# US 2013/0239772 A1 · Chord playing attachment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0239772 A1 - Document ID: US20130239772A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/809,844 - Filed: 2011-07-14 - Published: 2013-09-19 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-14 - Inventors: Travis Perry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130239772A1 ## CPC - G09B 15/06: Devices for exercising or strengthening fingers or arms; Devices for holding fingers or arms in a proper position for playing (for teaching typing G09B13/00; exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles for physical training A63B21/00, A63B23/00) - 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) ## Abstract A chord playing attachment and related method is disclosed. The chord playing attachment may be attached to a guitar or similar stringed instrument, and the user may use the chord playing attachment to learn to play the instrument. Unlike other chord playing attachments, the present invention discloses a design that does not function as a capo, which allows the user play chords in standard keys. The present invention also discloses tabs that may be removed or swapped by the user to allow the user to play some chords by pressing the strings directly and some by pressing a finger pad. The present invention encourages novices to learn to play the instrument in stages and eventually remove the invention entirely. A companion teaching manual is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A chord playing attachment adapted to attach to a guitar having a fretted neck, comprising; a receiving unit adapted to be positioned above the fretted neck of the guitar, perpendicular to the strings, and configured to receive other components; a plurality of clamp members configured to attach to the receiving unit and adjustably apply sufficient pressure to the side of the neck of the guitar to retain the receiving unit in position during use and prevent the receiving unit from contacting the strings of the guitar during use; one or more adjustment members adapted to attach the receiving unit to one or more of the clamp members and function as an adjustment means for the clamp members; and a plurality of chord members, each chord member adapted to be received by and removably attached to the receiving unit in a position substantially parallel to the strings, each chord member further comprising one or more string depressors positioned at preselected distances from the receiving unit and capable of depressing preselected strings of the guitar when depressed to make a preselected chord. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The chord playing attachment of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is positioned above the proximate end of the guitar neck at the point where the guitar neck attaches to the guitar head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The chord playing attachment of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit further comprises four chord ports. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The chord playing attachment of claim 3, wherein each chord member further comprises an attachment member shaped to allow the chord member to slide a predetermined distance into the chord port of the receiving unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The chord playing attachment of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit further comprises an adjustment port. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The chord playing attachment of claim 1, wherein each chord member further comprises a finger pad. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The chord playing attachment of claim 6, wherein each finger pad is color coded. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The chord playing attachment of claim 7, further comprising a companion manual that describes how to play common songs by pressing the color coded finger pads in the proper sequence ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The chord playing attachment of claim 1, wherein the chord members are selected to make chords in the key of A. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The chord playing attachment of claim 1, wherein the chord members are selected to make chords in the key of G. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The chord playing attachment of claim 1, wherein each clamp member further comprises a neck pad positioned between the clamp member and the side surfaces of the neck of the guitar. ### Claim 12 The method of using a chord playing attachment to learn to play a guitar, comprising: adjustably attaching the receiving unit to the guitar by means of the clamp members and the adjustment members; selecting a plurality of chord members that can be used to play chords in a desired key; removably attaching the chord members to a receiving unit; playing chords on the guitar by depressing the chord members until understanding is gained; and removing one or more chord members from the receiving unit and playing some chords using the chord members and some chords by manually depressing the strings. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising playing chords as described in a companion manual. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the companion manual describes the order of the chords to be played by means of a legend which is color coded to correspond to the colors of the finger pads of the chord members. ### Claim 15 The inventions substantially as shown and/or described herein.