Abstract: The present invention is a thumb rest that has a wedge body that attaches to a string instrument such as a bass or guitar. The wedge body has fastening holes, extruded ridges, contoured edges, and a string instrument facing side. This allows for a less permanent modification to the instrument. The fastening holes are circular holes that traverse into the wedge body. The extruded ridges are rectangular sections extending from the wedge body. The string instrument facing side is the flat side of the wedge body. The proposed implementation allows a user to remove and or move the thumb rest at any time.

Abstract: A floating bridge hand rest. The floating bridge hand rest includes a central body having a pair of opposing ends. The pair of opposing ends curve away from the central body to create an arcuate shape. A securing member is affixed to at least one of the pair of opposing ends, wherein the securing member can removably secure the central body to an instrument. A plurality of risers are removably securable to the securing members, wherein the plurality of risers can elevate the central body to a desired height. In some embodiments, a track is disposed on the instrument, such that one of the pair of opposing ends is slidably engaged therein.

Abstract: A guitar hand placement guide and support bar that attaches to the upper surface of the body of a guitar with one or more suction cups. An upper platform portion in contact with lower, round portion of the palm of the hand supports the weight of the hand. The guitar hand placement guide and support bar has legs that straddle the strings at a location adjacent the sound hole of the guitar such that every time the guitar is being played, the pick and strum hand can be consistently positioned above the sound hole in precisely the same place. A dogleg extension and one or more internal finger grip portions located along the lower edge of the platform portion extending between the leading edge and the rear-facing edge provide the player with optional methods of use.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the effective thickness and/or shape of the neck of a string instrument involves use of spacer device consisting of a precisely molded or shaped material such as wood, metal, or plastic that covers the palm of the hand between the thumb and index finger including the web, thenar compartment, central compartment and hypothenar compartment as well as distal and proximal palmer area used to precisely thicken and modify the shape of the neck of a stringed musical instrument. The spacer device may be bonded to a holder such as the palm area of a fingerless glove or to a strap device covering the palm of the hand using hook and loop bonding material or an adhesive. Alternatively the device may be directly attached to the neck of the instrument or attached to the palm of the hand or held in place by the pressure of the palm on the neck of the instrument. The wooden spacer has a low enough coefficient of friction to slide freely along the neck of a string instrument.

Abstract: A removably engagable string musical instrument hand support apparatus that includes a beam having a first end portion and a second end portion, a principal surface, a minor surface, and a peripheral surface. Further included are first and second extension members that both extend from the minor surface, wherein the extension members contact a body of the musical instrument and the beam forms a non-contacting scaffold adjacent to or over a string of the musical instrument. Also included is a flexible tie having primary and secondary end portions, the primary portion is threaded therethrough the beam and removably engages the instrument, wherein the secondary portion extends from the primary portion to form a lanyard that removably engages the instrument and continues to be threaded therethrough a cinch and the beam forming a hoop assembly also removably engaged to the instrument and threaded back through the beam and cinch.

Abstract: A removably engagable string musical instrument hand support apparatus that includes a beam having a first end portion and a second end portion, a principal surface, a minor surface, and a peripheral surface. Further included are first and second extension members that both extend from the minor surface, wherein the extension members contact a body of the musical instrument and the beam forms a non-contacting scaffold over a string of the musical instrument. Also included is an elastic finger having a primary end portion affixed to the peripheral surface and a secondary end portion affixed to an opposing peripheral surface, the primary and secondary ends both oppositely depend away from the beam towards the body with the ends having structure to removably engage opposing features of the body. Wherein the beam principal surface supports a user's hand over the musical instrument string for instrument playing.

Abstract: A hand rest for a guitar or other such stringed instrument configured to be positioned over strings of the stringed instrument such that a user of the stringed instrument may rest a hand on at least a portion of the hand rest while using the stringed instrument. Furthermore, the hand rest is configured to not interfere with a user striking one or more strings and the vibration of one or more strings.

Abstract: A wrist alignment device for attachment to a stringed musical instrument, the instrument comprising a neck portion comprising a fingerboard on one side of the neck portion and a nose portion contiguous with the neck portion, the device comprising a three-dimensional oblong body comprising a flat planar end and curved sides, the body removably attachable to a side of the neck portion that is opposite the side comprising the fingerboard and at an area where the neck and the nose portion meet, the device sized to come into contact with a ball portion of the hand of a player of the instrument, placing the wrist in a perpendicular position relative to the neck without inhibiting rotation of the wrist as is necessary for proper placement of the fingers on the finger board.

