DE115490C - - Google Patents

Description

IMPERIAL

PATENT OFFICE.

PATENT LETTERING

- JVi 115490 CLASS 51 c.

EMIL FLESCH in METZERWIESE. Retuning device for zithers.

Patented in the German Empire on August 19, 1898.

With zithers, as they have been built up to now, it is well known that either only single ones can Strings (mostly only fingerboard strings) or certain, so to speak arbitrarily chosen, string groups ■ or entire strings (mostly also only fingerboard strings) can be retuned. This retuning can only be effected by interrupting the game, as it is in the ordinary A change of mind will also be caused by means of a tuning key, or with such pauses or by such a thing difficult grips, fingers already occupied with the game, that the player, especially the beginner, is not possible on zithers with the well-known retuning devices z. B. to play a major chord and the corresponding minor chord in direct succession or with binding. The object of the present invention aims to create this possibility, which is shown in the drawing.

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the zither with cover, FIG. 2 shows a side view, FIG. 3 shows a top view of the zither and FIG. 4 shows a cross section through the retuning spindles and the zither body along line XX and arrow k.

At a suitable distance from the right end (these and all other position designations are always related to the correct position of the zither for playing in front of the player and to his vision) the zither, which is carried out as usual with regard to its body, its strings and sound post arrangement, is on its upper soundboard by means of screwed-on bearing supports Z ¹ 1 ² under the accompanying strings and incidentally at right angles to these respectively. A full spindle α is mounted parallel to the right, mostly straight string support collar, and two hollow spindles b and c are pushed onto this, as shown in FIG. 4 in particular. - Each of the three said spindles is provided with three teeth, namely the spindle α with the teeth g ^l g " ² g ³ , b with Zz ¹ Zi ² Zi ³ and c with i ^l i ² i ^3. The two hollow spindles b and c have such recesses that the three teeth g ^l g ² g ^{3 of} the full spindle protrude through both hollow spindles b and c and the teeth h ¹ Zi ² h ^{3 of} the middle b protrude through the outer spindle c , and that each spindle can be rotated around its longitudinal axis independently of the other until its three teeth come to rest against the strings above it and thus shorten their lengths that vibrate when played Spindles of the right support collar of the accompanying strings, in such a way that each of the possible explanations, that is to say in accordance with the explanations given below, is expediently chosen in accordance with the laws of harmony by the tooth resting against it by half The tone is tuned higher.

It should be mentioned here that, according to the theory, the retuning spindles are not at right angles to the zither strings are or. can be arranged coaxially, in particular not tied to zithers with curly strings. In practice, however, needs not to take this theoretically correct fact into account, d. H. the points, where the retuning teeth belonging to a spindle lie against the relevant strings, can in one the strings at right angles

intersecting line may be assumed to be lying, thus in the effect of said Teeth noticeable errors do not occur, especially since the retuning device is practical Zithering is only applied to their front strings, almost across their width In all zither shapes, the support frets are straight and at right angles to the strings get lost.

The rotary movement is imparted in the spindles abc by key levers I, II, III connected to them, which are arranged and provided with pressure plates in such a way that each is rotated in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 2 by parts of the right hand not engaged in zither play can be. The latter is supported with its outer narrow side on the so-called cover, which is shown in FIGS. This cover covers the strings up to the spindle of the retuning device and is connected to the zither in such a way that it can be easily put on and taken off in order to preserve the accessibility of the retuning mechanisms. It is provided with slots for the key levers I, II, III as well as with the relevant Accordverwandlungen indicating inscriptions. Without changing its above-mentioned position, the right hand can, while it continues to play, depress the three key levers, namely lever I with the ball part below the thumb, lever III with the little finger or with the inner part of the hand and lever II as well with the little finger, so all levers, as I said, with the parts of the hand that are idle during the game. The spindles or their key levers are connected to helical springs d ¹ c ^l f ^l , which keep the teeth away from the strings.

The new technical effect achieved by the arrangements described above is that one can immediately follow or follow major chord accompaniments of any melody played with the left hand in the golden chord of the same tone type without special dexterity and without interrupting the game. the two types of accords can also, conversely, immediately follow one another. Should z. If, for example, a C minor chord is connected to a G major chord, one only needs the key lever III in the diagram shown in Fig 2. Move the arrow direction with your free little finger. This lever III rotates the spindle c with its teeth z ' ¹ z ² and z' ³ , which lean against the strings d, h, g sharp and shorten them and tune them higher in semitones that the for the c minor chord in Question coming strings h and d respectively. let the tones c and d flat or es sound by simultaneously also tuning g sharp, which is insignificant, and the g string, which is common to the two chords in question (g major and c molI), like it should be, remains unaffected.

Of course, the C minor chord thus easily generated from the G major chord can be used immediately by releasing the key lever III you can go back to the G major chord without that the fingers that previously struck the C minor chord would have to grip differently, thus there is no pause in the game, in that rather a perfect bond the following accords is possible.

