MULTI-HARMONIC COUPLING DEVICE

Abstract

The mouthpiece, with its curved face (or multiple flat faces), has channels corresponding to the number and type of harmonics. This face, whatever its shape, serves to bring the holes closer together or facilitate the transfer of the instrument from one to another.

Description

Harmonica Linking Mouthpiece Descriptive Report: The present invention consists of a system that facilitates and speeds up the execution of two or more harmonicas simultaneously or alternately, expanding the chromatic, harmonic and expressive possibilities of the instrument. Technical field: Musical instruments. Harmonica. Chords. Tuning. Background: There are basically three types of harmonicas: diatonic, chromatic, and chord harmonicas. There are also bass harmonicas and tremolo harmonicas. Diatonic harmonicas have a diatonic scale, possibilities for bending (the effect of altering the note being played, lowering its pitch), overblows (the effect of achieving other sounds / notes by slightly altering the timbre), and in traditional note arrangements (Ritcher, the most used) few chords (usually 3). The chromatic harmonica is a combination of two harmonicas, usually one in C and the other in C#, alternated using a slide or push-button. This allows you to obtain the seven notes and five accidentals within a range of three to four octaves. It offers full chromatic possibilities but very few chords, and lacks the powerful bending capabilities of diatonic harmonicas. On the other hand, a chord harmonica is a harmonica with groups of four holes (which, when blown or drawn, form different chords) separated by a space slightly larger than one hole. Depending on the number of chords, they can be arranged on two harmonicas or bodies tied together at the ends. A large number of chords (generally 12 major, 12 minor, 12 dominant, 4 diminished, and 4 augmented) makes it very awkward for playing melodies, with little to no possibility of bending. State of the art and problems to be solved: The concept of playing several harmonicas at the same time or alternating them is not new, but its main problems are: the great distance to reach from one harmonica to the other (since different sounds are needed), the sound obtained (it does not sound legato), and the holding of them, in addition to the risk of damaging dental-oral health. As explained above, the main problem with playing multiple harmonicas is the distance between them (with the potential risks to oral and dental health). Therefore, this embouchure was created to reduce the distance between the holes of different harmonicas. If I can move a few millimeters to the side to change holes and notes (on one harmonica) 1418418 of 9 Why not move a few millimeters up or down and have access to another harmonica in a comfortable, safe, quick and easy way? Detailed description of the invention: The system, called the Harmonica Linking Embouchure (hereafter EVA), combines the three models described above (diatonic, chromatic, and chordal). To exploit the advantages of the invention and obtain a wide range of chords, I developed a special note arrangement. This tuning is explained after the diagram. It is a system that allows linking several harmonics, at least two. It includes: · a mouthpiece (1), a piece where the musician will rest his mouth, · the harmonicas (2) and · a fastening system (3). The mouthpiece (1) links the harmonics (2) to the lips of the performer. The surface where the player places their lips can be curved (or formed by multiple flat surfaces) or flat. This surface will have the holes (4) where the player will blow or draw. These holes will connect via channels (5) to the holes of the harmonicas (6). The harmonicas will be on the opposite surface, secured by the clamping system (3). A gasket made of EVA foam material can be used between the harmonicas and the mouthpiece to prevent air leaks (7). The rear mounting system (3) can consist of one or more pieces. Its main function is to hold the harmonicas. All types of harmonicas can be used. In the examples, the protective cover plates are removed from the harmonics to decrease the distance between harmonics and thus reduce the size of the system. Qdel tuning. Basically, the concept is to place the following intervals contiguously: Major 3rd, minor 3rd, major 3rd, minor 3rd, major 3rd, minor 3rd, minor 3rd. Taking the note A as an example of a starting point, it would be: A - C# - E - G# - B - D# - F# - LA 1418418 of 9 This sequence can be applied in any direction: blowing or sucking, pressing the slide or not pressing the slide on chromatic harmonicas. This is how you obtain: • The major and the major with 7th major. • C# minor and C# minor with minor 7th. • My major and My major with major 7th. • G# minor and G# minor with minor 7th. • B Major and B Major with minor 7th (dominant chord) and • D# minor with diminished 5th. Taking as an example a 12-hole chromatic harmonica (or two diatonic ones). 