An Improved Musical Notation for Pianoforte Combined with an Improved Indicator of Chords, Notes, and Chords to Harmonize with the Notes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Musical Notation for Pianoforte Combined with an
Improved Indicator of Chords, Notes, and Chords to Harmonize
with the Notes.
JOHN POLLOCK 6 Antigua Street Greenock in the County of Renfrew,
Scotland, Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention is an improved musical notation for piano, harmonium, or
organ accompaniments, it consists either of figures, letters, or signs, and it refers
to an indicator of chords and notes placed on the keyboard of the above
instruments.
The indicator or index of chords and notes or of index & chords alone, consists
of a narrow strip or other suitable shaped piece of wood, paper, or other suitable
material, which is divided into a number of spaces each of which is equal to the
breadth of a key of the instrument to which it is fitted.
The number of these spaces may vary from one to seven octaves and can be
named after the Tonic Sol-fa scale notes. The indicator or index (see drawing)
from No. 1 to 6 are arranged for right and left hands or the left hand alone, and
the spaces opposite the different keys or notes (when the indicator is placed on
keyboard) which compose a chord can be marked the same colour, figure or letter.
The several notes can be classed as the chord under a certain colour, figure
or letter or by a colour & letter combined or colour & figure combined.
Along the centre of each indicator or index, (see drawing) ! have placed the
Tonic Sol-fa, names and letters for the notes. The major and minor chords I call
or name red, blue, yellow, &c. or 1, 2, 3 &c., or A, B, C &c., to distinguish one
set of notes which composes a chord, from another set of notes which composes a
different chord, or I can employ signs to distinguish each separate chord, and employ
these signs, colours, letters or figures, in the construction of an improved musical
notation.
The space on indicator which comes or is placed opposite keynote on keyboard
is marked K. N. and in the following explanation of the chord marked on
indicator in red, blue &c. the K. N. is placed opposite C. on the keyboard of
instrument.
On the index of notes and chords No. 1. (see drawing) the spaces coloured red
and marked 1, indicate the common chord of Doh, that is (Doh, Me, Sol Doh) &c.
(CEG & C.) &c. on keyboard of instrument.
The spaces coloured blue and marked 2 indicate the common chord of Fah, that
is (Fah, Lah, Doh, Fah) &c. i.e. (F, A, C, F) &c. on keyboard of instrument.
The spaces coloured yellow and marked 3 indicate the common chord of Soh,
that is (Soh, Te, Ray, Soh) &c. i.e. (G B D G) &c. on the keyboard of instru-
ment.
The spaces
coloured green and the chord is (Fe Doh Ray Fe) &c. i.e.
(F sharp, C, D, F sharp) &c. or in that chord I double the Ray and make it
(Ray Doh Ray Fe) &c. i.e. (D, C, D and F sharp) &c. on the keyboard of the
instrument and marked 4.
Index of chords and notes. No. 5 refers to minor chords (see drawing). The
spaces coloured with a red square indicate the minor chord of Lah, that is
(Lah, Doh, Me, Lah) &c. e. (A, CEA) &c. on the keyboard of the instrument
and this chord of Lali I marked 1. M.
The spaces marked with a blue square and figured 2. M indicate the minor

page_text: chord of Fah, that is composed by the notes (Ray, Fah Lah, Ray) &c. i.e.
(D, F, A, D) &c. on the keyboard of the instrument.
The spaces marked with a yellow square indicate a chord of Me, and is
marked 3. M and is composed by the notes (ME See, Te .ME) &c. that is
(E, G, sharp B, E) &c. on the keyboard of the instrument.
The note Ray No. 34 column, can be used along with the notes composing the
chord marked 3 M.
The note Fah column 37, can be used along with the notes composing the
chord marked 3.
The bass notes opposite columns No. 10. & 22 can be used instead of the
notes opposite columns No. 14 and 26 in the Chord No. 4.
The indicator can be used as a chord index for notes. Place the indicator on
keyboard of instrument and on the space opposite a note is shown in brackets the
number of chord which will harmonize with that note.
On the drawing I show six indices, and if they are made altogether on paper
each one can be detached from the other by perforations dividing them.
Or each index can be made separately.