In the same way, for example, the transition from the c major (c, e, g) to the f minor chord (c, f, g sharp or a flat) and vice versa, as well as from the d major chord (d, a, fis) in the g-MolI-Accord (d, b, g) and vice versa by pressing or releasing the key levers I and II, i.e. by the spindle α connected to the former and its teeth g ^x and g ¹ (e and g or in f and g sharp or a flat without influencing the string that gives the two chords common tone c or vice versa) as well as through the spindle b connected to lever II with its teeth h ' ² and h ³ (a and f sharp or in b and g with the release of the common tone d for the two chords, or vice versa).

In the manner illustrated by the preceding examples, one can use the described and The device shown in the drawing is particularly suitable for playing the zither Accord changes resp. Revaluations in the same simpler and harmony lawful way Art without special manual dexterity and while playing (i.e. not just before this or with interruption or with difficulty of the same with regard to the change of mind manipulation) effect, so that one is able, a manifold melodic and to create harmoniously tintable accompaniment. This also includes minor accompaniment It is, so to speak, quite impossible for beginners to play on ordinary zithers that do not have the above-mentioned arrangements and can only be performed imperfectly by more experienced players and with the help of difficult grips (the learning of which is special Study of minor accord theory and long practical training required). On the other hand, learned the handling of the key levers on the one provided with the innovation described Zither very easily and quickly, and grows together, so to speak, with the activity of the right hand of the zither player in such a way that this (due to the easy overcoming) has so far been recognized as significant Difficulties satisfied and stimulated) with much greater pleasure and love

He surrenders himself to play, and all the more so as he no longer after a short practice the Accord designations on the wood paneling need to be observed, but rather the Key levers with the same fluency as he handles each string as needed casually engages.

It should be noted that it is also possible by means of the device described is, seventh and diminished seventh chords corresponding to the various major chords through a suitable combination of the key lever action with direct finger contact to produce, thereby adding to the diversity and charm of the zither game significantly increased and thus the usefulness of the new retuning device still increased becomes, as will be immediately clear to every zither player, what the difficulty of production is of seventh and diminished seventh chords and the learning of the necessary Knows handles.

So you can z. B. very easily go from the G major chord (g, h, d) to the seventh chord (g, h, d, f) by adding the f -String picks up. If you then press the I key, which converts the tone of the g-string into G sharp by means of the tooth g ^l and at the same time changes the tone of the g-string to g ^{sharp through the other teeth g 2} and g ³ e and cis half-tone higher, that is to say in f and d, the diminished one arises Seventh - Accord g sharp, b, d, f, by not changing the fingering at the attack of the G major chord, but only playing f in the bass, as already said and applies to the seventh chord, and where the through the Teeth g ¹ and g ^s caused the shortening of strings e and cis to pitch f and d is irrelevant because these strings are not played with the g major fingering, which was assumed here.

As far as the conversion of major chords into minor chords on the bass string of the zither is concerned, it should also be mentioned that the new device also works. This sound-generating area could be expanded by making the spindles abc with four teeth each, so that the fourth teeth against the front bass string in question, e.g. B. es, b, f, lean on and raise the pitch. Since the above-mentioned strong strings with demanding bass chords are seldom used by the great majority of zither players, the spindles for normal use are only designed with three teeth each, first of all because the resistance of the strong bass strings mentioned above makes it, b , f would make the movement of the spindles, which in this case had four teeth each, unnecessarily difficult, and secondly for the reason that, when accompanied by a large number of melodies, the minor chords to be played on the front bass strings are almost always accompanied by an octave can replace higher, lying chords, which are easily and comfortably produced on the zither, which is provided with three-toothed tuning spindles, as if set apart from one another, and also result in a more beautiful harmony, which is preferable, because bass triads to be played on ordinary zithers usually meet the difficulty of the associated handles for the sake of better ones Players are replaced by two chords, which consist of the two tones of the bass triads actually to be played that are most conveniently accessible in the respective position and activity of the right playing hand and that harmonize as far as possible with the melody tones.

Regarding the wooden cladding or so-called cover, it should also be noted that the same also through a bulged bar adjoining the tailpiece can be replaced, in which case the key levers I, II, III changed accordingly design and the names of the accords controlled by these levers directly to be placed on the upper soundboard of the zither.

Claims (2)

Patent Claims: 1. Retuning device on zithers, characterized by three coaxial spindles (abc) each with one connected to it, influenced by a spring and by parts of the key levers (I, II, III) to be manipulated during play and resting on a cover, as well as with each three retuning teeth (g ^l g ² g ³ , / ι ¹ /? ' ² /? ³ and I ¹ I ² I ³ J, which, against certain strings, tune them half-tone higher for the purpose of changing chords without changing grip and interrupting the game can. 2. On a retuning device for zithers according to claim ι a cover for Right hand support, characterized in that it can be removed with the Zither is connected to the string sections between the tailpiece and the retuning teeth is covered and provided with slots for the passage of the key lever, as well as the designations of the most common chord changes. For this purpose ι sheet of drawings.