WO1984004192A1

WO1984004192A1 - Sliding musical scale device

Info

Publication number: WO1984004192A1
Application number: PCT/AU1984/000062
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pamela Joy Thomson; Michael George Clonaris
Original assignee: Evat John; Pamela Joy Thomson; Michael George Clonaris
Priority date: 1983-04-14
Filing date: 1984-04-16
Publication date: 1984-10-25

Abstract

A musical scale educational device having a chart containing rows and columns of musical notes with all rows reading from one side to the other of the chart displaying notes which progress in fifths and all columns reading from bottom to top displaying notes which progress chromatically, each column being labelled according to an individual musical mode, and a movable cursor having windows to display notes according to a selected mode and selected key.

Description

"SLIDING MUSIC&L SCJU..E DEVICE" TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to aids for theoretical appreciation of music, and more particularly to devices assisting in the teaching of music.

BACKGROUND ART In the teaching of music, especially of elementary standard and particularly to children, many difficulties arise due to the peculiarities of the theoretical framework of melodic music. Reference to charts, graphs and the like does not readily and clearly implant on the student's mind an understanding of the relationship between scales, musical modes, musical keys and chord and scale progression. Furthermore, the use of such charts is not well suited for class tuition.

It is therefore a prime object of the invention to provide an aid for students of music whose use will substantially reduce these difficulties.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to one general form of the invention there is provided a sliding musical scale device comprising a chart with musical notes arranged in columns and rows with the notes in a reference row progressing in fifths from one end to the other and the notes in each column arranged in chromatic order from said reference row, and a sliding cursor having fiducial apertures arranged in columns with each column identified according to an individual musical mode with the apertures in registering position with notes on said chart corresponding to progressive notes of the musical mode in the scale selected by sliding of the cursor to indicate the tonic note of said scale which appears in said reference row.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 depicts the front face of the musical chart which forms a background portion of the device of this invention; Fig. 2 depicts the fiducial part of the device serving as a. sliding cursor to the chart;

Fig. 3 shows the two parts combined in operative relationship; and Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the fiducial part of the device.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings it will be noted that the musical chart 4 is printed on its front face with the letters corresponding to musical notes arranged in a matrix of a plurality of columns 5 and rows 6. The front face may be a printed sheet adhered to a base of pasteboard or similar rigid material. It is a feature of this invention that the musical notes reading from left to right along each row 6 progresses in fifths while the notes ascending in each column 5 progress chromatically.

A cursor 7, also of pasteboard or the like, is provided with a plurality of fiducial apertures 11 arranged in columns 8 with each column identified according to an individual musical mode at the foot 9 thereof. In use it is intended that the cursor 7 be placed over the chart 4 so ^' that all of the rows 10 of the apertures 11 on the cursor 7 lie at the same level as the rows 6 of the chart 4. The interval between apertures 11 in each column 8 of the cursor 7 will correspond to the musical intervals between tones in the respective musical mode. Thus, for example, in the Lydian mode apertures occur in respect of each alternate row except between the fourth and fifth notes and seventh and eighth notes of the scale. A different scale composition, indicated by a different arrangement of apertures 11 occurs in every different mode.

It is well known that different moods of music are created by the different musical modes; e.g., the Dorian mode evokes a grave feeling, the Aeolian mode a sad feeling, the Phrygian a mystical feeling, the Locrian a harmonious feeling, the Lydian a joyful feeling, and so on. By the use of the device of this invention it will be possible for a student quite readily to appreciate the differences and relationships between the various modes and keys in each mode. .

The facility for ready appreciation of musical theory which is possible with the present device can be demonstrated by sliding the cursor 7 from left to right over the chart 4 while noting in respect of any individual mode the progression of scales as the keys progress in fifths. That is to say, by confining attention to say the Ionian major mode in the key of C no sharps or flats occur. By then progressing in fifths from left to right by movement of the cursor 7 over the chart 4 the scales progressively increase in the number of sharps until all notes in the scale are sharp. Further movement in the same direction shows a reducing number of flattened notes. With the use of this device it has been found that lessons are more quickly learned and better retained by musical students. It will be seen that the notes in the bottom row 6 of the chart 4 represent the tonic notes of the various scales, while although progression from left to right is in fifths, progression is in fourths when reading in the reverse direction. The starting note at the left hand end of the lowermost row 6 may be any note but it is preferred that all of the ancient Greek modes be grouped together as they have in common that in all of the starting positions of the cursor 7 all of the notes in the respective key are white notes on a keyboard instrument. Optionally a transparent sheet (not shown) may be interposed between the cursor 7 and the chart 4 to enable erasable markings to be made by the user of desired chords, chord progressions, melody lines, base lines etc.

Whereas a preferred embodiment has been described in the foregoing passages it should be understood that other forms, embodiments and modifications are feasible within the scope of this invention. Fig. 4 shows a sliding cursor 7A which can be used with the chart 4 of Fig. 1. Like parts have been indicated by like numerals with the suffix A. By choice of key and mode in the same manner as previously described wit to the first embodiment , the notes of a chord will be displayed through appropriate windows 11A.

Claims

1. A sliding musical scale device comprising a chart with musical notes arranged in columns and rows with the notes in a reference row progressing in fifths from one end to the other and the notes in each column arranged in chromatic order from said reference row, and a sliding cursor having fiducial apertures arranged in columns with each column identified according to an individual musical mode with the apertures in registering position with notes on said chart corresponding to progressive notes of the musical mode in the scale selected by sliding of the cursor to indicate the tonic note of said scale which appears in said reference row.

2. A sliding musical scale according to claim 1, wherein said progression of notes in the reference row corresponds to a reading of said row from left to right.

3. A sliding musical scale according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the musical notes in all rows on the chart progress in fifths when read from left to right.

4. A sliding musical scale according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said musical modes identify at least some of said columns when read from left to right on the chart as Lydian, Ionian Major, Mixo-Lydian, Dorian, Aeolian Minor, Phrygian and Locrian.

5. A sliding musical scale according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first musical note at the start of the reference row on said chart is the note F.

6. A sliding musical scale device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, or to Figs. 1 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

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