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Blow A C# E G# B D# F# la Blow with slide B D b D F A C E G ^Ib Aspirated B B D# F# A# C# F G# ^i Aspirated with slide C E G B B D F# A C With this arrangement, the following chords are achieved: holes 1-2-3-4.......Maj 7 holes 2-3-4-5.......minor 7th holes 3-4-5-6.......Maj 7 holes 4-5-6-7.......minor 7th holes 5-6-7-8........Dominant (major minor 7th) holes 6-7-8............minor with flat 5th Note that the chord pattern is repeated in the different air direction options: blowing without a button, blowing with a button, drawing without a button, drawing with a button. The tuning can be further increased by a semitone when the button is pressed, like chromatic harmonicas. If we combine a harmonica with this tuning with another tuned with the same relationships, but a major third higher, we get the 12 Maj 7s and Min7s. 1418418 of 9 Ex 3rd Major descending, starting from Fa. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Blowing FA LA DO E SOL SI RE FA Blowing with slide FA# LA# C# FA SOL# DO D# FA# Aspirated SOL SI RE FA# LA C# E SOL Aspirated with slide SOL# DO D# SOL LA# D FA SOL# So far, using two harmonicas with these tunings, we have 16 maj7 (4 are repeated at an octave distance), 16 m7 (4 are repeated at an octave distance) and 8 dominants (major 7th minor), 4 Dominants are missing. To obtain the 4 missing dominant chords, the sequence (major 3rd, minor 3rd, minor 3rd) would be placed, like holes 5-6-7-8 on a harmonica, in the remaining holes (from 9 to 12). Example about the low harmonica that starts in F. Qdel (dom) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Blowing FA LA C E SOL SI RE FA Eb SOL Slb REb Blowing with slide FA# A# C# FA SOL# C RE# FA# E SOL# SI RE Aspirated SOL SI RE FA# LA C# E SOL FA LA C Eb Aspirating with slide SOL# C D# SOL A# D FA SOL# FA# A# C# E With the aim of being able to play octaves (octave sounds), I complete the remaining harmonica with diminished tuning and also obtain all the diminished chords. 1418418 of 9 Qdel (dim) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Blowing A C# E G# SI D# F# A C Mlb FA# LA Blowing with slide SI b RE FA A C E G Slb C# E G Slb Aspirated SI RE# FA# A# C# F SOL# SI RE FA LAb SI Aspirated with slide C E G SI D FA# A C D# FA# A C In this way all the Mja7, min 7, dominant and diminished ones are obtained. Augmented chords can be obtained by playing holes 1 and 2 of both rows simultaneously. For example, blowing into holes 1 and 2 of one row produces the notes F and A, and blowing into the holes of the other row (the other harmonica) produces the notes A and C#. This results in the notes F-A-A (repeated)-C#. This pattern is then repeated for the other three breath movements (inhaling and with / without the button) and also for holes 3 and 4. The same tuning can be adapted to a 10-hole diatonic harmonica by removing the first and eleventh holes, simplifying the dominant chords of the high cells by omitting the fifth (e.g., Eb7=Eb+G+Db). Example: 4 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 44 12 FA LA DO MI SOL SI RE FA Mlb SOL Slb REb 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 LA DO MI SOL SI RE FA Mlb SOL REb In this case, a Maj7 line is sacrificed, but all the major and min7 chords are still present. Another interesting option is to retain the initial intervallic organization (8 holes) and to obtain the remaining 4 dominant chords, distribute them between the two rows: 1418418 of 9 Harmonica 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 FA LA DO MI SOL SI RE FA Mlb SOL Harmonica 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A C# E G# B D# F# A Bb Db Thus, in a 10-hole harmonica, we have the same number of chords as in the one initially expressed. Example: Harmonica 1 (reference note F) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Blowing FA LA DO MI SOL SI RE FA Mlb SOL Drawing SOL SI RE FA# LA DO# MI SOL MI SOL# Harmonica 2 (reference note F#) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Blow F# A# C# F G# C D# F# Bb Db Draw G# C D# G A# D F G# B D Note that between holes 9 and 10 of harmonica 1 and harmonica 2, played simultaneously (which is easily done with this embouchure), you get the major 7th minor chord: Eb-G+Bb-Db. The same occurs when drawing (E7 = E-G#+B-D). The blow / draw arrangement can vary. The way to distribute the chord across these two holes by linking two harmonicas can also vary (e.g., Mlb Bb + G Db). 