Patent Publication Number: US-9892653-B1

Title: Guitar fingering aid and method for its use

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     A guitar fingering aid that is arranged for adjustable mounting to the fingers of a musician with a device thereof for fitting around their middle finger and is supported by at least one of the musician&#39;s two adjacent fingers that rest on finger support or supports, and which guitar fingering aid includes one or more small finger bars for adjustable installation onto a guitarist&#39;s small finger, where the fingering aid is used to engage the neck of a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, ukulele, banjo, or the like, and to assist to a musician who has difficulty in depressing some or all the instruments strings with their fingers in a normal manner to play the instrument, where such person is impaired or suffers from arthritis, and which fingering aid can be used as a teaching aid for a student learning to play the instrument. 
     Prior Art 
     The invention in a guitar fingering aid device is for fitting onto a musician&#39;s middle finger and includes a small finger bar that are for assisting a musician who, because of a physical impairment, such as arthritis, finds reaching and pressing the instrument strings with their fingers to be difficult, and is useful for a assisting a person who wishes to learn to play a guitar, or like instrument, who may not have sufficient finger dexterity to correctly and comfortably place their fingers on the instrument strings, or is unable to reach, and or, exert sufficient pressure on, the instrument strings through their fingers to produce a desired sound from the instrument. For such persons, use of the fingering aid allows a musician to continue playing a stringed instrument when they are, or are becoming, physically impaired, and, further, the guitar fingering aid can be used to assist a novice in developing their instrument playing skills. 
     Where other earlier fingering aid devices have promised to afford a musician, who is experiencing a progressive impairment, such as arthritis, with a capability to play a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, or the like, such have not allowed the musician to play the four predominant chord groups, including all major, minor, seventh and minor seventh chords in a flowing manner, using all the instrument strings, as does the guitar fingering aid of the invention. Such limitations deprive the experienced musician with an ability to play all of the four predominant chord groups that are often required in a composition of most folk, country, pop, bluegrass, religious hymns and traditional songs. Also, the guitar fingering aid of the invention allows the musician to strum or pick all of the instrument strings simultaneously, and allows the musician to utilize their usual playing style, without a need to interrupt the flow of the music. Additionally, while playing not only the four predominant chord groups, it allows for a playing of an additional four common chord groups that include: all sixth, minor sixth, major seventh and minor/major seventh chord groups. Whereas, such uninterrupted play is not possible with earlier devices that often require a changing of such earlier device, as by adjusting positioning of such earlier device, in the body of the song. The guitar fingering aid of the invention allows for the utilization of standard musical principles and does not require that the experienced player relearn a new chording system as earlier devices do. 
     For the novice musician, the use of the guitar fingering aid of the invention encourages them to develop guitar playing skills that do not require a struggle with chord formation and sore fingers, allowing them to concentration on learning picking and strumming styles before learning to play a guitar in the traditional way. A method for use of the guitar fingering aid allows the use of normal standard musical principles and does not confuse the novice player with non-transferrable methods, as do earlier devices, should they move on to traditional playing method, and does not require an experienced player to relearn an unnecessary system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a principal object of the present invention in a guitar fingering aid device and small finger bar and method for their use that are arranged for mounting to middle and small fingers, respectively, of a musician&#39;s hand, for use with a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, ukulele or banjo, where the aid allows a musician to individually, or simultaneously, press on a string, strings, or on all of the strings that are space apart across the instrument neck to change the pitch, or pitches, of one or more of the strings so as to produce all major, minor, seventh, minor seventh, sixth, minor sixth, major seventh, and minor major seventh group of chords, while still allowing the musician to strum or pick full chords, using all strings of the instrument. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a guitar fingering aid that includes the device that is adjustably secured to a musician&#39;s hand, preferably to their middle finger of their hand that holds the instrument neck, and includes a main bar, with one or more separate individual finger supports, that extend from opposite sides of a device main bar web and are for positioning under the musician&#39;s finger or fingers, adjacent to their middle finger, and further includes a separate small finger bar for adjustable attachment to the musician&#39;s little finger, where the device and the small finger bar are preferably formed from a soft pliable material, and which main bar is curved along its string engaging surface whereby, the musician, by sliding, rolling, pivoting and tilting their hand only while moving their hand up and down the instrument neck, can selectively depress and control the force of contact of the main bar under surface and small finger bar to contact certain of the instrument strings to produce a desired sequence of chords when the instrument strings are strummed or picked. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide the guitar fingering aid that includes the device with a main bar that is preferably mounted to the undersurface of one of the musician&#39;s middle fingers, and includes one more more separate finger supports that are supported by the musician&#39;s finger or fingers, adjacent to the middle finger that the device is mounted onto. Whereby, the main bar undersurface, that is slightly curved from end to end, and has a convex curved undersurface along its length, will extend across the instrument neck conforming to all different sizes and shapes of necks of an instrument. The aid also includes a separate small finger bar, with the main bar and separate small finger bar to be moved by operation of the musician&#39;s hand to urge the main bar undersurface and small finger bar into engagement, to depress, selected strings of the instrument during play to produce the chords of a selected musical composition. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method, utilizing the guitar fingering aid device and small finger bar that are mounted onto the musician&#39;s hand that holds the instrument neck, to play a musical composition. 
