US3916754A - Musical instrument for chord accompaniment - Google Patents

Musical instrument for chord accompaniment Download PDF

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US3916754A
US3916754A US537182A US53718274A US3916754A US 3916754 A US3916754 A US 3916754A US 537182 A US537182 A US 537182A US 53718274 A US53718274 A US 53718274A US 3916754 A US3916754 A US 3916754A
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sharp
flat
pairs
producing means
tone
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US537182A
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Wilhelm M Thiel
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10C—PIANOS, HARPSICHORDS, SPINETS OR SIMILAR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ONE OR MORE KEYBOARDS
    • G10C3/00—Details or accessories
    • G10C3/12—Keyboards; Keys
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10C—PIANOS, HARPSICHORDS, SPINETS OR SIMILAR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ONE OR MORE KEYBOARDS
    • G10C3/00—Details or accessories
    • G10C3/30—Couplers, e.g. for playing octaves
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/32—Constructional details
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/36—Accompaniment arrangements
    • G10H1/38—Chord

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a musical instrument for chord accompaniment having tone producing means arranged in two interleaved offset rows.
  • German Patent (Patentschrift) No. 1,247,826 a double keyboard or keyboard in two rows for musical instruments is described which requires a third row of keys connected to the first row of keys in order to produce only twelve triad chords without changing the position of the fingers or the hammer used to actuate the keys. Therefore, that keyboard is not adequate for producing all the 65 traditional chords produced in a progression known as the circle of fifths from the fundamental tone by way of six sharps and six flats resulting in major chords, minor chords, sevenths, diminished sevenths and augmented triads.
  • a musical instrument for chord accompaniment having tone producing means arranged in only two rows wherein the tone producing means are so disposed relative to one another that all the desired 65 chords or a smaller selection thereof can be produced with the position of the fingers unchanged and/or with the same type of hammer as where the invention is applied to chime like musical instruments similar to glockenspiels.
  • pairs of tone producing means that form semi-tone steps are transversely offset relative to one another and alternately associated with one another in double whole tone steps (major thirds) and one and one-half tone steps (minor thirds) on an ascending musical scale.
  • the pairs of tone producing means may contain the following tones: E, F; G sharp, A; B, C; D sharp, E; F sharp (G flat), G; B flat, B; D flat, D; F, F, sharp; A flat, A; C sharp, C; E flat, E; G, G sharp; B flat, B; D, D sharp; F, F sharp; A, B flat; C, C sharp; and E, F.
  • the drawing shows 18 pairs of tone producing means which may be an organ keyboard or tone producing bars which are secured to a suitable base in the fashion of musical chimes such as glockenspiels.
  • Each pair of tone producing means contains two tones which are one semi-tone apart from the other. Between the pairs of tone producing means the tone interval changes regularly between a double whole tone step (major third) and a one and one-half tone step (minor third).
  • the pairs of tone producing means are disposed in a transverse offset relationship to one another. it could be said that there are two offset rows arranged in interleaved fashion.
  • E, G sharp and C usually referred to as E, G sharp and B sharp, which is the augmented triad based on the root tone E.
  • Seventh chords i.e., those having at least four tones, can also be produced with a quadruple headed hammer.
  • the four tone producing means labeled C, E, G and B which is the major seventh chord based upon C.
  • C, E flat, G and B which is the minor seventh chord based on C.
  • the quadruple headed hammer turned at an angle, it is possible to strike the four tone producing means labeled C sharp, E, G and B flat which is the seventh diminished chord based upon C sharp.
  • the above-described musical instrument for chord accompaniment makes it possible by arrangement of the tone producing means to produce any desired chord sound for the first time in the simplest manner with the aid of a hammer similar to that used in glockenspiel type musical instruments and/or without changing the finger position on keyboard instruments.
  • a musical instrument for chord accompaniment comprising a plurality of tone producing means, said tone producing means arranged in axially aligned pairs which paired means produce tones one-half musical interval apart, a plurality of said pairs being transversely arranged in offset side by side relationship such that one member of each pair is adjacent both members of the flanking pairs, said transversely arranged pairs being in an ordered series so that the tone producing means are alternately arranged a double whole musical interval and one and one-half musical interval apart on an ascending scale.
  • pairs of tone producing means are as follows: E, F; G sharp, A; B, C; D sharp, E; F sharp (G flat), G; B flat, B; D flat, D; F, F sharp; A flat, A; C, C sharp; E flat, E; G, G sharp; B flat, B; D, D sharp; F, F sharp; A, B flat; C, C sharp; and E, F.

