WO1998033168A2

WO1998033168A2 - Device for locating chords of keyboard musical instruments

Info

Publication number: WO1998033168A2
Application number: PCT/IL1998/000035
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeremy Daniel Wiseburgh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-27
Filing date: 1998-01-26
Publication date: 1998-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1999-07-27
Also published as: AU5677498A; WO1998033168A3; IL120086A0

Abstract

A device for enabling the selection and playing of keys of a musical keyboard instrument associated with natural triad chords of a given diatonic scale in any transposition over a plurality of octaves provides a key locator deployable in relation to the keyboard. The key locator includes a set of primary indicators and secondary indicators indicating the relative positions of keys of the keyboard corresponding to notes of the given diatonic scale over a plurality of octaves. The various indicators have characterizing features arranged such that, for any given key, a first of the secondary indicators for the given key has a characterizing feature identifiably similar to the one of the primary indicators corresponding to a key two degrees of the diatonic scale below the given key, and a second of the secondary indicators for the given key has a characterizing feature identifiably similar to the one of the primary indicators corresponding to a key four degrees of the diatonic scale below the given key.

Description

DEVICE FOR LOCATING CHORDS OF KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the fields of music performance and teaching. More particularly, the invention relates to a device which allows the user to quickly and easily identify the notes of major, minor and diminished chords of a given diatonic scale on a keyboard musical instrument.

The playing of musical instruments in general is a popular pastime among persons of all ages, and keyboard musical instruments, such as the piano or electronic synthesizer, are particularly popular.

A widespread approach to the teaching of keyboard instruments is to teach the student the names of the notes associated with the keys, and to teach the student to play the appropriate keys in response to notes printed on a piece of sheet music. It is not uncommon for teachers of young students especially to label the keys of a piano or other keyboard instruments with the names of the keys, to help them associate the appropriate key with its printed sheet music counterpart.

Other aids for teaching familiarity with the keyboard have been described. For example, US 3,395,600 describes a card which may be placed directly on the keyboard and thereby used to indicate the keys associated with the tones of scales or chords. Separate cards are required for each musical construction, e.g. major scale, minor scale, major dominant chord, etc., and each card covers only one octave.

US 4.254,686 describes cards which may be placed upon the keyboard, upon which are indicated the names of notes, as well as the appearance on the printed staff. The names and printed notes are spaced according to the spacing of the keys on the keyboard; several cards may be interlocked together so as to indicate scales over several octaves. Cards may be imprinted with markings which indicate the keys to play to obtain a particular chord; separate cards are required for each different chord and inversion. Other approaches do not make reference to particular keys and names of notes, but simply indicate the relative relationship between certain chords. US 688,833 describes a card which may be placed on the keyboard to indicate a small number of chords to be played. The card can be used to indicate the order in which the chords are to be played, but it does not provide any insight into how one describes the relationship between the chords. As stated, the number of chords which may be indicated are limited, and separate cards, each "programmed" separately, are necessary if a different order or different arrangement of chords is to be played. US 1,567,019 describes a device which directly indicates the relationship between printed notes and the corresponding keyboard keys. US 788,063 discloses an apparatus for indicating 14 different types of chords associated with a given scale of the keyboard. Its use is limited, however, in that it demonstrates only one form of each chord, i.e. only root form or one inverted form, as will be defined below, it does not show chord patterns for the left hand, it necessitates the use of both hands to play chords, and its range is limited to under two-and-a-half octaves. It is also difficult to read, as some notes have only a single indication associated with them, while others have multiple indications, and therefore may be confusing to the eye of the person playing the instrument as he scans the device looking for all the notes of a chord.

Another complex mechanical device is that described in U.S. 1,100,824, in which reels included in casings and provided with springs are positioned at both ends of a piano, to permit the shifting of music written in different keys. In the absence of properly marked sheet music, this device does not permit the user to quickly and easily identify keyboard keys corresponding to chords. Such complicated and space-taking devices have never been widely adopted.