     Still another object of the present invention a guitar fingering aid device is arranged to be be rolled, pivoted, tilted and moved vertically along and across a guitar neck, engaging selected strings thereof by a musician rolling, pivoting and tilting their hand whereon the device is mounted and includes the small finger bar mounted onto the musician&#39;s little finger to depress selected strings that the device does not engage, enabling the musician to play the instrument in a style that is essentially like the playing style as they enjoyed before they became handicapped. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device having a main bar with a rounded length and is slightly curved along its undersurface such that, when the device is rolled, pivoted, or tilted, the musician, by moving their hand appropriately, can move the main bar under surface into contact selected instrument strings such that the musician, by strumming or picking the instrument strings, can play a selected musical selection. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a guitar fingering aid that includes the device that is arranged to be easily adjustably fitted onto a finger of a the musician&#39;s hand that holds the instrument neck, and includes a finger support or supports arranged for mounting at one or more spaced holes formed through the device main bar web, to project at right angles out from one or opposite sides of the main bar web, and which finger support or supports can be aligned or spaced apart, to avoid a painful arthritic joint, or joints, and receive the undersurface of at least one of the musician&#39;s fingers for aiding movement in conformity with movement of the musician&#39;s hand while allowing the ends of the fingers to themselves engage selected string of the instrument, with the finger support or supports to also contact selected instrument strings during play, allowing a handicapped musician or novice musician to comfortably play the instrument. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device that allows the ends of the fingers of the hand whereto the device is mounted to themselves to engage the instrument strings, and the guitar fingering aid, in addition to the device for mounting to the musician&#39;s finger of their hand that grips an instrument neck, includes at least one small finger bar arranged for releasable mounting by straps onto the small finger of the musician&#39;s hand that engages the neck of a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, ukulele and banjo, with the combination of the device and small finger bar mounted to the musician&#39;s hand to allow a handicapped or novice musician to correctly sequently depress selected strings of the instrument, and apply adequate pressure on which selected strings by moving it along the neck and rolling, pivoting and tilting the device using essentially the same movements of their hand as the musician would have employed before they became impaired. 
     Still another object of the invention in a guitar fingering aid is to provide a device and small finger bar that allow an accomplished musician to continue playing a guitar, or other string instrument, such as a ukulele or banjo, with the aid of the guitar fingering aid, at a like skill level as they had before they became impaired as by an onset of a debilitating disease, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, resulting in musician&#39;s finger movement becoming painful and difficult, greatly limiting the joy and happiness as they had experienced in playing their instrument. Also, a musician who, through accident, has lost a finger, or use of a finger or fingers, to continue playing their instrument. Also, for a beginning or novice player, use of the invention allows the player to concentrate on learning rather than struggling with chord formations and sore fingers, before choosing to play the guitar utilizing conventional techniques. 
     The guitar fingering aid of the invention principal features include a device and small finger bar for mounting onto a musician&#39;s hand that holds a guitar type instrument neck that are for operation together to facilitate a musician playing a musical composition, allowing that musician to continue to play a guitar, or like string instrument, after they become handicapped or disabled in the manner as they did before they became handicapped or disabled, which guitar fingering aid device and small finger bar can be easily set up with component parts thereof connected together for various instrument open tunings to provide the musician with a capability to play a number of musical selections without changing the device configuration. 
     Preferably, the guitar fingering aid device and small finger bar are formed from a somewhat flexible material, such as soft vinyl or nylon material, to both support and cushion the musician&#39;s fingers and to contact the instrument strings in a fashion that is similar to the musicians usual finger end pressure as they formerly applied through their fingers onto the individual instrument strings. 
     The invention is in the guitar fingering aid that includes a device and a small finger bar, with the device arranged for mounting onto a musician&#39;s finger and includes a main bar that has an instrument string engaging under surface that extends across the web from a palm engaging post to the end of the main bar. Which string engaging surface has a uniform convex curve formed along its length and is concave between the palm engaging post and main bar end, and which palm engaging upper end, and the main bar has flat parallel web sides. Holes are formed at equal spaced intervals through the web sides that individually receive a fastener or fasteners to mount individual finger supports or an outrigger bar to extend outward from which web sides, with at least one of the finger supports is supported by a finger of the musician that is adjacent to their finger that mounts the device. Whereby, when the device is slid along a guitar neck, and is tilted, rolled, pivoted and moved vertically by the musician&#39;s hand that mounts the device such that, with the musician&#39;s hand guiding the contact with selected strings along the web undersurface and, with the movement of the small finger bar to also contact selected strings, the musician can play a selected musical composition. The spaced holes formed at intervals through the device main web, are to receive a threaded rod fitted therethrough to provide for an attachment of a finger support or supports and/or an outrigger bar. Which rod or rods have threaded ends that are to receive and turn onto, a finger support or supports, and, at least one finger support is mounted onto the end of a rod that has a screw type head. Also, to provide for reuse of the finger supports and outrigger bar, they each have holes formed in ends that can receive a threaded end of the rod, or which individual hole, can receive a sleeve fitted therein that receives the rod threaded end turned therein. The finger supports and outrigger bar are for fitting through selected holes formed through the main bar web to form right angles thereto, and can be aligned, or can be off-set from one another, depending upon the set up configuration of the device. Where the finger supports are aligned, they can each be fitted onto an end of a single rod that does not include a screw type head, where the rod is fitted through one of the spaced main bar web holes. With the device mounted onto the musicians&#39; finger, the finger support or supports undersurface support the finger or fingers of the musician hand that are adjacent to the finger that mounts the device. So arranged, the device is mounted to allow the main bar to be rolled, pivoted, and tilted, as it is moved by the musician&#39;s hand up and down the instrument neck, contacting selected points along the instrument strings for the musical composition being played. 
