# US 10,121,458 B1 · Method and device for facilitating learning of musical scales on string instruments > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,121,458 B1 - Document ID: US10121458B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/671,045 - Filed: 2017-08-07 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-07 - Applicants: Ivan Giuriati - Inventors: Ivan Giuriati - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121458B1 ## CPC - G10G 1/02: Chord or note indicators, fixed or adjustable, for keyboard of fingerboards - G09B 15/001: {Boards or like means for providing an indication of chords} - G10D 3/08: Fingerboards in the form of keyboards - G10D 3/10: Strings - G10G: REPRESENTATION OF MUSIC; RECORDING MUSIC IN NOTATION FORM; ACCESSORIES FOR MUSIC OR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. SUPPORTS (music stands A47B; non-musical aspects of musical toy instruments A63H5/00; metronomes G04F5/02; teaching music G09B15/00) - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) - G10D: STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (organs, harmoniums or similar wind musical instruments with associated blowing apparatus G10B; pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards G10C; automatic musical instruments G10F; electrophonic musical instruments in which tones are generated by electromechanical means G10H) ## Abstract A method and device for facilitating learning of musical scales on string instruments are provided. The device comprises a visual scheme consisting of blocks to be positioned just below notes of a scale when fixed on an instrument, each block being formed by the overlap of two rectangles in distinct sizes, which serve as space for accommodation of different didactic information; a manual providing information for the understanding and proper use of the visual scheme; and a musical background providing tracks that sound in the same frequency or tonality of the visual scheme. The device can further include a complementary visual scheme useful in practicing scales in different tonalities. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for facilitating learning of musical scales on string instruments, comprising: a visual scheme printed on a substrate consisting of blocks to be positioned just below notes of a scale when fixed on an instrument, each block being formed by the overlap of two rectangles in distinct sizes and color patterns, which serve as space for accommodation of different didactic information including a cipher of a note and quality or degree of the note; a manual providing information for the understanding and proper use of the visual scheme; and a musical background providing tracks that sound in the same frequency or tonality of the visual scheme. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the two rectangles include a lower major rectangle indicating a cipher of a note and an upper smaller rectangle indicating an interval of the note. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the lower major rectangle has a width and a height larger than a width and a height of the upper smaller rectangle respectively. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the two rectangles have contrast color patterns. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the lower major rectangle has a black and yellow color pattern while the upper smaller rectangle has a green and white color pattern. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the upper smaller rectangles of the blocks receive differential staining for notes integral to a tonic scale triad and notes not integral to the tonic scale triad. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the upper smaller rectangles of the blocks for notes integral to the tonic scale triad receive a staining of green while the upper smaller rectangles of the blocks for notes not integral to the tonic scale triad receive a staining of white. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising: a complementary visual scheme printed on a substrate consisting of blocks to be positioned just below notes of a scale when fixed on an instrument, each block being formed by the overlap of two rectangles in distinct sizes and color patterns, which serve as space for accommodation of different didactic information including an interval of a note and CAGED system information of the note. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the two rectangles include a lower major rectangle indicating an interval of a note and an upper smaller rectangle indicating CAGED system information of the note. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the lower major rectangle has a width the same as a width of the upper smaller rectangle and a height larger than a height of the upper smaller rectangle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the two rectangles have contrast color patterns. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the lower major rectangle has a black and yellow color pattern while the upper smaller rectangle has a green and white color pattern. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the upper smaller rectangles of the blocks receive differential staining for notes integral to a tonic scale triad and notes not integral to the tonic scale triad. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the upper smaller rectangles of the blocks for notes integral to the tonic scale triad receive a staining of green while the upper smaller rectangles of the blocks for notes not integral to the tonic scale triad receive a staining of white. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the complementary visual scheme is configured to be used in practicing scales in different tonalities. ### Claim 16 A method for facilitating learning of musical scales on string instruments, comprising: providing a visual scheme printed on a substrate consisting of blocks to be positioned just below notes of a scale when fixed on an instrument, each block being formed by the overlap of two rectangles in distinct sizes and color patterns, which serve as space for accommodation of different didactic information including a cipher of a note and quality or degree of the note; providing a manual containing information for the understanding and proper use of the visual scheme; and providing a musical background containing tracks that sound in the same frequency or tonality of the visual scheme. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the two rectangles include a lower major rectangle indicating a cipher of a note and an upper smaller rectangle indicating an interval of the note, the lower major rectangle has a width and a height larger than a width and a height of the upper smaller rectangle respectively, the two rectangles have contrast color patterns, the lower major rectangle has a black and yellow color pattern while the upper smaller rectangle having a green and white color pattern, the upper smaller rectangles of the blocks receive differential staining for notes integral to a tonic scale triad and notes not integral to the tonic scale triad, the upper smaller rectangles of the blocks for notes integral to the tonic scale triad receive a staining of green while the upper smaller rectangles of the blocks for notes not integral to the tonic scale triad receive a staining of white. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: providing a complementary visual scheme printed on a substrate consisting of blocks to be positioned just below notes of a scale when fixed on an instrument, each block being formed by the overlap of two rectangles in distinct sizes and color patterns, which serve as space for accommodation of different didactic information including an interval of a note and CAGED system information of the note. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the two rectangles of each complementary visual scheme block include a lower major rectangle indicating an interval of a note and an upper smaller rectangle indicating CAGED system information of the note, the lower major rectangle has a height larger than a height of the upper smaller rectangle, the two rectangles have contrast color patterns, the lower major rectangle has a black and yellow color pattern while the upper smaller rectangle has a green and white color pattern, the upper smaller rectangles of the blocks receive differential staining for notes integral to a tonic scale triad and notes not integral to the tonic scale triad, the upper smaller rectangles of the blocks for notes integral to the tonic scale triad receive a staining of green while the upper smaller rectangles of the blocks for notes not integral to the tonic scale triad receive a staining of white, the complementary visual scheme is useful in practicing scales in different tonalities. ### Claim 20 A method of installing adhesive labels printed thereon a visual scheme onto an instrument, comprising: printing the visual scheme on adhesive labels in the form of a foldable carton; folding the foldable carton; separating from the folded carton a unit suitable to be installed to a space between two metal filaments on the instrument, but in folded size; introducing the unit into the space underneath strings while adhesive still attached to an adhesive substrate; rotating sides to detach the adhesive substrate; repositioning and aligning the unit of adhesive labels underneath the strings; and attaching the adhesive labels on instrument arm in the space.