All the devices known in the prior art suffer from the above-mentioned and other drawbacks. It is therefore clear that it would be useful to provide a device which indicates to the performer of a keyboard instrument at a glance the keys of the keyboard associated with any diatonic scale, particularly major (Ionian mode) or natural minor (Aeolian mode) scales, as well as the keys of the keyboard associated with basic chords associated with said scales, which device identifies all the inversions of each of these chords, over a range of several octaves or even the entire keyboard. The term "basic chord" will be defined below.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device which enables performers of keyboard instruments, such as beginning students of keyboard instruments or accomplished musicians with little or no prior knowledge of a keyboard instrument, to recognize the keys of the keyboard associated with any diatonic scale, particularly a major or natural minor scale, as well as the keys of the keyboard associated with basic chords associated with said scales, and the keyboard keys associated with the inversions of said chords. It is another object of the invention to provide such a device, which is useable over several octaves or even the entire range of the keyboard.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a device which enables students of music theory to recognize, both aurally and as represented on the keyboard, the relative relationships between the notes of a diatonic scale, certain chords defined by notes of said diatonic scale, and the inversions of these chords, as well as to understand the relationship between modes of a diatonic scale, particularly the relationship between major keys and their relative natural minor keys, and to do so without the necessity of printed notes on a musical staff.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means adapted for the purposes described above and hereinafter, which can be conveniently and easily positioned on the keyboard of a musical instrument, which are inexpensive, simple, easy and intuitive to use, without the need for extensive study or practice, and which can also function as a useful tool in conjunction with other teaching methods. It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a device which can help players to visualize transpositions, and to enable performers to transpose at the keyboard pieces of music which are comprised of notes of a diatonic scale, without the need for printed sheet music. It is a still further object of the invention to provide a method for indicating and locating keys of a keyboard corresponding to the notes of chords of a diatonic scale, as described above, using the device of the invention.

It is still a further object of the invention to enable students to recognize some of the chords they hear in music to which they listen, and to understand the relationship between some of the different chords they hear.

It is still another object of the invention to provide such a device which may be stored easily and compactly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device for enabling the selection and playing of keys of a musical keyboard instrument associated with natural triad chords of a given diatonic scale in any transposition over a plurality of octaves.

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, a device for enabling the selection and playing of keys of a musical keyboard instrument associated with natural triad chords of a given diatonic scale in any transposition over a plurality of octaves, the device comprising a key locator deployable in relation to the keyboard, the key locator including: (a) a set of primary indicator means indicating the relative positions of keys of the keyboard corresponding to notes of the given diatonic scale over a plurality of octaves, each of the primary indicator means corresponding to one degree of the diatonic scale in one octave, each of the primary indicator means having a characterizing feature identifiably similar to other of the primary indicator means corresponding to a similar degree of the diatonic scale in a different octave but dissimilar from characterizing features of all primary indicator means corresponding to different degrees of the diatonic scale; and (b) a set of secondary indicator means indicating the relative positions of keys of the keyboard corresponding to notes of the given diatonic scale over the plurality of octaves, the set of secondary indicator means including at least two secondary indicator means associated with each degree of the diatonic scale in each octave, the secondary indicator means having characterizing features such that, for any given key, a first of the secondary indicator means for the given key has a characterizing feature identifiably similar to the one of the primary indicator means corresponding to a key two degrees of the diatonic scale below the given key, and a second of the secondary indicator means for the given key has a characterizing feature identifiably similar to the one of the primary indicator means corresponding to a key four degrees of the diatonic scale below the given key, such that, when the key locator is positioned in relation to the keyboard, all keys indicated by the primary and the secondary indicator means having characterizing features identifiably similar to a given characterizing feature belong to a natural triad chord based on a key indicated by the primary indicator means having the given characterizing feature.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the primary indicator means indicate the relative positions of keys of the keyboard corresponding to notes of a major scale.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the primary indicator means indicate the relative positions of keys of the keyboard corresponding to notes of a minor scale.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the device has a first face and a second face, the device providing two of the key locators referred to as a first key locator and a second key locator, the first key locator being deployed on the first face and the second key locator being deployed on the second face, wherein the primary indicator means of the first key locator indicate the relative positions of keys of the keyboard corresponding to notes of a major scale, and the primary indicator means of the second key locator indicate the relative positions of keys of the keyboard corresponding to notes of a minor scale.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the characterizing features are visually differentiable. According to a further feature of the present invention, the characterizing features include colors.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the characterizing features are differentiable by touch.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the primary indicator means are sequentially and cyclically numbered by a series of seven indices.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the key locator is formed as a strip having a length extending along the keyboard, a height extending upwards from the keyboard and a depth, the depth being at least one order of magnitude smaller than the height, the height in turn being at least one order of magnitude smaller than the length.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the device includes at least one fold line configured to allow folding of the device to conform to a length of a keyboard.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the primary indicator means and the secondary indicator means associated with each degree of the diatonic scale are aligned in a column located on the key locator so as to indicate the relative position of a key of the keyboard.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the set of secondary indicator means further includes a third of the secondary indicator means associated with each degree of the diatonic scale in each octave, the third of the secondary indicator means for the given key having a characterizing feature identifiably similar to the one of the primary indicator means corresponding to a key a selected number of degrees of the diatonic scale below the given key, the selected number being chosen from a group of six, eight and twelve. According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided at least one symbol for indicating a modification of a major natural triad to generate a minor triad.