     The finger supports and outrigger bar can be cylindrical, or have flat or rounded sides and can each be easily released from the rod and screw ends, allowing for the assembly of the finger supports to appropriate positions along the device web for a particular instrument open tuning for playing a selected musical selection. Whereafter, the finger supports and outrigger bar can be easily repositioned appropriately, for the same or another instrument open tuning, to the main bar web to play another musical selection. 
     The guitar fingering aid and small finger bar or bars are arranged to be easily adjustable, as with straps, to the musician&#39;s middle and small fingers, and includes outer surfaces that engage selected instrument strings during instrument playing. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings that illustrate that which is presently regarded as the best mode for carrying out the invention: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side elevation view of the palm of a musician&#39;s hand whereto a device and small finger bar of the guitar fingering aid of the invention is mounted on a musician&#39;s hand, with the device shown fitted onto the undersurface of the hand and with the small finger bar fitted onto the musician&#39;s little finger, between the knuckle and junction with the hand; 
         FIG. 1A  shows the musician&#39;s hand mounting the guitar fingering aid device of  FIG. 1 , with the musician&#39;s thumb, shown as having been passed under a neck of a stringed instrument, proximate to the instrument head stock that is partially shown as an outline that illustrates the head stock as including a tuning machine, as represented by a circle at the end of a second string, prior to the hand being folded over the instrument neck; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side elevation perspective view of the top of the musician&#39;s hand holding the instrument neck with the guitar fingering aid device and small finger bar of  FIGS. 1 and 1A , shown mounted, respectively, to the musician&#39;s middle finger and small finger with straps that have been attached at their ends to hold the device and small finger bar in place; 
         FIG. 3 . shows a profile perspective view of a guitar fingering aid device of the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 2 , that includes a main bar that has an outer curved surface that terminates, on an outer end, and includes a inner end post, which main bar includes a web that has flat parallel opposite surfaces with spaced holes formed there through that each can receive a shaft, with threaded ends, fitted there through, and shows the shaft aligned to fit into a sleeve that, in turn, fits into an open end of a cylindrical insert of a finger support, with the sleeve shown aligned with a hole formed in an open end of the finger support and is aligned with a sleeve to receive the shaft threaded end, and which device is shown as including straps, with end couplings, that each extend outwardly from a top of which main bar and are each for fitting around for connecting the guitar fingering aid device; 
         FIG. 3A  shows the finger support as having received an internally threaded insert that has been turned onto the shaft threaded end to connect to a side of the web; 
         FIG. 3B  shows a profile view of the device of  FIG. 1  that illustrates the parameters for forming an arc in the device web undersurface, showing a point of origin and radial distance from that point of origin to the web undersurface; 
         FIG. 4  shows a side elevation view of the guitar fingering aid device of  FIGS. 3 and 3A  positioned across the strings of the neck of a stringed instrument, and shows the neck as having a flat surface with strings numbered from 1 to 6 out from the end post of the device, which numbers correspond to holes  1  through  6  formed through the device web; 
         FIG. 5  shows a side elevation view of the instrument neck whereon the musician&#39;s instrument neck holding hand has the guitar fingering aid device of  FIGS. 1 through 3A  mounted thereon that is shown as having been tilted across the instrument neck, as illustrated by a curved arrow E and shows the small finger bar engaging an instrument string; 
         FIG. 5A  is a view like that of  FIG. 5  only showing the guitar fingering aid small finger bar as having been lifted off of the instrument string; 
         FIG. 5B  is a view like that of  FIG. 5  only showing the guitar fingering aid device as having been moved back to a flat attitude relative to the neck; 
         FIG. 5C  is a view like that of  FIG. 5B  only showing the small finger bar as having been lifted off of the instrument string; 
         FIG. 6A-6C  show top plan views of the instrument neck with the guitar fingering aid device, shown in solid lines as an outline, positioned across the instrument neck, and showing, with arrows A and B respectively, the device as having moved up and down the instrument neck and shows with arrows C and D the device being pivoted; 
         FIGS. 7 through 7B  show profile perspective views of a pair of finger supports and additionally shows an outrigger bar in  FIG. 7B , which finger supports and outrigger bar are for mounting onto threaded shafts to the web of the main bar web; 
         FIGS. 7C through 7E  show end views of the finger supports of  FIGS. 7 through 7A  and outrigger bar of  FIG. 7B  as having longitudinal cavities formed off center therein that are for turning onto threaded shaft ends, that, alternatively, can each receive a female threaded insert that are each for turning over threaded shaft ends, as shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a profile perspective view of the guitar fingering aid device that is like those shown in  FIG. 3 , that has been fitted onto a musician&#39;s hand and, additionally, shows the device as having a pair of finger supports that have been fitted onto a same shaft and connected onto opposite sides of the device main bar web, and showing a small finger bar with a flat head string engaging surface mounted to the musician&#39;s small finger; 
         FIG. 8A  is a view like that of  FIG. 8  showing the musician&#39;s hand holding the instrument neck and mounts the guitar fingering aid to their middle finger but with the musician&#39;s adjacent fingers extending to where the finger ends engage two separate strings; 
