Patent Publication Number: US-2023162709-A1

Title: Chord and note assist assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/064,654, entitled “CHORD AND NOTE ASSIST ASSEMBLY,” filed Aug. 12, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a chord assist assembly for playing fretted string instruments, especially fitted to an electric or acoustic guitar, that provides the ability to play an instrument with little, or no, ability or proficiency. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Playing good music with a string of musical instruments is a longing for most youngsters or persons within inability to command an instrument. The guitar is an easily accessible musical instrument for youngsters because of its affordable price. However, learning and understanding mechanics necessary to produce chords and notes on the guitar is not easy, although it is essential for the players to be successful. Mastering the many types of fingerings or producing chords and their relation to one another is essential and requires mastery in order to inspire creativity. Any musical theory books demonstrate and refer to a vast array of chords. However, producing these chords in order to hear them in relation to each other is essential for musical development. Some devices for easily playing chords on the guitar are available. Yet, they are cumbersome, complex, very limited in their abilities, and unclear. The prior art has shown that there is no device that is simple and small, easy to use and compact, with the capability to construct any form or type of note or chord in music. 
     Needed, is a better method that makes a stronger impact on the mind of the beginning player in which learning is quicker and enjoyable. Notations must be looked into again and again to absorb everything contained within the black and white pages. It is the purpose of the current application to provide a device for note or chord generation, which has and ability to make a stronger impression if done in a clear simple manner. It is another purpose of the current application to provide an aiding instrument for a guitar player, who accidentally loses some of his or her fingers or is unable to command a fretted stringed instrument. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect a chord and/or note assist assembly includes a chord and/or note forming aid having a plurality of multi-position string engaging assemblies that engage strings of a guitar in a controlled manner so as to define chords associated with playing a guitar and an extension device having a plurality of multi-position string engaging assemblies that engage strings of a guitar in a controlled manner so as to define chords associated with playing a guitar. An electronic microprocessor circuit board is electrically linked to a solid-state memory to control the plurality of multi-position string engaging assemblies of both the chord and/or note forming aid and the extension device. 
     In some embodiments, the chord and/or note forming aid includes keypad box housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, a rear wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, and lateral side walls extending between the top wall and the bottom wall. 
     In some embodiments, the bottom wall of chord and/or note forming aid includes a recessed section shaped and dimensioned in such a way that the neck of the guitar may be positioned therein. 
     In some embodiments, the bottom wall includes first and second bottom wall segments that connect directly to the respective lateral walls and lie in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the respective lateral wall and the recessed section is positioned between the first and second bottom wall segments. 
     In some embodiments, the recessed section of chord and/or note forming aid is defined by first and second recess side wall segments and a recess base segment. 
     In some embodiments, a strap harness of chord and/or note forming aid selectively extends across the recessed section in a manner frictionally holding a neck of a guitar within the recessed section. 
     In some embodiments, the strap harness is wide Velcro strap. 
     In some embodiments, each of the multi-position string engaging assemblies includes a solenoid extending from an aperture formed in the bottom wall. 
     In some embodiments, each of the solenoids includes a first end and a second end, the first end includes a coil in which an armature is positioned and the second end includes an extended portion of the armature. 
     In some embodiments, a string capture cap is secured to the free end of the extended portion of the armature, and the string capture cap is shaped and dimensioned to engage the strings of a guitar when the solenoid is actuated. 
     In some embodiments, a wireless transceiver is integrated with, or electrically coupled to the electronic microprocessor circuit board. 
     In some embodiments, the chord and/or note forming aid includes an LED readout. 
     In some embodiments, the extension device includes an extension device housing shaped and dimensioned for positioning over the frets of a guitar in a manner allowing a user to generate chords with only one finger of a person playing the guitar. 
     In some embodiments, the extension device housing includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, a rear wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, and lateral side walls extending between the top wall and the bottom wall. 
     In some embodiments, the bottom wall of the extension device includes a recessed section shaped and dimensioned in such a way that the neck of the guitar may be positioned therein. 
     In some embodiments, the bottom wall of the extension device includes first and second bottom wall segments that connect directly to the respective lateral walls and lie in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the respective lateral wall and the recessed section is positioned between the first and second bottom wall segments. 
     In some embodiments, the recessed section of the extension device is defined by first and second recess side wall segments and a recess base segment. 
     In some embodiments, the extension device includes a strap harness selectively extending across the recessed section in a manner frictionally holding a neck of a guitar within the recessed section. 
     Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view showing the chord and/or assist assembly. 
         FIG.  2    is a top perspective view showing the chord and/or note forming aid above the first four frets of a guitar. As will be explained below in greater detail, on the unseen lateral wall is an LED readout for the player to see which groups and specific chords and/or notes and/or capo have been selected. Also, on top is a row of six bidirectional keys. Each key may be switched in either direction offering twelve selections. On the front is a door to access and replace the rechargeable battery and to access the computer controls. There is also a row of four bidirectional switches to select from the various groups of stored songs, chords, notes and capos. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the chord and/or note forming aid shown inverted relative to the view shown in  FIG.  2    (and with the strap harness open) to expose the view of the multi-position string engaging assemblies. As will be explained below in greater detail, there are four rows positioned to be just before the first four frets. Each row has six solenoids with each solenoid positioned to be over one of the six strings. Each solenoid has a ‘C’ shaped capture cap that helps capture the string. This allows the chord and/or note forming aid to work with guitars that have a different distance between their strings. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the chord and/or note forming aid shown from the opposite end of that shown in  FIG.  3    (with the strap harness not shown). 
