Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments.
I, ADOLF GUNKEL, of 4, Weinbergstrasse, Blasewitz, Dresden, in the Empire
of Germany, Chamber Musician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
..
22
My invention relates to stringed musical instruments and has for its object
a key or scale mask or frame for the purpose of enabling a beginner, when
learning to play a stringed musical instrument such as a violin, violincello or
similar instrument, to become accustomed from the outset to the correct position
of the left arm and hand, and to ensure (especially when practising scales) such
an execution of the fingering as to attain a musically correct tone, so that while
learning the manual execution the critical judging capacity of the ear is exercised.
According to my invention I arrange above the strings of the instrument, in
close proximity thereto, a readily removable bent plate or frame which I term
a mask." This mask or frame, which is made of thin rigid material such
as sheet metal, wood, hardened rubber, celluloid or other suitable substance, is
provided with frets or bridges and free spaces for the fingering according to
the key in which the performer requires to play. A different
mask"
required for each key, and each mask has the key for which it is adapted
marked thereon.
"
is
In order to ensure a correct position of the left hand relatively to the finger
board, means preferably consisting of a fixed loop or clip, are provided for retain-
ing the left hand thumb in a given position, while the open spaces in the "mask"
or frame oblige the learner to exert finger pressure only at those points where
the shape of the said spaces leaves an opening for each string of the instrument
respectively according to the key, thus ensuring a result that has not (so far as
I am aware) been hitherto attained by any known auxiliary means.
1
1
P T1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
improvements in Stringed musical instruments.
I, ADOLF GUNKEL, of 4, Weinbergstrasse, Blasewitz, Dresden, in the Empire
of Germany, Chamber Musician, 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:-
My invention relates to stringed musical instruments and has for its object

page_text: or
a key or scale "mask" or frame for the purpose of enabling a beginner, when
a violin, violincello
learning to play a stringed instrument, such as
similar instrument, to become accustomed from the outset to the correct position
of the left arm and hand, and to ensure (especially when practising scales) such
an execution of the fingering as to attain a musically correct tone, so that while
learning the manual execution the critical judging capacity of the ear is exercised.
According to my invention I arrange above the strings of the instrument, in
close proximity thereto, a readily removable bent plate or frame which I term
: mask". This mask or frame, which is made of thin rigid material such
as sheet metal, wood, hardened rubber, celluloid or other suitable substance, is
provided with frets or bridges and free spaces for the fingering according to
the key in which the performer requires to play. A different
required for each key, and each "mask" has the key for which it is adapted
marked thereon.
a
"
"
mask
is
In order to ensure a correct position of the left hand relatively to the finger
board, means are provided for retaining the left hand thumb in a given position,
while the open spaces in the mask" or frame oblige the learner to exert finger
pressure only at those points where the shape of the said spaces leaves an
opening for each string of the instrument respectively according to the key,
thus ensuring a result that has not (as far as I am aware) been hitherto attained
by any known auxiliary means.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows the neck or finger-board of a violin with a key
frame attached thereto.
mask" or
Figures 2 and 3 are a plan and side view respectively of the carrier or support
to which the said "mask" is fixed.
Figures 4 and 5 are a plan and side view respectively of a
different key to that shown in Figure 1.
and
"
'mask" for a
Figures 6 and 7 are cross sectional views of the "mask" shewn in Figure 4,
Figure 8 is an end view of the carrier or support.
a, a are the side pieces of the carrier or support and are arranged one at each
side of the neck of the instrument. c is a bridge piece, connecting the
pieces a, a, together at the top end of the neck and passing over the strings of
the instrument, this bridge c is provided with a pine and a spring catch i.
is a bridge piece connecting the opposite extremities of the pieces a, a,
together and also passing over the strings of the instrument. This bridge e is
provided with a hooked pin e¹ is a clasp which slides upon the side pieces a a
and passes beneath the neck of the instrument, f is a spring attached to the
clasp and bearing against the neck of the instrument to retain the carrier or
support in position. d is the thumb holder attached to the carrier and adapted
to receive the thumb of the left hand in order to prevent the accidental displace-
ment of the said hand upon the finger board or neck of the instrument. k is
the key or scale "mask" or frame provided with the perforations 11.
The carrier or support is first applied to the neck of the instrument and the
key mask or frame is then attached thereto by first passing the perforation
over the hooked pin e and then passing the perforation over the pin e, the
top or narrow end of the "mask" being retained by the spring catch i and its
lower end being retained by the hooked pin c¹ in the position shown in Figure 1.
As already stated a separate "mask" having its bridges and spaces differently
arranged is required for each key. The mask or frame shown in Figure 1 is for
Gmajor and that shown in Figures 4 and 5 is C major.
Although described in connection with a violin it is obvious that my invention
may be readily adapted to other stringed instruments.
I am aware that it has already been proposed, and that it is not novel, to

page_text: arrange in the finger board of stringed musical instruments underneath the
strings a thin plate on which the fingering according to the key in which the
piece is to be played is marked by slight depressions. Such depressions are
however easily missed, whereas by the mask which I place above the strings
the finger of the pupil is forcibly led to the correct point where it has to press
upon the string.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A key or scale "mask" or frame for use with a stringed musical instru-
ment, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The combination with the key or scale mask or frame of a thumb piece or
guide, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
"
mask" or
3. A stringed musical instrument provided with a key or scale
frame, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying
drawings and for the purposes specified.
Tad this 01
dorf 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.