An Improved Indicator for use in Playing Stringed Musical Instruments.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by FLAGG MANUFACTURING COMPANY, of 110, Lincoln
Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturers.]
An Improved Indicator for use in Playing Stringed Musical
Instruments.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 is applicable to a zither or like instruments in which the strings
are arranged in groups (one or more) each group being tuned to the intervals of
a common chord and the object of my invention is to render it possible for a
person unacquainted with musical notation and with the tuning of the instrument
to play a tune upon the instrument, and not only play the simple melody; but also
to play cords in connection with the melody, which chords make the music much
richer and more effective.
The figure represents part of a zither with one of my indicators.
common
To this end my invention consists in a sheet with characters which in themselves
signify sequence arranged with reference to definite points on the sheet in columns.
which columns are arranged relatively to correspond to the relative arrangement of
the strings in a group of strings tuned to the intervals of a
chord; and with supplemental characters in connection with certain of the sequence
characters, which supplemental characters, when each supplemental character is
taken in connection with its sequence character, show when, as well as which other
strings are to be sounded simultaneously with the strings indicated by the sequence
character; that is a sequence character and its supplemental character together
form a compound character which shows not only what strings are to be sounded
together; but when those strings are to be sounded together.
In the drawings, A represents a zither and B one of my indicators. The
indicator B is adjusted by means of the perforations 6 and the pins b₁ on the
instrument; and when so adjusted the Figures 1, 2, 3 &c. are directly under
the 1st, 2nd, 3rd &c. strings to be picked; for the relation of the Figure 1 to the
perforations b is the same in substance as the relation of the string indicated by
that figure to the pins bl; and so as to all the other figures on the indicator and
all the other strings in the two sets a and a¹.
As it would be inconvenient to use high numerals it is preferable to arrange
the numerals in sets as shown, making the division at some natural pause or
livision in the music.
Certain of the numerals (for example 1, 24 and 6 in the first set) are accom-
panied by a line, and this compound character (as numeral and line) indicates
that several strings are to be picked in rapid succession, or by a single motion of
the plectrum across those strings. Certain other numerals (for example 3 in

page_text: the second set) are accompanied by another distinguishing mark, to indicate that
the strings in set a² are to be sounded together with the string under which that
figure so distinguished comes.
In the instrument shown in the drawings the strings in set a are tuned to the
intervals of a chord, and the strings in set a¹ to the intervals of another chord,
instead of to a diatonic or chromatic scale; and this is necessary in order that a
compound character shown as numeral to indicate sequence and a dotted line to
indicate the strings to be played with the string indicated by the numeral may
be used on a string instrument without a damper or the like, which would be
necessary were the strings tuned to scale.
The smaller figures on the indicator serve to give the time, as for example,
after playing the first string, count one before playing the second, two after
playing the second and third strings, count three after playing the fourth, one
after the fifth and so on.
This feature is desirable in some cases, but usually these smaller figures are not
needed, as the player times the tune by memory or by ear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :--
An indicator composed of a sheet of paper or the like with columns of charac-
ters, each of which character in itself indicates sequence, arranged relatively to
correspond to certain strings of a group of strings tuned to the intervals of a
common chord, and with additional characters corresponding with other strings
arranged under those strings in lines transverse to the strings contiguous to
certain of the sequence characters, whereby the sequence characters without
contiguous additional characters indicate when strings are to be sounded singly.
and when each is to be sounded, while the additional characters and sequence
characters taken together indicate groups of strings to be sounded together and
also when each is to be sounded.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.