         FIG. 8B  is a view like that of  FIGS. 8 and 8A  showing the musician&#39;s hand as having been folded over the instrument neck to where the main bar undersurface extends across the instrument neck, and further includes the small finger bar and an additional second small finger bar that are shown as contacting two strings; 
         FIG. 9  is a view of the device that shows a mounting of three finger supports, and outrigger bar that are individually mounted to opposite faces of the main bar web, and includes the small finger bar and the second small finger bar, and shows the musician&#39;s thumb positioned under the instrument neck for pivoting into engagement with the guitar neck, moving the finger aid device and the small finger bar and second small finger bar into alignment with the instrument strings; 
         FIG. 10  shows a top elevation view of the small finger bar; 
         FIG. 11  shows a top elevation view of the second small finger bar; 
         FIG. 12  shows a top elevation view of the guitar fingering aid device and small finger bar of  FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 5 through 5C, and 8 through 8A  mounted to a musician&#39;s hand, and positioned onto a section of the instruments neck, and shows the neck as mounting the six instrument strings, from left to right  6 ,  5 ,  4 ,  3 ,  2  and  1 , and shows spaced capital letters at spaced intervals along the neck that indicate the root of the chords that can be played by moving the device and little finger bar appropriately along the neck as illustrated by arrows A and B, and shows curved arrows identified by letters C and D that indicate a pivoting of the device, and includes curved arrows E and F indicating, respectively, a lifting of the device to a slanted attitude and a return to a flat attitude, and shows a rolling of the device, illustrated by arrows G and H, that indicates a tilting of the device upwardly or downwardly to press selected strings to play a musical selection, and further shows the first small finger bar as pressing selected strings, and showing, with black spots on the top of the device and finger bar that indicate contact points on the strings  6  through  1 ; 
         FIG. 12A through 12H  show the configuration of the guitar fingering aid device of  FIGS. 1 through 3A and 5 through 5C  for sliding up and down the neck, rolling and pivoting the device, and lifting and lowering the small finger bars, at different positions on the instrument neck to produce eight major cord groups as indicate by the combination of a capital letter adjacent to a small letter and or a number; 
         FIG. 13  shows a block flow schematic setting out the steps for playing a selected musical composition utilizing the guitar fingering aid of the invention; 
         FIGS. 14 through 14B  show blocks depicting open tunings of the instrument and the set ups of the device and small finger bar and second small finger bar of the guitar fingering aid that are appropriate for playing selected chords of a musical composition for the chosen open tunings. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention is in a guitar fingering aid  8  that consisting of a device  10  and a small finger bar  11 , as shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A and 2  that show a basic configuration of the device  10  as including as the device  10  and finger bar  11  that are attached to the musician&#39;s hand  40  to allow the musician to apply pressure on strings of a guitar type instrument through the device  10  and small finger bar  11  that, essentially, will duplicate the string pressure as a musician, without an impairment, can apply thereon. In practice, generally, a musician who suffers from a handicap, such as arthritis, often cannot comfortably reach out there fingers, or bend them appropriately, to reach and properly press the instrument strings during normal play. However, such impaired musician can play their instrument utilizing the device  10  and little finger bar  11  of the invention strapped onto their hand  40  that grips the instrument neck  9 . Whereby, by moving their hand vertically on the instrument neck  9 , and tilting, rotating, pivoting their hand  40 , as they did before they became impaired, they can play their instrument. In such play, the use of the device  10  and small finger bar  11  allows a musician to apply a pressure on the instrument string as they could formerly apply through the fingers of their hand onto the individual instrument strings in playing the instrument. Which impaired musician can essentially duplicate their playing style as they used before they became impaired. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , and in more detail in side elevation perspective views of  FIGS. 3 and 3A , the device  10  includes a main bar  12  that has an outer convex curved surface  14  and whose sides terminate in flat ledges  15  that intersect, at their ends, to an inner curved end  16 , of a vertical post  17  that is formed at a right angle to the end of the main bar  12 , where the curved end  16  is to engage a surface of an inner guitar neck side. Which vertical post  17  guides movement and pivoting movement of the device  10  as it is moved along an instrument neck  9  side  9   a , as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 2 , and guides rolling, pivoting and tilting of the device  10  during play to contact strings  1  though  6 , as taken from the side  9   a  of neck  9 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 2 . The device  10  main bar  12  includes the web  13  that is rectangular in shape with parallel opposite flat sides  13   a  and  13   b . Which main bar web  13  string engaging surface  14  may be flat along is outer surface, from end to end, or, preferably, is slightly curved from end to end, to have a convex outer surface  14 , along its length. In practice, the main bar web  13  has opposing parallel sides  13   a  and  13   b  and a length that is appropriate to extend across the instrument neck  9 , that, in practice, is approximately two and one half inches in length through, the main bar web  13  may be longer or shorter so long as it extends across the instrument neck  9 , within the scope of this disclosure. 
