Note: Neil ordered the LC with Standard Marking and after about a year decided to convert to the Piano Marking.
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I am very pleased with the conversion from extended diatonic (standard marking) to the piano marking.
When I ordered the Linear Chromatic, I was playing the diatonic version and felt that the extended diatonic marking would be more in line with what I’m used to. My reason for adding the LC as an instrument instead of replacing my diatonic was to broaden my music selection. The extent of my playing was limited to old mountain and fiddle tunes sprinkled with easy Celtic selections. The diatonic is well suited for that style of playing. I wanted to expand into “classical”, similar styles, and other songs which were not Key bound (playing in any key with a good range of notes). I have a beginner level experience with piano and am comfortable with reading standard notation music.
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As I tried to play the familiar songs, the adjustment to skipping over the new course of strings did not come easy. As I tried to learn new songs, I found that trying to fit other keys into the standard marking was confusing to my mind and I could not readily identify the added notes (all of the missing notes on the standard layout of the diatonic). I began to realize that I needed to approach the LC as a totally different instrument. The difference corresponding to a recorder compared to a clarinet. At least I felt that seeing it as different instrument would satisfy my subconscious mind and I would not be faced with any subconscious resistance that was preventing me from learning the Linear Chromatic.
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The new way of marking the piano layout really helps the pattern jump out and also helps me in seeing the pattern on my conversion (different because of the smaller shoulder width of the former version of the bridge). Seeing the relationship pattern of black to white for the BC and EF notes really helps and it becomes easy to spot the D G and A notes. The sharps now make real sense to my mind. Now, as I read sheet music, when I see an F on the page, my mind sees the F’s on the instruments. Obviously I only choose F as an example; any note seen on the printed page now is easily seen by my minds eye as well as my physical eye. Not that I possess any speed in reading or working up a piece of music, but now, what I see is what I get.
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The way I think, the way I learn, and the way I view instruments may well not be the way someone else does. Just because I find something easier may not be an indication for anyone else. I like tea, others like lemonade, still others like lemon in their tea. If this can help someone, please share this with them. If it proves to be a fatal error of others, neither you nor I can share in their responsibility of making their own choice.