Music – Accessories – Teaching devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-29
2001-02-13
Donels, Jeffrey (Department: 2837)
Music
Accessories
Teaching devices
C084S48500R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188008
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a chord indication apparatus and method and a storage medium for indicating fingering or string stopping positions [hereinafter string stopping positions] for playing a chord with a stringed instrument, wherein the string stopping position refers to positions on fret(s) where fingers are to be placed on the fret(s) to stop strings.
2. Description of Related Art
There is known a chord indication apparatus that indicates string stopping positions for playing a chord with a stringed instrument. If a user selects a chord, the chord indication apparatus indicates string stopping positions in a stringed instrument corresponding to the selected chord, such as a guitar, and generates sound of the chord.
This conventional chord indication apparatus indicates the string stopping positions for playing the chord with respect to only one kind of stringed instrument, i.e., the guitar. Thus, a user cannot know the string stopping positions with respect to another stringed instrument for practice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a chord indication apparatus and method and a storage medium that enable the indication of string stopping positions for playing chords with plural kinds of stringed instruments.
To attain the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a chord indication apparatus which indicates string stopping positions for playing chords with plural kinds of stringed instruments, the apparatus comprising a storage device that stores plural kinds of table data describing string stopping positions for a variety of chords with respect to the plural kinds of stringed instruments, a designation device that designates a stringed instrument, for which the string stopping positions should be indicated, among the plural kinds of stringed instruments, a chord supply device that supplies a chord, and an indication device that retrieves table data corresponding to the stringed instrument designated by the designation device from the plural kinds of table data stored in the storage device, obtains string stopping positions corresponding to the chord supplied from the chord supply device from the retrieved table data, and indicates the obtained string stopping positions.
Preferably, the chord indication apparatus according to the first aspect further comprises a display device that displays a picture representing a fingerboard and strings of the designated stringed instrument, and wherein the indication device indicates string stopping positions for the supplied chord on the displayed picture representing the fingerboard and strings.
With the above arrangement of the chord indication apparatus according to the first aspect, string plucking positions for chords can be indicated with respect to a plural kinds of stringed instruments, so that the chords can be practiced effectively for those stringed instruments.
To attain the above object, according to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a chord indication apparatus which indicates string stopping positions for playing chords with plural kinds of stringed instruments, the apparatus comprising a designation device that designates a stringed instrument, for which the string stopping positions should be indicated, among the plural kinds of stringed instruments, a chord supply device that supplies a chord, an indication device that indicates string stopping positions corresponding to the supplied chord supplied from the chord supply device with respect to the stringed instrument designated by the designation device, and a switching device that selectively sets a first mode in which a capotasto position can be set or a second mode in which the capotasto position cannot be set, wherein if the switching means sets the first mode in which the capotasto position can be set, the indication device changes the string stopping positions according to the set capotasto position and indicates string stopping positions changed from the string stopping positions, and if the switching device sets the second mode in which the capotasto position cannot be set, the indication devices indicates the string stopping positions directly without changing the string stopping positions.
Preferably, the chord indication apparatus according to the second aspect further comprises a display device that displays a picture representing a fingerboard and strings of the designated stringed instrument, and wherein if the switching device sets the first mode in which the capotasto position can be set, the indication device indicates a picture representing a capotasto on the displayed picture representing the fingerboard and strings correspondingly to the set capotasto position and indicates string stopping positions changed from the string plucking positions corresponding to the supplied chord according to the set capotasto position, and if the switching device sets the second mode in which the capotasto position cannot be set, the indication device indicates the string stopping positions corresponding to the supplied chord on the displayed picture representing the fingerboard and strings.
With the above arrangement of the chord indication apparatus according to the second aspect, a suitable chord can be indicated with respect to a stringed instrument for which a capotasto is not used frequently.
To attain the above object, according to a third object of the present invention, there is provided a chord indication apparatus which indicates string stopping positions for playing chords with a stringed instrument, the apparatus comprising a chord supply device that supplies a chord, an indication device that indicates, in a predetermined area, string stopping positions corresponding to the chord supplied from the chord supply device with respect to the stringed instrument, a pointing device that points the predetermined area, and a sounding device that sounds musical tones of the chord to which the string stopping positions indicated in the designated area by the indication device correspond.
Preferably, the chord indication apparatus according to the third aspect further comprises a designation device that designates a stringed instrument, for which the string stopping positions should be indicated, among plural kinds of stringed instruments, and the sounding device sounds the musical tones of the chord in a timbre of the designated stringed instrument.
Also preferably, the chord indication apparatus according to the third aspect further comprises a display device that displays a picture representing a fingerboard and strings of the designated stringed instrument, and wherein the predetermined area is an area in which the picture representing the fingerboard and strings is displayed.
With the above arrangement of the chord indication apparatus according to the third aspect, the indicated chord can be played for trial by simple operation.
To attain the above object, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a chord indication apparatus which indicates string stopping positions for playing chords with plural kinds of stringed instruments, the apparatus comprising a designation device that designates a stringed instrument, for which the string stopping positions should be indicated, among the plural kinds of stringed instruments, a chord supply device that supplies a chord, an indication device that indicates string stopping positions corresponding to the chord supplied from the chord supplied from the chord supply device with respect to the stringed instrument designated by the designation device;, and a sounding device that sounds the chord to which the string stopping positions indicated by the indication device correspond, in a timbre of the designated stringed instrument.
Preferably, the chord indication apparatus according to the fourth aspect further comprises a display device that displays a picture representing a fingerboard and strings of the d
Donels Jeffrey
Morrison & Foerster
Yamaha Corporation
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