Patent Publication Number: US-2005126368-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for teaching how to play musical instruments

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for teaching how to play musical instruments. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method of teaching musical notes, scales and chords on stringed instruments and keyboard instruments by associating colors with specific scale and chord tones.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      There are numerous music teaching methods designed to help students learn how to play the guitar, piano and other stringed and keyboard instruments. Many of these methods do not use color at all. Some of these methods either focus on certain types of chord shapes or on voicings that are used for specific musical genres and do not teach how to play the chords over the entire length of the fingerboard or keyboard.  
      In some methods, color is used to correlate positions on a fingerboard or keyboard to notes on a musical staff, with a particular color on the fingerboard or keyboard corresponding to a note on the staff. In others, the color coding is used only to designate positions on a representation of a fingerboard or keyboard and is note specific, i.e., “A” will be coded red, “B” will be coded orange, “C” will be coded green, etc. In these methods, the colors used to designate the notes are chosen randomly and have no relation to the letter of the note or the position of the note in a scale or in a chord.  
      In some teaching methods, the color corresponding to the note is further associated with an image of an item of the same color that is spelled starting with the same letter as the letter of the note, e.g., “A” will be coded “apple red.” In other methods, the color coding relates to the character of the chord tone, i.e., the colors identify the major, minor, diminished and augmented qualifications of the third or fifth of the chord. Similar methods use color to identify the character of a particular chord by applying color to one of the tones of that chord, i.e., the root or third of a major chord is represented by one color, and the root or third of a minor chord is represented by another color. This method teaches students to differentiate between chords of different characters. In these methods, the colors are also chosen randomly and bear no relation to the position of the note in the scale or the chord.  
      Stringed instruments such as guitar and banjo and keyboard instruments such as piano and accordion allow the music student a means to visualize the arrangement and relationship of notes and scales that is not available with respect to other instruments. Although there are many music teaching methods using color as a visual aid, to date music teaching methods have not taken full advantage of the opportunity afforded by color to visualize the interrelationships between scale tones and chord tones on stringed and keyboard instruments. There remains a need for a music teaching method that uses color to highlight these interrelationships and differentiate between the positions of notes in scales and chords on stringed instruments and keyboard instruments.  
     SUMMARY  
      The present invention provides an apparatus and method for teaching students how to play stringed instruments and keyboard instruments that highlight the interrelationships between scale tones and chord tones by using colors corresponding to specific tones in scales and chords. The general purpose of the present invention is to assist students of stringed instruments and keyboard instruments in learning how to play scales and chords. Color association is used to teach scale tones and chord tones and the interrelationships between the tones. One aspect of the invention includes charts of fingerboards for stringed instruments. Another aspect includes charts of keyboards for keyboard instruments.  
      In both of these aspects of the invention, the fingerboard and keyboard charts display color-coded positions that correspond to specific scale and chord tones. Each scale tone has a corresponding color that remains correlated with the same scale tone throughout scales and chords of different musical keys. The three primary colors (red, blue and yellow) are used to identify the root, the third and the fifth, the three primary tones of a chord. Green, one of the so-called “additive” primary colors, is used to identify the seventh, the tone most commonly added to the other three tones. This invention includes charts of fingerboards and keyboards that display color-coded maps of scales, chords or individual scale or chord tones to assist students in learning how to play the scales, chords or individual tones on the stringed instrument or keyboard instrument.  
      This invention allows individuals to visualize the entire fingerboard and keyboard. It allows the student to learn how to play chords along the entire fingerboard and keyboard. This invention also affords an easy way for the student to explore numerous possibilities for chord voicings and inversions and encourages exploration of new voicings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.  