According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided at least one symbol for indicating a modification of a minor natural triad to generate a major triad.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the sets of primary and secondary indicator means are mounted on the key indicator by an adjustable mount configured such that the relative positions of the sets of primary and secondary indicator means can be adjusted to correspond to relative positions of keys of keyboards of differing sizes.

Unless stated otherwise, the following definitions apply to terms used throughout the description and claims. "Chord" means three or more notes of different pitches sounded simultaneously. In "root" position, the chord comprises a first note, the "root" of the chord; a second note an interval of one third (or one third plus an integral number of octaves) above the first note; and a third note an interval of one fifth (or one fifth plus an integral number of octaves) above said first note. A "major chord" is a chord in which, in root position, the interval of a third (or one third plus an integral number of octaves) between the first and second notes is a "major" third (or a "major" third plus an integral number of octaves), that is a third composed of two whole steps, and the interval of a fifth (or one fifth plus an integral number of octaves) between the first and third notes is a perfect fifth (or perfect fifth plus an integral number of octaves). A "minor chord" is a chord in which, in root position, the interval of a third (or one third plus an integral number of octaves) between the first and second notes is a "minor" third (or "minor" third plus an integral number of octaves), that is a third composed of a whole and a half step (or a third composed of a whole and a half step plus an integral number of octaves), and the interval of a fifth (or one fifth plus an integral number of octaves) between the first and third notes is a perfect fifth (or a perfect fifth plus an integral number of octaves). A "diminished chord" is a chord in which, in root position, the interval of a third (or one third plus an integral number of octaves) between the first and second notes is a minor third (or minor third plus an integral number of octaves) and the interval of a fifth (or one fifth plus an integral number of octaves) between the first and third notes is a diminished fifth (or diminished fifth plus an integral number of octaves). An "inverted chord" is one in which the lowest sounded note is not the root of the chord.

The term "triad" is used to refer to a chord containing only three distinct notes corresponding to a root, third and fifth of any of the aforementioned types, in any inversion and spread across any number of octaves; although containing only three distinct notes, it will be understood that a triad may contain one or more repetitions in different octaves of each of the three required notes. A "natural" chord, as used herein, refers to a chord of which all the component notes belong to a given diatonic scale of interest. It follows from these definitions that any given diatonic scale has seven natural triads, each natural triad containing a different degree of the diatonic scale as its root together with the notes two and four degrees of the scale above the root.

The seven modes of a diatonic scale are commonly referred to as Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian. The scale of the Ionian mode is usually referred to as the "major" scale (a root note, or "tonic", followed by a whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, and half step back to the tonic), and the scale of the Aeolian mode is usually referred to as the "natural minor" scale (root note, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, and whole step to return to the root). In Western classical and popular music, the Ionian and Aeolian modes are the most commonly employed of the seven diatonic modes, and the present invention therefore relates most especially to the Ionian and Aeolian modes, although it will be understood that the invention may be used in conjunction with any of the seven diatonic modes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1A shows a device according to the invention (indicia shown schematically and not in detail) placed upon a keyboard, wherein the device is shown resting on the keyboard in the space between the end of the black keys distal to the performer and the piano itself;

Fig. IB is similar to Fig. 1A, showing a device according to the invention placed upon a keyboard, but the device has been moved to a different position in relation to the keyboard relative to its relation to the keyboard in Fig. 1A;

Fig. 1C shows a device according to the invention placed upon a keyboard, wherein the device is shown resting on the keyboard in the space between the end of the black keys distal to the performer and the piano itself and the device indicates an F major scale; Fig. ID is similar to Fig. 1C, showing a device according to the invention placed upon a keyboard, but the device has been moved to a different position in relation to the keyboard relative to its relation to the keyboard in Fig. 1C, and indicates an E-flat major scale;