         FIG.  5    is a bottom elevation view of the chord and/or note forming aid (with the strap harness not shown). 
         FIG.  6    is a detailed perspective view of a stabilizer pair devices for use in conjunction with the chord and note forming aid. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a multi-position string engaging assembly. 
         FIG.  8    is an exploded view of the multi-position string engaging assembly. 
         FIGS.  9 ,  10 , and  11    are a perspective view (with the strap harness shown open), an opposite perspective view (with the strap harness not shown), and a bottom elevation view (with the strap harness not shown) of an alternate stabilizer embodiment for use in conjunction with the chord and/or note forming aid. 
         FIG.  12    is a detailed perspective view of the embodiment of a stabilizer as shown in  FIGS.  9 ,  10 , and  11   . 
         FIGS.  13 A,  13 B, and  13 C  are respectively a top perspective view, a bottom perspective view, and an exploded view showing use of solenoid six packs in accordance with the chord and note forming aid (although it is appreciated the solenoid six packs would similarly be used with the extension device). 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view of an extension device that may be plugged into the back of the chord and/or note forming aid to extend its abilities over the next eight frets for a total of twelve frets. 
         FIG.  15    is a perspective view of the extension device shown inverted (with the strap harness shown open) relative to the view shown in  FIG.  13    to expose the view of the forty-eight multi-position string engaging assemblies. There are eight rows just before the fifth through the twelfth frets. Each row has six solenoids with each solenoid over one of the six strings. 
         FIG.  16    is a bottom elevation view of the extension device (with the strap harness not shown). 
         FIG.  17    shows exemplary displays in accordance with use of the present chord and/or assist assembly. 
         FIG.  18    is a schematic showing operational electronics of the present chord and/or assist assembly. 
         FIGS.  19  and  20    are respectively a front perspective of a chord and/or note forming aid and an extension device in accordance with an alternate embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The detailed embodiments are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  to  18   , a chord and/or note assist assembly  10  is disclosed. The chord and/or note assist assembly  10  includes a chord and/or note forming aid  100  and an extension device  200  for playing fretted instruments. While the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  is disclosed herein below for use in conjunction with an electronic guitar, the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  may be used with a wide variety of electronic or acoustic fretted string instruments. The chord and/or note assist assembly  10  provides beginners, elderly persons, and handicapped persons with the ability to play guitar in a pleasant and convenient manner. The chord and/or note assist assembly  10  may also be used by experienced guitar players who develop new and unusual chords, as well as chords that are not physically possible to be played by the players fingers alone. 
     As will be appreciated based upon the following disclosure, the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  is computer based, programmable and can be controlled by a smartphone (either iPhone or Android). Similar to a personal computer, and as is described below in more detail, the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  has computer chips for both operational control and for memory management. The operational chip will control all the various hardware functions. Generally, chords and/or notes of a song are preprogrammed into the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  so that all that is required for the player is to press an actuation interface mechanism in the form of bidirectional keypad(s)  152   a - f  in a specific order while strumming to actuate chords/notes and to play a song. In accordance with other implementations, chords and/or notes of a song are preprogrammed into the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  so that all that is required for the player do is strum and the next chord/note is automatically in place for the next strum. Additionally, chord and/or note assist assembly  10  users will have use of a website that will be available for both uploading and downloading chords, notes, capos and/or full songs. 
     As discussed below, the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  is provided with a Bluetooth wireless transceiver  144  allowing for pairing of the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  with a smartphone (or other portable electronic device). With this in mind, the smartphone, which also includes a Bluetooth wireless transceiver, has a dedicated app installed thereon. The dedicated app includes mechanisms for use with the chord and/or note assist assembly  10 . By holding a button, the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  enters a pairing mode and the app running on the smartphone will detect and pair with the chord and/or note assist assembly  10 . Once paired, the app on the smartphone allows the user to create instructions/actions to be run on the chord and/or note assist assembly  10 . The app sends these instructions over the Bluetooth connection to the chord and/or note assist assembly  10 . The chord and/or note assist assembly  10  acts according to the received instructions. The chord and/or note assist assembly  10  will periodically send information about itself to the app for details such as battery level and errors. 
     In accordance with the disclosed embodiment, the chord and/or note forming aid  100  is shaped and dimensioned to cover from the nut across the 1st fret through the 4th fret and the extension device  200  is shaped and dimensioned to cover from the 4 th  fret across the 5th fret through the 12th fret. Thus, with the six strings and the twelve frets, 72 multi-position string engaging assemblies  130 ,  230  provide for all string engaging possibilities associated with the chord and/or note forming aid  100  and extension device  200 . 
