Patent Publication Number: US-9424817-B2

Title: Fully-adjustable capo for stringed musical instruments

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/615,767 which was filed Feb. 6, 2015, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/076,559 which was filed Nov. 11, 2013 and subsequently issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,962,958, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/357,597 which was filed Jan. 24, 2012 and subsequently issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,618,389. The disclosure of application Ser. Nos. 14/615,767, 14/076,559 and 13/357,597 is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     As is appreciated in the art of musical instruments, a capo (also formally known as either a “capodastro” or a “capotasto”) can be attached to the neck of a stringed musical instrument in order to shorten the playable length (e.g., the effective length) of selected strings of the instrument without a user having to apply finger pressure to the selected strings. A capo can thus be used to alter the sound of selected strings of a stringed musical instrument by upwardly transposing the pitch of the sound the selected strings will generate whenever the user applies energy to them by either plucking them, or striking them, or strumming them, or bowing them, or the like. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified form, that are further described hereafter in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the claimed subject matter in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented below. 
     Fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein generally involve a tuning apparatus for a musical instrument, where the instrument includes an elongated neck having a front surface over which a plurality of strings is stretched. In one exemplary embodiment the tuning apparatus includes a clamp, a plurality of string-contacting members, and a string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism. The clamp is adapted to removably attach to a desired longitudinal position on the neck. Each of the string-contacting members is rotatably supported by the clamp and is adapted to rotate thereon independently of the other string-contacting members, where this rotation occurs along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the neck. Each of the string-contacting members is also adapted to adjustably impinge upon and urge either a given string or course of strings toward a user-selectable one of three different longitudinal positions on this front surface, where these positions include a home position, a home−1 position that is closer to a headstock end of the neck than the home position, and a home+1 position that is farther from the headstock end of the neck than the home position. The string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism is adapted to allow a user to slidably adjust the location of the string-contacting members as a group on the clamp so as to substantially center the plane of rotation of each of the string-contacting members over a different string or course of strings, and to maintain substantially equal spacing between each different adjacent pair of string-contacting members. 
     In another exemplary embodiment each of the string-contacting members rotates along a plane that is substantially parallel to either a given string or course of strings. Each of the string-contacting members includes a rocker arm and a rocker hammer. The rocker arm includes an arm substrate that includes an elongated upper portion. The rocker hammer is adapted to allow it to be slidably disposed onto this upper portion and also allow a user to change its longitudinal position on this upper portion at will, thus allowing the user to adjust the home−1 and home+1 positions. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment each of the string-contacting members includes a rocker hammer that includes a hammer substrate and a durable and resiliently flexible string-contacting hammer element that is securely disposed onto the hammer substrate. The string-contacting hammer element includes a home+1 string-contacting surface, a home−1 string-contacting surface, and a bridge-side aperture and a headstock-side aperture both of which pass completely through the string-contacting hammer element from the left side to the right side thereof. The home+1 string-contacting surface is adapted to impinge upon the given string or course of strings and urge this string or course toward the home+1 position on the front surface of the neck whenever the string-contacting member is engaged into a home+1 rotational orientation. The home−1 string-contacting surface is adapted to impinge upon this string or course and urge this string or course toward the home−1 position on this front surface whenever the string-contacting member is engaged into a home−1 rotational orientation. The bridge-side aperture is disposed between the home+1 string-contacting surface and the bridge-side edge of the hammer substrate. The headstock-side aperture is disposed between the home−1 string-contacting surface and the headstock-side edge of the hammer substrate. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The specific features, aspects, and advantages of the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a front plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of a stringed musical instrument to which the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein can be removably attached by a user. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a front plan view, in simplified form, of one embodiment of the fully-adjustable capo that includes a clamp, a plurality of string-contacting members, and a string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism, where each of the string-contacting members is in a home rotational orientation and is impinging upon and urging a given string of the stringed musical instrument toward a home position on a front surface of an elongated neck of the instrument. 
         FIG. 3  is diagram illustrating a partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the fully-adjustable capo of  FIG. 2  rotated right 90 degrees, where some of the string-contacting members are in a home−1 rotational orientation, some of the string-contacting members are in a headstock-side open-string rotational orientation, some of the string-contacting members are in the home rotational orientation, some of the string-contacting members are in a bridge-side open-string rotational orientation, and some of the string-contacting members are in a home+1 rotational orientation. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view, in simplified form, of the fully-adjustable capo of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a partially-exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the fully-adjustable capo of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a standalone front plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the left knob of the string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are diagrams illustrating two different perspective views, in simplified form, of the left knob of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the left knob of  FIG. 6  rotated right 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the left knob taken along line B-B of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a standalone front plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of a jaw-tightening member of the clamp of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating a partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the jaw-tightening member of  FIG. 11  rotated right 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating an exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the jaw-tightening member of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of a knob of the jaw-tightening member of  FIG. 11  rotated right 180 degrees. 
         FIGS. 15 and 16  are diagrams illustrating two different perspective views, in simplified form, of the knob of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram illustrating a partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the knob of  FIG. 14  rotated left 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the knob taken along line C-C of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19  is a diagram illustrating a standalone front plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of a treaded shaft (threads not shown) of the tightening member of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 20  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the treaded shaft of  FIG. 19  rotated right 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 21  is a diagram illustrating a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of one embodiment of one of the string-contacting members of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 22  is a diagram illustrating a partially-exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the string-contacting member of  FIG. 21 , where this string-contacting member includes a rocker arm, a rocker hammer, and a ratchet mechanism that is installed within the rocker arm, where the ratchet mechanism includes a pair of spiral internal retaining rings, a pair of ratchet covers, a ratchet hub, a pair of dowel pins, a pair of ratchet pawls, a pair of compression springs, and a pair of ratchet release levers. In one implementation of the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein the ratchet mechanism may also include an externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger. 
         FIG. 23  is a diagram illustrating a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of one of the ratchet release levers of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 24  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the ratchet release lever of  FIG. 23  rotated right 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 25  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the top of the ratchet release lever of  FIG. 23 . 
         FIG. 26  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view, in simplified form, of the ratchet release lever of  FIG. 23 . 
         FIG. 27  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged standalone exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of one of the ratchet pawls of  FIG. 22 , where this ratchet pawl includes a pawl member and a pawl dowel pin. 
         FIG. 28  is a diagram illustrating a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the pawl member of  FIG. 27 . 
         FIG. 29  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view, in simplified form, of the pawl member of  FIG. 28 . 
         FIG. 30  is a diagram illustrating a standalone transparent plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the ratchet hub of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 31  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the ratchet hub of  FIG. 30  rotated right 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 32  is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the ratchet hub taken along line F-F of  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 33  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view, in simplified form, of the ratchet hub of  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 34  is a diagram illustrating a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the rocker hammer of  FIG. 22 , where this embodiment of the rocker hammer includes a hammer substrate and a string-contacting hammer element that is securely disposed onto the hammer substrate. 
         FIG. 35  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the rocker hammer of  FIG. 34  rotated right 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 36  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the bottom of the rocker hammer of  FIG. 34 . 
         FIG. 37  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view, in simplified form, of the rocker hammer of  FIG. 34 . 
         FIG. 38  is a diagram illustrating a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the hammer substrate of the rocker hammer of  FIG. 34  before the string-contacting hammer element has been securely disposed onto the hammer substrate. 
         FIG. 39  is a diagram illustrating a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the string-contacting hammer element that is securely disposed onto the hammer substrate. 
         FIG. 40  is a diagram illustrating a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of the hammer substrate of  FIG. 34 . 
         FIG. 41  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the hammer substrate of  FIG. 40  rotated right 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 42  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the bottom of the hammer substrate of  FIG. 40 . 
         FIG. 43  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view, in simplified form, of the hammer substrate of  FIG. 40 . 
         FIG. 44  is a diagram illustrating a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of an alternate rocker hammer that includes an alternate hammer substrate and an alternate string-contacting hammer element that is securely disposed onto the alternate hammer substrate. 
         FIG. 45  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the alternate rocker hammer of  FIG. 44  rotated right 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 46  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the bottom of the alternate rocker hammer of  FIG. 44 . 
         FIG. 47  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view, in simplified form, of the alternate rocker hammer of  FIG. 44 . 
         FIG. 48  is a diagram illustrating a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the alternate hammer substrate of the alternate rocker hammer of  FIG. 44  before the alternate string-contacting hammer element has been securely disposed onto the alternate hammer substrate. 
         FIG. 49  is a diagram illustrating a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the alternate string-contacting hammer element that is securely disposed onto the alternate hammer substrate. 
         FIG. 50  is a diagram illustrating a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of the alternate hammer substrate of  FIG. 44 . 
         FIG. 51  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the alternate hammer substrate of  FIG. 50  rotated right 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 52  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the bottom of the alternate hammer substrate of  FIG. 50 . 
         FIG. 53  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view, in simplified form, of the alternate hammer substrate of  FIG. 50 . 
         FIG. 54  is a diagram illustrating a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the rocker arm of  FIG. 22 , where this embodiment of the rocker arm includes an arm substrate and a string-contacting arm element that is securely disposed onto the bottom of the arm substrate. 
         FIG. 55  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged partially-exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the rocker arm of  FIG. 54 , where the string-contacting arm element is shown separated from the bottom of the arm substrate, thus exposing the screw-head end of the externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger which is rotatably and threadably attached to a threaded plunger-accepting aperture (not shown) on the bottom of the arm substrate. 
         FIG. 56  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the arm substrate and the ball end of the externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger of  FIG. 55 , where one end of this plunger is rotatably and threadably attached to the threaded plunger-accepting aperture (not shown) on the bottom of the arm substrate. 
         FIG. 57  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the arm substrate and the externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger of  FIG. 56  rotated left 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 58  is a diagram illustrating an exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the arm substrate and the externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger of  FIG. 56 . 
         FIG. 59  is a diagram illustrating a partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the arm substrate of  FIG. 55 . 
         FIG. 60  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the arm substrate of  FIG. 59  rotated left 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 61  is a diagram illustrating a partially-cross-sectional plan view, in simplified form, of the arm substrate taken along line G-G of  FIG. 59 . 
         FIG. 62  is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the arm substrate taken along line H-H of  FIG. 59 . 
         FIG. 63  is a diagram illustrating a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of a shaft of the clamp of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 64  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the left end of the shaft of  FIG. 63 . 
         FIG. 65  is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the shaft taken along line J-J of  FIG. 64 . 
         FIG. 66  is a diagram illustrating a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of a right jaw of the clamp of  FIG. 2 , where this embodiment of the right jaw includes a right jaw substrate and a right neck-contacting element that is securely disposed onto the left side of a lower portion of the right jaw substrate. 
         FIG. 67  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the bottom of the right jaw of  FIG. 66 . 
         FIG. 68  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the right jaw of  FIG. 66  rotated left 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 69  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view, in simplified form, of the right jaw of  FIG. 66 . 
         FIG. 70  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the right jaw of  FIG. 69 , where the right neck-contacting element is shown separated from the right jaw substrate. 
         FIG. 71  is a diagram illustrating a standalone partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the right jaw substrate of  FIG. 66 . 
         FIG. 72  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the right jaw substrate of  FIG. 71  rotated left 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 73  is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the right jaw substrate taken along line K-K of  FIG. 72 . 
         FIG. 74  is a diagram illustrating a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of a left jaw of the clamp of  FIG. 2 , where this embodiment of the left jaw includes a left jaw substrate and a left neck-contacting element that is securely disposed onto the right side of a lower portion of the left jaw substrate. 
         FIG. 75  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the bottom of the left jaw of  FIG. 74 . 
         FIG. 76  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the left jaw of  FIG. 74  rotated left 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 77  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view, in simplified form, of the left jaw of  FIG. 74 . 
         FIG. 78  is a diagram illustrating an enlarged exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the left jaw of  FIG. 77 , where the left neck-contacting element is shown separated from the left jaw substrate. 
         FIG. 79  is a diagram illustrating a standalone partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the left jaw substrate of  FIG. 74 . 
         FIG. 80  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the left jaw substrate of  FIG. 79  rotated left 90 degrees. 
         FIG. 81  is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the left jaw substrate taken along line L-L of  FIG. 80 . 
         FIG. 82  is a diagram illustrating a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of a spacer that can be substituted for the aforementioned left knob in an alternate embodiment of the string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism. 
         FIG. 83  is a diagram illustrating a plan view, in simplified form, of the front of the spacer of  FIG. 82 . 
         FIG. 84  is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the spacer taken along line Q-Q of  FIG. 83 . 