     The main bar web  13 , shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 3 and 3A  includes aligned equal spaced holes  1 ,  2   3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6  formed therethrough, taken from the device  10  vertical post  17  surface, where, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3A , each space hole can receive a shaft  20 , fitted therethrough, with, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3A , the shaft  20  is fitted through a hole  3  that is shown as having a threaded end  20   a  and has a screw type head formed in its opposite end  20   b .  FIG. 1  shows the single shaft  20  fitted through hole  3  and has its end  20   a  aligned with a sleeve  21  that are aligned to fit into an end hole  24  of an end of a finger support  22   a . With, in  FIG. 3A , the sleeve  21  is shown fitted into the end hole  24  of the finger support  22   a  with the threaded end  20   a  of the single shaft  20  to receive the sleeve  21  turned thereon, mounting the aligned finger support  22   a  onto the device main bar web  13  side  13   b , as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
     In practice, as an alternative configuration of the device  10 , a pair of finger supports  22   a  and  22   b  can be mounted onto ends of a single shaft  20 , as shown in  FIG. 8  that has a length to provide for the attachment of the finger supports  22   a  and  22   b  in alignment. Also, it should be understood, that shafts  20  for mounting a finger support  22   a , and finger supports  22   a  and  22   b , as shown in  FIG. 9 , can have a length that is appropriate for fitting into individual finger supports  22   a ,  22   b , and  22   c  in selected holes  1  through  6  formed along the main bar  12  web  13 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . Which shorter shafts  20 , to mount them to the main bar  12  web  13 , can include a headed end or ends  20   b , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3A . Accordingly, it should be understood, that the length of the shaft  20  is selected to be appropriate to be fitted into a sleeve  21  that has been fitted into the individual finger support  22   a  or  22   b , or outrigger bar or bars  23  end hole  4 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , as discussed below. 
     Additional to the basic configuration of the device  10 , the guitar fingering aid  8 , as shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A and 2 , and in a side elevation perspective view of  FIG. 9 , also includes the small finger bar  11 , that is shown in a side elevation perspective view of  FIG. 10 . Shown therein, the small finger bar  11  is mounted onto the musician&#39;s little finger, below the knuckle, and proximate to the junction of the small finger to the hand  40 . Shown best in  FIG. 10 , to maintain it around the small finger, proximate to its junction with the hand  40 , the small finger bar  11  includes longer and shorter straps  50  and  51  that have, respectively, ends  50   a  and  51   a  that attach to a head or top  55  of the small finger bar  11  that is preferably rectangular in shape with rounded top edges  55  and slopes upwardly from a rear end  56 , that has a thickness of approximately one fourth of an inch, to a forward end  57  and has a thickness of approximately one eighth of an inch. Shown in  FIG. 10 , the strap  50  is longer than strap  51  and includes a pair of lateral slots  52   a  and  52   b , that are spaced from one another, with the lower slot  52   a  to receive an end  50   a  of strap  50  threaded from the back of the strap through slot  52   a  and is then threaded from front to back through slot  52   b  of the strap  51 , with the pair of lateral slots  52   a  and  52   b  functioning as a buckle to maintain the strap  50  to strap  51  around the musician&#39;s finger, coupling the small finger bar  11  onto the musician&#39;s finger, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A and 2 . 
     With the device  10  and small finger bar  11  mounted to the hand  40 , the musician, by sliding their hand up and down the instrument neck and tilting, rotating and pivoting their hand appropriately can sequentially engage selected strings  1  through  6  to play the chords of a musical composition. With the device  10  configured, or set up, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 3 and 3A , and with the small finger bar  11  mounted onto the musician&#39;s small finger, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A and 2 , the musician can play a number of musical selections without a reconfiguration of the device  10 . 
     Specifically, in a practice of the method of the invention for playing a musical composition, with the device  10  set up as shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A and 2 , and with the guitar tuned to open Dm7, as shown in  FIGS. 12 through 12H , and which tuning can also be tuned to open Cm7 and Em7, within the scope of this disclosure, the musician can form all Major, Seventh, Minor, Minor Seventh, Sixth, Minor Sixth, Major Seventh, and Minor/Major Seventh Chords, by using a combination of, pressing selected strings to form the chords, while both lifting and lowering of the small finger bar  11 , onto strings  1  and  2 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 through 5C , and pivoting, rolling, and tilting the device  10  to engage the strings  1  through  6 , as they move their hand up and down the instrument neck  9 . Which positioning of the device  10  and small finger bar  11  is illustrated in  FIGS. 12A through 12H , that show the string contacts points as black dots positioned over the respective strings as are contacted during playing of the selected chords to play a musical composition, allowing the musician to form all ninety six (96) of the most commonly used chords. Further, additional to the device  10  basic set up of  FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 3 and 3A , other components of the device  10  can to added to the device  10  basic set up to include, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 8A , the second finger support  22   b , and may include the second small finger bar  60 , as shown in  FIG. 8B  as well as additional finger supports  22   c  along with an outrigger bar  23 , as shown in  FIG. 9  Where, in such set ups, the finger supports  22   a  and  22   b  along with the outrigger bar  23  are mounted to different holes alongside one another through the main bar web  13  sides  13   a  and  13   b , extending outwardly, at right angles, therefrom. As shown, in  FIG. 8B , the small finger bar  11  is fitted to the musician&#39;s small finger, as shown mounted in  FIGS. 1, 1A and 2 , and further includes the small finger bar  60  fitted onto the musician&#39;s small finger above their knuckle. With the different device set ups here set out, and with the guitar tuned to one of the selected open tunings, as discussed above, one hundred thirty two (132) additional chords can be played with device  10  and small finger bar  11 , set up as shown in  FIGS. 8B and 9 , 
     As set out above, the device  10  can employ a variety of configurations thereof and, along with the small finger bar  11 , constitutes the guitar fingering aid  8 . Further, the aid can also include, as appropriate, an additional or second finger bar  60 , and additional finger supports and one or more outrigger bars  23 . The combination of which guitar fingering aid  8  device  10 , and small finger bar  11 , of  FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 3 and 3A , however, constitutes the basic configuration of the guitar fingering aid  8  of the invention and is for use by a handicapped musician who has lost or damaged a finger or finger, and, additionally, is suitable for use by a novice student who has sensitive finger tips and is discouraged from play by the discomfort associated the redundant depression of the instruments strings, which discomfort can be avoid with a use of the guitar fingering aid. 
