|
|
ThumMusic Theory
Started by Tollan at 08-26-2006 12:56 AM. Topic has 7 replies.
  
|
|
Sort Posts:
|
|
|
|
 08-26-2006, 12:56 AM
|
Tollan
Joined on 08-25-2006
Posts 5
|
Thummer Chords and Scales Sheet
|
|
|
|
|
Hi Everyone
Below is a link to a Thummer Chords and Scales document I created, for those who'd like to learn the patterns ahead of the product release. Its even handy for those who just want to brush up on their chord and scale theory, as I found that the locigal layout of the thummer really helped with my undestanding. 
http://www.box.net/public/g6v2ubkvp3
Tollan
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
09-05-2006, 10:50 PM
|
A12Learn
Joined on 09-05-2006
Posts 15
|
Re: Thummer Chords and Scales Sheet
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nice job - I can see that some combinations get a lot harder ('tis always thus), and so someone would tend to avoid them, while favouring others, giving the Thummer a unique sound/feel.
You're right too - the underlying music theory is clearer.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
09-06-2006, 1:34 AM
|
Tollan
Joined on 08-25-2006
Posts 5
|
Re: Thummer Chords and Scales Sheet
|
|
|
|
|
|
Glad you enjoyed it, Thanks for the feedback. 
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
09-06-2006, 11:01 PM
|
A12Learn
Joined on 09-05-2006
Posts 15
|
Re: Thummer Chords and Scales Sheet - fingering two notes?
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's clear from your diagram that the ability to accurately play 2 notes with one finger is 'key' (ouch); there are lots of 4ths, 5ths and wholetone 2nd intervals in the common cords. I wonder if the latest thummer design facilitates that?
The key separation in the demo videos is much more than I expected (and he chords very little) - I thought it would be like a piano, where playing 2 keys with one finger is easy. I recall a wonderful typing keyboard called the Boswell that saved finger movement through chording - making 2 keys do the work of three, but faster and more easily.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10-16-2006, 9:42 PM
|
Tollan
Joined on 08-25-2006
Posts 5
|
Re: Thummer Chords and Scales Sheet - fingering two notes?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi A1
I just recieved a prototype the other day to test. I found that playing two notes with one finger (or two note fingering (2nf)) to be almost as easy as one note fingering (for 4ths and 5ths anyway, not so much for wholetones). You have to be a bit more accurate, but it's still quite doable.
In terms of moving the buttons closer, I definatly wouldn't want that to happen horizontally, but vertically might be a good idea. I've found that its good to have a bit of a gap between the rows, so you can play octaves with one finger without triggering the 4ths and 5ths.
I'm not farmiliar with the Boswell, does it use hotkeys?
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10-17-2006, 9:12 PM
|
A12Learn
Joined on 09-05-2006
Posts 15
|
Re: Thummer Chords and Scales Sheet - fingering two notes?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi, Tollan
I'm glad that 2-finger chording works (the concept completely blows the mind of my piano whiz wife); I've really had a hard time explaining it to my musician friends (I'm in a couple of choirs). It looks like it would not be too hard to use a third finger when an octave is needed.
The Boswell was a "stenographic" typewriter that never really got off the ground - good idea (300 words per minute), with simpler design than a standard keyboard. See: http://www.thumtronics.com/community/forums/99/ShowPost.aspx#99 for more. The key design feature relevant to the thummer in the model I saw was the use of 2 keys together - look at the keys on your pc keyboard, and imagine wider tops with, in addition to the "scallop" in the top of each key, a scallop between the keys in the forward-back axis, so that if the finger-tip is mid-way between the 2 keys, pressing down easily hits both. A slight bend or straightening of the finger allowed only one key to be hit.
Now look at your keyboard, say the E, D and C keys, and think how nice it would be to have all three keys right under your finger tip.
The Boswell was about 3 times better than a normal keyboard, not the critical 10X better that I think the Thummer is.
A refinement like scalloped keys can easily be added later.
What do you think?
A1
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10-25-2006, 6:05 PM
|
Tollan
Joined on 08-25-2006
Posts 5
|
Re: Thummer Chords and Scales Sheet - fingering two notes?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interesting... I think I get what you mean, but it sounds like something that'd be easier to explain with diagrams or photos. Did you get to try one out?
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10-28-2006, 12:06 AM
|
A12Learn
Joined on 09-05-2006
Posts 15
|
Re: Thummer Chords and Scales Sheet - fingering two notes?
|
|
|
|
|
|
I don't know if I have access to an on-web place to put a diagram.
Perhaps I can do it textually. For the Thummer, I had envisioned that the later-model versions, in order to allow real keyboard-like control would not have buttons like I see in the Eaton model - I didn't think the 2mm or so travel would be enough to input real expression - how are you finding it? There would be the dimensions of pressure of course, maybe some velocity, but no way to really enter acceleration to change the 'attack' (the better pianists can also work the acceleration-change rate, but let's not go there)
This parallels what you said in that good review you just posted.
At one extreme, on the Thummer (or one model type!) one could have piano-type keys, almost touching, but hexagonal.
Each key could have the 1-cm travel that keyboards have, so normal keyboard velocity and acceleration would apply.
To make it easier to (1) feel where your fingers are, (2) not hit 2 keys when one doesn't want to, yet (3) press two keys together easily when wanted, the tops would best not be flat.
Here goes with a cross-sectional view:
_______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _____
\_ _/ \_ _/ \_ _/ \_ _/ \_ _/ \_ _/ \_ _/
| | | | | | |
Bb | C | D | E | F# | G# | A# |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
The same shaping would apply in the other axises, of course.
And with the keys depressed, we have:
finger finger
_______ \######\ _______ _______ \######\ _______ _______
\__ \######\ __/ \___/ \__ \######\ __/ \___/
| \######\ | | | \######\ | |
Bb | \######\| D | E | \######\ | A# |
| __######/| | | _____\######\______ | |
|_/ \_| | |_/ \###/ \_| |
| C | | | F# | G# | |
| | | | | | |
The above is pretty crude, but may give you the idea.
Downsides? It would make the thing bulkier. The current concertina-style buttons are probably easier to press. At this point, I'll take happy take the Eaton until the Mark II version comes along.
A1
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
|