US688833A - Music-chart. - Google Patents

Description

, Patented Dec. l7, l90l. F. F. DAWSON.

MUSIC CHART.

(Application filed July 11, 1901.)

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT GFFICE.

FLOYD F. DAWSON, OF WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA.

MUSIC-CHART.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,833, dated December 17,1901.

Application filed July 11, 1901- Serial No. 67,869. (No model.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLOYD F. DAWSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wil-' son,in the county of Wilson an (1 State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Music-Ohart,of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to m usiccharts; and the object thereof is to provide a .very simple article of this character by means of which a person entirely unacquainted with the art of music may readily learn to play simple chords and harmonies that will serve as accompaniments to many airs and songs.

To this end a chart is provided which may be placed upon a piano, organ, or similar musical instrument, suitable indicating devices being provided for properly positioning the chart and indicating the keys to be operated upon.

In the accompanying drawings there is illustrated a chart embodying the present invention, and the same is fully described in the following specification. It will of course be understood that such slight changes and modifications may be made from the construction shown and described as may fall within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a piano, showing the chart applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the chart.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in both figures of the drawings.

In the practical embodiment of the invention the chart will preferably be printed upon flexible white paper, which may be folded, so as to be more readily transported by mail, and is to be mounted upon a stiff cardboard backing when Wantedfor use.

In the drawings the sheet or strip is designated by the numeral 10. The face is divided into two sections by means of a central transverse space 11, suitably marked off and hereinafter designated as the key-finder. A plurality of chord-indicators are arranged upon the chart, each of said indicators comprising key-representative marks, (designated 12.) These marks are in the form of rectangular spaces or fields that extend transversely of the sheet or strip and from one of the side edges thereof. These key representative marks are located at predetermined distances from the key-finder space 11, so that when said key-finder is placed upon or over a certain key the key-representative marks will be over predetermined keys. The key representatives of each chord-indicator are of the same color and of the same length, the colors and lengths of the several chord-indicators being different. They are furthermore consecutively numbered in the order in which they are played. For instance, in the accompanying drawings the first chord is designated 1 and printed in a red color; 2 is shown as blue,and 3 as green. It will be seen by reference to the drawings that each of the spaces is provided at its upper end with an uncolored portion in which the number is placed and that the uncolored portions of the spaces for the same chord are located at equal distances from the lower edge of the chart, while those of the different chords are located at different distances,thereby forming additional means for immediately identifying each chord. Where the same key is used in different positions of the chords the space is divided and one color is placed in one division and another in the other. The basskey representatives are located in the lefthand section of the chart and the treble-key representatives in the right-hand section. To furthermore simplify the explanation as to the hands to be used upon the keys, each section may have contiguous to its upper edge the legend For left hand and-For right hand.

As is well known, each of the thirteen keys in which music is written has a chord and each chord has three positions. In applying the chart it is first placed on the keyboard of the instrument, with the center space or keyfinder 11 directly over the key in which the chord is to be played. The keys to the right of this key-finder are to be used with the right hand and those to the left with the-left hand, as above described. The red strips marked with the figure 1 are then directly over the keys to be used in the first position, while those marked 2 and 3 indicate thekeys for the second and third positions. To change the key, it is only necessary to move the chart until the finder is over the desired key, whereupon the several indicating devices will be in proper position.

By this construction it will be seen that a very simple chart is provided, which is entirely correct and accurate. The only thing for the performer to do is to determine the key to be played in and place the key-finder thereover. The chart is not fastened in any way to the keyboard and can be moved to any position desired with the same result. The relative length and colorings of the different positions of the chord afford ready means of identifying the keys to be simultaneously operated upon, so that small children may use the device as readily as adults.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As an article of manufacture, a chart arranged to be placed upon the piano or similar musical instrument, and comprising a flat sheet having a key-finder space extending transversely of the same from its lower edge and at an intermediate point, a plurality of chord-indicators arranged upon the chart, each of said chord-indicators comprising a plurality of fingering-indicator spaces that extend transversely of the chart from its lower edge, the indicator-spaces for the bass being located upon one side of the keyfinder space and those of the treble upon the opposite side, the fingering-indicator spaces of each chord being of the same length, similarly colored and correspondingly numbered,

and the fingering-indicator spaces of the different chord indicators being difierent in length coloring and numbering, each of said fingering indicator spaces being provided with an uncolored portion in which said numbers are located, the uncolored portions of the spaces of each chord being the same distance from the lower edge of the chart, and those of the difierent chord-indicators being at dif-' ferent distances, all of said indicator-spaces terminating at the lower edge of the chart.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FLOYD F. DAWSON.

Witnesses:

J. B. I-IARRIss, FRANK ROUNTREE.

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