Fig. 2 shows indication means of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein one row of the tripartite indication means indicates the keys of the keyboard corresponding to the notes of the diatonic scale (the "root row"); one row of the tripartite indication means comprises the indications corresponding to notes which, when played with a note indicated by the "root row", form major chords, as well as the indications (octavally spaced) corresponding to one note from the diminished chord of the diatonic scale; and the third row of the tripartite indication means comprises the indications corresponding to notes which, when played with a note indicated by the "root row", form minor chords, as well as the indications (octavally spaced) corresponding to the third note from the diminished chord of the diatonic scale, the indication means being different black-and-white patterns;

Fig. 3A shows a section of a device similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but wherein the indicia of the middle row have been labeled sequentially and recursively from 1-7, with "1" corresponding to the tonic of a major scale;

Fig. 3B is the same as Fig. 3A, but the numbers have now been moved relative to the rest of the device, whereby "1" now corresponds to the tonic of a minor scale;

Fig. 4A shows a section of a device similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but wherein indicia for the sevenths of chords have been added along the middle row;

Fig. 4B shows a section of a device similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but wherein symbols have been added to indicate how to modify major triads to minor triads and minor triads to major triads;

Fig. 5 shows a section of a device similar to that shown in Fig 2, but where the patterns have been replaced by symbols;

Fig. 6 shows a section of a device similar to that in Fig. 3A, but wherein the numbers have been replaced by solfege names;

Fig. 7 shows a device according to the invention in which the last several sets of three vertically aligned indicia at each end of the device are capable of being folded back over the device, to enable the device to be shortened to fit the length of a keyboard shorter in length than the device itself;

Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. 2, but show^'s a device according to the invention wherein the indications corresponding to notes of major and minor chords (other than the root notes) are divided between the first and third rows of the tripartite indication means, and not confined to one row thereof;

Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 2, but the positions of rows (1) and (2) have been interchanged; and

Fig. 10 shows a variation of the device of Fig. 2 in which the visual indications are replaced by indicators identified by touch. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a device for enabling the selection and playing of keys of a musical keyboard instrument associated with natural triad chords of a given diatonic scale in any transposition over a plurality of octaves. The principles and operation of devices according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 2 shows a section of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Although less than two octaves are shown, in principle this device may extend far enough to cover the entire range of the keyboard, e.g. by means of rollers in a manner similar to that described for the device of US 1, 100,824, or by means of additional, foldable sections at the end of the device, as will be described later. Thus, in accordance with the invention, the device may cover only a single full octave (13 keyboard keys), two full octaves (25 keyboard keys), three full octaves (37 keyboard keys), four full octaves (49 keyboard keys) or more, up to the length of the entire keyboard, or any length in between. The indicia of row (2) correspond to a major scale (i.e., Ionian mode). Although these indicia are shown as black-and-white patterns, in the more preferred embodiments of the invention these indicia would be solid colors. Therefore, for the purposes of discussion here, the black-and-white patterns displayed in Fig. 2 will be referred to (in the order shown from left to right in row 2 of Fig. 2) as blue (tonic), orange, lavender, brown, green, lime, and magenta, corresponding to a major scale. If one takes lime as the starting point, the scale corresponds to the relative natural minor scale (i.e., Aeolian mode) of the major scale which begins at blue. In use of the device, a scale is initially chosen by aligning the device appropriately, e.g. to play in B-flat major, aligning the device so that row 1 is on top and the column containing the blue index of row (2) is over the B-flat key of the keyboard, or to play in A minor, aligning the device so that row 1 is on top and the column containing the lime index of row 2 is over the A key of the keyboard. The other indicia of the device will consequently be aligned with the appropriate keyboard keys. It will be understood that the patterns shown in Fig. 2, or the corresponding colors referred to herein, are for illustrative purposes only; the invention contemplates devices using any other set of colors or black- and-white patterns which afford acceptable contrast between the seven notes of the diatonic scale (and acceptable similarity between the same note of the diatonic scale in different octaves). Also, as shown in Fig. 5, the indicia could be symbols instead of colors. Of course, the indicia could be colored symbols.

Still with reference to Fig. 2, the indicia of row (1) show the keyboard positions of the notes which, when played along with the note indicated by the same color in row (2), yield major chords of the scale— i.e., for major scales, the tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords—or inversions thereof. Thus, by playing the notes indicated by (6) together, one obtains the tonic chord of the chosen major scale; by playing the notes of (5) together, one plays the second inversion of the subdominant chord of this same major scale. Similarly, the indicia of row (3) show the keyboard positions of those notes which, when played along with the note indicated by the same color in row (2), yield minor chords of the chosen scale, or inversions of these chords.

