GB2404077A

GB2404077A - Chord-finding device

Info

Publication number: GB2404077A
Application number: GB0311398A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robin Cyril Vallender
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-05-17
Filing date: 2003-05-17
Publication date: 2005-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-17
Also published as: GB2404077B; GB0311398D0

Abstract

A chord-finding aid for a guitar player. The device comprises a stand 10 made up from a blank of sheet material folded to provide three panels formed into a triangle: the stand 10 thus comprises a base panel 12, a front panel 14 and a rear panel 16. A rotary wheel 18 is disposed behind the front panel 14 and is coupled to the front panel by means of a stud 17, permitting rotation of the wheel 18. The front panel 14 is formed with upper and lower apertures or windows 20, 22, for viewing chord representations printed or otherwise marked on the wheel 18.

Description

CHORD-FINDING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a device forming a chord-finding aid for a guitar player.

The process of learning to play a musical instrument is often particularly daunting. It is not only necessary to master the workings of the instrument, but it is also necessary to develop an understanding of music. There are many rules which underpin western music, in the same way that grammar governs languages. These rules form musical theory and, although an understanding of musical theory is not essential to play an instrument, it is extremely helpful: so much so that it is now standard practice for anyone progressing to instrumental examinations beyond grade 5, to have achieved at least grade 5 in music theory.

For someone starting to learn to play a musical instrument, getting to grips with musical theory and, moreover, understanding it, is often the biggest obstacle to progression.

Teachers commonly employ a variety of improvised visual and rhyming aids to help their pupils get to grips quickly with reading and playing music: for someone teaching themselves how to play an instrument, the task is significantly more difficult.

Depending on the instrument one is learning to play, different aspects of music theory become more important to grasp from the outset. When learning to play the guitar, an understanding of chords and key signatures is far more important than when learning to play the violin or flute, for

example.

I have now devised a device which forms a simple but effective chordfinding aid for a guitar player.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a chordfinding device for a guitar player, the device comprising a front panel formed with at least one opening or window, and a display member disposed behind the front panel, the display member being marked with a number of sets of representations of chords associated with different musical keys, and the display member being movable relative to the front panel to display the chord representations associated with selected keys.

Preferably the display member is marked with representations of the principal and relative minor chords for each key. Preferably the principal chords are displayed through one opening or window in the front panel of the device, and the relative minor chords are displayed through a separate window or opening.

Preferably each set of chord representations are displayed one-aboveanother.

Preferably the display member is arranged for rotation relative to the front panel and preferably comprises a rotary disc or wheel.

Preferably each chord representation comprises six vertical lines representing the guitar strings, a number of horizontal lines representing frets, and indications of the finger positions for that chord to be played. Preferably the finger-position indications also indicate which fingers are to be used to "stop" the respective strings at the respective frets.

Preferably the front panel of the device is marked with a tuning and basic notation table, indicating the notes related to the different frets of the different strings.

The device may consist of the front panel and display member, both in the form of circular discs, with the display member mounted for rotation relative to the front panel.

In another form, the device may comprise a stand having the front panel extending upwardly (and preferably inclined rearwardly)from a base. Preferably the stand comprises a piece of sheet material folded to provide three panels (a base panel, the front panel and a rear panel) formed into a triangle. Preferably a transposition table, for use in transposing a chord sequence from one key to another, is marked on the rear panel of the stand.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 5FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a chord-finding device in accordance with the present invention, showing the front of the device; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of the front of the chord finding device shown in Figure 1; 10FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the device, showing a transposition chart provided on its rear; FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of chord-finding device in accordance with the present invention; and 15FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view of the front of the device shown in Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a device forming a chord-finding aid for a guitar player.

The device comprises a stand 10 made up from a blank of sheet material folded to provide three panels formed into a triangle: the stand 10 thus comprises a base panel 12, a front panel 14 and a rear panel 16.

A rotary wheel 18 is disposed behind the front panel 14 and is coupled to the front panel by means of a stud 17, permitting rotation of the wheel 18. The front panel 14 is formed with upper and lower apertures or windows 20,22, for viewing chord representations printed or otherwise marked on the wheel 18.

In particular, the windows 20,22 are rectangular in shape and oriented vertically: the upper window 20 is enlarged at its upper end. The wheel 18 is marked, adjacent its periphery, with successive keys C, G. D eta: the wheel 18 is further marked, along the same diameter as each key e.g. C, with representations of the respective principal chords and with representations of the respective relative minor chords.