Abstract: A hand rest for a guitar or other such stringed instrument configured to be positioned over strings of the stringed instrument such that a user of the stringed instrument may rest a hand on at least a portion of the hand rest while using the stringed instrument. Furthermore, the hand rest is configured to not interfere with a user striking one or more strings and the vibration of one or more strings.

Abstract: A shoulder rest (50) comprises an attachment piece (60), an abutment piece (62), and a padding piece (64) and is adapted for supporting a stringed instrument (80) such as violin or viola during playing, wherein the attachment piece (60) is adapted to clip onto an end button (82) of the stringed instrument (80) such that the contact surface between the stringed instrument (80) and the shoulder rest (50) is juxtaposing a bottom block of the stringed instrument (80).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a guitar, which includes a chest rest formed on a back plate of a main body so that the guitar can be gripped in a stable manner and can be played with a comfort of chest. The guitar further includes an arm rest formed on a top plate of the main body so that so that the guitar can be gripped in a stable manner and can be played with a comfort of chest and arm. A method of manufacturing the chest and arm rest is also disclosed.

Abstract: Electric guitar with a neck and a body which has a first side wall, facing the guitar player, and a second side wall, facing away from the guitar player, said side walls delimiting a front and a back of the body at the edges, wherein the second side wall has an associated arcuate bow extending along it at least in sections which can have its distance from the second side wall adjusted and whose arc shape can be rotated into a concave and a convex position relative to the side wall.

Abstract: An apparatus for teaching the playing of an unfretted stringed instrument, such as a violin or viola, is comprised of a clip and a guide member. The clip is adapted to be releasably attachable to the neck of the instrument near its body. The guide member extends from the clip. The guide member is sized, shaped and positioned to require the player to maintain a substantially straight hand, arm and wrist alignment when playing the instrument. If the player's string hand and wrist are improperly bent while playing the instrument, the player will feel interference from the apparatus. The apparatus is used to teach proper hand, finger, wrist and arm alignment to a student.

Abstract: Apparatus to grip a guitar with a hand of a user and a guitar including such apparatus are disclosed. The guitar includes a main body and a horn extending from the main body. The horn includes at least one feature adapted to conform to the hand of the user. The features of the horn may be formed as part of the guitar or may be added to the horn of the guitar after formation of the guitar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for teaching the proper position of a user's wrist while paying the piano. The device includes a rod and two supports. The rod is long enough to span the length of a piano keyboard. The rod is deployed in a way that encourages proper positioning of the wrist by simply occupying the space that would otherwise be occupied by an incorrectly positioned wrist. The two support pieces are positioned at both ends of the keyboard and fit snugly over its surface. A trough for supporting the weight of the piano rod is configured into each of the support pieces.

Abstract: A thumb rest for installation in a recess formed in the body of a guitar, or the like, includes a base having a longitudinal slot oriented generally along the length of the strings, and a thumb support lever supported on a pivot shaft which is movable along the slot, whereby the thumb support lever may be moved to a desired position and angular orientation relative to the strings. A retaining nut longitudinally movable in the base threadedly engages with one end of the pivot shaft, and a locking knob at the other end of the shaft and a resilient washer located between the thumb support lever and the base allows the lever to be tightened and retained at the desired position. A shoulder extending from the base serves as template for the depth of the recess, and forms a frame to provide a neat finished appearance down over the pivotable finger support and presses the finger support against a resilient washer which is pressed against the slide.

Abstract: A stabilization device for a smaller brass instrument includes a first element that rests on the chest of a user of the instrument and a second element that provides a pivoting balance for the instrument.

Abstract: A training bar (24) to be used by a keyboard user, particularly useful for exercising on a piano. It serves as a support for the wrists and is a reference and a guide for the movement of the hands on the keyboard (20). A smooth bar, parallel to the keyboard, may be adjusted in height and distance by the sides and the final position set to the desired height by a central handle. Two arms (28) are fixed perpendicularly to the smooth bar. A handle (39) allows a U-shaped fixing tube (32) to rotate under the keyboard: the tube has two extensions that connect with the arms, through a joint (50) that permits a rotary movement, allowing to position the smooth bar according to the player's desired height for the exercise to be done, The joint permits the storing of the bar under the keyboard. The fixing tube may be supported by fasteners (34) or by a stand, as a portable option. A pedal may move the handle.