1418418 of 9 Harmonica 3 (reference note A) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Blow A C# M G# B D# F# A F A Draw B D# F# A# C# F G# B F# A# Harmonica 4 (reference note Slb) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Blowing SI b RE FA LA DO Ml SOL Slb DO Mlb Aspirated DO Ml SOL SI RE FA# LA DO DO# Ml The virtues of this invention are: • Combine the three types of harmonicas into a single, much smaller and less expensive instrument. For example: A chord harmonica, the Hohner Chord 48, measures 58 cm, while the EVA measures 10 cm wide by 5 / 6 cm high (front view, Figure 1). This is based on the example of 10-hole diatonic harmonicas. This means that melodies and chords can be played and combined, just like an accordion. • It has very complete harmonic and melodic possibilities with absolute chromaticity and (in the case of diatonic instruments) a wide range of available bends. • Facilitates the cleaning, maintenance and tuning of instruments. • It is easy to build and assemble. This invention differs from those listed below in three main aspects. Most provide only fastening systems. EVA, in addition to fastening, is a mouthpiece that allows the player to move from one harmonica to another while maintaining contact with the mouthpiece, to nearby holes. This produces a more legato sound, a more secure and less strained playing experience. The third aspect is the arrangement of the notes (tuning). 1. Bibliographic data: JP2017090864 (A) — 2017-05-25 MULTIPLE KEY HARMONICA Inventor(s): WATANABE KENICHI Applicant(s): WATANABE KENICHI 2. Bibliographic data: KR20130131927 (A) — 2013-12-04 PLURAL HARMONICA-ANCHORING DEVICE Inventor(s): KIM DONG SEOK [KR]; KIM MYENG SEOP [KR] + Applicant(s): KIM DONG SEOK [KR]; KIM MYENG SEOP [KR] + 1418418 of 9 3. Bibliographic data: US2013318794 (A1) — 2013-12-05 Method of Coupling Diatonic Harmonicas Inventors: PRICE WILLIAM MONTGOMERY [US] + Applicants: PRICE WILLIAM MONTGOMERY [US] + 4. Bibliographic data: JP2007212986 (A) — 2007-08-23 MULTIPLE HARMONICA HOLDER Inventors: TANABE EIICHI + Applicants: TANABE EIICHI 5. Bibliographic data: GB2535169 (A) — 2016-08-17 Mouth Accordion Inventor(s): NIKITA VERKHOVSKY [RU] + Applicant(s): NIKITA VERKHOVSKY [RU] + 6. — Searching for stands for multiple harmonicas on the web Double Harmonica Holder https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=YRrO77d3QJI Year 2017 Harmonica Holder Quick Change Duo for Neck Rack https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=NtFE9kSiTRs Year 2013 Two harp rack job https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=hCih_SvnnYE Year 2013 The TWIN-HARMONICA SYSTEM https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=sJGBnZXRHWg Year 2015 The latter is the only one with a mouthpiece, but with only one row of holes, and combines harmonicas using a button (also known as a slide or pusher). In the invention I present, it is possible to combine nearby holes from different harmonicas, achieving different sounds, reducing air loss, and eliminating the need for a third slide. 1418418 of 9 Enrique Carlos José Delfino - 20278623514 Digitally signed by PORTALTRAM ITES - INPI Date: 2021.06.23 20:37:34 -03:00 Reason: Digitally Signed by the INPI Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Claims

1. A coupling device for multiple harmonicas, characterized in that it comprises a mouthpiece body (1) provided with a plurality of front holes (4); at least two harmonicas (2) arranged on opposite faces of the mouthpiece body (1); a clamping system (3) configured to keep said harmonicas (2) fixed to the mouthpiece body (1); wherein the front holes (4) are structurally continuous with internal channels (5) that connect said holes to the holes (6) of the harmonicas (2); and further comprising a gasket (7) arranged between the harmonicas (2) and the mouthpiece body (1) to prevent air leaks. Four claims follow.