     The chord and/or note forming aid  100  includes a keypad box housing  102  shaped and dimensioned for positioning over the frets of a guitar in a manner allowing a user to generate chords with only one finger of a person playing the guitar. The keypad box housing  102  includes a top wall  104 , a bottom wall  106 , a front wall  110  extending between the top wall  104  and the bottom wall  106 , a rear wall  108  extending between the top wall  104  and the bottom wall  106 , and lateral side walls  112 ,  114  extending between the top wall  104  and the bottom wall  106 . The top wall  104 , front wall  110 , rear wall  108 , and lateral side walls  112 ,  114  are generally flat. The bottom wall  106  is shaped to fit above the neck of the guitar in the area of the frets and includes a longitudinally extending, recessed section  116  that extends from the front wall  110  to the rear wall  108  and wraps about the neck of the guitar. 
     With this in mind, the bottom wall  106  is considered to cover the entire extent of the surface opposite the top  104 . The bottom wall  106  is structured so as to include the recessed section  116 . With this in mind, the bottom wall  106  includes various segments that interconnect to for the recessed section  116  in such a way that the neck of the guitar may be positioned therein for use in accordance with the present invention. 
     The bottom wall therefore includes first and second bottom wall segments  118 ,  120  that connect directly to the respective lateral walls  112 ,  114  and lie in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the respective lateral wall  112 ,  114 . The longitudinally extending, recessed section  116  is positioned between the first and second bottom wall segments  118 ,  120 . The longitudinally extending, recessed section  116  is defined by first and second recess side wall segments  122 ,  124  and a recess base segment  126 . The first and second recess side wall segments  122 ,  124  respectively extend from the first and second bottom wall segments  118 ,  120 , and lie in a plane that is generally parallel to the respective lateral wall  112 ,  114 . The recess base segment  126  extends between the first and second bottom wall segments  118 ,  120 , and lies in plane that is perpendicular to the respective lateral wall  112 ,  114 . As such the bottom wall  106  defines a generally U-shape when viewed along a cross section transverse to the longitudinal axis of the keypad box housing  102 . 
     The keypad box housing  102  is held in position relative to the neck of the guitar through the provision of a strap harness  128  selectively extending across the longitudinally extending, recessed section  116  in a manner frictionally holding the neck of the guitar within the longitudinally extending, recessed section  116 . In accordance with a disclosed embodiment, the strap harness  128  is wide Velcro strap will secure the chord and/or note forming aid  100  around the neck of the guitar between the nut and the fourth fret. While straps are provided in accordance with a disclosed embodiment, it is appreciated a variety of retaining mechanisms could be employed without departing form the spirit of the present invention. 
     In accordance with a disclosed embodiment, the chord and/or note forming aid  100  is about 5¼ inches long and slightly wider than the guitar neck (for example, approximately 3¼ inches wide). It is placed on the end of the neck of a guitar, between the nut and the fourth fret. As explained below in greater detail, the top wall  104  of the chord and/or note forming aid  100  has bidirectional keypads  152   a - f  and the top wall  104  is slightly sloped for both easy vision and access by the user. 
     The working components of the present chord and/or note forming aid  100  are housed within the keypad box housing  102  for operation in the manner described below. Actuation of the guitar strings is achieved by the provision of a plurality of multi-position string engaging assemblies  130  that engage strings of the guitar in a controlled manner so as to define chords associated with playing the guitar. Each of the multi-position string engaging assemblies  130  includes a solenoid  132  extending from an aperture  134  formed in the recess base segment  126  of the bottom wall  106 . Each of the solenoids  132  includes a first end  132   a  and a second end  132   b . The first end  132   a  includes the coil  135  in which the armature  136  is positioned and the second end  132   b  includes the extended portion  136   e  of the armature  136 . A string capture cap  138  is secured to the free end of the extended portion  136   e  of the armature  136 . The string capture cap  138  is shaped and dimensioned to engage the strings of the guitar when the solenoid  132  is actuated. 
     In accordance with a disclosed embodiment, 12 multi-position string engaging assemblies  130  are provided. The multi-position string engaging assemblies  130  are positioned for engagement with each of the 6 strings of the guitar at four different fret locations. As such, the multi-position string engaging assemblies  130  are arranged in the four rows of six multi-position string engaging assemblies  130  extending lateral across the bottom wall  106 , in particular, the recess base segment  126 . 
     It is preferred that only the six multi-position string engaging assemblies  130 , in particular, the string capture cap  138 , engage the guitar strings and that the remaining the structure of the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  is prevented from actually resting on or touching the guitar strings. As such, and in accordance with a disclosed embodiment, the chord and/or assist assembly  10  is prevented from resting upon the strings by the provision of stabilizer pair devices  127 . Each of the stabilizer pair devices  127  is in the form of an inverted U-shape with a thin and elongated base member  127   a  and downwardly extending leg members  127   b  at the respective first and second ends of the base member  127   a . The base member  127   a  is shaped and dimensioned to fit between rows of the six multi-position string engaging assemblies  130 , that is, solenoid six packs  300   a ,  300   b  as discussed below, along the body of the bottom wall  106 . Each of the downwardly extending leg members  127   b  includes a first end  129   a  secured to the base member  127   a  and free second end  129   b  shaped and dimensioned to fit on a fret. 
     The free second ends  129   b  of the respective the downwardly extending leg members  127   b  are crescent shaped. Considering the shape of the free second ends  129   b , its bottom surface  180  includes a concave central section  182  at points  182   a ,  182   b  at opposite ends of the concave central section  182 . The points  182   a ,  182   b  are aligned to point at open spaces on opposite sides of a fret. 