         FIG. 85  is a diagram illustrating another perspective view, in simplified form, of the spacer of  FIG. 82 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description of fully-adjustable capo embodiments reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the fully-adjustable capo can be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments can be utilized and structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the fully-adjustable capo embodiments. 
     It is also noted that for the sake of clarity specific terminology will be resorted to in describing the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein and it is not intended for these embodiments to be limited to the specific terms so chosen. Furthermore, it is to be understood that each specific term includes all its technical equivalents that operate in a broadly similar manner to achieve a similar purpose. Reference herein to “one embodiment”, or “another embodiment”, or an “exemplary embodiment”, or an “alternate embodiment”, or “one implementation”, or “another implementation”, or an “exemplary implementation”, or an “alternate implementation” means that a particular feature, a particular structure, or particular characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or implementation can be included in at least one embodiment of the fully-adjustable capo. The appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in another embodiment”, “in an exemplary embodiment”, “in an alternate embodiment”, “in one implementation”, “in another implementation”, “in an exemplary implementation”, and “in an alternate implementation” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or implementation, nor are separate or alternative embodiments/implementations mutually exclusive of other embodiments/implementations. Yet furthermore, the order of process flow representing one or more embodiments or implementations of the fully-adjustable capo does not inherently indicate any particular order nor imply any limitations of the fully-adjustable capo. 
     The term “open position” is used herein to refer to a situation where a given string of a stringed musical instrument is not currently being impinged upon and urged (either by a user or by the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein) toward a front surface of an elongated neck of the instrument (e.g., the string is in its natural state). Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “including,” “has,” “contains,” variants thereof, and other similar words are used in either this detailed description or the claims, these terms are intended to be inclusive, in a manner similar to the term “comprising”, as an open transition word without precluding any additional or other elements. 
     1.0 Stringed Musical Instruments 
     The term “stringed musical instrument” (hereafter sometimes simply referred to as an instrument) is used herein to refer to any type of musical instrument having an elongated neck which includes a longitudinal axis and a front surface over which a plurality of strings is stretched. As is appreciated in the art of musical instruments, the front surface of the neck commonly includes a plurality of frets. A user can use finger pressure to temporarily impinge upon and urge one or more selected strings toward selected points on the front surface of the neck. In the case where the front surface of the neck includes frets, this finger pressure will result in the selected strings being temporarily pressed onto the frets that are adjacent to these selected points, which serves to shorten the playable length (herein also referred to as the “effective length”) of the selected strings. This finger pressure will thus serve to upwardly transpose the pitch of the sound the selected strings will generate whenever the user applies energy to them by either plucking them, or striking them, or strumming them, or bowing them, or the like. 
     As is also appreciated in the art of musical instruments, there are many different types of stringed musical instruments having various numbers of strings. Popular examples of stringed musical instruments include the following. Bass guitars commonly have either four, or five, or six strings. Electric guitars and acoustic guitars commonly have either six or 12 strings. Banjos commonly have either four, or five, or six strings. Mandolins commonly have eight strings. Lutes commonly have either 13, or 15, or 24 strings. As is also appreciated in the art of musical instruments, the strings of a given stringed musical instrument can also be arranged into a plurality of courses where each of the courses includes a different and non-overlapping subset of the strings. By way of example but not limitation, the strings of a 12-string electric or acoustic guitar are commonly arranged into six courses (e.g., the 12 strings are arranged as six pairs of strings) as follows. The first course includes the first and second strings, the second course includes the third and fourth strings, the third course includes the fifth and sixth strings, the fourth course includes the seventh and eighth strings, the fifth course includes the ninth and tenth strings, and the sixth course includes the eleventh and twelfth strings. 
     As is also appreciated in the art of musical instruments, the elongated necks of the different types of stringed musical instruments can have different widths, thicknesses and cross-sectional shapes. The location of the frets on the front surface of the neck and the spacing between the various frets can be different on the different types of instruments. The spacing in-between the strings can also be different on the different types of instruments. The spacing between the left/right edge of the neck and the leftmost/rightmost string can also be different on the different types of instruments. The distance between any given string and the front surface of the neck can also be different on the different types of instruments (e.g., different types of instruments can have different actions). 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a front plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of a stringed musical instrument to which the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein can be removably attached by a user. The instrument exemplified in  FIG. 1  is an acoustic guitar  100  which is generally configured as follows. The guitar  100  includes a soundboard  108 , a resonant chamber  110 , a bridge  112 , an elongated neck  114 , a headstock  116 , and a prescribed number of strings (six in the illustrated embodiment, namely strings  130 - 135 ) each having a first end  104  and a second end  106 . The bridge  112  is commonly rigidly attached to the soundboard  108 . The soundboard  108  is rigidly attached to the resonant chamber  110 . One end of the neck  114  is rigidly attached to the soundboard  108  and resonant chamber  110 . The other end of the neck is rigidly attached to the headstock  116 . The headstock  116  includes the prescribed number of tuning pegs  118 , where each of the tuning pegs is rotatably attached to a different prescribed position on the headstock. The bridge  112  includes the prescribed number of anchor pegs  120  (or any like bridge fastening mechanisms), where each of the anchor pegs is rigidly attached to a different prescribed position on the bridge. 
     As exemplified in  FIG. 1 , the first end  104  of each of the strings  130 - 135  on the acoustic guitar  100  is securely attached to a different tuning peg  118 , and the second end  106  of each of the strings is securely attached to a different anchor peg  120 . The user can rotate selected tuning pegs  118  in order to stretch each of the strings  130 - 135  to a prescribed tension between the bridge  112  and headstock  116 . The user can thus individually tune the strings  130 - 135  of the guitar  100  by rotating the tuning peg  118  each string is attached to and thus adjusting the amount of tension that is applied to the string. The elongated neck  114  of the guitar  100  includes a front surface  122  which may include a plurality of frets (e.g., frets  124 ,  126 ,  128  and  102 ) each having a raised edge, where the frets are sequentially disposed in different prescribed positions along a longitudinal axis of the neck on the front surface of the neck, and each of the frets is substantially perpendicular to this axis. The frets  124 ,  126 ,  128  and  102  serve to divide the front surface  122  of the neck  114  into sections. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the headstock  116 , tuning pegs  118 , elongated neck  114 , frets (e.g., fret  124 ), bridge  112  and anchor pegs  120  are arranged such that the strings  130 - 135  have the following spatial relationships on the acoustic guitar  100 . The strings  130 - 135  are disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation to the longitudinal axis of the neck  114 . The strings  130 - 135  are also disposed in spaced relation to the front surface  122  of the neck  114 . The distance between any given string and the front surface  122  of the neck  114  is known as the “action.” The raised edge of each of the frets (e.g., fret  124 ) is in transverse relation to each of the strings  130 - 135 . Each of the strings  130 - 135  is separated from the raised edge of each of the frets (e.g., fret  124 ) by a prescribed distance when each of the strings is in an open position (e.g., when none of the strings are currently being impinged upon and urged toward the front surface  122  of the neck  114 ). The user can change the note a given string (e.g., string  130 ) will generate by urging the string toward the front surface  122  of the neck  114  between a selected pair of adjacent frets (e.g., frets  126  and  102 ). 
     As is appreciated in the art of musical instruments, the strings of a stringed musical instrument are predominately tuned in what is known as a “standard tuning” where, generally speaking, the strings are individually tuned by rotating the tuning pegs as just described such that the sound generated by each of the strings is a prescribed tonal interval away from the sound generated by the adjacent strings. As such, the user of the instrument generally learns to play it using conventional fingering patterns to generate standard chords, standard scales and standard harmonic patterns. Whenever the instrument is tuned in the standard tuning, the user needs to use finger pressure to impinge upon and urge selected strings toward selected points on the front surface of the neck in order to play a specific chord or scale. 
     As is also appreciated in the art of musical instruments, the strings of a stringed musical instrument can also be tuned in various other ways such as what are commonly referred to as “alternative tunings” and “open tunings”. Generally speaking, in the alternative and open tunings the tonal intervals between one or more pairs of adjacent strings are modified from the prescribed tonal intervals used in the standard tuning. Thus, the alternative and open tunings can be employed to produce noticeable variations in the sounds and harmonies that are generated by the instrument. Whenever the instrument is tuned in an alternative or open tuning, the user can play a specific chord with all the strings in the open position (e.g., the user does not need to use finger pressure to impinge upon and urge any of the strings toward the front surface of the neck in order to play a specific chord). However, since the tonal intervals between the various strings are modified from the prescribed tonal intervals used in the standard tuning, the user needs to use fingering patterns which are different from the conventional fingering patterns in order to generate the standard chords, standard scales and standard harmonic patterns. Additionally, different fingering patterns are associated with each of the different alternative and open tunings. In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the interest in alternative and open tunings from the perspective of both users of stringed musical instruments and listeners. 
     Various methods can be employed to change the tuning of the strings of an instrument from the standard tuning to a desired alternative or open tuning. One such method is to use the tuning pegs of the instrument to modify the amount of tension that is applied to selected strings as just described. Another such method is to employ the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein. More particularly and as will be described in more detail hereafter, in the aforementioned case where the front surface of the elongated neck of the instrument includes frets, the fully-adjustable capo embodiments can be removably attached to a desired longitudinal position on the elongated neck of the instrument such that a shaft of the fully-adjustable capo embodiments is substantially parallel to and approximately midway between a selected pair of adjacent frets on this front surface. The particular fret in the selected pair that is closest to the bridge of the instrument is hereafter referred to as a “home fret.” The other fret in the selected pair (e.g., the particular fret in the selected pair that is closest to the headstock of the instrument) is hereafter referred to as a “home−1 fret.” The particular fret on this front surface that is adjacent to the home fret on a side thereof that is opposite the home−1 fret is hereafter referred to as a “home+1 fret.” By way of example but not limitation and referring again to  FIG. 1 , the fully-adjustable capo embodiments (not shown) can be removably attached to the neck  114  of the acoustic guitar  100  such that the shaft of the fully-adjustable capo embodiments is in the position indicated by line A-A. In this particular case fret  126  would be the home fret, fret  128  would be the home−1 fret, and fret  102  would be the home+1 fret. 
     2.0 Fully-Adjustable Capo for Stringed Musical Instruments 
     The fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein generally involve an accessory/auxiliary tuning apparatus for a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of strings. The apparatus is generally applicable to either changing the tuning of any individual string on demand, or changing the tuning of any combination of two or more strings at the same time on demand, where these tuning changes occur without having to use the instrument&#39;s tuning pegs to modify the amount of tension that is applied to any of the strings (e.g., without having to modify the actual tuning of any of the strings). 
     More particularly and as will be described in more detail hereafter, once the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein have been removably attached to a desired longitudinal position on the elongated neck of the instrument such that the shaft of the fully-adjustable capo embodiments is substantially parallel to and approximately midway between a selected pair of adjacent frets on the front surface of the neck, the user of the instrument can configure the fully-adjustable capo embodiments on demand to shorten the effective length of either any individual string, or any combination of two or more strings at the same time, where this shortening takes place on each of the strings independently and within a span of three contiguous frets. In other words, the user can configure the fully-adjustable capo embodiments to adjustably and releasably depress any individual string onto any desired fret within the span of three contiguous frets. The user can also configure the fully-adjustable capo embodiments to adjustably and releasably depress any combination of two or more strings at the same time either onto any desired single fret within the span of three contiguous frets, or onto any combination of desired frets within this span. This ability to shorten the effective length of any selected combination of two or more strings at the same time onto a plurality of different frets allows entire chords to be generated by the fully-adjustable capo embodiments. 
     The fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein are advantageous for various reasons including, but not limited to, the following. As will be appreciated from the more detailed description that follows, the fully-adjustable capo embodiments generally allow the user to enhance their musical performance and related enjoyment in various ways when playing the instrument. The fully-adjustable capo embodiments ensure reliable and consistent positioning thereof on the instrument&#39;s neck, and against the instrument&#39;s strings and the front surface of the neck. The fully-adjustable capo embodiments are cost effective, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. The fully-adjustable capo embodiments are easy to use, and are effective in various instrument playing scenarios such as practicing, teaching, and live performance, among others. The fully-adjustable capo embodiments can be repeatedly securely attached to and removed from the neck without damaging it or its finish (e.g., without scratching, nicking or denting the neck), and without damaging any other part of the instrument. Similarly, the fully-adjustable capo embodiments can be repeatedly used to change the tuning of the strings without any wear or damage occurring to the instrument or strings. 
