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US 5,309,812 AGranted
Method and device to aid in learning to play chords on a harmonica
OwnerEdward M. Sheltoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elongated flexible sheet (20) contains numbers (22, 26) and corresponding parallel lines (24) that are aligned with the holes (13) of a harmonica (11). The top portion of the sheet (20) contains rows (30, 37, 40, 47) of respective color-coded blocks (32, 34, 36, 38, 39, 52, 54, 56, 48, 49) superimposed over the parallel lines (24). The color-coded blocks (32, 34, 36, 38, 39, 52, 54, 56, 48, 49) encompass sets of lines (24) that correspond to chords which may be played on the harmonica (11). The colors are chosen to create a mnemonic reference. The sheet (20) attaches to a harmonica (11) and is flexed into a viewing position for ready reference upon grasping the harmonica (11).
Claims12
A device to aid in learning to play cords on a harmonica comprising:
- an elongated flexible sheet having a top edge and a bottom edge;
- means for attaching said bottom edge of said elongated flexible sheet to a top surface of the harmonica adjacent holes of the harmonica through which air is passed for playing;
- a first display of numerals proximate said bottom edge of said elongated flexible sheet corresponding to and spaced in relation to the holes of the harmonica so such that said numerals are aligned adjacent the respective holes of the harmonica when said flexible sheet is attached to the harmonica;
- a second display of numerals identical to and in vertical alignment with said first display of numerals proximate said top edge of said elongated flexible sheet;
- a plurality of lines displayed on said elongated flexible sheet respectively corresponding in number to said first and second display of numerals, each said line extending along a length of said elongated sheet between corresponding identical numerals of said first display of numerals and said second display of numerals;
- a first row of blocks displayed on said elongated flexible sheet adjacent said second display of numerals, each said block extending transversely to encompass a series of said lines which correspond to holes of the harmonica which form a chord, each said block having indicia denoting a color and each color being different;
- first breath indicia denoting whether a player is to blow or draw air displayed on said elongated flexible sheet adjacent said first row of blocks;
- a second row of blocks displayed on said elongated flexible sheet adjacent said first row of blocks, each said block extending transversely to encompass a series of said lines which correspond to holes of the harmonica which form a chord, each said block having indicia denoting a color of one of said blocks of said first row of blocks and displaying the letter "B;"
- a third row of blocks displayed on said elongated flexible sheet adjacent said second row of blocks, each said block extending transversely to encompass a series of said lines which correspond to holes of the harmonica which form a chord, each said block having indicia denoting a color and each color being different than colors denoted in said first row of blocks;
- second breath indicia denoting whether a player is to blow or draw air displayed on said elongated flexible sheet adjacent said third row of blocks;
- and
- a fourth row of blocks displayed on said elongated flexible sheet adjacent said third row of blocks, each said block extending transversely to encompass a series of said lines which correspond to holes of the harmonica which form a chord, each said block having indicia denoting a color of one of said blocks of said third row of blocks and displaying the letter "B."
9 more elements
A method for playing a song in a chord format on a harmonica comprising a device having
- an elongated flexible sheet having a top edge and a bottom edge;
- means for attaching said bottom edge of said elongated flexible sheet to a top surface of the harmonica adjacent holes of the harmonica through which air is passed for playing;
- a first display of numerals proximate said bottom edge of said elongated flexible sheet corresponding to and spaced in relation to the holes of the harmonica so such that said numerals are aligned adjacent the respective holes of the harmonica when said flexible sheet is attached to the harmonica;
- a second display of numerals identical to and in vertical alignment with said first display of numerals proximate said top edge of said elongated flexible sheet;
- a plurality of lines displayed on said elongated flexible sheet respectively corresponding in number to said first and second display of numerals, each said line extending along a length of said elongated sheet between corresponding identical numerals of said first display of numerals and said second display of numerals;
- a first row of blocks displayed on said elongated flexible sheet adjacent said second display of numerals, each said block extending transversely to encompass a series of said lines which correspond to holes of the harmonica which form a chord, each said block having indicia denoting a color and each color being different;
- first breath indicia denoting whether a player is to blow or draw air displayed on said elongated flexible sheet adjacent said first row of blocks;
- a second row of blocks displayed on said elongated flexible sheet adjacent said first row of blocks, each said block extending transversely to encompass a series of said lines which correspond to holes of the harmonica which form a chord, each said block having indicia denoting a color of one of said blocks of said first row of blocks and displaying the letter "B;"
- a third row of blocks displayed on said elongated flexible sheet adjacent said second row of blocks, each said block extending transversely to encompass a series of said lines which correspond to holes of the harmonica which form a chord, each said block having indicia denoting a color and each color being different than colors denoted in said first row of blocks;
- second breath indicia denoting whether a player to blow or draw air displayed on said elongated flexible sheet adjacent said third row of blocks;
- and
- a fourth row of blocks displayed on said elongated flexible sheet adjacent said third row of blocks, each said block extending transversely to encompass a series of said lines which correspond to holes of the harmonica which form a chord, each said block having indicia denoting a color of one of said blocks of said third row of blocks and displaying the letter "B;" the method comprising
- (a) attaching said bottom edge of said elongated flexible sheet to the top surface of the harmonica and upwardly flexing a top unattached end of said elongated flexible sheet so that it is perceivable by a player;
- (b) converting each note of a musical line of a song into a chord to be played on the harmonica and designating one of said colors to represent each said chord;
- and
- (c) communicating the sequence of colors representing said musical line so that the player may play the musical line corresponding to the sequence of colors.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.