Abstract

A musical instrument for producing chord accompaniment when at least three adjacent tone producing means are struck simultaneously. The tone producing means are uniquely arranged in pairs spaced a semitone apart. The pairs are arranged in a transverse series alternately a double whole tone and one and one-half tones apart on an ascending musical scale.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Thiel Nov. 4, 1975 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT FOR CHORD 2,085,363 6/1937 Hultsch s4/403 ACCOMPANIMENT 3,012,460 12/1961 Wilson 84/423 3,067,645 12/1962 Moschino 84/423 Inventor: Wllhelm Thlel, Malnl, Germany 3,342,094 9/1967 Wilson 84/423 [73] Assignee: Danielle Deis, Bischofsheim, Germany Primary Examine'rLawrence R. Franklin Filed: Dec. 1974 Gigggzey, Agent, or FzrmWebb, Burden, Robmson & [21 Appl. No.2 537,182
[ ABSI'RACT U-S. A m sical instr me t f r pr d cing chord accompani, [51] Int. Cl. GlOC 3/12;G1OD 13/08 ment when at least three adjacent tone producing [58] Field of Search 84/402404, means are Struck Simultaneously The tone producing 427428 means are uniquely arranged in pairs spaced a semitone apart. The pairs are arranged in a transverse se- [56] References C'ted ries alternately a double whole tone and one and one- UNlTED STATES PATENTS half tones apart on an ascending musical scale.
1,202,882 10/1916 Nordbii 84/424 2,061,364 11/1936 Luedtke 84/423 2 Clams 1 Drawmg F'gure F W 1 r T T 1 e y i l E 1 IE 53 l or c,A E 1B gF n L i l g T F I i 5 i E .14 4t1 l L Lo L! G p' rj rlgr Tc G D li[ i l F (I G D A E I B F* T F v T 1 r F r A eaLF* c*Lc D A' r J J i L MUSICAL INSTRUMENT FOR CHORD ACCOMPANIMENT This invention relates to a musical instrument for chord accompaniment having tone producing means arranged in two interleaved offset rows.
In German Patent (Patentschrift) No. 1,247,826, a double keyboard or keyboard in two rows for musical instruments is described which requires a third row of keys connected to the first row of keys in order to produce only twelve triad chords without changing the position of the fingers or the hammer used to actuate the keys. Therefore, that keyboard is not adequate for producing all the 65 traditional chords produced in a progression known as the circle of fifths from the fundamental tone by way of six sharps and six flats resulting in major chords, minor chords, sevenths, diminished sevenths and augmented triads.
According to this invention, there is provided a musical instrument for chord accompaniment having tone producing means arranged in only two rows wherein the tone producing means are so disposed relative to one another that all the desired 65 chords or a smaller selection thereof can be produced with the position of the fingers unchanged and/or with the same type of hammer as where the invention is applied to chime like musical instruments similar to glockenspiels.
Briefly, according to this invention, pairs of tone producing means that form semi-tone steps are transversely offset relative to one another and alternately associated with one another in double whole tone steps (major thirds) and one and one-half tone steps (minor thirds) on an ascending musical scale. The pairs of tone producing means may contain the following tones: E, F; G sharp, A; B, C; D sharp, E; F sharp (G flat), G; B flat, B; D flat, D; F, F, sharp; A flat, A; C sharp, C; E flat, E; G, G sharp; B flat, B; D, D sharp; F, F sharp; A, B flat; C, C sharp; and E, F. However, it is possible to have smaller groups or pairs of tone producing means or half pairs of tone producing means associated with one another.
Further features and other objects and advantages of this invention will become clear from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings in which one embodiment of this invention is illustrated.