     In practice, the device  10  and small finger bar  11  and second small finger bar  60  are preferably manufactured from a soft moldable material, such as a flexible vinyl or thermoplastic elastomer that will, when pressed onto a string, provide a flow such that, when it is pressed on a string, the soft malleable material tends to flow across and slightly down the string, mimicking the musician&#39;s fingers pressing on an instrument string. Also, for the handicapped musician, they often cannot comfortably reach out their fingers, or bend them appropriately to reach and properly press the instrument strings during normal play. Which difficulty can be corrected utilizing the guitar fingering aid  8  of the invention strapped onto their hand  40 . In which play, the musician grips the instrument neck  9 , and, by moving their hand vertically on the instrument neck  9 , and rolling, pivoting, and tilting their hand  40 , as they did before they became impaired, can play a selected musical composition. In such play, the use of the device  10  small finger bar  11  and small finger bar  60  allows a like pressure on the instrument strings as the musician could formerly apply through the fingers onto the individual instrument strings in playing the instrument. Which impaired musician can thereby, essentially, duplicate their playing style before they became impaired. 
       FIGS. 3, 3A and 4  show profile perspective views and a side elevation view, respectively, of the guitar fingering aid device  10  that, like the device  10  of  FIGS. 1, 1A and 2 , includes the main bar  12  that has an outer convex curved surface  14  whose sides terminate in flat ledges  15  and intersects, on one end  16 , to the end of a vertical post  17  formed on an inner guitar neck side engaging surface. A rounded surface  16  of which vertical post  17  guides movement along and pivoting of the device  10  as it is moved up or down along the instrument neck  9  side  9   a , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , and is shown the basic device  10  of  FIGS. 1, 1A and 2  is shown being rolled in  FIGS. 5 and 5A  by arrow E, and pivoted during play, as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6C  and moved vertically along the instrument neck  9 , as illustrated by arrows A and B as shown in  FIG. 6B . 
     As set out above, the main bar web  13 , shown best in  FIGS. 3 and 3A , includes equal spaced 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 holes formed therethrough, taken from the device  10  vertical post  17  surface, where each space hole can receive a shaft  20 , fitted therethrough that can be a threaded shaft or have a screw type head  20   b . As shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 3 and 3A  a single shaft  20  is fitted through hole  3  and has its end  20   a  aligned with a sleeve  21  that is aligned to fit into an open end hole  24  of finger support  22   a . So arranged, with the sleeve  21  fitted into the open end  24  of finger supports  22   a , the threaded end of the single shaft  20  can receive the sleeve  21  turned therein, mounting the aligned finger support  22   a  onto the device web  13 , as shown in  FIG. 3A . It should, however, be understood that, within the scope of this disclosure, the sleeve  21  could be dispensed with and the threaded end  20   a  of the shaft  20  could be turned directly into the finger support  22   a  hole  24 . The sleeve  21  is, however, preferred to minimize erosion of the finger support  22   a  hole  24  as could occur with different set ups of the device  10 . 
     Strapping for fitting the device  10 , onto the musician&#39;s hand, as shown in  FIGS. 2, 3, 3A, 4, 8A, and 8B , consists of a pair of straps  30  and  31  that are each secured on a coupling end  30   a  and  31   a , at spaced intervals, to one side  32   a  of a cradle  32 , that is connected along edge  13   c  of the main bar web  13 , whose other side  32   b  includes like buckles  33  and  33   a  formed in the cradle side  32  for mounting the device  10  to a finger on the hand of the musician that grips the instrument neck. Additionally, as shown in  FIGS. 8, 8A, and 8B  like strap keepers  35  are arranged to be slid along the straps  30  and  31  and be passed over the strap ends  30   a  and  31   a  after those ends have been passed through each of the buckles  33  and  33   a  lateral slots  36 ,  36   a  or  36   b , and  37 ,  37   a  or  37   b , as shown best in  FIG. 4 . Which keepers  35  are for preventing the straps  30  and  31  from retracting out of the buckles  33  and  33   a  during operation of the device  10 . The selection of which buckles lateral slots  36 ,  36   a  or  36   b  or  37 ,  37   a  or  37   b  to fit the straps  30  and  31  ends through is to provide a tight fit of the straps  30  and  31  to the musician&#39;s finger. With the selection of buckle slots made so as to allow the musician to adjust the fit of the device to their finger circumference. 
