Year: 1886

page_text: I, WALLACE RITCHIE of No. 6 Grove Market, The Grove, Hammersmith
London, W. Music Seller do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of this Invention, hereinafter called the Chord Indicator, is to shew
in a simple and easy manner, upon the Pianoforte, Organ, Harmonium, or other
Musical Instrument having a similarly constructed key-board, the notes which are
to be used so as to form the various chords commonly used in Music..
The Chord Indicator consists of a strip of leather, cardboard or other material
one inch and a half wide by seventeen inches long. It is divided into thirty-two
equal spaces, each of which will be the same width as an ordinary Pianoforte key
(either black or white) at its end nearest the name board.
Spaces Nos. 8, 20, 24, 27 and 32 are distinguished by a red mark;
Spaces Nos. 1, 13, 25, 29 and 32 are distinguished by a white mark;
And spaces Nos. 3, 15, 22, 27 and 31 are distinguished by a blue mark.
The Chord Indicator is attached to the Pianoforte by being placed in the narrow
crevice which exists between the back ends of the black keys and the name
board.
:
When in use the Chord Indicator is so placed that space No. 8 (bearing a
red mark) comes over the first note or tonic of the key in which it is desired to
play. Thus, if it is desired to play in the key of C, space No. 8 must come over
the note C.
When placed in position, it will be found that if the notes under the spaces
bearing red marks be struck, a common chord on the tonic or key note will
be formed;
If the notes under spaces bearing white marks be struck, a common chord on the
subdominant of the kev will be formed:

page_text: And if the notes under the spaces bearing blue marks be struck, a common chord
on the dominant of the key will be formed.
The chord of the dominant seventh and other chords can also be indicated, and
in this case the length of the Chord. Indicator, the number of its spaces, and
colours of its marks will be varied as may be necessary.
.
I WALLACE RITCHIE of 6 Grove Market, The Grove, Hammersmith, London, W.
Music Seller 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, bereinafter called the Chord Indicator, is to shew
in a simple and easy manner, upon the Pianoforte, Organ, Harmonium, or other
Musical Instrument having a similarly constructed key-board, the notes which are
to be used so as to form the various chords commonly used in Music.
The Chord Indicator consists of a strip of leather, cardboard, paper, or other
material, one iuch and a half wide, by seventeen inches long. It is divided into
thirty-two equal spaces, each of which will be the same width as an ordinary
Pianoforte key (either black or white) at its end nearest the name-board.
Spaces Nos. 8, 20, 24, 27 and 32 are distinguished by a red mark.
Spaces Nos. 1, 13, 25, 29, & 32 are distinguished by a white mark ;
And spaces Nos. 3, 15, 22, 27, & 31 are distinguished by a blue mark.
The Chord Indicator is attached to the Pianoforte by being placed in the narrow
crèvice which exists between the back ends of the black keys and the name-
board When in use, the chord indicator is so placed that space No. 8 (bearing
red mark) comes over the first note or tonic of the key in which it is desired to
play. Thus, if it is desired to play in the key of C, space No. 8 must come over
the note C.
8
When placed in position it will be found that if the notes under the spaces
bearing red marks be struck, a common chord on the tonic; or key note is formed;

page_text: if all the notes under the spaces bearing white marks be struck, a common chord
on the subdominant of the key will be formed; and if the notes under the spaces
bearing blue marks be struck, a common chord on the dominant of the key will be
.formed.
The chord of the dominant seventh and other chords can also be indicated and
in this case the length of the Indicator, the number of its spaces and colours of its
marks will be varied as may be necessary.
The various chords can also be indicated by figures, letters or other marks instead
of colours.
:
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. An Invention which can be fixed or adjusted to any Pianoforte, Organ,
Harmonium, or other Musical Instrument with a similarly constructed key-board,
and which will indicate or shew what particular notes are to be struck so as to
form chords.