The drawing shows 18 pairs of tone producing means which may be an organ keyboard or tone producing bars which are secured to a suitable base in the fashion of musical chimes such as glockenspiels. Each pair of tone producing means contains two tones which are one semi-tone apart from the other. Between the pairs of tone producing means the tone interval changes regularly between a double whole tone step (major third) and a one and one-half tone step (minor third). Furthermore, the pairs of tone producing means are disposed in a transverse offset relationship to one another. it could be said that there are two offset rows arranged in interleaved fashion.
Due to the above-mentioned intervals, and the particular spacial arrangement afforded by the variable transverse offset disposition, it is possible to produce five chords with the aid of three adjacent pairs of tone producing means using a triple-headed hammer. Three chords are produced by striking the triple-headed hammer at three different places at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tone producing means and two chords are produced by holding the tripleheaded hammer in two diagonal positions.
Referring to the drawing, striking the three tone producing means (upper left hand corner) labeled F, A and C, one produces the F major triad. Striking the three tone producing means, F, G sharp and C, usually referred to as F, A flat and C, one produces the F minor triad. Striking the three adjacent tone producing means labeled E, G sharp and B, one produces the E major triad. Turning the striker at an angle, it is possible to strike F, G sharp and B usually referred to as F, A flat and C flat which is the diminished triad based upon the root F. Turning the striker through it is possible to strike the keys E, G sharp and C usually referred to as E, G sharp and B sharp, which is the augmented triad based on the root tone E. Seventh chords, i.e., those having at least four tones, can also be produced with a quadruple headed hammer. For example, it is possible to strike the four tone producing means labeled C, E, G and B which is the major seventh chord based upon C. It is also possible to strike C, E flat, G and B which is the minor seventh chord based on C. With the quadruple headed hammer turned at an angle, it is possible to strike the four tone producing means labeled C sharp, E, G and B flat which is the seventh diminished chord based upon C sharp.
The above-described musical instrument for chord accompaniment makes it possible by arrangement of the tone producing means to produce any desired chord sound for the first time in the simplest manner with the aid of a hammer similar to that used in glockenspiel type musical instruments and/or without changing the finger position on keyboard instruments.
Having thus described my invention with the detail and particularity as required by the Patent Laws, what is desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the following claims:
1. A musical instrument for chord accompaniment comprising a plurality of tone producing means, said tone producing means arranged in axially aligned pairs which paired means produce tones one-half musical interval apart, a plurality of said pairs being transversely arranged in offset side by side relationship such that one member of each pair is adjacent both members of the flanking pairs, said transversely arranged pairs being in an ordered series so that the tone producing means are alternately arranged a double whole musical interval and one and one-half musical interval apart on an ascending scale.
2. A musical instrument according to Claim 1 in which pairs of tone producing means are as follows: E, F; G sharp, A; B, C; D sharp, E; F sharp (G flat), G; B flat, B; D flat, D; F, F sharp; A flat, A; C, C sharp; E flat, E; G, G sharp; B flat, B; D, D sharp; F, F sharp; A, B flat; C, C sharp; and E, F.

