Do you know the Nashville Number System

Question

Nashville recording musicians and sessions are guided by charts distributed from the session bandleader known as the Nashville Number System. If your goal is to one day work as a Nashville Session Musician you need to be able to know and understand these charts as there is no sheet music in these sessions.

Answer 1

In any key, the home note (and the chord built on that note) is 1, the next note up is 2, and so on, for a total of seven notes in the scale. That way, if the key changes, you don't need to change al the note names, as the notes of the scale have the same numbers no matter what key you're playing in.

For instance, in they key of C: C is 1, D, is 2, E is 3, F is 4, G is 5, A is 6 and B is 7.

While in the key of A-flat: Ab is 1, Bb is 2, C is 3, Db is 4, Eb is 5, F is 6, and G is 7.

So if you just write out the numbers instead of note names, it's easy to change keys. Of course, you still have to know how to play in those keys.

Jazz and classical use similar systems that have been around for centuries, but Nashville gets the credit for this version of it.

Answer 2

I am well versed in Nashville Number System and can show you a quick and easy way to learn it!

Answer 3

In teaching theory, I take a number and pattern approach and learning the system I use and drill the student on you become strong in the number system without barely realizing it.

Starting with the simple major scale, then building triads by adding thirds on each scale degree becomes the chord and perceiving each of the 7 scale degrees as numbers and notes and I add a perception of Do-Do also with persistence, repetition and patient practice in all keys, student becomes quite proficient.

For example C major C, D, E, F, G,A,B is Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti or 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 with numbers equalling same chord build on each scale degree.

C is 1, Dm is 2, Em is 3, F is 4, G is 5, Am is 6, Bdim is 7 in key of C major. Same pattern is used with all other keys.