     As will also be appreciated from the more detailed description that follows, the user of a stringed musical instrument can quickly and securely attach the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein to the instrument&#39;s neck with ease, simplicity and integrity whenever they want to change the tuning of the instrument&#39;s strings from the standard tuning to an alternate or open tuning. Once the fully-adjustable capo embodiments have been attached to the neck, the user can use the fully-adjustable capo embodiments to easily, reliably and quickly switch from the standard tuning to any one of a very large number of alternative and open tunings on demand, or switch from one particular alternative or open tuning to another on demand, or switch from a particular alternative or open tuning back to the standard tuning on demand, all without having to change the actual tuning of the strings. By way of example but not limitation, in an exemplary situation where the fully-adjustable capo embodiments are attached to the neck of a six string guitar, the user can use the fully-adjustable capo embodiments to easily, reliably and quickly switch between 2 24 =16,777,216 different possible tunings on the guitar. The user can also easily and quickly remove the fully-adjustable capo embodiments from the neck at will. 
     As will also be appreciated from the more detailed description that follows, when the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein are used to implement a selected alternative or open tuning on a stringed musical instrument, the user of the instrument can continue to play it in the selected tuning using the aforementioned conventional fingering patterns they already know (or using simple variations thereof). In other words, the fully-adjustable capo embodiments eliminate the need for the user to have to learn new chord and scale fingering patterns for each of the different alternative or open tunings they are interested in using on the instrument. Thus, the fully-adjustable capo embodiments allow the user to experiment with the instrument and easily generate a vast array of pleasing and harmonically complex new sounds and musical arrangements, which are quite different from the sounds and arrangements that can be generated using just the standard tuning, without having to change the actual tuning of the instrument&#39;s strings or learn new chord and scale fingering patterns. The fully-adjustable capo embodiments thus allow the user to conveniently add new tonal dimensions to their existing musical repertoire and express new musical ideas. 
     As will also be appreciated from the more detailed description that follows, the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein have an ergonomic design that maximizes the user&#39;s accessibility to the various strings and frets of their instrument, and minimizes any encumbrance the user might experience when the fully-adjustable capo embodiments are attached to the instrument&#39;s neck. In other words, the fully-adjustable capo embodiments do not impede or interfere with the user&#39;s hands or their ability to reach any desired fret (with the exception of the aforementioned home fret) on any string, regardless of which if any strings are currently being impinged upon and urged toward the front surface of the instrument&#39;s neck by the fully-adjustable capo embodiments. The fully-adjustable capo embodiments are also expandable, universally adjustable, and universally configurable, which makes the fully-adjustable capo embodiments compatible with a wide variety of different types of stringed musical instruments (including, but not limited to, the various exemplary types of instruments described heretofore) and all of the different types of strings that can be used on these instruments. 
       FIGS. 2-43 and 54-81  illustrate one embodiment, in simplified form, of the aforementioned tuning apparatus for a stringed musical instrument (hereafter simply referred to as a “tuning apparatus”). More particularly,  FIG. 2  illustrates a front plan view, in simplified form, of one embodiment of the tuning apparatus  200  that includes a clamp, a plurality of string-contacting members (six in the illustrated embodiment, namely string-contacting members  202 - 207 ), and a string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism, where each of the string-contacting members is in a home rotational orientation and is impinging upon and urging a given string  130 - 135  of the instrument toward a home position on a front surface  122  of the elongated neck  114  of the instrument. The clamp is herein also referred to as a “neck-gripping means”. Each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  is herein also referred to as a “string-depressing means”. The string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism is herein also referred to as a “string-contacting member spacing control means”. 
     As exemplified in  FIG. 2 , the clamp of the tuning apparatus  200  includes a screw  208 , a left jaw  210 , a shaft (not shown), a right jaw  216 , and a jaw-tightening member  218 . Each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  of the tuning apparatus  200  is slidably and rotatably disposed onto a center longitudinal section of the shaft and includes a rocker arm  220 - 225 , a rocker hammer  226 - 231 , and a ratchet mechanism that includes a pair of ratchet release levers (e.g., levers  232 - 237 ) along with additional components which will be described in more detail hereafter. The string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism of the tuning apparatus  200  includes a left wave spring  212 , a left knob  252 , a right knob  240 , a right wave spring  214 , and a number of member-spacing wave springs (five in the illustrated embodiment, namely member-spacing wave springs  242 - 246 ), where this number is one less than the total number of string-contacting members  202 - 207 . The left wave spring  212  is slidably and rotatably disposed onto the shaft between the left jaw  210  and the left knob  252 . The right wave spring  214  is slidably and rotatably disposed onto the shaft between the right jaw  216  and the right knob  240 . A different one of the member-spacing wave springs  242 - 246  is slidably and rotatably disposed onto the shaft between each different adjacent pair of string-contacting members (e.g., member-spacing wave spring  242  is slidably and rotatably disposed onto the shaft between adjacent string-contacting members  202  and  203 , member-spacing wave spring  243  is slidably and rotatably disposed onto the shaft between adjacent string-contacting members  203  and  204 , member-spacing wave spring  244  is slidably and rotatably disposed onto the shaft between adjacent string-contacting members  204  and  205 , member-spacing wave spring  245  is slidably and rotatably disposed onto the shaft between adjacent string-contacting members  205  and  206 , and member-spacing wave spring  246  is slidably and rotatably disposed onto the shaft between adjacent string-contacting members  206  and  207 ). It is noted that the left wave spring  212 , the member-spacing wave springs  242 - 246 , and the right wave spring  214  are each shown in a semi-compressed state in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the tuning apparatus  200  of  FIG. 2  rotated right 90 degrees, where some of the string-contacting members are in a home−1 rotational orientation (e.g., member  202 ), some of the string-contacting members are in a headstock-side open-string rotational orientation (e.g., member  205 ), some of the string-contacting members are in the home rotational orientation (e.g., member  203 ), some of the string-contacting members are in a bridge-side open-string rotational orientation (e.g., member  206 ), and some of the string-contacting members are in a home+1 rotational orientation (e.g., member  204 ).  FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view, in simplified form, of the tuning apparatus  200  of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a partially-exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the tuning apparatus  200  of  FIG. 2  which exposes the shaft  288  of the clamp. It is noted that the left wave spring  212 , the member-spacing wave springs  242 - 246 , and the right wave spring  214  are each shown in an uncompressed state in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a standalone front plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the left knob  252  of the string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 2 .  FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate two different perspective views, in simplified form, of the left knob  252  of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 9  illustrates a partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the left knob  252  of  FIG. 6  rotated right 90 degrees.  FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the left knob  252  taken along line B-B of  FIG. 9 . As exemplified in  FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 , the right knob  240  of the string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism is structurally the same as the left knob  252  thereof. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a standalone front plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the jaw-tightening member  218  of the clamp of  FIG. 2 , where this member  218  includes a knob  248  and a threaded shaft  250  (threads not shown).  FIG. 12  illustrates a partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the jaw-tightening member  218  of  FIG. 11  rotated right 90 degrees.  FIG. 13  illustrates an exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the jaw-tightening member  218  of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 14  illustrates a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the knob  248  of the jaw-tightening member  218  of  FIG. 11  rotated right 180 degrees.  FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate two different perspective views, in simplified form, of the knob  248  of  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 17  illustrates a partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the knob  248  of  FIG. 14  rotated left 90 degrees.  FIG. 18  illustrates a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the knob  248  taken along line C-C of  FIG. 17 .  FIG. 19  illustrates a standalone front plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the treaded shaft  250  (threads not shown) of the jaw-tightening member  218  of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 20  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the treaded shaft  250  of  FIG. 19  rotated right 90 degrees. 
       FIG. 21  illustrates a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of one embodiment of one of the string-contacting members (e.g., member  203 ) of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 22  illustrates a partially-exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the string-contacting member  203  of  FIG. 21 , where this string-contacting member  203  includes a rocker arm  221 , a rocker hammer  227 , and a ratchet mechanism that is installed within the rocker arm, where the ratchet mechanism includes a pair of spiral internal retaining rings  254  and  256 , a pair of ratchet covers  258  and  260 , a ratchet hub  262 , a pair of lever dowel pins  264  and  266 , a pair of ratchet pawls  268  and  270 , a pair of compression springs  272  and  274 , and a pair of ratchet release levers  233  and  238 . In one implementation of the tuning apparatus described herein, the ratchet mechanism may also include an externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger (not shown).  FIG. 23  illustrates a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of one of the ratchet release levers (e.g., lever  238 ) of  FIG. 22 .  FIG. 24  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the ratchet release lever  238  of  FIG. 23  rotated right 90 degrees.  FIG. 25  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the top of the ratchet release lever  238  of  FIG. 23 .  FIG. 26  illustrates a perspective view, in simplified form, of the ratchet release lever  238  of  FIG. 23 .  FIG. 27  illustrates an enlarged standalone exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of one of the ratchet pawls (e.g., ratchet pawl  268 ) of  FIG. 22 , where this ratchet pawl  268  includes a pawl member  418  and a pawl dowel pin  420 .  FIG. 28  illustrates a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the pawl member  418  of  FIG. 27 .  FIG. 29  illustrates a perspective view, in simplified form, of the pawl member  418  of  FIG. 28 .  FIG. 30  illustrates a standalone transparent plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the ratchet hub  262  of  FIG. 22 .  FIG. 31  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the ratchet hub  262  of  FIG. 30  rotated right 90 degrees.  FIG. 32  illustrates a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the ratchet hub  262  taken along line F-F of  FIG. 30 .  FIG. 33  illustrates a perspective view, in simplified form, of the ratchet hub  262  of  FIG. 30 . 
       FIG. 34  illustrates a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the rocker hammer  227  of  FIG. 22 , where this embodiment of the rocker hammer includes a hammer substrate  276  and a string-contacting hammer element  278  that is securely disposed onto the hammer substrate.  FIG. 35  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the rocker hammer  227  of  FIG. 34  rotated right 90 degrees.  FIG. 36  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the bottom of the rocker hammer  227  of  FIG. 34 .  FIG. 37  illustrates a perspective view, in simplified form, of the rocker hammer  227  of  FIG. 34 .  FIG. 38  illustrates a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the hammer substrate  276  of the rocker hammer  227  of  FIG. 34  before the string-contacting hammer element  278  has been securely disposed onto the hammer substrate.  FIG. 39  illustrates a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the string-contacting hammer element  278  that is securely disposed onto the hammer substrate  276 .  FIG. 40  illustrates a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of the hammer substrate  276  of  FIG. 34 .  FIG. 41  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the hammer substrate  276  of  FIG. 40  rotated right 90 degrees.  FIG. 42  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the bottom of the hammer substrate  276  of  FIG. 40 .  FIG. 43  illustrates a perspective view, in simplified form, of the hammer substrate  276  of  FIG. 40 . 
       FIG. 54  illustrates a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the rocker arm  221  of  FIG. 22 , where this embodiment of the rocker arm includes an arm substrate  280  and a string-contacting arm element  282  that is securely disposed onto the bottom of the arm substrate.  FIG. 55  illustrates an enlarged partially-exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the rocker arm  221  of  FIG. 54 , where the string-contacting arm element  282  is shown separated from the bottom of the arm substrate  280 , thus exposing the screw-head end of the externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger  284  which is rotatably and threadably attached to a threaded plunger-accepting aperture (not shown) on the bottom of the arm substrate.  FIG. 56  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the arm substrate  280  and the ball end of the externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger  284  of  FIG. 55 .  FIG. 57  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the arm substrate  280  and the externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger  284  of  FIG. 56  rotated left 90 degrees.  FIG. 58  illustrates an exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the arm substrate  280  and the externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger  284  of  FIG. 56 .  FIG. 59  illustrates a partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the arm substrate  280  of  FIG. 55 .  FIG. 60  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the arm substrate  280  of  FIG. 59  rotated left 90 degrees.  FIG. 61  illustrates a partially-cross-sectional plan view, in simplified form, of the arm substrate  280  taken along line G-G of  FIG. 59 .  FIG. 62  illustrates a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the arm substrate  280  taken along line H-H of  FIG. 59 . 
       FIG. 63  illustrates a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the shaft  288  of the clamp of  FIG. 5  rotated right 180 degrees.  FIG. 64  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the left end of the shaft  288  of  FIG. 63 .  FIG. 65  illustrates a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the shaft  288  taken along line J-J of  FIG. 64 . 
       FIG. 66  illustrates a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the right jaw  216  of the clamp of  FIG. 2 , where this embodiment of the right jaw includes a right jaw substrate  290  and a right neck-contacting element  292  that is securely disposed onto a left side of a lower portion of the right jaw substrate.  FIG. 67  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the bottom of the right jaw  216  of  FIG. 66 .  FIG. 68  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the right jaw  216  of  FIG. 66  rotated left 90 degrees.  FIG. 69  illustrates a perspective view, in simplified form, of the right jaw  216  of  FIG. 66 .  FIG. 70  illustrates an enlarged exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the right jaw  216  of  FIG. 69 , where the right neck-contacting element  292  is shown separated from the right jaw substrate  290 .  FIG. 71  illustrates a standalone partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the right jaw substrate  290  of  FIG. 66 .  FIG. 72  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the right jaw substrate  290  of  FIG. 71  rotated left 90 degrees.  FIG. 73  illustrates a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the right jaw substrate  290  taken along line K-K of  FIG. 72 . 