It is noted that the seventh chord of a major scale is a diminished chord; this fact is reflected in Fig. 2 in that the seventh chord is the only one with indicia from each of rows (1), (2) and (3).

Fig. 8 is similar to Fig 2, in that the row labeled "(2)" still indicates the positions of keyboard keys corresponding to notes of a diatonic scale, but now rows (1) and (3) have been scrambled, so that, instead of the diminished chord, some chords other than the diminished chord itself are indicated by an index from each row, rather than indications from row (2) and only one of rows (1) or (3).

It should be noted that the person playing the instrument need not know the names of the chords or inversions he or she plays, and in the case of a beginning student would not be expected to know such. However, through use of the present invention, the student can learn aural recognition of various chords associated with a major or minor scale (or any other mode of a diatonic scale), as well as the relationship between a chord and its inversion; association of names with each of these types of chords or inversions can then easily be taught concomitantly or at a subsequent time. Similarly, pitch names can easily be taught in conjunction with or independently of the device of the invention. It is clear that the present invention can help students to understand the relative relationships between different chords and chord progressions, and the relationship between the same relative group of chords when played in different diatonic scales, i.e. transposition. A particular advantage to a device such as shown in Figs. 2 or 9 is that, unlike anything described in the prior art, the organization of the tripartite indication means in these devices lends itself to ready identification by the performer of major, minor and diminished chord combinations. By having one part of the tripartite indication means directed to the diatonic scale, another part directed to the keys corresponding to notes which help make up major chords (and one note of the diminished chord), and the third part directed to keys corresponding to notes which help make up minor chords (and another note of the diminished chord), the device according to the present invention can be utilized by the performer/student to quickly and easily identify major, minor and diminished chords, and their inversions, by looking in the appropriate rows for the indicia that mark the keys corresponding to the notes that form the chord of interest.

It should be noted that the primary indicator means need not necessarily be confined to a single row of the device. Typically, however, consistent positioning of the primary indicator means makes the device somewhat easier to use. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in Fig. 3 A, the basic notes of row (2) could be labeled with numbers 1-7, to correspond to the notes of the major scale. In such a case, it would be understood that the relative natural minor scale begins and ends on the indicia numbered 6, and therefore the same device could be used for both major and minor scales, thus avoiding the need for a separate device having row (2) numbered from 1-7 according to the natural minor scale; although of course a device having row (2) repetitively numbered from 1 -7 according to the natural minor scale (Aeolian mode)~as in Fig. 3B~or according to any other mode of the diatonic scale, is considered within the scope of the invention. As shown in Fig. 6, the numbers of Fig. 3 could be replaced by the solfege names of the notes. In one embodiment of the invention, the device is double-sided, with one side bearing rows numbered in accordance with the major scale, and the other side bearing rows numbered in accordance with the natural minor scale. It should also be noted that the left-most side of the device need not indicate the tonic of the mode of interest. Thus, for example, when the device is numbered so that the tonic of the major scale is indicated by the numeral "1", the left-most indicia of the device need not be the indicia corresponding to said tonic, and the left-most part of the device may indicate a note other than the tonic.

Additionally, the device may contain indicia for the seventh notes of each of the seven chords indicated by the tripartite indicating means of the device according to the invention. By "seventh note" is meant a note of the diatonic scale one seventh, or one seventh plus an integral number of octaves, above the root note of the chord. In other words, it is the note six degrees of the diatonic scale above the root note of the chord. In some cases, e.g. the seventh of the tonic chord of a major scale, this seventh will be a major seventh; in some cases, e.g. the dominant chord of a major scale, this seventh will be a minor seventh. An example of a device so modified is illustrated in Fig. 4A, ^"wherein such indicia have been added to row (2). It will be appreciated that similar modifications can be employed to indicate additional notes of chords, e.g. 9ths (8 degrees above root), 1 lths or 13ths ( 12 degrees above root). Furthermore, it is possible to include indicia for notes which, if played a half-step higher along with the other two members of the root minor chord to which said notes belong, will yield the corresponding major chord; notes which, if played a half-step lower along with the other two members of the root major chord to which said notes belong, will yield the corresponding minor chord, notes which, if played a half step higher along with the other two members of the root major chord to which said notes belong, will yield an augmented chord, and notes which, if played a half-step lower along with the other two members of the root minor chord to which said notes belong, will yield a diminished chord, and the like. In this way, the invention can be expanded to include many chromatic variants.