       FIG. 8B  shows a second small bar  60  mounted onto the musician&#39;s finger that is in addition to the small finger bar  11 , as set out above. Which second small finger bar  60 , is shown best in  FIG. 11  as also having longer and shorter straps  61  and  62  that, like shorter strap  51  of the little finger bar  11 , includes a pair of spaced lateral slots  63   a  and  63   b  formed across the shorter strap  62 , that are set back from the strap end  62   a , forming a buckle that the end of the longer strap end  61   a  is threaded therethrough, with the end  61   a  first passed through the lower lateral slot  63   a  from front to back, and is then threaded back to front through the upper lateral slot  63   b  to tighten and hold the second small finger bar  60  of the musician&#39;s small finger between that finger joint and the finger end. Like the small finger bar  11 , the second small finger bar has a head  64  with a flat top surface  65 . However, distinct from the small finger bar  11 , the second small finger bar  60  in that a head  64  has a greater depth or thickness of approximately one half of an inch as compared to the small finger bar  11  that has is approximately one quarter of an inch thick and tapers to an eight of an inch depth or thickness, and the second small finger bar  60  is also different in that the head  64  as a lesser height which measures approximately three eights of an inch compared to the small finger bar  11  that is approximately five eights of an inch tall. Though, it should be understood, that the depth or thicknesses of the small finger bar  11  head or top  55  and that of the second small finger bar  60  head or top  64  can be slightly greater or smaller, within the scope of this disclosure. 
       FIG. 8  shows a set up of the device  10  that includes a pair of finger supports  22   a  and  22   b  that are shown attached to the main bar web  13 , to extend outwardly, at right angles, from the sides  13   a  and  13   b  thereof and additionally shows the small finger bar  11  fitted onto the small finger of the musician&#39;s hand  40 . Which finger supports  22   a  and  22   b  are shown aligned with one another and are preferably mounted onto threaded ends of a single shaft  20  that is shown as having been fitted through main bar web  13  hole  3 . The device  10  of  FIG. 8 , it should be understood, could be mounted to fingers on either side of which middle finger, and, within the scope of this disclosure, the finger supports  22   a  and  22   b  could be mounted through any one of the web holes. 
     For an aligned attachment of the finger supports  22   a  and  22   b  the single shaft  20  with threaded ends  22   a  and  22   b  of an appropriate length is used, as set out above. However, to provide another set up of the device  10 , where the finger supports  22   a  and  22   b  are not aligned, as shown in  FIG. 9 , individual shorter shafts  20  with screw type heads  20   b  are preferably used, and, of course, can also include sleeves  21 , like the sleeve  21  shown in  FIG. 3 , with the sleeves aligned to fit into the finger support  22   a  and  22   b  and outrigger bar  23 . Which sleeves  21  are to each receive a threaded end of each of the shafts  20  aligned for turning in which sleeve or sleeves. Shown in  FIG. 9 , the device  10  includes the outrigger bar  23  is shown fitted through the main bar web  13  hole  5 , with the finger support  22   a  fitted through the main bar web  13  hole  3 , the finger support  22   b  fitted through the main bar web  13  hole  1 , and the finger support  22   c  fitted through the main bar web  13  hole  6 , as another example of a device  10  set up configuration that is distinct from the set up shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 3A, and 8 . 
     Shown in  FIGS. 7, 7A and 7B  are enlarged configurations of the finger supports  22   a  and  22   b , and the outrigger bar  23 . In  FIGS. 7 and 7A , the finger supports  22   a  and  22   b  have like configurations with square ends and rectangular bodies and, include diagonally cut corners. With the outrigger bar  23 , as shown in  FIG. 7B , has a rectangular face and sides with the distance between the top and bottom thereof shown as narrower than the sides of the finger supports  22   a  and  22   b , through, it should be understood, the finger supports and outrigger bar can all have the same dimensional height. Further, the finger support  22   c , as shown in  FIG. 9 , can have the same dimensions as the finger supports  22   a  and  22   b , or can be different therefrom, within the scope of this disclosure. Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 7C through 7E , the finger supports  22   a  and  22   b , along with the outrigger bar  23 , each include a hole  24  formed in an end thereof, which holes  24  can be centered or off centered within the scope of this disclosure Similarly, the finger supports  22   c  and  22   b , as shown in  FIG. 9 , will also have holes in one end of each that, in practice, can be centered or off-centered. In practice, the center hole  24  arrangement allows the musician to conveniently turn the finger support or supports or outrigger bar to raise or lower the finger support or outrigger bar surface that is opposite to the instrument strings so as to facilitate their contacting a string or strings during play of a musical composition. Also, it should be understood, the surface or surfaces of the finger supports  22   a ,  22   b , and  22   c  and outrigger bar  23  can be flat, rounded or sloped to accommodate the musicians abilities for them to play a particular musical composition, within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Shown in  FIG. 12 , the device  10  finger support  22   a  and small finger bar  11  set up, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A, and 2 , is appropriate for playing a number of musical compositions where the strings of a guitar to D, A, D, F, A, and C, are tuned for open tuning Dm7. Meaning that the Dm7 chord is played without pressing the device  10  or small finger  11  onto the strings. Which tuning is accomplished by just strumming or picking the guitar strings. Such open tuning dictates the way the device  10  finger support  22   a  and small finger bar  11  are setup, and is an appropriate setup, for other tunings Cm7 and Em7. 
       FIG. 12  shows the device  10  with the finger support  22   a  and small finger bar  11 , as shown in  FIG. 1, 1A, 2 , aligned with the strings  1  through  6 , and shows black dots on the top surfaces thereof of the main bar  12  finger support  22   a  and small finger bar  11 , that indicate where the strings can be pressed against the fret board for forming a chord or chords. 