       FIG. 74  illustrates a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the left jaw  210  of the clamp of  FIG. 2 , where this embodiment of the left jaw includes a left jaw substrate  294  and a left neck-contacting element  296  that is securely disposed onto the right side of a lower portion of the left jaw substrate.  FIG. 75  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the bottom of the left jaw  210  of  FIG. 74 .  FIG. 76  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the left jaw  210  of  FIG. 74  rotated left 90 degrees.  FIG. 77  illustrates a perspective view, in simplified form, of the left jaw  210  of  FIG. 74 .  FIG. 78  illustrates an enlarged exploded perspective view, in simplified form, of the left jaw  210  of  FIG. 77 , where the left neck-contacting element  296  is shown separated from the left jaw substrate  294 .  FIG. 79  illustrates a standalone partially-transparent plan view, in simplified form, of the left jaw substrate  294  of  FIG. 74 .  FIG. 80  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the left jaw substrate  294  of  FIG. 79  rotated left 90 degrees.  FIG. 81  illustrates a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the left jaw substrate  294  taken along line L-L of  FIG. 80 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the clamp of the tuning apparatus  200  is adapted to removably attach to a desired longitudinal position on the elongated neck  114  of the instrument. In other words, the neck-gripping means serves to removably attach the fully-adjustable capo to the neck  114 . One possible example, among many others, of such a desired longitudinal position is indicated by line A-A in  FIG. 1 . Each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  is rotatably supported by the clamp and is adapted to rotate thereon independently of the other string-contacting members. In other words, each of the string-depressing means rotates on the neck-gripping means independently of the other string-depressing means. This rotation occurs along a plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the neck  114 , and hence is substantially parallel to either a given string (e.g., string  131 ) or a course of strings (not shown). 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  is further adapted to adjustably impinge upon and urge the given string (e.g., string  131 ) or course of strings toward a user-selectable one of three-different longitudinal positions on the front surface  122  of the elongated neck  114 . In other words, each of the string-depressing means generally serves to adjustably impinge upon and urge either a given string or a course of strings of the instrument toward a user-selectable one of three different longitudinal positions on the front surface  122  of the neck  114 . As will now be described in more detail, the first of these positions is a home position. The second of these positions is a home−1 position that is closer to the headstock  116  end of the neck  114  than the home position. The third of these positions is a home+1 position that is farther from the headstock  116  end of the neck  114  than the home position. In an exemplary embodiment of the tuning apparatus  200  described herein, in the aforementioned case where the tuning apparatus is removably attached to the longitudinal position on the neck  114  indicated by line A-A, the home position for each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  can generally also be indicated by line A-A. An exemplary home−1 position for each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  can be indicated by line D-D. An exemplary home+1 position for each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  can be indicated by line E-E. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2  and as exemplified in  FIGS. 5 and 63-65 , the shaft  288  of the clamp includes a left end  304 , a right end  306 , a leftmost longitudinal section  308  one end of which forms the left end  304 , a center longitudinal section  310 , a rightmost longitudinal section  312  one end of which forms the right end  306 , a left-center longitudinal section  314  that is disposed between the right end of the leftmost longitudinal section  308  and the left end of the center longitudinal section  310 , and a right-center longitudinal section  316  that is disposed between the left end of the rightmost longitudinal section  312  and the right end of the center longitudinal section  310 . The leftmost longitudinal section  308  has a prescribed diameter D 1  and a prescribed leftmost regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shape. The left-center longitudinal section  314  has a prescribed diameter D 2  that is slightly larger than D 1 , a circular cross-sectional shape, and is threaded (threads not shown). The center longitudinal section  310  has a prescribed diameter D 3  that is slightly larger than D 2 , and a prescribed center regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shape. The right-center longitudinal section  316  has a prescribed diameter D 4  that is slightly smaller than D 3 , a circular cross-sectional shape, and is threaded (threads not shown). The rightmost longitudinal section  312  has a prescribed diameter D 5  that is slightly smaller than D 4 , and a prescribed rightmost regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shape. The shaft  288  also has a longitudinal axis M-M. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 5 and 63-65 , in the exemplary embodiment of the shaft  288  that is illustrated in these FIGS. the leftmost regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shape of the leftmost longitudinal section  308 , the center regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shape of the center longitudinal section  310 , and the rightmost regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shape of the rightmost longitudinal section  312  are a hexagon and are radially substantially aligned with each other such that the corresponding edges of each of these longitudinal sections are substantially aligned along a common set of radial axes and the corresponding faces of each of these cross-sectional shapes are substantially parallel to each other. It is noted that alternate embodiments of the shaft (not shown) are also possible where other types of regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shapes (e.g., an octagon, among others) are employed for these longitudinal sections  308 / 310 / 312 , and where different regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shapes are employed for two or more of these longitudinal sections. In the exemplary embodiment of the shaft  288  that is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 63-65  the diameter D 2  of the left-center longitudinal section  314  and the diameter D 4  of the right-center longitudinal section  316  are the same, and the diameter D 1  of the leftmost longitudinal section  308  and the diameter D 5  of the rightmost longitudinal section  312  are the same. It is noted that alternate embodiments of the shaft (not shown) are also possible where diameters D 2  and D 4  are different, and/or diameters D 1  and D 5  are different. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2, 5 and 63-65 , and as exemplified in  FIGS. 3 and 74-81 , the left end  304  of the shaft  288  is rigidly disposed onto an upper portion  486  of the left jaw substrate  294  of the left jaw  210 . It will be appreciated that this rigid disposal can be implemented in various ways. For example, in the exemplary embodiment of the shaft  288  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 63-65 , and the exemplary embodiment of the left jaw  210  illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 5 and 74-81 , this rigid disposal is implemented as follows. The left end  304  of the shaft  288  includes a first threaded aperture  318  having a longitudinal axis that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis M-M of the shaft  288 . The upper portion  486  of the left jaw substrate  294  includes a first shaft-accepting aperture  320  that horizontally passes completely through the upper portion  486  of the left jaw substrate from the left side to the right side thereof and is tiered as follows. As exemplified in  FIGS. 75 and 77-81 , the right side  340  of the first shaft-accepting aperture  320  has the leftmost regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shape and the left side  342  of the first shaft-accepting aperture has a circular cross-sectional shape, where the size and radial orientation of these shapes are adapted to allow the upper portion  486  of the left jaw substrate  294  to be slidably disposed onto the left end  304  of the shaft  288  such that the left jaw  210  maintains a prescribed radial alignment on the shaft, and a threaded shaft  322  of the aforementioned screw  208  is able to pass into the left side  342  of the first shaft-accepting aperture (e.g., the right side  340  of the first shaft-accepting aperture  320  has a diameter that is slightly larger than D 1 ). It is noted that one end of threaded shaft  322  is adapted to be rotatably and threadably attached to the first threaded aperture  318 . It is also noted that as the upper portion  486  of the left jaw substrate  294  is being slidably disposed onto the left end  304  of the shaft  288  the left wave spring  212  may be adjustably compressed against the left side of the left knob  252  as exemplified in  FIG. 2 . After the upper portion  486  of the left jaw substrate  294  has been slidably disposed onto the left end  304  of the shaft  288 , the left jaw  210  is rigidly and removably secured to the left end of the shaft  288  using the screw  208 . It is also noted that alternate embodiments of the tuning apparatus described herein (not shown) are also possible where, rather than using the screw, the left jaw can be rigidly secured to the left end of the shaft using various other methods such as a conventional epoxy or glue, among other possible methods. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2, 5 and 63-65 , and as exemplified in  FIGS. 66-73 , an upper portion  488  of the right jaw substrate  290  of the right jaw  216  is adapted to allow it to be slidably and removably disposed onto the right end  306  of the shaft  288  such that the right jaw is substantially aligned with the left jaw  210 , and a pair of diametrically opposed edges on the center longitudinal section  310  of the shaft  288  (e.g., edges  480  and  482 ) are oriented on a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the front surface  122  of the elongated neck  114  of the instrument whenever the clamp of the tuning apparatus  200  described herein is removably attached to the neck. It will be appreciated that this slidable and removable disposal can be implemented in various ways. For example, in the exemplary embodiment of the shaft  288  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 63-65 , and the exemplary embodiment of the right jaw  216  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 66-73 , this slidable and removable disposal is implemented as follows. The upper portion  488  of the right jaw substrate  290  includes a second shaft-accepting aperture  328  that horizontally passes completely through the upper portion  488  of the right jaw substrate from the left side to the right side thereof and is tiered as follows. As exemplified in  FIGS. 67 and 69-73 , the right side  330  of the second shaft-accepting aperture  328  has the rightmost regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shape and the left side  332  of the second shaft-accepting aperture has a circular cross-sectional shape, where the size and radial orientation of these shapes are adapted to allow the upper portion  488  of the right jaw substrate  290  to be slidably and removably disposed onto the right end  306  of the shaft  288  such that the right jaw  216  is substantially aligned with the left jaw  210 , and a portion of the right side of the right-center longitudinal section  316  is able to pass into the left side  332  of the second shaft-accepting aperture (e.g., the right side  330  of the second shaft-accepting aperture  328  has a diameter that is slightly larger than D 5 , and the left side  332  of the second shaft-accepting aperture has a diameter that is slightly larger than D 4 ). It is noted that as the upper portion  488  of the right jaw substrate  290  is being slidably and removably disposed onto the right end  306  of the shaft  288  the right wave spring  214  may be adjustably compressed against the right side of the right knob  240  as exemplified in  FIG. 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 67, 72, 75, 77 and 78 , and referring again to  FIGS. 2, 64, 73 and 81 , the radial orientation of the leftmost regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shape of the right side  340  of the first shaft-accepting aperture  320 , and the radial orientation of the rightmost regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shape of the right side  330  of the second shaft-accepting aperture  328 , are adapted to ensure that a pair of diametrically opposed edges on the center longitudinal section  310  of the shaft  288  (e.g., edges  480  and  482 ) are oriented on a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the front surface  122  of the elongated neck  114  of the instrument whenever the clamp of the tuning apparatus  200  described herein is removably attached to the neck. 
     Generally speaking and referring again to  FIGS. 2, 5, and 63-73 , and as exemplified in  FIGS. 12-19 , the jaw-tightening member  218  is rotatably and threadably attached to the right end  306  of the shaft  288 , where the jaw-tightening member is adapted to user-adjustably push the right jaw  216  toward both the right knob  240  and the left jaw  210  so as to securely grip the elongated neck  114  of the instrument when it is disposed between the left and right jaws. As will be appreciated from the more detailed description that follows, this gripping of the neck  114  by the left and right jaws  210  and  216  is controlled independently of the location of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  on the shaft  288  and the spacing between the string-contacting members. It will be appreciated that this rotatable and threadable attachment can be implemented in various ways. For example, in the exemplary embodiment of the jaw-tightening member  218  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 12-19 , the exemplary embodiment of the right jaw  216  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 66-73 , and the exemplary embodiment of the shaft  288  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 63-65 , this rotatable and threadable attachment is implemented as follows. The right end  306  of the shaft  288  includes a second threaded aperture  326  having a longitudinal axis that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis M-M of the shaft  288 . The jaw-tightening member  218  includes the aforementioned knob  248  and threaded shaft  250  which is adapted to be rotatably and threadably attached to the second threaded aperture  326 . One end of the threaded shaft  250  is rigidly disposed onto the knob  248 . The other end  334  of the threaded shaft  250  is rotatably and threadably attached to the second threaded aperture  326  after the right jaw  216  has been slidably and removably disposed onto the right end  306  of the shaft  288 . In the exemplary embodiment of the jaw-tightening member  218  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 12-19  the knob  248  has a circular shape and a radially outer surface that includes a plurality of radially-spaced depressions (e.g., depression  336 ), and the one end of the threaded shaft  250  is rigidly disposed into a knob aperture  338  on the knob. These radially-spaced depressions  336  are advantageous in that they enhance the user&#39;s ability to grasp and rotate the jaw-tightening member  218 . It will be appreciated that alternate embodiments of the jaw-tightening member (not shown) are also possible in which other shapes and styles can be employed for the knob, other types of features can be employed on the radially outer surface of the knob (e.g., this surface can be knurled), and other methods can be used to rigidly dispose the one end of the threaded shaft onto the knob. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2, 5 and 66-81 , the left neck-contacting element  296  that is securely disposed onto the right side of the lower portion of the left jaw substrate  294  is durable and resiliently flexible, and includes a left neck-contacting surface  324  which is adapted to conform to the shape of and snugly grip a left edge of the elongated neck  114  as exemplified in  FIG. 2 . Correspondingly, the right neck-contacting element  292  that is securely disposed onto the left side of the lower portion of the right jaw substrate  290  is durable and resiliently flexible, and includes a right neck-contacting surface  344  which is adapted to conform to the shape of and snugly grip a right edge of the neck  114  as also exemplified in  FIG. 2 . These left and right neck-contacting surfaces  324  and  344  operate cooperatively to maintain the shaft  288  in substantially parallel spaced relation to the front surface  122  of the neck  114 , and maintain the shaft  288  in substantially perpendicular spaced relation to the plurality of strings  130 - 135 , thus maintaining the plane of rotation of each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  in substantially perpendicular relation to the front surface of the neck. The left neck-contacting surface  324  includes one or more right-facing tabs that project toward the right jaw  216  (two in the illustrated embodiment, namely a first right-facing tab  346  and a second right-facing tab  348 ). Correspondingly, the right neck-contacting surface  344  includes one or more left-facing tabs that project toward the left jaw  210  (two in the illustrated embodiment, namely a first left-facing tab  350  and a second left-facing tab  352 ). 