I may print, impress, or write directions on suitable places, in same manner, as
I show on drawing by the written matter.
On the drawing several examples of the improved musical notation is shown.
In example (A) is an arrangement for the voice or violin with piano
accompiement.
The figure under the stave represents the bass notes of No. 1 Chord for left
hand and the horizontal dash represent the right hand notes of No. 1 Chord.
Example (B) is an arrangement for the piano alone the right hand to play the
stave notes and the left hand to play the chord numbers.
Example (C) is a combination of stave, Sol-fa, letters and chord numbers, and
is arranged for the voice or violin with the piano accompiement. The left hand
plays the bass notes of chord and the right hand plays the other notes of chord.
Example (D) is the same combination as (C), but is arranged for piano
only, it can be played on piano in the same manner as example (B), or when
indicator is placed on keyboard the right hand can play on keys opposite the
letter on indicator, that is striking the notes or keys opposite all the letters shown in
music and the left hand to play the chords.
Example (E) shows an arrangement or combination with Tonic Sol-fa letters
for voice or violin with piano accompiement.
Example (F) shows a combination with the Tonic Sol-fa letters for piano
alone.
Dated this 26th day of April 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Musical Notation for Pianoforte Combined with an
Improved Indicator of Chords, Notes, and Chords to Harmonize
with the Notes.
JOHN POLLOCK, 6 Antigua Street, Greenock, in the County of Renfrew,
Scotland, Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved musical notation and
indicator which will facilitate the reading and playing of music upon such instru-
ments as the pianoforte, organ or harmonium, and such like instruments, and the
same is carried out in the following manner.
I provide an indicator of notes and chords with a note index to chords on it, of

page_text: such a construction, such as a narrow strip or other suitable shaped piece of wood
or other suitable material, divided into a suitable number of spaces or divisions.
or I may employ a suitable number of pieces of material of suitable length and
shape to be placed above or behind keyboard, or it may be placed by suitable
arrangement, such that the indicator will indicate the notes to be played upon
the instrument, the divisions on the indicator will correspond to the breadth of
the keys, or notes, on the keyboard of the instrument.
The marks colours, or other indications of the chords, notes, or note index to
chords to be played are impressed on the divisions of the indicator, above referred
to, and these marks, and other indications, I may use, in the construction of a
musical notation.
In using the device, the space or division on the indicator, which is placed
opposite the key-note may carry a distinctive mark.
Refer to the accompanying drawings,
No. 1, & 2, a view of the indicators with note index to chords is shown.
Drawing No. 3, shows a view of music in the specimens, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6,
marked according to my invention. The indicator is placed, on the keyboard as
required to suit the different keys.
On the indicator I print the various spaces or divisions, in various colours, or
combination of colours, or combination of different colours, and letters or figures,
for distinguishing the notes which compose the different chords, and I employ these
colours, letters, or, figures, their combinations or other signs in the construction
of the musical notation, such that each letter, figure or other sign which I may
employ in the construction of the musical notation, will represent these chords as
is shown in drawings No. 1 and 2 viz.
On the 1st indicator, the notes CE G C or Doh, Me, Soh, Doh, are coloured
red, and represent. by the figure 1, one, which will represent that common chord
produced by these notes, CE G C, when played, on the piano, organ, harmonium
or harp, on which instrument the indicator can be applied."
The spaces, marked 2, two, and coloured blue indicate the chords produced by
the notes F, A C, F or Fah, Lah, Doh, Fah.
The spaces marked 3 three and coloured yellow indicate the chord produced by
the notes G, B, D, G, or Soh Te, Ray, Soh.
I can use other combinations of notes to produce chords and represent them by
colour, figures, letters or other suitable signs to represent the major or other chords.
The spaces or divisions marked 4, four and coloured green is the chord pro-
duced by the combinations of the notes, D, F, sharp, and C, or Ray, Fe, Doh.
The space or division marked 1, M, and coloured with a red square, is the
minor chord produced by the notes, Lal, Doh Me, Lah.
The space or division marked 2 M, and coloured with a blue square is the minor
chord produced by the notes Ray, Fah, Lah, Ray.
