo, to remain in tune with other musicians, having transposed their piece of music to another key. The numbers from one to eleven, plus a hyphen in the twelfth sector, indicating that no capo is needed in this configuration, are equally divided between the twelve sectors in order, in an anticlockwise direction. The number '1st' corresponds with 2nd with E and 3rd with Eb etc. These numbers are placed (text facing away from centre) approximately halfway between the centre and the outer edge of the base plate in a circular array. Eleven of these makings are covered by the face plate, with only one marking revealed by the 'viewing window' on the face plate, at any one time. When the guitarist rotates and aligns the key of their original piece of music on the base plate, with the key that they want to transpose to on the face plate, the 'viewing window' will automatically reveal the fret on which to place their capo.

The reverse face of the base plate, apart from containing instructions for use of both aspects of the Transposer, also contains a chart to assist the musician in determining the key of the original piece of music. This information is commonly known to musicians and not original. However it is included, as it is necessary for the musician to determine the key of their song before they can begin the transposition process. On one side of the chart is included a treble stave with corresponding notes in the treble stave, and on the other side, a base stave with corresponding notes in the bass stave. This also assists the less proficient musician in determining the notes on their piece of music.

The Transposer is preferably made from plastic (polycarbonate or PVC), however other materials such as aluminum, sheet metal, or cardboard could be used.

The invention will be better understood with reference to the illustrations of embodiments of the invention which:- Figure 1 is an elevation of the Transposer with parts separated. The line of axis 3 indicating the central point at which the face plate 1 and the base plate 2 are attached.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the Transposer face plate.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the Transposer base plate with capo information 8 exposed.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the assembled Transposer showing the markings on the face plate 1 and the base plate 2. The centre hole 4 being the point at which the discs are fastened with an eyelet. The discs are rotated so that a note of the chromatic scale 5 on the outer section of the face plate, is aligned with a note of the chromatic scale 6 on the outer section of the base plate. The circular 'viewing window' 7 indicates on which fret to place the capo. In this case indicating 8 that no capo is needed in this configuration.

Figure 5 shows an example of how the Transposer is used to transpose music. The original piece of music is determined to be in the key of Eb. Eb 9 is found on the face plate. The desired key by the musician might be the key of C. Align the key of C 10 on the base plate with the key of Eb 9 on the face plate. It is important that in every case, the original key of the piece of music is located first on the face plate and not the base plate.

Holding the disks in this position, the musician works through their piece of music finding the notes or chords of the music on the face plate and recording the corresponding notes or chords on the base plate. le Eb C, Bb G, Ab F. etc.

To determine which fret to put their capo, the guitarist simply reads the information in the 'viewing window' 7. In this example the musician would place their capo on the third fret 8 of their guitar to play in their favoured chord pattern of C, whilst maintaining the original key of the song and playing along with the band in Eb. In fact the guitarist would place their capo on the third fret for any of the combinations registered in this configuration.

Figure 6 shows a bottom elevation of the Transposer showing the centre hole 4, the instructions 11, the said chart 12 mentioned above, the treble stave 13 and bass stave 14 with corresponding notes.

Figure 7 shows an example of an alternative dodecahedron shape. The workings are exactly the same as afore mentioned Transposer.

Claims (4)

1. The Transposer is comprised of two flat, circular disks, one directly on top of the another, the lower 'base plate' having a radius slightly larger than the upper 'face plate', centrally fastened to rotate relative to each other on a common axis, the two disks containing markings relevant to music transposition and capo placement;

2 A Transposer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer section of the base plate is divided into twelve equal sectors by radial indicia, each sector containing one of the twelve notes of the chromatic musical scale in ascending order, in a clockwise direction; the base plate being further marked in a circular array approximately half way between the centre and outer edge of said plate, relative to the twelve said sectors each containing a number from one to eleven, in an anticlockwise direction plus a hyphen in the twelfth sector, the said information being marked in the following order: Gb, 1st F, 2nd E etc, for capo placement, capable of being viewed through the 'viewing window' in the said face plate;

3 A Transposer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer section of the face plate is divided into twelve equal sectors by radial indicia, each sector containing one of the twelve notes of the chromatic musical scale in ascending order, in a clockwise direction and capable of being rotated and aligned with any of the corresponding twelve possible sequences on the base plate; the face plate also including a preferred circular 'viewing window' in the preferred 6 o'clock position relative to the title on the said plate and approximately half way between the centre and outer edge of said plate, of such size only to reveal information in any one sector of the base plate at any one time, when appropriately aligned with the base plate;

4 A Transposer according to any claims 1 4 wherein the disks are made of polycarbonate. A Transposer substantially as herein before described with reference to figures 1 7 of the accompanying drawings. STEPHEN PAUL DEWING 17 JUNE 2004