       FIG. 1  is a chart that shows the three primary chord tones and the three primary colors that correspond to these tones;  
       FIG. 2  is a chart that shows the three primary chord tones and the three primary colors that correspond to these tones, including the lighter shades of blue and yellow that correspond to the minor third tone and the lowered fifth tone, respectively;  
       FIG. 3  is a chart that shows basic chord construction using the three primary chord tones and the three primary colors that correspond to these tones;  
       FIG. 4  is a chart that shows which colors correspond to the first, third, fifth and seventh scale tones;  
       FIG. 5  is a chart that shows which colors correspond to the specific tones of the scale for all tones of the scale  
       FIG. 6  is a chart of a piano keyboard showing an application of the invention with color-coded piano keys;  
       FIG. 7  is a chart of a portion of a guitar fingerboard showing an application of the invention with a map of a root C tone and an octave C tone;  
       FIG. 8  is a chart of a portion of a guitar fingerboard showing an application of the invention with a map of a C major triad and the recommended fingering for the triad;  
       FIG. 9  is a chart of a portion of a guitar fingerboard showing an application of the invention with a map of a C major chord and the recommended fingering for the chord;  
       FIG. 10  is a chart of a guitar fingerboard showing a map of all the positions where the root tone C can be played;  
       FIG. 11  is a chart of a piano keyboard showing a map of all the positions where the root tone C can be played;  
       FIG. 12  is a chart of a guitar fingerboard showing a map of all the positions where the third tone E can be played;  
       FIG. 13  is a chart of a guitar fingerboard showing a map of all the positions where the fifth tone G can be played;  
       FIG. 14  is a chart of a guitar fingerboard showing a map of all the voicings of a C major chord;  
       FIG. 15  is a chart of a guitar fingerboard showing an application of the invention with a map of the C major scale;  
       FIG. 16  is a chart of a guitar fingerboard showing a map of all of the voicings of an A# minor  7  chord;  
       FIG. 17  is a chart that shows the tones of the scales in all keys with the corresponding colors for the scale and chord tones throughout all the musical keys; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      This invention relates to an apparatus and method for teaching students how to play stringed instruments and keyboard instruments by correlating particular colors to specific scale tones and chord tones. This method exploits the unique advantage of stringed instruments and keyboard instruments, i.e., that the structure of these instruments allows the student a means to visualize the arrangement and relationships of notes, scales and chords. This invention highlights the interrelationships of scale tones and chord tones and assists students in learning these relationships.  
      To accomplish this, the fingerboard and keyboard charts of this invention display color-coded positions that correspond to specific scale and chord tones. Each scale tone has a corresponding color that remains correlated with the same scale tone even as other scales and chords from different musical keys are displayed on the charts. The three primary colors (red, blue and yellow) are used to indicate the root tone, the third tone and the fifth tone, because these are the three primary tones of a chord. Green, one of the so-called “additive” primary colors, is used to identify the seventh tone because this is the tone most commonly added to the other three tones.  
      The root of every scale and chord is red without exception, regardless of which musical key is displayed on the fingerboard or keyboard. The color red was chosen to identify the root tone because the color name begins with same letter as the tone (i.e., “R” for red and “R” for root). The third of every scale and chord is blue without exception, regardless of which musical key is displayed on the fingerboard or keyboard. The color blue was chosen to identify the third tone because musicians consider the “bluesy” note or “blue” note to be a pitch that lies somewhere between the minor and major third of a scale. The fifth of every scale and chord is yellow without exception, regardless of which musical key is displayed on the fingerboard. Yellow was chosen to identify the fifth tone because it is the last of the three primary colors, which are used in this invention to identify the primary tones of a chord. The seventh tone of every scale and chord is green without exception, regardless of which musical key is displayed on the fingerboard. Green was chosen to identify the seventh tone because it is an “additive” primary color, and the seventh is the tone most commonly added to the three primary tones of a chord.  
      Using these color designations, the fingerboard charts display color-coded maps of scales, chords, individual chord tones, chord progressions or various musical compositions or melodies. The fingerboard charts display color-coded maps of scales spanning the entire fingerboard of the stringed instrument. The fingerboard charts also display color-coded maps of the roots of chords or scales spanning the entire fingerboard of the stringed instrument. The fingerboard charts display color-coded maps of thirds, fifths, sevenths, ninths, elevenths, thirteenths or any other tones of chords or scales spanning the entire fingerboard of the stringed instrument. The fingerboard charts also display chords spanning the entire fingerboard of the stringed instrument. The fingerboard charts display maps of chords or melodies of popular songs or any variety of musical composition.  
