GB2119153A

GB2119153A - Musical scale indicator

Info

Publication number: GB2119153A
Application number: GB08212074A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Duncan Glen Thorburn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-27
Filing date: 1982-04-27
Publication date: 1983-11-09
Also published as: GB2119153B

Abstract

In a musical scale indicator which is constructed along the lines of a sliderule, the (fixed) sleeve has fret (2) and string (1) markings in and adjacent a "window" which represents the guitar fingerboard. There is a smaller "window" (4), called the key indicator, giving the key information. Within the sleeve, and within the larger window, is note information (3) of all the notes on the guitar fingerboard with the represented guitar in regular tuning. The notes are represented in white for natural notes, and in black for sharps and flats, which is a useful way of displaying the information to musicians who also play keyboards. The inner (movable) slide has a selection of holes to enable the relevant notes to be displayed. Around the holes is block pattern information, necessary to instruct the player to play the scale stepwise within a limited area on all the strings. There is code information also on the slide to clarify the information on the block pattern scales. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION The slide scale Field of the invention The invention is directed to the art of Scale identification, thus showing different types of scales, (e.g. Major Scales, Minor Scales, Blues Scales, Gipsy Scales, Jazz Scales, Modes etc.) block diagram scale patterns, and the displaying of the musical notes contained therein, on the fingerboard of different musical instruments.

Description of the prior art There are literally thousands of different types of scales, as varied as the Nationalities, races, religions, classes and styles from which they come. Although the Slide Scale can represent the different scales, music is not merely a scale but is made up of rhythm, texture, arrangement, harmonys, technique and feel. The Slide Scale should therefore be considered as a vital part of a package which would include the details, origins, history, development, favoured rhythm patterns, and favoured musical instruments played upon, of the music. This information could be displayed in a pamphlet or book accompaning the Slide Scale, and may be also linked with the Circle Scale, (the Circle Scale, also invented by Mr.Duncan Glenn Thorburn, the request for the grant of the patent applied for.) Not only is the Slide Sclae useful to the art of creating music, and giving an insight into different types of music, but it's teaching potential for sight reading of musicforfreted musical instruments, is enormous.

Although a Chord Indicator has been Patented by Albert Malis, of 4954 Hazeltine Avenue, Sherman Oaks, Calafornia U.S.A. Patented 22 June 1972, No.

3,668,967. The only simularities between the Chord Indicator and the Slide Scale are that they both are slides, and both give musical information on a fingerboard. However, the similarities end there. The Chord Indicator displays completely different information from the Slide Scale. Namely a chord is a combination of notes simultaneously performed, whereas a scale is a stepwise arrangement of all the cheif notes in a particular passage of music, or in the musical system of some period or people.

The Slide Scale is also different mechanically to the Malis Chord Indicator. The Chord Indicator has a transparent outer member with indicia imprinted thereon. The device further includes first and second slides which carry a plurality of spots along the length thereof. Whereas the Slide Scale has a non-transparent outer member, with the notes of the fingerboard actually contained within the outer member. There is also only one inner-slide which has holes that select the notes of the particular scale being displayed and with the block position information being displayed. No such elaborate devices of the Chord Indicator are necessary due mainly to the difference between the information being represented.

Summary of the invention The Applicants invention is a slide Scale Indicator which generally is constructed along the lines of a slide rule. The sleeve has fret and string markings along the "window" which represents the guitar fingerboard. There is also a smaller "window" called the key Indicator, giving the key information. Within the sleeve and within the larger window is note information of all the notes on the guitarfingerboard with the represented guitar in regular tuning. The notes are represented in white for natural notes black for sharps and flats, a useful way of displaying the information to musicians who also play keyboards.

The inner slide has a selection of holes to enable the relevant notes to be displayed. Around the holes in the block pattern information, necessary to instruct the player to play the scale stepwise within a limited area on all the strings. There is code information also on the slide to clarify the information on the block pattern scales. This is helpful to the user who wishes to memorise the block pattern. This information is not displayed when the slide is in position in the sleeve, as it is of secondary importance. The slide also contains the key information also in white for natural notes and black for sharps and flats.

Description of the prefered embodiment 1. String markings on both the left and right handside. The variety of imformation can be the numbering of the strings 1 sot, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, the note naming the strings E, B, G, D, A, E, in regular tuning, and the naming of OPEN to signify the strings not being fingered on the left-hand side of the NUT.

2. The fret markings are on the NUT, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15to, 17th etc. This is keeping with the inlay markings on the guitarfingerboard.

3. Notes on the fingerboard when the guitar is in regular tuning. Notes are represented in white for natural notes, black for sharps and flats, (the same as keyboards). It may be advantageous to have different sleeves, (different in note notation), in order to show a variety of different tunings of the guitar, with of course complimentary inner slides to match the different sleeves.

4. Key indicator also in white for natural notes, black for sharps and flats.

5. Scale block patterns which over-lap each other, hence the colour code showing the difference, different coloured inflection marks could also signify the difference. The preferred method of showing would be a printing technique believed to have been developed in Japan. More information about the printing technique is being sort. Any help identifying the technique by the Patent Office, would be appreciated. The printing technique is of a 3-D type, that can show two different pictures, but only one at a time.

This printing technique would be ideal to show the overlapping block patterns, with one picture showing block patterns numbers 1,3, 5, and the other pictures showing block patterns numbers 2, 6,.

Although the lnventorfeelsthis printing technique would make a better final product, the slide scale is not dependent on this printing technique to represent the block pattern information.

6. The name of the type of scales being shown.

Each type of scales (e.g. Major Scales, Harmonic Minor Scales, Blues Scales, Jazz Scales, Modes, etc.) would have different inner slides.

7. Colour code information on the scale block patterns.

CLAIMS (Filed on 9 Sept. 1982) 1. The Applicants invention is a Slide Scale Indicator which generally is constructed along the lines of a sliderule. The sleeve has fret and string markings along the "window" which represent the guitar fingerboard. There is also a smaller "Window" called the indicator, giving the key information. Within the sleeve, and within the larger window is note information of all the notes on the guitar fingerboard with the represented guitar in regular tuning. The notes are represented in white for natural notes black for sharps and flats, a useful way of displaying the information to musicians who also play keyboards.

The inner slide has a selection of holes to enable the relevant notes to be displayed. Around the holes in the block pattern information, necessary to instruct the player to play the scale tepwise within a limited area on all the strings. There is code information also on the slide to clarify the information on the block pattern scales.

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Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

would make a better final product, the slide scale is not dependent on this printing technique to represent the block pattern information.

6. The name of the type of scales being shown.

Each type of scales (e.g. Major Scales, Harmonic Minor Scales, Blues Scales, Jazz Scales, Modes, etc.) would have different inner slides.

7. Colour code information on the scale block patterns.

CLAIMS (Filed on 9 Sept. 1982)

1. The Applicants invention is a Slide Scale Indicator which generally is constructed along the lines of a sliderule. The sleeve has fret and string markings along the "window" which represent the guitar fingerboard. There is also a smaller "Window" called the indicator, giving the key information. Within the sleeve, and within the larger window is note information of all the notes on the guitar fingerboard with the represented guitar in regular tuning. The notes are represented in white for natural notes black for sharps and flats, a useful way of displaying the information to musicians who also play keyboards.

The inner slide has a selection of holes to enable the relevant notes to be displayed. Around the holes in the block pattern information, necessary to instruct the player to play the scale tepwise within a limited area on all the strings. There is code information also on the slide to clarify the information on the block pattern scales.