     In accordance with a disclosed embodiment, the stabilizer pair devices  127  are respectively positioned behind the first solenoid six pack  300   a  so as to rest on the first fret and the behind the third solenoid six pack  300   b  so as to rest on the third fret. The downwardly extending leg members  127   b  are oriented to be placed above and rest on the first and third frets between strings  2  and  3  on one side and between strings  4  and  5  on the other side. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, and with reference to  FIGS.  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12   , thin longitudinal rails in the form of four stabilizers  127 ′ protrude from the recess base segment  126  and are positioned to rest between the two middle guitar strings (for example, strings  3  and  4 ). The stabilizers  127 ′ are elongated members with a first end  129   a ′ secured to the recess base segment  126  and a free second end  129   b ′ extending away from the recess base segment for engagement with the neck of the guitar. The stabilizers  127 ′ each include a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chord and/or note forming aid  100 . In accordance with a disclosed embodiment, four stabilizers  127 ′ from the chord and/or assist assembly  10  keep it from resting on the strings. The four stabilizers  127 ′ extend from the chord and/or assist assembly  10  to the area of the guitar neck between the second and third strings and between the fourth and fifth strings between the nut and the first fret and between the third fret and the fourth fret. Considering this embodiment, it is appreciated the stabilizer should be made of a non-scratching material so as to protect the surface of the neck of the guitar. Another contemplated alternative would include a pair of longitudinal rails extending downwardly from the recess base segment such that they rest between adjacent guitar strings; for example, one would rest between strings  2  and  3  and the other would rest between strings  4  and  5 . This alternative provides more balance preventing tilting to either side. In either solution the rails would rest on the frets and not touch nor harm the neck. 
     Control of the solenoids  132  of the multi-position string engaging assemblies  130  is achieved through the provision of an electronic microprocessor circuit board  140  electrically linked to a solid-state memory  142  (that may be integrated with the circuit board or electrically linked thereto). The electronic microprocessor circuit board  140  is electrically linked to the solenoids  132  to control extension and retraction of the armatures  136  in a predefined manner. As a result, the computer chips of the electronic microprocessor circuit board  140  provide for operational control and the computer chips of the solid-state memory provide for memory management. 
     The chord and/or note assist assembly  10  also includes a software management operating system for controlling its operation. The software management operating system manages all operations and storage requirements. Periodic upgrades will be downloadable from a website to users as needed. Operating software is provided (preferably, wirelessly via Bluetooth) for both an iPhone (app store), an Android phone (Google Plays App), and for Windows PCs for the control of the software management operating system of the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  and its content. 
     The software management operating system allows for the following:
         Users can set up the storage for the various notes and chords used by different songs.   Users may either enter all the individual notes and chords for a song by themselves or download available complete songs with all of their notes and chords if available on a website or other websites.   Programming each of the control keys to show on the LED (see the embodiment disclosed herein with reference to  FIG.  3   ) the chosen song title and what note or chord each of the Finger Keys will play for each requested song.   Setting up the Finger Keys with requested notes or chords or both so that the player may play the guitar without a pre-programmed song. This is like playing a guitar but without having to know which strings to press at which frets.   Users may play a complete song of notes and/or chords by only strumming the strings and not need to press any of the finger keys. The software Management will ‘feed’ the needed notes and chords in the correct order at the right time after each strum of the guitar strings.       

     Actuation of the solenoids is achieved using known actuation circuitry and may be varied as desired. For example, the bidirectional keypads  152   a - f  on the top wall  102  are pressed to send signals to the electronic microprocessor circuit board  140  identifying chords and/or notes of a song and the electronic microprocessor circuit board  140  thereafter instructs the required solenoids  132  to extend and engage desired strings of the guitar. In accordance with a disclosed embodiment, the bidirectional keypads allow for actuation in by pressing either the first end thereof or the second end thereof to send first and second distinct signals. Although bidirectional keypads of a specific size are shown in accordance with the disclosed embodiment, the size of the bidirectional keypads may be varied as needed, for example, the bidirectional keypads may be of a size similar to the keys disclosed with reference to  FIGS.  19  and  20   . As mentioned above, and in accordance with other implementations, chords and/or notes of a song are preprogrammed into the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  so that all that is required for the player do is press a sequence of keypads  152   a - f  to start a song and, thereafter, the user need only strum and the next chord/not is automatically in place for the next strum. Additionally, chord and/or note assist assembly  10  users will have use of a website that will be available for both uploading and downloading chords, notes, capos and/or full songs. 
     The chord and/or note forming aid  100  is further provided with a wireless transceiver  144  (for example, Bluetooth) integrated with, or electrically coupled to the electronic microprocessor circuit board  140  and a battery  146  (which may be replaceable and/or rechargeable). 
     In accordance with a disclosed embodiment the electronic microprocessor circuit board  140 , the solid-state memory  142 , and Bluetooth wireless transceiver  144  are positioned inside of the keypad box housing  102  just below the bidirectional keypads  152   a - f  positioned in the top wall  104  of the keypad box housing  102 , wherein the solid-state memory  142  is installed inside the keypad box housing  102  just above the electronic microprocessor circuit board  140 . The keypad box housing  102  is further provided with an access door  153  to allow for access to both the control elements discussed above and the battery(ies). 