By way of example, Figure 4B shows a device to which symbols have been added to indicate how to modify major triads to minor triads and minor triads to major triads. In each case, the characterizing feature for the third of the chord features a symbol indicating a direction in which the note should be modified to convert the chord from major to minor (to the left) or from minor to major (to the right). The seventh diminished chord is here left unmodified. However, further symbols could clearly be added to indicate modification of the fifth and possibly third of this triad to obtain a minor or major triad. Turning now briefly to Fig. 10, it should be appreciated that the device of the present invention is not limited to visual indicators. By way of example, Fig. 10 shows an implementation of the device particularly suitable for sight-impaired users in which the features characterizing each indicator are identifiable by touch. Thus, each indicator means features a raised or indented pattern which can be identified by finger contact. The pattern could correspond to conventional Braille notation, or may be any other combination of seven patterns or symbols which may readily be distinguished. Clearly, features identified visually and by touch may be used together in a single device such that it is equally useful to both sighted and sight-impaired users. It will be appreciated that the device according to the invention need not be limited to use with the piano or other keyboard devices with a standard size keyboard, but may be formed so that the horizontal spacings between indicia and the width of indicia themselves are appropriately scaled to the width(s) of keys of keyboards of other sizes, i.e. non-standard size keyboards. The device according to the invention may be constructed of any suitable material, such as but not limited to paper, plastic, or wood. In one preferred embodiment, the device is constructed of paper or plastic sufficiently thin that the device may be inserted in the space between the end of the black keys distal to the performer and the piano itself, as shown in Figs. 1A and IB. However, any suitable means may be used for affixing the device to the instrument so that the indicia of the device properly align with the keyboard.

For example, in another embodiment, the device may be in the form of a magnetic ruler, which may be movably affixed to a stationary length of sheet metal mounted so as to run across the length of the keyboard. Alternatively, the three indicia for each note may be printed together on a magnetic strip, and each strip then affixed to such a length of sheet metal, wherein said length of sheet metal is movable rather than stationary. This would enable adjustment of the spacing between each strip, to conform to the size of the particular keyboard, and would accommodate movement of the device relative to the keyboard. Such a piece of sheet metal, whether stationary and used for affixing a magnetic ruler or movable and used for affixing magnetic strips, may be mounted, stationary or movable, as necessary, by means of a bridge running the length of the keyboard, or it may be mounted on supports at either end of the keyboard, so as to minimize interference with the performer's fingers.

The lengths of the indicia, and the distance of the row marked (3) in the figures from the lengthwise edge of the device, may likewise be adapted so as to optimize the readability of the device in relation to the keyboard. Depending on the material used in constructing the device and its length, the device may also be folded after use for ease of storage and/or transport. In a variant of this embodiment, to enable the device to run the length of the entire keyboard (which on a standard piano is seven octaves plus a major third), the device is produced in a length longer than the length of the keyboard, whereby to be printed with an excess of indicia (e.g., in the case of a piano, a full eight octaves plus a major third) relative to the keyboard keys to be indicated, with each of the last several sets of three vertically aligned indicia at each end of the device being capable of being folded back over the device, as shown in Fig. 7, so as to enable the device to be shortened to the length of the keyboard, but maintaining the thickness of the device sufficiently thin so as to still allow for placement of the device between the keys and the piano as in Figs. 1A and IB. In another preferred embodiment, the device is made to run one octave less than the length of the entire keyboard.

In yet another embodiment, the scaling of the device may be accomplished by means of a computer program. In this embodiment, the device would be printed on a computer printer. The size of the indicia, the spacings between them, their form and other aspects of the device would be set by means of the computer program prior to printing. In this way, the device could be sold as a digitized picture to be manipulated by a computer graphics program prior to printing, or the device could be sold as a special program to enable printing and the setting of sizes and spacings.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in music and music instruction that there are numerous ways in which the present device may be employed in the instruction of music. For example, the device may be used to help students learn diatonic scales and their modes, or to help facilitate the understanding of chord inversions, as well as the playing of chords in both the left and right hands. The device could be used to help students understand the sound of simple chord progressions, e.g. what is commonly known as the "I-V-I" progression (see, for example, E. Aldwell & C. Schachter, "Harmony and Voice Leading", Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1978), the appearance of such progressions as manifested on the keyboard, and the relationship between the notes of the progressions. The device may also be used to help students develop a sense of the relationship between melody and harmony, as well as to improvise and transpose melodies and accompaniments. Many other uses for the present invention in instructing students may be envisioned as well; such uses are contemplated within the scope of the invention.