     In the exemplary embodiment of the left jaw substrate  294  that is illustrated in  FIGS. 78-81  the right side of the lower portion  490  of the left jaw substrate includes one or more post-accepting apertures (three in the illustrated embodiment, namely post-accepting apertures  354 - 356 ). Correspondingly, in the exemplary embodiment of the left neck-contacting element  296  that is illustrated in  FIG. 78  the left side of the left neck-contacting element includes a number of posts (three in the illustrated embodiment, namely posts  358 - 360 ), where this number equals the total number of post-accepting apertures  354 - 356 , and the size, shape, location and longitudinal orientation of these posts  358 - 360  is adapted to allow them to mate with the post-accepting apertures  354 - 356 . It is noted that the existence of these apertures  354 - 356  and their corresponding posts  358 - 360  is advantageous since they enhance the strength of the attachment between the left jaw substrate  294  and the left neck-contacting element  296 . However, an alternate embodiment (not shown) of the left jaw substrate and the left neck-contacting element is also possible where the left jaw substrate does not include any post-accepting apertures and correspondingly, the left neck-contacting element does not include any posts. In an exemplary embodiment of the tuning apparatus described herein the left neck-contacting element  296  is implemented as a conventional overmold that is securely disposed onto the left jaw substrate  294  using a conventional overmolding process. 
     In the exemplary embodiment of the right jaw substrate  290  that is illustrated in  FIGS. 70-73  the left side of the lower portion  492  of the right jaw substrate includes one or more post-accepting apertures (three in the illustrated embodiment, namely post-accepting apertures  362 - 364 ). Correspondingly, in the exemplary embodiment of the right neck-contacting element  292  that is illustrated in  FIG. 70  the right side of the right neck-contacting element includes a number of posts (three in the illustrated embodiment, namely posts  366 - 368 ), where this number equals the total number of post-accepting apertures  362 - 364 , and the size, shape, location and longitudinal orientation of these posts  366 - 368  is adapted to allow them to mate with the post-accepting apertures  362 - 364 . It is noted that the existence of these apertures  362 - 364  and their corresponding posts  366 - 368  is advantageous since they enhance the strength of the attachment between the right jaw substrate  290  and the right neck-contacting element  292 . However, an alternate embodiment (not shown) of the right jaw substrate and the right neck-contacting element is also possible where the right jaw substrate does not include any post-accepting apertures and correspondingly, the right neck-contacting element does not include any posts. In an exemplary embodiment of the tuning apparatus described herein the right neck-contacting element  292  is implemented as a conventional overmold that is securely disposed onto the right jaw substrate  290  using a conventional overmolding process. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and as exemplified in  FIGS. 21, 22, 34-43, 54 and 55  (among other FIGs. in the accompanying drawings), each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  is implemented as a longitudinal cam. The arm substrate  280  of the rocker arm  221  of each of the string-contacting members (e.g., member  203 ) has a tip (e.g., tip  376 ) which is adapted to allow the user to use one or more fingers to change/adjust the rotational orientation of the string-contacting member at will. The arm substrate  280  also has an elongated upper portion  378  which is adapted to allow the rocker hammer  227  of the string-contacting member  203  to be slidably and removably disposed onto this upper portion  378 , and also allow the user to change/adjust the longitudinal position of the rocker hammer on this upper portion  378  at will, as will be described in more detail hereafter. In the exemplary embodiment of the hammer substrate  276  of the rocker hammer  227  that is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the hammer substrate includes an arm-accepting aperture  380  that vertically passes completely through the hammer substrate from the top to the bottom thereof. The hammer substrate  276  also includes a string-contacting aperture  382  that horizontally passes completely through the hammer substrate from the bridge side to the headstock side thereof. The string-contacting hammer element  278  of the rocker hammer  227  is durable and resiliently flexible, and is adapted to mate with these apertures  380  and  382  as follows. The string-contacting hammer element  278  passes through and out of the bridge side of the string-contacting aperture  382  in a manner that forms a home+1 string-contacting surface  372  whose function is described in more detail hereafter. The string-contacting hammer element  278  also passes through and out of the headstock side of the string-contacting aperture  382  in a manner that forms a home−1 string-contacting surface  374  whose function is also described in more detail hereafter. The string-contacting hammer element  278  also forms two pads that project into the arm-accepting aperture  380 , namely a left-facing pad  384  and a right-facing pad  386 , where size and shape of these pads  384  and  386  is adapted to allow them to mate with the right surface and left surface respectively of the elongated upper portion  378  of the arm substrate  280  when the rocker hammer  227  is slidably disposed onto this upper portion  378 . In an exemplary embodiment of the tuning apparatus  200  described herein the string-contacting hammer element  278  is implemented as a conventional overmold that is securely disposed onto the hammer substrate  276  using a conventional overmolding process. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1, 2, 21, 22 and 36 , it will be appreciated that the durable and resiliently flexible nature of the string-contacting hammer element  278  results in the left-facing and right-facing pads  384  and  386  slidably gripping the right and left surfaces respectively of the elongated upper portion  378  of the arm substrate  280  in a manner that maintains the current longitudinal position of the rocker hammer  227  on this upper portion  378 , and also allows the user to use one or more fingers to change/adjust the longitudinal position of the rocker hammer on this upper portion  378  at will. This ability of the user to alter the longitudinal position of the rocker hammer  227  on the upper portion  378  of the arm substrate  280  allows the user to individually adjust (e.g., fine-tune) the home−1 position for each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  to be either closer to or farther away from the aforementioned home−fret  126 , and similarly allows the user to individually adjust the home+1 position for each of the string-contacting members to be either closer to or farther away from the home fret. The user&#39;s ability to make such an adjustment on each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  is advantageous for various reasons including the following. It allows the user to easily and quickly adapt the tuning apparatus  200  to accommodate instruments having a wide variety of actions and string gauges. It also allows the user to easily and quickly adapt the tuning apparatus  200  to accommodate variations in the spacing between adjacent frets, and variations in the dimensions of each of the frets, that can exist on a given instrument and between different instruments. It also allows the user to easily and quickly change the intonation of a given string or course of strings in both the home−1 and home+1 positions, regardless of where the tuning apparatus  200  is located on the elongated neck  114  of the instrument. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2, 3, 21, 22, 54 and 55 , and as exemplified in  FIGS. 57, 58 and 60  (among other FIGs. in the accompanying drawings), in the exemplary embodiment of the arm substrate  280  that is illustrated in these FIGs. the bottom of the arm substrate includes one or more post-accepting apertures (two in the illustrated embodiment, namely post-accepting apertures  388  and  390 ) which are substantially centered along the plane of rotation N-N of the arm substrate  280  (which equates to the plane of rotation of each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207 ) and the longitudinal axis O-O thereof. Correspondingly, in the exemplary embodiment of the string-contacting arm element  282  that is illustrated in  FIG. 55  the top of the string-contacting arm element includes a number of posts (two in the illustrated embodiment, namely posts  392  and  394 ), where this number equals the total number of post-accepting apertures  388  and  390 , and the size, shape, location and longitudinal orientation of these posts  392  and  394  is adapted to allow them to mate with the post-accepting apertures  388  and  390 . It is noted that the existence of these apertures  388  and  390  and their corresponding posts  392  and  394  is advantageous since they enhance the strength of the attachment between the arm substrate  280  and the string-contacting arm element  282 . However, an alternate embodiment (not shown) of the arm substrate and the string-contacting arm element is also possible where the arm substrate does not include any post-accepting apertures and correspondingly, the string-contacting arm element does not include any posts. In an exemplary embodiment of the tuning apparatus  200  described herein the string-contacting arm element  282  is implemented as a conventional overmold that is securely disposed onto the arm substrate  280  using a conventional overmolding process. The string-contacting arm element  282  also includes an aperture  396  that passes completely through a middle portion of the string-contacting arm element from the left side to the right side thereof. As will be appreciated from the description of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  that is provided herein, the plane of rotation N-N of the arm substrate of each of the string-contacting members is also the plane of rotation of the string-contacting member itself. 