     The chord and/or note forming aid  100  control configuration will consist of a two 8-bit shift registers (and possibly an EEPROM depending if the microcontroller that is used changes). In accordance with a disclosed embodiment, a Raspberry Pi 3, or other similar or acceptable, is used as the controller with Raspbian being our Linux-OS. The storage capacity of the Raspberry Pi is sufficient for the functionals of the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  and the code can be stored directly on the Raspberry Pi&#39;s memory and simply pass the necessary information to the shift registers when needed. Each chord will be stored as a chord name attribute with a corresponding tabular notation of the chord itself. 
     With this method chord progression are converted to binary information. For user created chords the program simply receives an input tabular notation from the user and applies the same process as it would for the manufacturers chord data to convert it to binary. The shift register is then be configured by the microcontroller to output a 9-bit binary representation of each chord that is selected by the user. The output of the shift register will be the input logic of the AND gates of the actuators. 
     The first six least significant bits (LSB) will represent the strings of the guitar, the following bits will represent the fret number in chronological manner such that the 7th bit would represent the first fret. With this configuration additional modules (for example, the extension device  200  disclosed herein) may be implemented to cover the higher fret numbers with ease (considering the 1st fret to be the very top fret on the guitar neck after the nut followed by the 2nd fret.) One need only add 1-bit position to the most significant bit for every new fret that is covered by additional modules. 
     In particular, and with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  8   , the present chord and/or note forming aid  100  is positioned over the first four frets of the guitar. The lateral wall  114  of the chord and/or note forming aid  100  includes an LED readout  150  for the player to see which groups and specific chords, notes, and/or capo have been selected. The wall is sloped for easy access and visibility by the user. It will have an LED read out screen facing the player so that the player can see what chords and notes are now available to play. Also, six bidirectional keypads  152   a - f  are positioned on the top wall  104  of the keypad box housing  102  of the chord and/or note forming aid  100 . Each of the bidirectional keypads  152   a - f  allows for switching in either direction and thereby ultimately offer 12 selections regarding the chords or notes within a specific song that a user desires to play. When one of the bidirectional keypads  152   a - f  on the chord and/or note forming aid  100  is selected for a specific chord or note and pressed, it causes separate devices (solenoids  132 ) to press down on the correct strings in the correct fret position for the guitar to play the selected chord or note. When the key is released the chord and/or note forming aid  100  will release the selected strings and the guitar will return to its original position. 
     The front wall  110  of the keypad box housing  102  is provided with the door  153  allowing access to the internal structure of the keypad box housing  102  for replacement of the rechargeable battery  146  and access to the control elements. The top wall  104  of the keypad box housing  102  also include four bidirectional keypads  154   a - d  to select from the various groups of stock songs, chords, notes, and/or capos. This set of bidirectional keypads  154   a - d  are used to select groups of songs and individual songs from within that group. As an alternative to rechargeable batteries, a/c power could be provided from an electric guitar via a thin cable running from a power source of the electric guitar along the back of the guitar neck and to an input on the chord and/or note forming aid  100 . In accordance with another embodiment, an a/c power chord may be run from a remote power source to a power input of the chord and/or note forming aid. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3 ,  4 , and  5   , the chord and/or note forming aid  100  is shown inverted to expose the multi-position string engaging assemblies  130 . There are four rows that are shaped and dimensioned just before the first four frets. Each row has six multi-position string engaging assemblies  130  with each multi-position string engaging assemblies  130  positioned for engagement with one of the strings. As discussed above, each multi-position string engaging assemblies  130  has a C shaped capture cap  138  that helps capture the string. This allows the chord and/or note forming aid  100  to work with guitars that have different distances between their strings. In particular, and in accordance with a disclosed embodiment, the capture caps  138  are in the shape of a crescent moon. The capture caps  138  are attached to the end of the armatures  136  of the solenoids  132 . Considering the shape of the capture cap  138 , its bottom surface  156  includes a concave central section  158  at points  158   a ,  158   b  at opposite ends of the concave central section  158 . The points  158   a ,  158   b  of the capture cap  138  are aligned to point at open spaces on opposite sides of a string. When activated, the concave central section  158  of crescent shaped capture cap  138  captures the guitar string, forces the string to the middle of the crescent shaped capture cap  138  then press the string down upon the guitar fret. This would allow for the player to make the desired chord or note to be played. 
     Further to the chord and/or note forming aid  100  discussed above, an extension device  200  is disclosed with reference to  FIGS.  14  to  16   . The extension device  200  is designed for positioning above the fourth through twelfth frets on the neck of the guitar and is electrically connected the primary chord and/or note forming aid  100  via mating ports  160 ,  260  provided on adjacent ends of the chord and/or note forming aid  100  and the extension device  200 . The extension device  200  extends the abilities of the chord and/or note forming aid  100  from the fourth fret to the twelfth fret. This allows for chords and notes to be played in three times the area of the original chord and/or note forming aid  100 . It also allows for new chords that may extend up to twelve frets and six strings—chords that are impossible to be played without a chord and/or note forming aid  100 . New chords that will use the extension device  200  will be available on a website for free downloading. 