Claims (2)

1. A musical instrument for chord accompaniment comprising a plurality of tone producing means, said tone producing means arranged in axially aligned pairs which paired means produce tones one-half musical interval apart, a plurality of said pairs being transversely arranged in offset side by side relationship such that one member of each pair is adjacent both members of the flanking pairs, said transversely arranged pairs being in an ordered series so that the tone producing means are alternately arranged a double whole musical interval and one and one-half musical interval apart on an ascending scale.
2. A musical instrument according to Claim 1 in which pairs of tone producing means are as follows: E, F; G sharp, A; B, C; D sharp, E; F sharp (G flat), G; B flat, B; D flat, D; F, F sharp; A flat, A; C, C sharp; E flat, E; G, G sharp; B flat, B; D, D sharp; F, F sharp; A, B flat; C, C sharp; and E, F.
US537182A 1974-10-23 1974-12-30 Musical instrument for chord accompaniment Expired - Lifetime US3916754A (en)

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GB49303/74A GB1486574A (en) 1974-10-23 1974-10-23 Musical instrument

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US (1) US3916754A (en)
AU (1) AU7541574A (en)
CA (1) CA1019173A (en)
CH (1) CH576178A5 (en)
FR (1) FR2291568A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1486574A (en)
NL (1) NL7414645A (en)
SE (1) SE390849B (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4217807A (en) * 1978-07-21 1980-08-19 Donald Nutting Stemware musical instrument
US4972752A (en) * 1987-02-03 1990-11-27 Duyne Scott A Van Microtonal key module and system
US5425297A (en) * 1992-06-10 1995-06-20 Conchord Expert Technologies, Inc. Electronic musical instrument with direct translation between symbols, fingers and sensor areas
US20080101621A1 (en) * 2006-10-26 2008-05-01 Clifford Neil Zimmerman Harmonic And Overtone Audio Therapy For Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) And Regulated Emotional And Psychological Disorders
US20100175539A1 (en) * 2006-08-07 2010-07-15 Silpor Music Ltd. Automatic analysis and performance of music
USD776192S1 (en) * 2013-06-05 2017-01-10 Memorial University Of Newfoundland Musical instrument
AT520051A1 (en) * 2017-05-19 2018-12-15 Dipl Ing Fh Bernhard Wallisch Keytar

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1202882A (en) * 1915-05-26 1916-10-31 Erik Thorsteinson Nordboe Keyboard for pianos, organs, and the like.
US2061364A (en) * 1934-03-26 1936-11-17 Luedtke Hans Design of keyboards or fields of sounding bodies
US2085363A (en) * 1934-09-06 1937-06-29 Conn Ltd C G Percussion musical instrument
US3012460A (en) * 1958-06-25 1961-12-12 Ervin M Wilson Musical instrument
US3067645A (en) * 1960-07-05 1962-12-11 Moschino Mario Bass section for accordion or the like
US3342094A (en) * 1966-11-04 1967-09-19 Ervin M Wilson Musical instrument keyboard

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1202882A (en) * 1915-05-26 1916-10-31 Erik Thorsteinson Nordboe Keyboard for pianos, organs, and the like.
US2061364A (en) * 1934-03-26 1936-11-17 Luedtke Hans Design of keyboards or fields of sounding bodies
US2085363A (en) * 1934-09-06 1937-06-29 Conn Ltd C G Percussion musical instrument
US3012460A (en) * 1958-06-25 1961-12-12 Ervin M Wilson Musical instrument
US3067645A (en) * 1960-07-05 1962-12-11 Moschino Mario Bass section for accordion or the like
US3342094A (en) * 1966-11-04 1967-09-19 Ervin M Wilson Musical instrument keyboard

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4217807A (en) * 1978-07-21 1980-08-19 Donald Nutting Stemware musical instrument
US4972752A (en) * 1987-02-03 1990-11-27 Duyne Scott A Van Microtonal key module and system
US5425297A (en) * 1992-06-10 1995-06-20 Conchord Expert Technologies, Inc. Electronic musical instrument with direct translation between symbols, fingers and sensor areas
US20100175539A1 (en) * 2006-08-07 2010-07-15 Silpor Music Ltd. Automatic analysis and performance of music
US8101844B2 (en) * 2006-08-07 2012-01-24 Silpor Music Ltd. Automatic analysis and performance of music
US8399757B2 (en) 2006-08-07 2013-03-19 Silpor Music Ltd. Automatic analysis and performance of music
US20080101621A1 (en) * 2006-10-26 2008-05-01 Clifford Neil Zimmerman Harmonic And Overtone Audio Therapy For Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) And Regulated Emotional And Psychological Disorders
US8343030B2 (en) * 2006-10-26 2013-01-01 Clifford Neil Zimmerman Harmonic and overtone audio therapy for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and regulated emotional and psychological disorders
USD837875S1 (en) 2012-12-05 2019-01-08 Memorial University Of Newfoundland Musical instrument
USD776192S1 (en) * 2013-06-05 2017-01-10 Memorial University Of Newfoundland Musical instrument
AT520051A1 (en) * 2017-05-19 2018-12-15 Dipl Ing Fh Bernhard Wallisch Keytar
AT520051B1 (en) * 2017-05-19 2019-09-15 Dipl Ing Fh Bernhard Wallisch Keytar

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Publication number Publication date
SE390849B (en) 1977-01-24
FR2291568B3 (en) 1977-08-12
FR2291568A1 (en) 1976-06-11
NL7414645A (en) 1976-05-11
AU7541574A (en) 1976-05-20
CA1019173A (en) 1977-10-18
CH576178A5 (en) 1976-05-31
GB1486574A (en) 1977-09-21
SE7413966L (en) 1976-05-10

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