     As described heretofore and referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the front surface  122  of the elongated neck  114  can include a plurality of frets (e.g., frets  128 ,  126 ,  102  and  124 ) which are sequentially arranged on the front surface and are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the neck. Generally speaking, in the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein one of the frets is considered to be a home fret. Another one of the frets is considered to be a home−1 fret, where the home−1 fret is adjacent to the home fret on the headstock  116  end of the neck  114 . Yet another one of the frets is considered to be a home+1 fret, where the home+1 fret is adjacent to the home fret on a side thereof that is opposite the home−1 fret. More particularly, in the exemplary embodiment of the tuning apparatus  200  described herein where the tuning apparatus is removably attached to the longitudinal position on the neck indicated by line A-A, this position includes the shaft  288  of the clamp of the tuning apparatus being substantially parallel to and approximately midway between the home fret  126  and home−1 fret  128 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-3, 21, 22 and 55 , the string-contacting arm element  282  that is securely disposed onto the bottom of the arm substrate  280  of the rocker arm  221  of each of the string-contacting members (e.g., member  203 ) is durable and resiliently flexible, and forms a home string-contacting surface (e.g., surface  370 ) which is pressure-sensitive and is adapted to impinge upon the aforementioned given string or course of strings and adjustably urge this string or course toward the home position on the front surface  122  of the elongated neck  114  (e.g., the position indicated by line A-A in  FIG. 1 ) whenever the string-contacting member is in the home rotational orientation so as to depress the string or course onto the home fret (e.g., fret  126  in  FIG. 1 ). By way of example but not limitation, in  FIG. 3  string-contacting member  203  is illustrated to be in the home rotational orientation. By way of further example, in  FIG. 2  all six of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  are illustrated to be in the home rotational orientation, where the home string-contacting surface of the string-contacting member of the rocker arm  220  of string-contacting member  202  is impinging upon string  130  and adjustably urging it toward the home position on the front surface of the neck  114 , the home string-contacting surface of the string-contacting member of the rocker arm  221  of string-contacting member  203  is impinging upon string  131  and adjustably urging it toward this home position, the home string-contacting surface of the string-contacting member of the rocker arm  222  of string-contacting member  204  is impinging upon string  132  and adjustably urging it toward this home position, the home string-contacting surface of the string-contacting member of the rocker arm  223  of string-contacting member  205  is impinging upon string  133  and adjustably urging it toward this home position, the home string-contacting surface of the string-contacting member of the rocker arm  224  of string-contacting member  206  is impinging upon string  134  and adjustably urging it toward this home position, and the home string-contacting surface of the string-contacting member of the rocker arm  225  of string-contacting member  207  is impinging upon string  135  and adjustably urging it toward this home position. The existence of aperture  396  in the string-contacting arm element  282  is advantageous in that it enhances the pressure sensitivity of the home string-contacting surface  370  and the ability of this surface  370  to apply an appropriate amount of pressure to a given string or course of strings whenever a given string-contacting member is in the home rotational orientation. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-3, 21, 22, 34 and 36 , and as described heretofore, the durable and resiliently flexible string-contacting hammer element  278  that is securely disposed onto the hammer substrate  276  of the rocker hammer  227  of each of the string-contacting members (e.g., member  203 ) includes both a home+1 string-contacting surface (e.g. surface  372 ) and a home−1 string-contacting surface (e.g., surface  374 ). The home−1 string-contacting surface is pressure-sensitive, and is adapted to impinge upon the given string or course of strings and user-adjustably urge this string or course toward the home−1 position on the front surface  122  of the elongated neck  114  (e.g., the position indicated by line D-D in  FIG. 1 ) whenever the string-contacting member is retainably but releasably engaged into the home−1 rotational orientation so as to depress the string or course onto the home−1 fret (e.g., fret  128  in  FIG. 1 ). By way of example but not limitation, in  FIG. 3  string-contacting member  202  is illustrated to be in the home−1 rotational orientation. The home+1 string-contacting surface is also pressure-sensitive, and is adapted to impinge upon the given string or course of strings and user-adjustably urge this string or course toward the home+1 position on the front surface  122  of the neck  114  (e.g., the position indicated by line E-E in  FIG. 1 ) whenever the string-contacting member is retainably but releasably engaged into the home+1 rotational orientation so as to depress the string or course onto the home+1 fret (e.g., fret  102  in  FIG. 1 ). By way of example but not limitation, in  FIG. 3  string-contacting member  204  is illustrated to be in the home+1 rotational orientation. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-3, 21, 22, 34, 36 and 55 , the pressure-sensitive home string-contacting surface (e.g., surface  370 ) of each of the string-contacting members (e.g., member  203 ) will apply an appropriate amount of pressure to the given string or course of strings whenever the string-contacting member is in the home rotational orientation. The pressure-sensitive home+1 string-contacting surface (e.g. surface  372 ) of each of the string-contacting members will apply an appropriate amount of pressure to the given string or course of strings whenever the string-contacting member is in the home+1 rotational orientation, where this pressure can also be adjusted (e.g., fine-tuned) by the user as will be described in more detail hereafter. The pressure-sensitive home−1 string-contacting surface (e.g., surface  374 ) of each of the string-contacting members will apply an appropriate amount of pressure to the given string or course of strings whenever the string-contacting member is in the home−1 rotational orientation, where this pressure can also be adjusted (e.g., fine-tuned) by the user as will also be described in more detail hereafter. It will thus be appreciated that the tuning apparatus  200  ensures that the given string or course of strings remains securely “fretted” while the user is playing the instrument in any of a variety of playing styles (e.g., the given string/course will not “buzz”). It will also be appreciated that the pressure-sensitive nature of the home, home−1 and home+1 string-contacting surfaces results in the amount of pressure that is applied to the given string or course of strings being automatically adjusted so as to reliably depress the string/course onto a given fret without distorting the tuning of the string/course. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , and as will now be described in more detail, the string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism of the tuning apparatus  200  is adapted to allow the user to slidably adjust the location of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  as a group on the clamp of the tuning apparatus (more particularly, slidably adjust the location of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  as a group along the longitudinal axis M-M of the center longitudinal section  310  of the shaft  288  of the clamp) so as to substantially center the plane of rotation N-N of each of the string-contacting members (e.g., member  203 ) over a different string (e.g., string  131 ) or course of strings, and thus center the string-contacting member&#39;s pressure-sensitive home string-contacting surface (e.g., surface  370 ), home+1 string-contacting surface (e.g. surface  372 ), and home−1 string-contacting surface (e.g., surface  374 ) over the different string/course. The string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism is also adapted to automatically maintain substantially equal spacing between each different adjacent pair of string-contacting members  202 - 207 . As described heretofore the string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism includes a left wave spring  212 , a left knob  252 , a right knob  240 , a right wave spring  214 , and a number of member-spacing wave springs (five in the illustrated embodiment, namely member-spacing wave springs  242 - 246 ), where this number is one less than the total number of string-contacting members  202 - 207 . The aperture of the left wave spring  212  has a diameter that is larger than D 1 , thus allowing the left wave spring to be slidably and rotatably disposed onto the leftmost longitudinal section  308  of the shaft  288 . The aperture of the right wave spring  214  has a diameter that is larger than D 5 , thus allowing the right wave spring to be slidably and rotatably disposed onto the rightmost longitudinal section  312  of the shaft  288 . The aperture of each of the member-spacing wave springs  242 - 246  has a diameter that is larger than D 3 , thus allowing the member-spacing wave springs to be slidably and rotatably disposed onto the center longitudinal section  310  of the shaft  288 . In an exemplary embodiment of the tuning apparatus  200  described herein, a conventional Lee Spring Company part number LW063060300S is used for the left and right wave springs  212  and  214 , and a conventional Lee Spring Company part number LW063060180S is used for each of the member-spacing wave springs  242 - 246 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , and as exemplified in  FIGS. 6-10 , the left knob  252  includes a third shaft-accepting aperture  410  that horizontally passes completely through the left knob from the left side to the right side thereof and is tiered as follows. The left side  412  of the third shaft-accepting aperture  410  has a circular cross-sectional shape and is threaded (threads not shown), where the diameter of and threads on this left side  412  are adapted to allow it to be rotatably and threadably attached to the left-center longitudinal section  314  of the shaft  288 . The right side  414  of the third shaft-accepting aperture  410  also has a circular cross-sectional shape, where the diameter of this right side  414  is larger than the diameter D 3  of the center longitudinal section  310  of the shaft  288  so that the leftmost portion of this center longitudinal section  310  is able to slidably and rotatably pass into this right side  414  as the user tightens the left knob  252  onto the left-center longitudinal section  314  of the shaft  288 . As described heretofore, the right knob  240  of the string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism is structurally the same as the left knob  252 , where the diameter of and threads on the right side of the right knob&#39;s shaft accepting aperture are adapted to allow it to be rotatably and threadably attached to the right-center longitudinal section  316  of the shaft  288 , and the diameter of the left side of the right knob&#39;s shaft accepting aperture is larger than the diameter D 3  of the center longitudinal section  310  of the shaft  288  so that the rightmost portion of this center longitudinal section  310  is able to slidably and rotatably pass into this left side as the user tightens the right knob  240  onto the right-center longitudinal section  316  of the shaft  288 . Given the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the user can adjust the location of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  as a group along the longitudinal axis M-M of the center longitudinal section  310  of the shaft  288  by selectively tightening or loosening the left knob  252  on the left-center longitudinal section  314  of the shaft  288 , and/or selectively tightening or loosening the right knob  240  on the right-center longitudinal section  316  of the shaft  288 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment of the left knob  252  illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 5 and 6-10  the left knob (and thus the right knob  240 ) has a radially outer surface that includes a plurality of radially-spaced depressions (e.g., depression  416 ). These radially-spaced depressions are advantageous in that they enhance the user&#39;s ability to grasp and rotate (e.g., tighten or loosen) the left and right knobs. It will be appreciated that alternate embodiments of the left and right knobs (not shown) are also possible in which other types of features can be employed on the radially outer surface of these knobs (e.g., this surface can be knurled). 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the ratchet mechanism of each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  is adapted to allow the user to retainably but releasably engage the string-contacting member into either the home−1 rotational orientation, the headstock-side open-string rotational orientation, the home rotational orientation, the bridge-side open-string rotational orientation, or the home+1 rotational orientation. Once a given string-contacting member (e.g., member  203 ) has been retainably but releasably engaged into either the home−1 or home+1 rotational orientations, the ratchet mechanism is also adapted to allow the user to adjust (e.g., either increase or decrease) the amount of pressure that the rocker hammer (e.g.,  227 ) of the string-contacting member applies to the string (e.g., string  131 ) or course of strings over which the plane of rotation N-N of the string-contacting member is substantially centered. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 22, 55, 57, 58, 60 and 65 , and as exemplified in  FIGS. 56, 59 and 61 , as described heretofore the ratchet mechanism includes a pair of spiral internal retaining rings  254  and  256 , a pair of ratchet covers  258  and  260 , a ratchet hub  262 , a pair of lever dowel pins  264  and  266 , a pair of ratchet pawls  268  and  270 , a pair of compression springs  272  and  274 , a pair of ratchet release levers  233  and  238 , and an externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger  284 . As will be appreciated from the more detailed description that follows, the lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280  of the rocker arm  221  of each of the string-contacting members generally includes a variety of apertures that are adapted to accept the installation of the ratchet mechanism. More particularly, the lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280  includes a hub/pawl-accepting aperture  422  that passes completely through the lower portion of the arm substrate from the left side to the right side thereof, where the size and shape of this aperture  422  are adapted to accept the installation of the ratchet hub  262 , the pair of ratchet pawls  268  and  270 , and the pair of compression springs  272  and  274 . The lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280  also includes a pair of lever-accepting apertures, namely a bridge-side lever-accepting aperture  424  that passes from the bridge-side surface of the lower portion of the arm substrate into the hub/pawl-accepting aperture  422 , and a headstock-side lever-accepting aperture  426  that passes from the headstock-side surface of the lower portion of the arm substrate into the hub/pawl-accepting aperture  422 . These apertures  424  and  426  are described in more detail hereafter. The lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280  also includes a pair of dowel-pin-accepting apertures, namely a bridge-side dowel-pin-accepting aperture  436  and a headstock-side dowel-pin-accepting aperture  434 . The bridge-side dowel-pin-accepting aperture  436  is substantially parallel to the hub/pawl-accepting aperture  422 , substantially orthogonal to the bridge-side lever-accepting aperture  424 , passes completely through the lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280  (and thus passes through the bridge-side lever-accepting aperture  424 ), and has a size and shape that are adapted to securely retain the lever dowel pin  266  after it is press-fit into the bridge-side dowel-pin-accepting aperture  436 . Similarly, the headstock-side dowel-pin-accepting aperture  434  is substantially parallel to the hub/pawl-accepting aperture  422 , substantially orthogonal to the headstock-side lever-accepting aperture  426 , passes completely through the lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280  (and thus passes through the headstock-side lever-accepting aperture  426 ), and has a size and shape that are adapted to securely retain the lever dowel pin  264  after it is press-fit into the headstock-side dowel-pin-accepting aperture  434 . The bottom portion of the arm substrate  280  may include a threaded plunger-accepting aperture  286  (threads not shown) that passes from the bottom portion of the arm substrate into the hub/pawl-accepting aperture  422 , and has a longitudinal axis that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis O-O of the arm substrate. The threaded plunger-accepting aperture  286  is adapted to be rotatably and threadably attached to the spring plunger  284 , where the spring plunger is rotated within the threaded plunger-accepting aperture until the ball end of the spring plunger protrudes slightly into the hub/pawl-accepting aperture  422  as illustrated in  FIG. 56 . In an exemplary embodiment of the tuning apparatus described herein, a conventional McMaster-Carr Supply Company part number 3408A65 is used for the externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger  284 . The lever dowel pins  264  and  266  have a length which is adapted to make them substantially flush with the exterior surfaces of the dowel-pin-accepting apertures  434  and  436  after the just-described press-fitting. It is noted that in the various embodiments of the tuning apparatus described herein the longitudinal axis O-O of the arm substrate of each of the string-contacting members substantially intersects the longitudinal axis M-M of the shaft  288 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the ratchet pawls  268  and  270  have the same size and structure, and the compression springs  272  and  274  also