     The extension device  200  is structured in a manner similar to the chord and/or note forming aid  100 . As such, the extension device  200  includes an extension device housing  202  shaped and dimensioned for positioning over the frets of a guitar in a manner allowing a user to generate chords with only one finger of a person playing the guitar. The extension device housing  202  includes a top wall  204 , a bottom wall  206 , a front wall  210  extending between the top wall  204  and the bottom wall  206 , a rear wall  208  extending between the top wall  204  and the bottom wall  206 , and lateral side walls  212 ,  214  extending between the top wall  204  and the bottom wall  206 . The top wall  204 , front wall  210 , rear wall  208 , and lateral side walls  212 ,  214  are generally flat. The bottom wall  206  is shaped to fit about the neck of the guitar in the area of the frets and includes a longitudinally extending, recessed section  216  that extends from the front wall  210  to the rear wall  208  and wraps about the neck of the guitar. 
     With this in mind, the bottom wall  206  includes first and second bottom wall segments  218 ,  220  that connect directly to the respective lateral walls  212 ,  214  and lie in plane that is generally perpendicular to the lateral walls  212 ,  214 . The longitudinally extending, recessed section  216  is positioned between the first and second bottom wall segments  218 ,  220 . The longitudinally extending, recessed section  216  is defined by first and second recess side wall segments  222 ,  224  and a recess base segment  226 . The first and second recess side wall segments  222 ,  224  respectively extend from the first and second bottom wall segments  218 ,  220 , and lie in plane that is generally parallel to the lateral walls  212 ,  214 . The recess base segment  226  extends between from the first and second lateral recess side wall segments  222 ,  224 , and lies in plane that is generally perpendicular to the lateral walls  212 ,  214 . As such, the bottom wall  206  defines a generally U-shape when viewed along a cross section transverse to the longitudinal axis of the extension device housing  202 . 
     The extension device housing  202  is held in position relative to the neck of the guitar through the provision of a strap harness  228  selectively extending across the longitudinally extending, recessed section  216  in a manner frictionally holding the neck of the guitar within the longitudinally extending, recessed section  216 . In accordance with a disclosed embodiment, the strap harness  228  is wide Velcro strap will secure the extension device  200  around the neck of the guitar. While straps are provided in accordance with a disclosed embodiment, it is appreciated a variety of retaining mechanisms could be employed without departing form the spirit of the present invention. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the extension device  200  is about 7% inches long and slightly wider than the guitar neck (for example, approximately 3¼ inches wide). It plugs into the chord and/or note forming aid  100  and covers the neck area from fret four to fret twelve. 
     The working components of the present extension device  200  are housed within the extension device housing  202  for operation in the manner described below. Actuation of the guitar strings is achieved by the provision of a plurality of multi-position string engaging assemblies  230  that engage strings of the guitar in a controlled manner so as to define chords associated with playing the guitar. Each of the multi-position string engaging assemblies  230  includes a solenoid  232  extending from an aperture  234  formed in the recess base segment  226  of the bottom wall  206 . Each of the solenoids  232  is structured in the same manner as those of the chord and/or note forming aid  100 . As such, they include a first end and a second end. The first end includes the coil in which the armature is positioned, and the second end includes the extended portion of the armature. A string capture cap  238  is secured to the extended end of the armature. The string capture cap  238  is shaped and dimensioned to engage the strings of the guitar when the solenoid  232  is actuated. 
     In accordance with a disclosed embodiment, 48 multi-position string engaging assemblies  230  are provided. The multi-position string engaging assemblies are positioned for engagement with each of the six strings of the guitar at eight different fret locations. As such, the multi-position string engaging assemblies are arranged in the eight rows of six solenoids extending lateral across the bottom wall  206 , in particular, the recess base segment. 
     Control of the solenoids  232  of the multi-position string engaging assemblies  230  is achieved through the provision of an electronic microprocessor circuit board  240  electrically linked to the control electronics of the forming aid  100  which provides the extension device  200  with operating instructions for the controlled actuation of the multi-position string engaging assemblies  230 . As such, the extension device  200  only needs the microprocessor circuit board  240  and battery(ies)  246 . A door  253  for accessing the microprocessor circuit board  240  and the battery(ies) is also provided. 
     In addition, the top wall  204  of the extension device  200  is provided with actuation interface mechanisms in the form of six bidirectional keypads  252   a - f . Each bidirectional key  252   a - f  may be switch in either direction offering 12 selections. While keypads are provided with the extension device  200 , it is appreciated the extension device may be formed without such keypads and the operation of the extension device would be controlled by actuation of the forming aid  100 . The front wall  210  of the extension device  200  is provided with door  253  allowing access for replacement of the rechargeable battery. 
     The underside of the extension device  200  is similar to the chord and/or note forming aid  100  and is maintained above the strings using either of the embodiments described above, with the exception that the extension device  200  has eight rows of multi-position string engaging assemblies  230 . 
     As mentioned above, the present chord and/or note assist assembly  10  provides a computerized device for both beginner and existing guitar players. For beginner guitar players of all ages, it builds confidence and helps avoid quitting. It allows beginners to play complete songs within the first week. Existing guitar players and composers can make and play chords that are impossible to play without the chord and/or note assist assembly  10 . 