Figure 2 shows the wheel 18 turned to one particular position, in which the key C is seen through the enlarged top end of the upper window 20, and representations of the three principal chords in the key C are seen one-above-another through the upper window 20: further, representations of the three relative minor chords are seen one-above-another through the lower window 22.

It will be noted that the front of the front panel 14 of the device is marked with the words "Principal chords" adjacent the upper window 20 and with the words "Relative minor chords" adjacent the lower window 22. It will be appreciated that the wheel 18 is marked, along the same diameter as the mark denoting a given key, with the respective sets of representations of the principal chords and relative minor chords, these two sets of representations being either side of the centre of the wheel, to align with the respective windows 20,22 in the front panel of the device, when the wheel is turned to a position appropriate for the key in question.

Each chord representation displays the chord as it would be played on the guitar, and accordingly comprises a set of 6 vertical lines representing the strings, and a set of horizontal lines representing the frets: black dots, at selected intersections between the vertical and horizontal lines, represent the positions of the fingers required to play the chord in question; each black dot has a number denoting which finger should be used at that position. An "X" at the top of selected vertical lines indicates that the strings in question are not played, and an "O" at the top of selected vertical lines indicate that the strings in question are to be played open. Each chord representation is marked, at its top, with its designation e.g. C, F or G7 and Am, Dm or E7 (as shown in Figure 2 for the principal and minor chords for the key C).

The front panel 14 of the device is also marked with a tuning and basic notation representation 24. This comprises a table having six columns representing the strings and a number of rows representing the frets, and is marked with the notes played on each string when "stopped" at the different frets.

Referring to Figure 3, the rear panel 16 of the device is marked with a transposition table 26, for use by a more accomplished guitarist to transpose a chord sequence from one key to another. Each row of the table relates to a particular key, the different keys being indicated in the first column.

The columns, numbered 1 to 12, show the chords of the respective key signature ascending in semitones. If, for example, a piece were in the key of C major, and it was desired to transpose the chords Cmaj, Fmaj and Gmaj into the key D, one would simply find these chords in the C major row, note the column numbers (1, 6 and 8 in this case), and read the corresponding chords in the D major row (being Dmaj Gmaj and Amaj in this case).

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a simplified device in which the triangular stand is replaced by a circular panel or disc 30, formed with the windows 20 and 22 as the device of Figures 1 to 3, the rotary wheel 18 being mounted to the rear of the panel or disc 30 by means of the stud 17. It will be appreciated that this device is used in the same way as the device of Figures 1 to 3, for displaying the corresponding principal and minor chords for any selected key.

Claims

A chord-finding device for a guitar player, the device comprising a front panel formed with at least one opening or window, and a display member disposed behind the front panel, the display member being marked with a number of sets of representations of chords associated with different musical keys, and the display member being movable relative to the front panel to display the chord representations associated with selected keys.
2. A chord-finding device according to Claim 1, wherein the display member is marked with representations of the principal and relative minor chords for each key.
3. A chord-finding device according to Claim 2, wherein the principal chords are displayed through one opening or window in the front panel of the device, and the relative minor chords are displayed through a separate window or opening.
4. A chord-finding device according to any preceding claim, wherein each set of chord representations are displayed one-above-another.
5. A chord-finding device according to any preceding claim, wherein the display member is arranged for rotation relative to the front panel and preferably comprises a rotary disc or wheel. ;
6. A chord-finding device according ^to any preceding claim, wherein each chord representation comprises six vertical lines representing the guitar strings, a number of horizontal lines representing frets, and indications of the finger positions for that chord to be played.
A chord-finding device according to Claim 6 wherein finger-position indications also indicate which fingers are to be used to "stop" the respective strings at the respective frets.
8. A chord-finding device according to any preceding claim, wherein the front panel of the device is marked with a tuning and basic notation table, indicating the notes related to the different frets of the different strings.
9. A chord-finding device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device consists of the front panel and display member, both in the form of circular discs, with the display member mounted for rotation relative to the front panel.
10. A chord-finding device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device comprises a stand having the front panel extending upwardly from a base.
11. A chord-finding device according to Claim 10, wherein the front panel extends upwardly and rearwardly from the base.
12. A chord-finding device according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the stand comprises a piece of sheet material folded to provide three panels (a base panel, the front panel and a rear panel] formed into a triangle.
13. A chord-finding device according to any of Claims 10 to 12, wherein a transposition table, for use in transposing a chord sequence from one key to another, is marked on the rear panel of the stand.
14. A chord-finding device as substantially discussed herein, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figures.
15. A chord finding device and stand as substantially described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figures. i., !