have the same size and structure. In an exemplary embodiment of the tuning apparatus described herein, a conventional Lee Spring Company part number C1008AB02M is used for the compression springs  272  and  274 . As exemplified in  FIGS. 27-29 , each of the ratchet pawls (e.g., ratchet pawl  268 ) includes the aforementioned pawl member  418  and a pawl dowel pin  420 . In an exemplary embodiment of the tuning apparatus  200  described herein, a conventional McMaster-Carr Supply Company part number 97395A351 is used for the pawl dowel pin  420 . The pawl member  418  includes a pawl-dowel-pin-accepting aperture  442 , a pawl-moving-member-accepting cavity  444 , and a spring-engaging-member  446 . The pawl member  418  also includes a hub-engaging section  460  that includes a prescribed number of pawl teeth (e.g., pawl tooth  448 ). The pawl-dowel-pin-accepting aperture  442  passes completely through the pawl member  418 , and has a size and shape that are adapted to securely retain the pawl dowel pin  420  after it is press-fit into this aperture  442 . The pawl dowel pin  420  has a length which is adapted to make the pin  420  substantially flush with the exterior surfaces of the pawl-dowel-pin-accepting aperture  442  after this press-fitting. The spring-engaging-member  446  is rigidly disposed onto one end of the pawl member  418 , and has a size and shape that are adapted to retainably engage one end of one of the compression springs  272  and  274 . The pawl-moving-member-accepting cavity  444  has a size and shape, and an orientation on the pawl member  418  that are adapted to slidably accept a pawl-moving member of one of the ratchet release levers  233  and  238 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the ratchet release levers  233  and  238  have the same size and structure, and the lever dowel pins  264  and  266  also have the same size and structure. In an exemplary embodiment of the tuning apparatus described herein, a conventional McMaster-Carr Supply Company part number 97395A351 is used for the lever dowel pins  264  and  266 . Referring again to  FIGS. 55 and 56 , and as exemplified in  FIGS. 23-26 , each of the ratchet release levers (e.g., release lever  238 ) includes a user-accessible portion  428  that is contoured to substantially match the shape of the bridge-side/headstock-side surface of the lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280  surrounding the bridge-side and headstock-side lever-accepting apertures  424  and  426 . The front of this user-accessible portion  428  (e.g., the user-accessible side of the ratchet release lever  238 ) includes a plurality of spaced longitudinal depressions (e.g., depression  430 ) that are substantially parallel to one another. These longitudinal depressions  430  are advantageous in that they enhance the user&#39;s ability to depress the ratchet release lever  238 . Each of the ratchet release levers  238  also includes the aforementioned pawl-moving member  432  that is centrally and rigidly disposed onto the back of the user-accessible portion  428  of the release lever  238 . The pawl-moving member  432  includes a lever aperture  438  that passes through the member  432  and has a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of lever dowel pins  264  and  266 . The tip of the pawl-moving member  432  includes a cavity  440  having a size, shape and orientation that are adapted to rotatably engage with the pawl dowel pin  420  of one of the ratchet pawls  268  and  270  when this member  432  is slidably disposed into the cavity  440 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 22-26  and  FIG. 56  (among other FIGs. in the accompanying drawings), the ratchet release levers  233  and  238  and lever dowel pins  264  and  266  are installed onto the lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280  in the following manner. As illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the bridge-side lever-accepting aperture  424  on the lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280  has a size, shape and orientation that are adapted to allow the pawl-moving member  432  of the ratchet release lever  233  to be slidably and rotatably installed within the bridge-side lever-accepting aperture  424  such that the lever aperture  438  on the pawl-moving member  432  is aligned with the bridge-side dowel-pin-accepting aperture  436 . After this installation has been completed, the lever dowel pin  266  is press-fit into the bridge-side dowel-pin-accepting aperture  436  and accordingly through the lever aperture  438 . Similarly, the headstock-side lever-accepting aperture  426  on the lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280  has a size, shape and orientation that are adapted to allow the pawl-moving member  432  of the ratchet release lever  238  to be slidably and rotatably installed within the headstock-side lever-accepting aperture  426  such that the lever aperture  438  on the pawl-moving member  432  is aligned with the headstock-side dowel-pin-accepting aperture  434 . After this installation has been completed, the lever dowel pin  264  is press-fit into the headstock-side dowel-pin-accepting aperture  434  and accordingly through the lever aperture  438 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 22-29, 56 and 59  (among other FIGs. in the accompanying drawings), after the ratchet release levers  233  and  238  and the lever dowel pins  264  and  266  have been installed onto the lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280 , the ratchet pawls  268  and  270  and compression springs  272  and  274  are installed onto the lower portion of the arm substrate in the following manner. As illustrated in  FIGS. 56 and 59 , the hub/pawl-accepting aperture  422  on the lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280  includes a bridge-side cavity  450  and a headstock-side cavity  452 . The bridge-side cavity  450  has a size and shape that are adapted to allow one end of the compression spring  274  to be disposed against a spring-retaining surface  454  of the cavity  450 , the other end of the spring  274  to be retainably and removably engaged onto the spring-engaging-member  446  of the pawl member  418  of the ratchet pawl  270 , and the spring  274  to be partially compressed while the pawl dowel pin  420  of the ratchet pawl  270  is rotatably and retainably engaged with the cavity  440  of the tip of the pawl-moving member  432  of the ratchet release lever  233 . Similarly, the headstock-side cavity  452  has a size and shape that are adapted to allow one end of the compression spring  272  to be disposed against a spring-retaining surface  456  of the cavity  452 , the other end of the spring  272  to be retainably and removably engaged onto the spring-engaging-member  446  of the pawl member  418  of the ratchet pawl  268 , and the spring  272  to be partially compressed while the pawl dowel pin  420  of the ratchet pawl  268  is rotatably and retainably engaged with the cavity  440  of the tip of the pawl-moving member  432  of the ratchet release lever  238 . It will be appreciated that after this installation of the ratchet pawls  268  and  270  and compression springs  272  and  274  into the bridge-side and headstock-side cavities  450  and  452 , spring  274  and ratchet pawl  270  are retained within the bridge-side cavity  450  by the pressure exerted by spring  274  against the ratchet pawl  270  and the spring-retaining surface  454 ; similarly, spring  272  and ratchet pawl  268  are retained within the headstock-side cavity  452  by the pressure exerted by spring  272  against the ratchet pawl  268  and the spring-retaining surface  456 . It is noted that after the just-described installation of the ratchet pawls  268  and  270  and compression springs  272  and  274 , the pawl teeth  448  of the pawl members  418  of the ratchet pawls  268  and  270  are oriented toward the center of the hub/pawl-accepting aperture  422 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2, 22, 27 and 63-65 , and as exemplified in  FIGS. 30-33 , the ratchet hub  262  includes a fourth shaft-accepting aperture  458  that is substantially centered along the central axis P-P of the ratchet hub and horizontally passes completely through the ratchet hub from the left side to the right side thereof. The fourth shaft-accepting aperture  458  has the aforementioned center regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shape, where the size of this shape is adapted to allow the ratchet hub  262  to be slidably and removably disposed onto the center longitudinal section  310  of the shaft  288  (e.g., the fourth shaft-accepting aperture  458  has a diameter that is slightly larger than D 3 ). The ratchet hub  262  also includes a pawl-engaging section  462 . As illustrated in  FIG. 30 , the pawl-engaging section  462  is substantially centered on a first edge  466  of the fourth shaft-accepting aperture  458 . In an exemplary embodiment of the tuning apparatus  200  described herein described herein, the ratchet hub  262  of each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  is slidably and removably disposed onto the center longitudinal section  310  such that the first edge  466  is substantially aligned with the aforementioned plane that is substantially perpendicular to front surface  122  of the elongated neck  114  of the instrument whenever the clamp of the tuning apparatus  200  described herein is removably attached to the neck, and such that the pawl-engaging section  462  is as far as possible from the front surface  122 . It will be appreciated that since the shaft-accepting aperture  458  has the center regular convex polygonal cross-sectional shape of the center longitudinal section  310 , the pawl-engaging section  462  of the ratchet hub  262  of each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  will maintain a substantially constant radial orientation about the longitudinal axis M-M of the shaft  288  regardless of how the string-contacting member is rotated. The pawl-engaging section  462  includes a prescribed number of hub teeth (e.g., hub tooth  472 ) that are adapted to retainably but releasably engage with the pawl teeth  448  of the ratchet pawls  268  and  270 , where the number of hub teeth  472  is greater than the number of pawl teeth  448 . In the exemplary embodiment of the ratchet hub  262  and ratchet pawls  268  and  270  illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the number of hub teeth  472  is nine and the number of pawl teeth  448  is five. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 22, 30-33 and 55-57 , the ratchet hub  262  may also include three semispheric cavities  468 - 470  that are disposed in different radial positions on the outermost radial surface  464  of the ratchet hub, namely, a bridge-side open-string semispheric cavity  468 , a home semispheric cavity  469 , and a headstock-side open-string semispheric cavity  470 . Since these semispheric cavities  468 - 470  interoperate with the externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger  284  as will be described in more detail hereafter, the ratchet hub  262  will include these semispheric cavities whenever the ratchet mechanism includes the externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger and the arm substrate  280  includes the threaded plunger-accepting aperture  286 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 22, 31 and 33 , each of the three semispheric cavities  468 - 470  is substantially centered on the outermost radial surface  464  of the ratchet hub  262  along the central axis P-P thereof. Each of the three semispheric cavities  468 - 470  has a size which is adapted to retainably but releasably engage the ball end of the externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger  284 . As illustrated in  FIG. 30 , the home semispheric cavity  469  is substantially centered on a second edge  474  of the fourth shaft-accepting aperture  458  that is diametrically opposed to the first edge  466  thereof. It is noted that the bridge-side and headstock-side open-string semispheric cavities  468  and  470  can be located in various radial locations on the outermost radial surface  464  of the ratchet hub  262 . In the exemplary embodiment of the ratchet hub  262  illustrated in  FIGS. 22, 30, 31 and 33 , the bridge-side open-string semispheric cavity  468  is substantially centered on a third edge  476  of the fourth shaft-accepting aperture  458  which is adjacent to the second edge  474  thereof on the bridge side of the ratchet hub; the headstock-side open-string semispheric cavity  470  is substantially centered on a forth edge  478  of the fourth shaft-accepting aperture  458  which is adjacent to the second edge  474  thereof on the headstock side of the ratchet hub. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 22  and referring again to  FIG. 55 , after the ratchet release levers  233  and  238 , the lever dowel pins  264  and  266 , the ratchet pawls  268  and  270 , and the compression springs  272  and  274  have been installed onto the lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280 , the ratchet hub  262  is rotatably disposed into the hub/pawl-accepting aperture  422 . Then, the ratchet cover  258  is removably disposed onto the right side of the ratchet hub  262  and the spiral internal retaining ring  254  is disposed onto the right side of the ratchet cover  258 , where the spiral internal retaining ring  254  is removably engaged into a circular groove  484  that is disposed along the right side of the lower portion  494  of the arm substrate  280 . Similarly, the ratchet cover  260  is removably disposed onto the left side of the ratchet hub  262  and the spiral internal retaining ring  256  is disposed onto the left side of the ratchet cover  260 , where the spiral internal retaining ring  256  is removably engaged into a circular groove (not shown) that is disposed along the left side of the lower portion of the arm substrate  280 . It will be appreciated that the spiral internal retaining rings  254  and  256  and the ratchet covers  258  and  260  serve to hold the ratchet hub  262  inside the hub/pawl-accepting aperture  422  while the ratchet hub is being rotated there-within. In an exemplary embodiment of the tuning apparatus  200  described herein, a conventional McMaster-Carr Supply Company part number 91663A550 is used for the spiral internal retaining rings  254  and  256 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 3, 22, 30 and 56 , whenever the user rotates a given string-contacting member (e.g., member  203 ) into the home rotational orientation, the arm substrate  280  of the string-contacting member is rotated about the ratchet hub  262  and the ball end of the externally-threaded ball-nose spring plunger  284  locates into the home semispheric cavity  469  on the ratchet hub, thus serving to retainably but releasably engage the string-contacting member into the home rotational orientation. The ball end of the spring plunger  284  can subsequently be dislocated out of the semispheric cavity  469  whenever the user rotates the string-contacting member out of the home rotational orientation. For example, whenever the user further rotates the string-contacting member into the bridge-side open-string rotational orientation, the arm substrate  280  of the string-contacting member is further rotated about the ratchet hub  262  and the ball end of the spring plunger  284  locates into the headstock-side open-string semispheric cavity  470  on the ratchet hub, thus serving to retainably but releasably engage the string-contacting member into the bridge-side open-string rotational orientation. The ball end of the spring plunger  284  can subsequently be dislocated out of the semispheric cavity  470  whenever the user rotates the string-contacting member out of the bridge-side open-string rotational orientation. Similarly, whenever the user further rotates the string-contacting member into the headstock-side open-string rotational orientation, the arm substrate  280  of the string-contacting member is further rotated about the ratchet hub  262  and the ball end of the spring plunger  284  locates into the bridge-side open-string semispheric cavity  468  on the ratchet hub, thus serving to retainably but releasably engage the string-contacting member into the headstock-side open-string rotational orientation. The ball end of the spring plunger  284  can subsequently be dislocated out of the semispheric cavity  468  whenever the user rotates the string-contacting member out of the headstock-side open-string rotational orientation. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2, 3, 22, 27, 30 and 56 , whenever the user rotates a given string-contacting member (e.g., member  203 ) past the bridge-side open-string rotational orientation and into the home+1 rotational orientation, the arm substrate  280  of the string-contacting member is rotated about the ratchet hub  262  and the teeth  448  on one side of the hub-engaging section  460  of the ratchet pawl  268  begin to engage with the teeth  472  on the headstock side of the pawl-engaging section  462  of the ratchet hub, thus serving to retainably but releasably engage the string-contacting member into the home+1 rotational orientation. The user can subsequently disengage/release the string-contacting member from the home+1 rotational orientation by depressing the ratchet release lever  238  which urges the ratchet pawl  268  toward the spring-retaining surface  456  on the arm substrate  280 , thus compressing the compression spring  272  and disengaging the teeth  448  on the hub-engaging section  460  of the ratchet pawl  268  from the teeth  472  on the pawl-engaging section  462  of the ratchet hub  262 . Whenever the user rotates the string-contacting member past the headstock-side open-string rotational orientation and into the home−1 rotational orientation, the arm substrate  280  of the string-contacting member is rotated about the ratchet hub  262  and the teeth  448  on one side of the hub-engaging section  460  of the ratchet pawl  270  begin to engage with the teeth  472  on the bridge side of the pawl-engaging section  462  of the ratchet hub, thus serving to retainably but releasably engage the string-contacting member into the home−1 rotational orientation. The user can subsequently disengage/release the string-contacting member from the home−1 rotational orientation by depressing the ratchet release lever  233  which urges the ratchet pawl  270  toward the spring-retaining surface  454  on the arm substrate  280 , thus compressing the compression spring  274  and disengaging the teeth  448  on the hub-engaging section  460  of the ratchet pawl  270  from the teeth  472  on the pawl-engaging section  462  of the ratchet hub  262 . 