All the above has been provided for the purpose of illustration, and is not intended to limit the invention in any way, except as defined by the claims to follow. Many modifications can be carried out in the device of the invention; for instance the symbols used for indicia may be varied in shape, color, or both; the manner in which the device is placed in proximity to the keyboard may be changed; the number of octaves covered by the device may be varied; additional information, such as sevenths or ninths of chords, or chromatic variants of chords, may be indicated; and the way in which the device is used in instruction may differ, all without exceeding the scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A device for enabling the selection and playing of keys of a musical keyboard instrument associated with natural triad chords of a given diatonic scale in any transposition over a plurality of octaves, the device comprising a key locator deployable in relation to the keyboard, said key locator including:

(a) a set of primary indicator means indicating the relative positions of keys of the keyboard corresponding to notes of the given diatonic scale over a plurality of octaves, each of said primary indicator means corresponding to one degree of the diatonic scale in one octave, each of said primary indicator means having a characterizing feature identifiably similar to other of said primary indicator means corresponding to a similar degree of the diatonic scale in a different octave but dissimilar from characterizing features of all primary indicator means corresponding to different degrees of the diatonic scale;

(b) a set of secondary indicator means indicating the relative positions of keys of the keyboard corresponding to notes of the given diatonic scale over said plurality of octaves, said set of secondary indicator means including at least two secondary indicator means associated with each degree of the diatonic scale in each octave, said secondary indicator means having characterizing features such that, for any given key, a first of said secondary indicator means for said given key has a characterizing feature identifiably similar to the one of said primary indicator means corresponding to a key two degrees of the diatonic scale below said given key, and a second of said secondary indicator means for said given key has a characterizing feature identifiably similar to the one of said primary indicator means corresponding to a key four degrees of the diatonic scale below said given key, such that, when said key locator is positioned in relation to the keyboard, all keys indicated by said primary and said secondary indicator means having characterizing features identifiably similar to a given characterizing feature belong to a natural triad chord based on a key indicated by said primary indicator means having said given characterizing feature.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said primary indicator means indicate the relative positions of keys of the keyboard corresponding to notes of a major scale.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said primary indicator means indicate the relative positions of keys of the keyboard corresponding to notes of a minor scale.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device has a first face and a second face, the device providing two of said key locators referred to as a first key locator and a second key locator, said first key locator being deployed on said first face and said second key locator being deployed on said second face, wherein said primary indicator means of said first key locator indicate the relative positions of keys of the keyboard corresponding to notes of a major scale, and said primary indicator means of said second key locator indicate the relative positions of keys of the keyboard corresponding to notes of a minor scale.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said characterizing features are visually differentiable.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said characterizing features include colors.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said characterizing features are differentiable by touch.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said primary indicator means are sequentially and cyclically numbered by a series of seven indices.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said key locator is formed as a strip having a length extending along the keyboard, a height extending upwards from the keyboard and a depth, said depth being at least one order of magnitude smaller than said height, said height in turn being at least one order of magnitude smaller than said length.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes at least one fold line configured to allow folding of the device to conform to a length of a keyboard.

1 1. The device of claim 1, wherein said primary indicator means and said secondary indicator means associated with each degree of the diatonic scale are aligned in a column located on said key locator so as to indicate the relative position of a key of the keyboard.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said set of secondary indicator means further includes a third of said secondary indicator means associated with each degree of the diatonic scale in each octave, said third of said secondary indicator means for said given key having a characterizing feature identifiably similar to the one of said primary indicator means corresponding to a key a selected number of degrees of the diatonic scale below said given key, said selected number being chosen from a group of five, six, eight, ten and twelve.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one symbol for indicating a modification of a major natural triad to generate a minor triad.

14. The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one symbol for indicating a modification of a minor natural triad to generate a major triad.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said sets of primary and secondary indicator means are mounted on said key indicator by an adjustable mount configured such that the relative positions of said sets of primary and secondary indicator means can be adjusted to correspond to relative positions of keys of keyboards of differing sizes.