     The beginner guitar players have two primary challenges: (1) overcoming hurt left-hand fingers from pressing the strings and (2) remembering the placement of the left-hand fingers to make the notes and chords. Over time and with practice and patience, players develop calluses on their fingers which stops the hurt. With practice, players will remember the placement of their fingers for the chords and notes. But many beginners want earlier results. This causes frustration and that causes close to ninety percent of them quit. 
     The chord and/or note assist assembly  10  easily attaches to an acoustic or electric guitar and enables a beginner guitar player to easily produce guitar chords or notes by pressing one button and strumming the strings without hurt fingers. It is not designed to replace practice or patience, but to help build confidence for the beginner so that they will not quit—much like training wheels on a bicycle. 
     All guitar notes and many chords are pre-programmed in the chord and/or note assist assembly  10 . Plus, the user will be able to easily add other chords including chords that they invent plus chords that are impossible to play without the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  such as chords needing five or six fingers. 
     The chord and/or note assist assembly  10  allows users to choose specific chords and/or notes and place them in correct order in memory for specific songs. Then the player only needs to strum the first chosen chord or note, and the second chosen chord or note will be in place for the next strum. Thus, a song with chords and/or notes can be played in its entirety by a beginner. 
     All guitar necks are similar in that the spacing of the frets is exactly the same. Technically, guitar frets are spaced by ratios of the twelfth root of two. This means that the length of the vibrating portion of the string on a fret relative to the next fret will also have the ratio. The string vibrates twice as fast when you half its length. This is an octave higher. Thus, in half the space of the first  12  frets you need to have 12 more frets. 
     However, the space between the individual strings of guitars varies slightly. At the first fret of a guitar the first and sixth strings are about one and one-half inches apart. This varies by an eighth of an inch depending on the manufacturer and the style of guitar. 
     The chord and/or note assist assembly  10  will fit any guitar because on the end of the solenoids that press down on the strings are capture caps that are wide enough to fit all guitars and thus capture and press any string. 
     The chord and/or note forming aid  100  and extension device  200  includes a number of ‘Solenoid Six Packs’  300  (referred to as  300   a  and  300   b  with reference to the embodiment disclosed in  FIGS.  3  to  5   ) that are easily replaceable by the user. The solenoids are grouped into ‘six-packs’ so that if a solenoid becomes inoperative the six-pack can be easily removed and a new six-pack put in its place. The chord and/or note forming aid  100  uses four ‘Solenoid Six Packs’ and the extension device uses eight. As shown with reference to  FIGS.  13 A,  13 B, and  13 C , each of the solenoid six packs  300  includes a housing  302  in which six (6) multi-position string engaging assemblies  130 ,  230  are positioned. The capture caps  138 ,  238  of the multi-position string engaging assemblies  130 ,  230  extend from a top end  304  of the housing  302 , while the bottom  306  of the housing  302  is provided with contacts  310  for connecting the multi-position string engaging assemblies  30  with the control electronics. 
     In summary, the chord and/or note forming aid  100  and extension device  200  offer the following unique abilities:
         The keypads can be programmed to play notes and chords or capo.   Press one button to make any chord, note or capo.   Program the chords and/or notes for an entire song then all that is needed is to strum at the proper time to play the song.   Make chords that humans can not physically make by pressing down on four or five or six strings in one chord.   Upload to and download from the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  website users&#39; library of programmed chords for whole songs as well as newly discovered and invented chords.       

     The chord and/or note assist assembly  10  is unlike any device designed to make guitar playing easier that has come before it. It is also designed to work with both beginners needing ‘training wheels’ and experienced players inventing new chords. The chord and/or note assist assembly  10  allows users to make all known chords and notes plus allow players to invent their own new chords. 
     In accordance with an alternate embodiment, and with reference to  FIGS.  19  and  20   , the chord and/or note assist assembly disclosed above with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  18    is modified with respect to the actuation interface mechanism by replacing the bidirectional keypad(s) with keys as the interface mechanism for controlling actuation of the chord and/or note forming aid  400  and an extension device  500 . In addition, the number of keys is increased and they are easy to use. As will be appreciated based upon the following disclosure, there are ten ‘Finger keys’ (from six) that are larger (preferably, ½ inch wide and 1 inch long) and at the edge of the housing for easier use. The number and size of control keys is also increased for selecting groups of chords and notes from four to eight with preferred dimensions of ¼ inch wide and ½ inch long. 
     As disclosed with reference to  FIGS.  19  and  20   , the chord and/or note assist assembly includes a chord and/or note forming aid  400  and an extension device  500  for playing fretted instruments. With the exception of the modified keys, the chord and/or note forming aid  400  and an extension device  500  are structurally the same as those disclosed above with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  18   . 
     The chord and/or note forming aid  400  includes a keypad box housing  402  shaped and dimensioned for positioning over the frets of a guitar in a manner allowing a user to generate chords with only one finger of a person playing the guitar. The keypad box housing  402  includes a top wall  404 , a bottom wall  406 , a front wall  410  extending between the top wall  404  and the bottom wall  406 , a rear wall  408  extending between the top wall  404  and the bottom wall  406 , and lateral side walls  412 ,  414  extending between the top wall  404  and the bottom wall  406 . The top wall  404 , front wall  410 , rear wall  408 , and lateral side walls  412 ,  414  are generally flat. The bottom wall  406  is shaped to fit above the neck of the guitar in the area of the frets and includes a longitudinally extending, recessed section  416  that extends from the front wall  410  to the rear wall  408  and wraps about the neck of the guitar. The bottom wall  406  is as described above with reference to the embodiments disclosed with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  18   . The keypad box housing  402  is held in position relative to the neck of the guitar through the provision of a strap harness as described above with reference to the embodiments disclosed with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  18   . 