Abstract: A guitar fulcrum is described herein which is used as an elbow rest for the elbow of a right or a left arm of a guitar player when playing a guitar. A standard guitar is designed for a person having an average height of 5 feet 10 inches. The fulcrum is designed for guitar players having a height greater than 5 feet 10 inches and/or with longer forearms and longer hands than people of this height. The guitar fulcrum allows for the proper placement of the player's fingers on the guitar strings adjacent a sweet spot above the sound hole of the guitar. Also, the guitar fulcrum positions the wrist lower than the elbow in a passive position. The passive position of the wrist relieves muscular tension produced in the forearm when having to hold up the hand in an active position. The guitar fulcrum includes an ergonomically designed elbow pad adapted for comfortably engaging a portion of the user's elbow. The elbow pad is pivotly mounted on upper ends of a pair of adjustable struts.

Abstract: An improved construction for the neck of a musical instrument, such as a guitar, is disclosed herein. The bottom surface of the neck of a musical instrument opposite to the fret surface, is provided with one or more elongated depressions extending along the longitudinal axis of the neck of the instrument. Each of the one or more longitudinal depressions being straight and shaped in a generally concave configuration adapted to fit a player's thumb, with the depression being located centrally or offset to one longitudinal side or the other of the neck of the instrument. In other embodiments, side depressions are provided between the central depression and an extending side edge of the instrument neck.

Abstract: A string instrument, such as a guitar or banjo for example, mounts the bridge organization defined by an elongate planar body plate orthogonally mounted to an upper planar surface of the string instrument body, and includes a support plate fixedly mounted to the bridge at an orthogonal relationship relative to the planar bridge body. A modification of the invention includes the support plate pivotally mounted, with a top surface including an abrasive plate and a bottom surface including a wax bar for providing enhanced sensitivity for increased lubricity to an individual's fingers. A further modification of an aspect of the invention includes a unitary construction that is interfitted to the bridge organization prior to its mounting to the top surface of the string instrument body.

Abstract: A palm rest for vibratos of stringed musical instruments such as guitars is disclosed, characterized in that the palm rest includes a rigid support pivotally connected at the front portion thereof with the front side edges of the vibrato. The rear of the support includes adjustable legs which space a support platform above the vibrato to provide an area for the player to rest his hand during play of the instrument. The hinged connection of the support allows it to be moved forward with the vibrato when the vibrato is rocked forward.

Abstract: Neck constructed of wood or synthetic material with underside having a spaced apart pair of grooves running parallel in the direction of the strings and defining a central ridge portion of the undersurface which serves as the contact surface for the player's hand during the playing of the instrument.

Abstract: A player's finger rest for the body of a guitar, or the like, includes a slide having a slideway oriented generally along the length of the strings, and a pivotable finger lever supported on a pivot shaft which is movable along the slideway, whereby the finger lever may be moved to a desired position along the slideway and may be pivoted to a desired orientation with respect to the slideway. A nut is tightened down over the pivotable finger support and presses the finger support against a resilient washer which is pressed against the slide. This locks the finger support against being movable along the slideway and also prevents pivoting of the finger support. However, sufficient pressure applied to the finger support will overcome the inhibition to pivoting of the finger support which is normally provided by the resilient element.

Abstract: An upright music stand that adjustably supports a footrest in its lower portion to aid a guitar player using the stand in maintaining classical guitar playing posture. The upper portion of the stand carries a guitar neck rest which cooperates with a body support carried by the footrest to support a guitar in vertical position when not in use. The music stand may be of the foldably collapsible type.

Abstract: An electric bass guitar incorporating combination string-adjustment, fine-tuning, and bridge-elements. The bridge-elements are accurately adjustable to any position, and are so constructed and related that the lateral positions of the strings will be determined with great precision, regardless of the adjusted position of the saddles. Fine-tuning screws are interposed between the saddles and an anchor wall which both anchors the strings and anchors the ends of adjustment elements for the saddles. The strings are confined closely in vertical slots so that they may not move laterally but may move vertically as fine-tuning occurs. The fine-tuning screws engage the string portions in the slots.

Abstract: The economy of manufacture of electric guitars and electric bass guitars is improved, with no loss of quality, by providing an anchor flange in integral relationship with a metal pickguard of the guitar or bass guitar. Extended through the anchor flange are adjustment screws which connect adjustably to bridge barrels over which the strings extend. The adjustment screws and bridge barrels are preassembled to the anchor flange, and all electric components are preassembled to the pickguard, prior to mounting of the pickguard on the body of the guitar or bass. Thus, the ultimate in economy is achieved, yet the anchor flange has very strong support from the pickguard and is located accurately thereby.