The space or division marked 3 M, and coloured with a yellow square, is the
minor chord produced by the notes Te, Me, Se, Te.
All the above signs which represent the chords, or other signs which may
represent them, I employ in the construction of the musical notations.
On drawing No. 3 I show several specimens of the improved musical notations.
On drawing No. 3, and music specimens Nos. 1, 3, 5, I use indicator No. 1 of
major chords for the right and left hand, the Figures 1, 2, & 3 on the music
represent the bass notes of the chords, and the horizontal dash behind these figures
are to represent the other notes of the chord to be struck by the right hand on
the key board, of the instrument.
On drawing No. 3, and music specimens No. 2, 4 and 6 I use indicator No. 2
of major chords for the left hand, the right hand may be employed in playing the
melody, while the left hand may be employed in playing the accompaniment as
represent by the Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. The left hand will play the bass notes of
each chord as represented by the figure, thus the left hand is moved so as to enable

page_text: it to play the remaining notes of the chord as is represented by the horizontal dask
behind the figures.
The right hand can play the melodies by striking the notes opposite the letters
on indicator, similar to all the letters as appear on the music.
In drawing No. 1 & 2,
The first indicator, is major chords for left and right hands.
The second indicator is major chords for left hand only.
The third indicator is major chords for left & right hands.
The fourth indicator is major chords for left hand.
The fifth indicator is minor chords for left and right hands.
The sixth indicator includes all the above and is for the left & right hand
together or separately.
On all the above indicators I can show a note index to the major chords by the
means of a red circle and blue and yellow, concentric circles, or by placing the
figures (1) (2), (3), &c. in brackets such that when the indicator is placed
opposite the keys on the keyboard of the instrument, the chord which will
harmonize with any of these notes or keys, is shown opposite them on the spaces
or divisions of the indicator by the means of a circle or circles or by the means
of figures in brackets, or any other sign may be used for the purpose of repre-
senting which chord will harmonise with the note opposite, these marks means that
the chord represented by the mark can be used to accompany that note to which
its mark is opposite.
In the same manner I show the note index to minor chords by the means of, one
two or three triangles, and coloured red, blue & yellow, or by the means of a
letter and figure combined in brackets as (1 M) (2 M) (31 M) &c., and the letter
and figure indicate the minor chord which will harmonize with the note opposite
to which it may be placed. I may employ this or any other suitable sign to
represent the minor chord.
If the divisions and spaces of the above indicators be made to correspond with
the strings of a harp then the indicator will show all the chords and notes and note
index to chords, when the indicator is placed against the harp strings and the
musical notation can be used to play melodies and accompaniments on the harp, in
the same manner as it may be employed in playing on the pianoforte organ &
harmonium.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1st. An improved musical notation in which I use figures letters or other signs to
represent or indicate the different major and minor chords, and. I combine the
marks with the Sol-fa, and staff notation used in ordinary music in which these
marks will represent the piano, organ or harmonium accompaniment. I show
arrangement on drawing No. 3.
2nd. Staff notation and chord marks, as, shown.
3rd. Staff notation with Tonic Sol-fa notes, and chord marks as shown on music
specimen No. 3 and 4.
4th. The Tonic Sol-fa and chord marks as shown on drawing No. 3 in
specimens No. 5, and 6, in which the chord marks represent the piano accompani-
ment to the melody shown by the Tonic Sol-fa letters.
5th. The improved indicator of chords and notes with and without colour.
6th. The improved indicator of chords and note index to chords on it, with and
without the notes named on it, and with and without colour.
7th. The improved indicator of chords and notes with note index to chords,
with and without colour, and with the colours letters and figures as shown on
drawing No. 1 and 2, or I may employ any other marks to indicate these or other
chords, and employ the same in the construction of an improved musical notation.

page_text: And each indicator may be made in one piece or altogether, on wood, paper, or
other suitable material, as a flat narrow strip, or other suitable shape to permit it
to be placed close to keyboard and indicate the notes and chords, and may be
arranged to slide or be lifted opposite to the keys required.
If I make all the indicators on paper I can separate one indicator from another
by perforations so as to be made easily detachable.
Dated this 26th day of January 1891.
JOHN POLLOCK,
6, Antigua Street, Greenock.