     Given the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein are universally adjustable and universally configurable to accommodate a wide variety of different types of stringed musical instruments. Examples of this universal adjustability and configurability include, but are not limited to, the following. As exemplified in  FIG. 2 , the tuning apparatus  200  can be configured such that the number of string-contacting members  202 - 207  equals the total number of strings  130 - 135  on the instrument. For example, in the case where the instrument is a four-string bass guitar, the tuning apparatus would be configured with four string-contacting members. In the case where the instrument is a five-string bass guitar, the tuning apparatus would be configured with five string-contacting members. In the case where the instrument is either a six-string bass guitar or a six-string acoustic guitar, the tuning apparatus would be configured with six string-contacting members. In each of these cases the user can selectively tighten or loosen the left and right knobs of the string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism of the tuning apparatus in order to substantially center the plane of rotation of each of the string-contacting members over a different string or course of strings as described heretofore. 
     As also described heretofore, the strings of a given stringed musical instrument can also be arranged into a plurality of courses, where each of the courses includes a different and non-overlapping subset of the strings. In this situation the tuning apparatus can be configured such that the number of string-contacting members equals the total number of courses on the instrument, and the user can selectively tighten or loosen the left and right knobs of the string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism in order to substantially center the plane of rotation of each of the string-contacting members over a different course. For example, in the case where the instrument is either a 12-string electric or acoustic guitar having six course of strings each of which includes a different and non-overlapping pair of strings, the tuning apparatus would be configured with six string-contacting members. 
     The fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein can be easily and quickly adjusted by the user to accommodate instruments having a variety of different neck shapes (e.g., V-shaped necks, C-shaped necks, and U-shaped necks), different neck widths and different neck radii. The fully-adjustable capo embodiments can also be easily and quickly attached to different longitudinal positions on the instrument&#39;s neck to accommodate instruments having different fret locations and spacings. The fully-adjustable capo embodiments can also be easily adapted to accommodate instruments having different spacings between the strings/courses by using the string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism as needed. The fully-adjustable capo embodiments can also be easily adapted to accommodate instruments having different spacings between the left/right edge of the neck and the leftmost/rightmost string by using the string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism as needed. The user can also adjust the placement of the fully-adjustable capo embodiments on the instrument&#39;s neck in relation to the home fret, home−1 fret, and home+1 fret. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-3, 22, 27, 30 , it will be appreciated that since there is a plurality of teeth  448  on the hub-engaging section  460  of the ratchet pawls  268  and  270 , and there is also a plurality of teeth  472  on the pawl-engaging section  462  of the ratchet hub  262 , each of the string-contacting members  202 - 207  is able to apply a range of different pressures onto the string or course of strings that the string-contacting member impinges upon while it is in either the home+1 or home−1 rotational orientations. As such, once a given string-contacting member is engaged in the home−1 rotational orientation, the user can adjust the amount of pressure the string-contacting member applies to the string/course it is impinging upon by either further rotating the string-contacting member toward the front surface  122  of the elongated neck  114  of the instrument (thus causing the ratchet pawl  270  to sequentially engage with one or more additional teeth  472  on the ratchet hub  262  and slightly increasing the amount of pressure that is applied to the string/course), or using the ratchet release lever  233  to release the string-contacting member from its current engagement and allowing it to move slightly away from the front surface  122  (thus causing the ratchet pawl  270  to sequentially disengage with one or more teeth  472  on the ratchet hub  262  and slightly decreasing the amount of pressure that is applied to the string/course). Similarly, once a given string-contacting member is engaged in the home+1 rotational orientation, the user can adjust the amount of pressure the string-contacting member applies to the string/course it is impinging upon by either further rotating the string-contacting member toward the front surface  122  of the neck  114  (thus causing the ratchet pawl  268  to sequentially engage with one or more additional teeth  472  on the ratchet hub  262  and slightly increasing the amount of pressure that is applied to the string/course), or using the ratchet release lever  238  to release the string-contacting member from its current engagement and allowing it to move slightly away from the front surface  122  (thus causing the ratchet pawl  268  to sequentially disengage with one or more teeth  472  on the ratchet hub  262  and slightly decreasing the amount of pressure that is applied to the string/course). This ability to individually adjust the amount of pressure that the string-contacting members  202 - 207  apply to the strings/courses  130 - 135  allows the user to easily and quickly adapt the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein to accommodate instruments having a wide variety of actions and string gauges. 
     It is noted that the fully-adjustable capo embodiments described herein can be made from a wide variety of different materials. For example, the jaw-tightening member, the shaft, the right jaw substrate of the right jaw, the left jaw substrate of the left jaw, the arm substrate of the string-contacting members, the hammer substrate of the string-contacting members, the left and right knobs, and the ratchet covers and ratchet release levers of the ratchet mechanism can each be made from any of a variety of rigid and durable materials such as aluminum, or brass, or other types of metals, or metal alloys, or ceramic, or plastic, or plastic composites, among other types of rigid and durable materials. The right neck-contacting element of the right jaw, the left neck-contacting element of the left jaw, and the string-contacting arm and hammer elements of the string-contacting members can each be made from any of a variety of flexible but relatively stiff materials such as nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), or the like. The ratchet hub and pawl members of the ratchet mechanism can each be made from any of a variety of rigid and durable materials such as steel, or titanium, or the like. 
     2.1 Alternate Rocker Hammer 
       FIG. 44  illustrates a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of an alternate rocker hammer  298  that includes an alternate hammer substrate  300  and an alternate string-contacting hammer element  302  that is securely disposed onto the alternate hammer substrate, where this element  302  is durable and resiliently flexible.  FIG. 45  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the alternate rocker hammer  298  of  FIG. 44  rotated right 90 degrees.  FIG. 46  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the bottom of the alternate rocker hammer  298  of  FIG. 44 .  FIG. 47  illustrates a perspective view, in simplified form, of the alternate rocker hammer  298  of  FIG. 44 .  FIG. 48  illustrates a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the alternate hammer substrate  300  of the alternate rocker hammer  298  of  FIG. 44  before the alternate string-contacting hammer element  302  has been securely disposed onto the alternate hammer substrate.  FIG. 49  illustrates a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of the alternate string-contacting hammer element  302  that is securely disposed onto the alternate hammer substrate  300 .  FIG. 50  illustrates a standalone plan view, in simplified form, of the alternate hammer substrate  300  of  FIG. 44 .  FIG. 51  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the alternate hammer substrate  300  of  FIG. 50  rotated right 90 degrees.  FIG. 52  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the bottom of the alternate hammer substrate  300  of  FIG. 50 .  FIG. 53  illustrates a perspective view, in simplified form, of the alternate hammer substrate  300  of  FIG. 50 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 34-43  and as exemplified in  FIGS. 44-53 , the structure and functionality of the alternate rocker hammer  298  is similar to the structure and functionality of the rocker hammer  227  with the following exceptions. Although the alternate rocker hammer  298  and the rocker hammer  227  have substantially the same width W 1  and the same height H, the alternate string-contacting hammer element  302  includes two apertures  402  and  404  that horizontally pass completely through the alternate string-contacting hammer element from the left side to the right side thereof (namely a bridge-side aperture  402  and a headstock-side aperture  404 ). The bridge-side aperture  402  is disposed between the home+1 string-contacting surface  398  of the alternate string-contacting hammer element  302  and the bridge-side edge  406  of the alternate hammer substrate  300 . The headstock-side aperture  404  is disposed between the home−1 string-contacting surface  400  of the alternate string-contacting hammer element  302  and the headstock-side edge  408  of the alternate hammer substrate  300 . The width W 3  of the alternate hammer substrate  300  is less than the width W 2  of the hammer substrate  276  in order to accommodate the bridge-side and headstock-side apertures  402  and  404 . The existence of aperture  402  is advantageous in that it enhances the pressure sensitivity of the home+1 string-contacting surface  398  and the ability of this surface  398  to apply an appropriate amount of pressure to a given string or course of strings whenever a given string-contacting member is in the home+1 rotational orientation. Similarly, the existence of aperture  404  is advantageous in that it enhances the pressure sensitivity of the home−1 string-contacting surface  400  and the ability of this surface  400  to apply an appropriate amount of pressure to a given string or course of strings whenever a given string-contacting member is in the home−1 rotational orientation. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 22, 34, 44 and 55  (among other FIGs. in the accompanying drawings), given that the structure and functionality of the alternate rocker hammer  298  is similar to the structure and functionality of the rocker hammer  227  as just described, it will be appreciated that the alternate rocker hammer is slidably and removably disposed onto the elongated upper portion  378  of the arm substrate  280 , and the user can use one or more fingers to change/adjust the longitudinal position of the alternate rocker hammer on this upper portion  378  at will. 
     3.0 Additional Embodiments 
     While the fully-adjustable capo has been described by specific reference to embodiments thereof, it is understood that variations and modifications thereof can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the fully-adjustable capo. For example, rather than the rocker hammer and alternate rocker hammer being slidably and removably disposed onto the elongated upper portion of the arm substrate of the string-contacting member and the user being able to change/adjust the longitudinal position of the rocker hammer and alternate rocker hammer on this elongated upper portion at will, the rocker hammer and alternate rocker hammer can also be rigidly disposed onto a prescribed longitudinal position on this elongated upper portion. Rather than the rocker arm including an arm substrate and a separate string-contacting arm element that is securely disposed onto the bottom of the arm substrate, the string-contacting arm element can be integrated directly into the arm substrate such that the string-contacting arm element and arm substrate form a single component, and the string-contacting arm element is made of the same material as the arm substrate. Rather than the rocker hammer including a hammer substrate and a separate string-contacting hammer element that is securely disposed onto the hammer substrate, the string-contacting hammer element can be integrated directly into the hammer substrate such that the string-contacting hammer element and hammer substrate form a single component, and the string-contacting hammer element is made of the same material as the hammer substrate. Rather than the alternate rocker hammer including an alternate hammer substrate and a separate alternate string-contacting hammer element that is securely disposed onto the alternate hammer substrate, the alternate string-contacting hammer element can be integrated directly into the alternate hammer substrate such that the alternate string-contacting hammer element and alternate hammer substrate form a single component, and the alternate string-contacting hammer element is made of the same material as the alternate hammer substrate. 
     Additionally,  FIG. 82  illustrates a standalone perspective view, in simplified form, of an exemplary embodiment of a spacer  496  that can be substituted for the left knob  252  in an alternate embodiment of the string-contacting member spacing adjustment mechanism.  FIG. 83  illustrates a plan view, in simplified form, of the front of the spacer  496  of  FIG. 82 .  FIG. 84  illustrates a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of the spacer  496  taken along line Q-Q of  FIG. 83 .  FIG. 85  illustrates another perspective view, in simplified form, of the spacer  496  of  FIG. 82 . 
     As exemplified in  FIGS. 82-85 , and referring again to  FIG. 5 , the spacer  496  includes a shaft-accepting aperture  498  that horizontally passes completely through the spacer from the left side to the right side thereof. This shaft-accepting aperture  498  has a circular cross-sectional shape and a minimum diameter D 6  that is larger than the diameter D 3  of the center longitudinal section  310  of the shaft  288  so that the leftmost portion of this center longitudinal section  310  is able to slidably and rotatably pass through the shaft-accepting aperture  498 . Given the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the user can adjust the location of the plurality of string-contacting members  202 - 207  along the longitudinal axis of the center longitudinal section  310  of the shaft  288  by selectively tightening or loosening the right knob  240  on the right-center longitudinal section  316  of the shaft  288 . 
     It is noted that any or all of the aforementioned embodiments throughout the description may be used in any combination desired to form additional hybrid embodiments. In addition, although the fully-adjustable capo embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. 
     What has been described above includes example embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In regard to the various functions performed by the above described components and the like, the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (e.g., a functional equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure, which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary aspects of the claimed subject matter.