      Keyboard charts use these color designations in the same way to display color-coded maps of scales, chords, individual chord tones and chord progressions or various musical compositions or melodies. The keyboard charts display color-coded maps of scales spanning at least one octave of the keyboard. The keyboard charts also display color-coded maps of the roots of chords or scales spanning at least one octave of the keyboard. The keyboard charts display color-coded maps of thirds, fifths, sevenths, ninths, elevenths, thirteenths or any other tones of chords or scales spanning at least one octave of the keyboard. The keyboard charts also display chords spanning at least one octave of the keyboard. The keyboard charts display maps of chords or melodies of popular songs or any variety of musical composition.  
      This system can be presented in print format, including books, binders or folders of material or on any variety of electronic format. The material can be organized and indexed by scales, chords, chord progressions and by different ways of tuning a stringed instrument. These indexes will make up a complete library of scales, chords or chord progressions in multiple guitar tunings and various groups of material can be contained on electronic storage media. This system may also include an interactive interface whereby a map of any scale, chord or chord progression can be instantly accessed by the music student. These maps can be printed out in the student&#39;s home. There may be a series of electronic storage media geared toward different levels of student sophistication and containing different maps for different types of guitar tuning.  
      Adverting to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate which colors correspond to the primary chord tones. The color red corresponds to the root of the chord  102 , the color blue corresponds to the third tone of the chord  104 , and the color yellow corresponds to the fifth tone of the chord  106 . Light blue corresponds to the minor third  202 , and light yellow corresponds to the lowered fifth  204 .  
       FIG. 3  is an embodiment of the invention wherein basic chord construction charts illustrate the primary chord tones and corresponding colors. The representation of a major chord  302  shows the red root tone  304 , the blue major third tone  306  and the yellow fifth tone  308 .  FIG. 3  shows the definition of a chord by indicating the number of musical steps between the chord tones  310 ,  312 ,  314 . The musical steps enumerated here indicate half-steps. The representation of a minor chord  316  shows the red root tone  318 , the light blue minor third tone  320  and the yellow fifth tone  322 . The representation of a diminished chord  324  shows the red root tone  326 , the light blue minor third tone  328  and the light yellow lowered fifth tone  330 .  
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are embodiments of the invention that illustrate which colors correspond to the specific tones of the scale with tone numbers of the first octave  402 ;  502  and second octave  404 ,  504  of the scale. The color red  406 ,  506  corresponds to the root tone of the scale in the first octave  402 ,  502  and the octave tone of the scale in the second octave  404 ,  504 . The color blue  408 ,  508  corresponds to the third tone of the scale in the first octave  402 ,  502  and the tenth tone of the scale in the second octave  404 ,  504 . The color yellow corresponds to the fifth tone  410 ,  510  of the scale. The color green  412 ,  512  corresponds to the seventh tone of the scale.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a piano keyboard chart identifies which colors correspond to which tones of the scale  602  using C as the root tone. The color red  604  corresponds to the root tone of the scale. The color blue  606  corresponds to the third tone of the scale, in this case the E. The color yellow  608  corresponds to the fifth tone of the scale, in this case the G.  
       FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a portion of a guitar fingerboard chart  702  identifies the locations of a root C  704  and an octave C  706  on the fingerboard. The accompanying musical staff  708  shows the relationship of the C notes on the fingerboard  704 ,  706  to the C notes on the staff  710 ,  712   
       FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a portion of a guitar fingerboard chart  802  identifies the location of a C major triad on the fingerboard. The chart illustrates how to play a C major triad, which contains the notes C  804 , E  806  and G  808 . The accompanying musical staff  810  shows the relationship of the three tones of the triad on the fingerboard to the three notes of the triad on the staff  812 .  
       FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a portion of a guitar fingerboard chart  902  identifies the location of a C major chord on the fingerboard. The chart illustrates how to play a C major chord, which contains the notes C  904 , E  906 , and G  908  and repeats the C  910  and E  912  in a higher octave. The accompanying musical staff  914  shows the relationship of the tones of the chord on the fingerboard to the notes of the chord on the staff  916 .  
       FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a chart of a guitar fingerboard  1002  shows a map of all the positions where the root tone C can be played spanning the entire fingerboard.  FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a chart of a piano keyboard  1102  shows all the positions where the root tone C can be played spanning the entire fingerboard.  FIG. 12  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a guitar fingerboard chart  1202  shows all the positions where the third tone E can be played spanning the entire fingerboard.  FIG. 13  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a guitar fingerboard chart  1302  shows all the positions where the fifth tone G can be played spanning the entire fingerboard.  FIG. 14  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a guitar fingerboard chart  1402  shows all the positions where a C major chord can be played spanning the entire fingerboard.  FIG. 15  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a guitar fingerboard chart  1502  identifies all of the tones of a C major scale spanning the entire fingerboard.  FIG. 16  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a guitar fingerboard chart  1602  identifies all of the positions an A# Minor 7th chord can be played in open G tuning spanning the entire fingerboard.  
       FIG. 17  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein charts show the tones of the scales in all keys with the corresponding colors for the scale and chord tones throughout all the musical keys. One chart shows the colors applied to every musical key using flats to denote half steps  1702 . Another chart shows the colors applied to every musical key using sharps to denote half steps  1704 . A third chart that lies between the first two charts shows the chord tones for the major seventh chord  1706 , the dominant seventh chord  1708  and the minor seventh chord  1710 . These charts illustrate that the colors correspond to a particular scale or chord tone, i.e., red for the root tone  1712 , blue for the third tone  1714 , yellow for the fifth tone  1716 , and green for the seventh tone  1718 , and remain the same throughout all the musical keys.  
      Students would use this invention to assist them in learning how to play musical instruments. For example, a student learning how to play scales on the guitar, while holding the guitar, would look at a guitar fingerboard chart such as the chart of the C scale that appears in  FIG. 2 . The chart simulates the fingerboard of the guitar and shows the positions of the tones of the C major scale. Therefore the student would be able to visualize the corresponding positions on the actual guitar fingerboard and know where to put his or her fingers on the guitar to play the scale tones.  
      Students would also use this invention to assist them in learning how to play chords. A student learning how to play chords on the guitar, while holding the guitar, would look at a guitar fingerboard chart such as the chart of C major chords that appears in  FIG. 6 . The chart simulates the fingerboard of the guitar and shows the positions of the tones of the C major chord spanning the entire fingerboard. Specifically, each C is displayed in red, each E in blue and each G in yellow. The student would be able to visualize the corresponding positions on the actual guitar fingerboard and know where to put his or her fingers on the guitar to play the chords. In addition, the colors allow the student to learn chords with different voicings or inversions (i.e., root or third tone as the highest pitch). As a result of this color scheme, a student who wants to voice a chord with the third tone as the highest pitch would simply scan the fingerboard chart until he or she found a display of a chord with the blue note on top and would then play the displayed notes on the fingerboard of the guitar or other stringed instrument to play the chord with that voicing.  
      Students would also use this invention to learn how to play songs. A student learning to play songs, while holding the guitar, would look at a chart or series of charts that simulates the fingerboard of a guitar and shows the positions of chord progressions or melodies. The student would be able to visualize the corresponding positions on the actual guitar fingerboard and know where to put his or her fingers on the guitar to play the chord progression or melody of the song.  
      It should be understood that the above description is only representative of illustrative examples of embodiments. For the reader&#39;s convenience, the above description has focused on a representative sample of all possible embodiments, a sample that teaches the principles of the invention. Other embodiments may result from a different combination of portions of different embodiments. The description has not attempted to exhaustively enumerate all possible variations.  
      Furthermore, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired that the present invention be limited to the exact construction and operation illustrated. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents that may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claims.