     As with the embodiment described above with reference to the embodiments disclosed with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  18   , the working components of the present chord and/or note forming aid  400  are housed within the keypad box housing  402  for operation in the manner described herein. Control of the solenoids of the multi-position string engaging assemblies is achieved through the provision of a control system defined by an electronic microprocessor circuit board  440  electrically linked to a solid-state memory  442  (that may be integrated with the circuit board or electrically linked thereto), and ultimately powered by a battery  444 . The electronic microprocessor circuit board  440  is electrically linked to the solenoids to control extension and retraction of the armatures in a predefined manner. Actuation of the solenoids is achieved using known actuation circuitry in conjunction with keys  452   a - j  on the top wall  402  that are pressed to send signals to the electronic microprocessor circuit board  440  identifying chords and/or notes of a song and the electronic microprocessor circuit board  440  thereafter instructs the required solenoids to extend and engage desired strings of the guitar. As mentioned above, and in accordance with other implementations, chords and/or notes of a song are preprogrammed into the chord and/or note assist assembly  10  so that all that is required for the player do is press a sequence of keypads  452   a - f  to start a song and, thereafter, the user need only strum and the next chord/not is automatically in place for the next strum. The top wall  404  of the keypad box housing  402  also include four bidirectional keypads  454   a - d  to select from the various groups of stock songs, chords, notes, and/or capos. This set of bidirectional keypads  454   a - d  are used to select groups of songs and individual songs from within that group. Additionally, chord and/or note assist assembly users will have use of a website that will be available for both uploading and downloading chords, notes, capos and/or full songs. 
     Further to the chord and/or note forming aid  400  discussed above, an alternate embodiment of an extension device  500  is disclosed with reference to  FIG.  20   . The extension device  500  is designed for positioning above the fourth through twelfth frets on the neck of the guitar and is electrically connected the primary chord and/or note forming aid  400  via mating ports  560  provided on adjacent ends of the chord and/or note forming aid  400  (not shown, but identical to the embodiment disclosed with reference to  FIG.  4   ) and the extension device  500 . The extension device  500  includes an extension device housing  502  shaped and dimensioned for positioning over the frets of a guitar in a manner allowing a user to generate chords with only one finger of a person playing the guitar. The extension device housing  502  includes a top wall  504 , a bottom wall  506 , a front wall  510  extending between the top wall  504  and the bottom wall  506 , a rear wall  508  extending between the top wall  504  and the bottom wall  506 , and lateral side walls  512 ,  514  extending between the top wall  504  and the bottom wall  506 . The top wall  504 , front wall  510 , rear wall  508 , and lateral side walls  512 ,  514  are generally flat. The bottom wall  506  is shaped to fit about the neck of the guitar in the area of the frets and includes a longitudinally extending, recessed section  516  that extends from the front wall  510  to the rear wall  508  and wraps about the neck of the guitar. The bottom wall  506  is as described above with reference to the embodiments disclosed with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  18   . The extension device housing  502  is held in position relative to the neck of the guitar through the provision of a strap harness as described above with reference to the embodiments disclosed with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  18   . The extension device housing  502  is held in position relative to the neck of the guitar through the provision of a strap harness as described above with reference to the embodiments disclosed with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  18   . 
     The working components of the present extension device  500  are housed within the extension device housing  502  for operation in the manner described herein. Control of the solenoids of the multi-position string engaging assemblies is achieved through the provision of an electronic microprocessor circuit board  540  electrically linked to the control electronics of the chord and/or note forming  400  which provides the extension device  500  with operating instructions for the controlled actuation of the multi-position string engaging assemblies. As such, the extension device  500  only needs the microprocessor circuit board  540  and battery(ies)  546 . A door  553  for accessing the microprocessor circuit board  540  and the battery(ies) is also provided. 
     The top wall  504  of the extension device  500  is provided with eight keys  552   a - h . Each bidirectional key  552   a - h  may be switch in either direction offering 12 selections. While keypads are provided with the extension device  500 , it is appreciated the extension device may be formed without such keypads and the operation of the extension device would be controlled by actuation of the forming aid  500 . The front wall  510  of the extension device  500  is provided with door  553  allowing access for replacement of the rechargeable battery. 
     The keys described above, also includes LED screens that allow identification of which key should be pressed. When a specific song is requested, the electronic microprocessor circuit board and the solid-state memory work in conjunction to send the correct key number to be pressed as well as the next few keys in the correct order to the LED screens defined by the keys. This will allow the player to be prepared to press the correct keys in advance. Each key when pressed causes the correct solenoid(s) to move into position to make the requested note or chord. The player then strums the guitar strings to make the requested sound. Then when the key is released, the solenoid returns to the resting position. The memory management chips making up the solid-state memory will be large enough (at least 64 gigabit) to hold all the known guitar notes and chords as well as much more memory for storage of songs, newly invented chords and notes and much more. 
     While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.