       FIGS. 12A through 12H  show the tuning of  FIG. 12 , with the set up of the device of  FIGS. 1, 1A and 2 , that include the main bar  12 , finger support  22   a  and small finger bar  11 , with spaced letters arranged alongside an outer edge  9   b  of the guitar neck  9  that align with frets  9   c  to indicate where the root chord position is located. Which positioning of the spaced letters along the outer edge  9   b  indicates the chord being played. For example, G is the root chord of the G major chord, as shown in  FIG. 12A . In practice, the device  10  set up with the main bar  12 , finger support  22   a  and small finger bar  11  can press the strings against the neck  9  on selected frets, for all the root chords. In the chosen chord formation, the musician&#39;s hand can move up and down the instrument neck  9  to the selected root position, as shown by straight arrows A and B, can be pivoted as illustrated by curved letters C and D, and rolled forward or held flat as illustrated by small curved letters E and F, and tilted downward or upward as illustrated by curved arrows G and H. Which tilting hand movements are appropriate for all device set up configurations, as set out above. In practice, the motions A through H, as detailed above, can be used separately or in different combinations and different set up configurations to form the chords allowing all twelve frets to be be reached. 
     In practice, once the root note position is found, the musician can press the device  10  and small finger bar  11  to form the chords as shown in  FIGS. 12A through 12H , which are correspondently major, seventh, minor, minor seventh, sixth, minor sixth, major seventh and minor major seventh chord formations. 
     The above illustrates the versatility of the guitar fingering aid  8  in that, using the device  10  and small finger bar  11  the musician can play  96  cords without re-tuning the instrument. This capability essentially duplicates the playing capabilities of a non-impaired musician, and, with a re-tuning of the instrument, and with different set ups of the device  10  and with an inclusion of the small finger bar  60  the impaired musician can essentially play all the cords that the non-impaired musician can play. Greatly exceeding the capabilities of any other guitar fingering aid. 
     The use of the guitar fingering aid  8  of the invention provides a handicapped or novice musician with a method and capability for them to continue to play their instrument after they became handicapped or wish to learn to play their instrument. Additionally, the invention includes a method for use of the guitar fingering aid  8  to conveniently and comfortably play selected musical compositions. 
       FIG. 13  shows a block flow schematic  70  illustrating the steps followed in a practice of the method of the invention for playing a selected musical selection on a guitar type musical instrument utilizing the guitar fingering aid  8  of the invention. A choice of which tuning of the instrument is set out in block  71  as a first step in preparation for playing the musical selection. With the instrument tanned appropriately, block  72  sets out the step of setting up the device  10  and small finger bar  11  and block  73  sets out the step of mounting the device  10  and small finger bar  11  onto the musician&#39;s hand  40  that holds the guitar neck. With block  74  showing a musician playing a selected musical composition utilizing the guitar fingering aid  10  and small finger bar  11  mounted to their hand  40  by moving their hand up and down the instrument neck while appropriately rolling, pivoting and tilting the device  10  and lifting and lowering the small finger bar  11  to engage and press and release sequentially selected strings to play the chords of the selected musical composition. With the device  10  and small finger bar  11  fitted to the musician&#39;s hand  40 , block,  74  sets out, by movement of the musician&#39;s hand  40  and fingers up and down the instrument neck, the musician, by rolling, pivoting and tilting of the device  10  and lifting and lowering of the small finger bar  11  appropriately can play a selected musical composition by sequentially depressing the individual instrument strings against the instrument frets and between the instrument frets while strumming or picking the strings, playing the selected musical composition. 
       FIG. 14  shows dependant steps set out as blocks  71   a  and  71   b  and  71   c  that further set out the different open tunings of block  71 , with blocks  72   a ,  72   b  and  72   c  showing basic set up arrangements of device  10 , and block  73   b  showing the placement of the small finger bar  11 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4  and  FIGS. 8 and 8A . Whereby, by fitting the components thereof together the musician can play playing the selected musical selection. 
       FIG. 14  shows the blocks  71   a ,  71   b  and  71   c  of  FIG. 14A  that connects to block  75  and shows the open tuning Cm7, Dm7 and Em7 that each can be played with the device  10  set up of  FIGS. 1,1A, 2, 3 and 3A  along with the set up of  FIGS. 8 through 9 , whereto the components of the device  10  can additionally include with the set up of  FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 3 and 3A , can include the addition of an additional finger support or finger supports, as shown in  FIG. 14A . Further, as set out in  FIG. 14B . The basic set up of the device  10 , as shown in block  75 , can include an addition of the small finger bar  60 . 
     With the different set ups of the device  10  and fitting of the small finger bar  11 , and, as needed, the second small finger bar  60  a musician can play essentially all the chords they could play before they became handicapped. Allowing them to play the the ninety six (96) chords for the basic set up of the device  10  and small finger bar  11  of  FIGS. 1, 1A and 2 , an additional one hundred thirty two (132) chords, with the other different set ups, as set out above, thereby affording the musician the ability to play, utilizing essentially the same rolling, pivoting and lifting of their hand as they move their hand up and down the instrument neck, and lifting and lowering of their small finger, all the chords as the musician could play before they became handicapped or lost or damaged a finger or fingers on their guitar neck holding hand. 
     Herein above has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of guitar fingering aid and method for its use of my invention. It should, however, be understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which subject matter I regard as my invention.