Nashville number system chart pdf By Sidney Joseph The Nashville Number System (NNS for short), is a shorthand method of writing out a song’s chord structure. It enables musicians to play and record together quickly, and with little other communication about a.

• Nashville Number System Chart Worship
• Nashville Number System Chart For Bass
• Free Nashville Number System
• Nashville Number System Chart For Crazy

The Nashville Number System is a method of transcribing music by denoting the scale degree on which a chord is built. It was developed by Neal Matthews in the late 1950s as a simplified system for the Jordanaires to use in the studio and further developed by Charlie McCoy.^[1] It resembles the Roman numeral^[2] and figured bass systems traditionally used to transcribe a chord progression since as early as the 1700s. The Nashville Number System was compiled and published in a book by Chas. Williams in 1988.

1Chart brings the world’s most convenient charting system to the iPad. See 1Chart in the App Store. New to Nashville Numbers? Learn more about the system. Or join us in the Community for more discussion about 1Chart and the Number System. The Nashville Number System: A Basic Approach. There is a better way, and it’s called The Nashville Number System (NNS). I’ve created a very basic version of it for handing out to your teams to get you started– here is the PDF Download of the NNS Chart. Nashville Number System Charts Below you will find 2 charts for the Country classic “Your Cheatin’ Heart” by Hank Williams Sr. The first chart is the song charted with chords in the traditional method followed by a chart done the Nashville Number System way.

The Nashville Number System is a trick that musicians use to figure out chord progressions on the fly. It is an easy tool to use if you understand how music works. It has been around for about four hundred years but sometime during the past fifty years [approximately 1953-2003] Nashville got the credit.

The Nashville numbering system provided us the shorthand that we needed so that we could depend on our ears rather than a written arrangement. It took far less time to jot the chords, and once you had the chart written, it applied to any key. The beauty of the system is that we don't have to read. We don't get locked into an arrangement that we may feel is not as good as one we can improvise.

The Nashville Number System can be used by someone with only a rudimentary background in music theory.^[2]Improvisation structures can be explained using numbers and chord changes can be communicated mid-song by holding up the corresponding number of fingers. The system is flexible, and can be embellished to include more information (such as chord color or to denote a bass note in an inverted chord). The system makes it easy for bandleaders, record producer or lead vocalist to change the key of songs when recording in the studio or playing live, since the new key just has to be stated before the song is started. The rhythm section members can then use their knowledge of harmony to perform the song in a new key.

Scale degrees and major chords[edit]

The Nashville Number System, (also referred to as NNS) is similar to (movable-do) Solfège, which uses 'Do Ré Mi Fa Sol La Ti' to represent the seven scale degrees of the Major scale. It is also similar to roman numeral analysis; however, the NNS instead uses Arabic numerals to represent each of the scale degrees.

In the key of C, the numbers would correspond as follows:

C=1, D=2, E=3, F=4, G=5, A=6, B=7.

In the key of B♭, the numbers would be B♭=1, C=2, D=3, E♭=4, F=5, G=6, A=7.

The key may be specified at the top of the written chord chart, or given orally by the bandleader, record producer or lead singer. The numbers do not change when transposing the composition into another key. They are simply relative to the new root note. The only knowledge required is to know the major scale for the given key. Unless otherwise notated, all numbers represent major chords, and each chord should be played for one measure.

So in the key of C, the Nashville Number System notation:

represents a four-bar phrase, in which the band would play a C major chord (one bar), an F major chord (one bar), a C major chord (one bar), and a G major chord (one bar).

Here is an example of how two four bar phrases can be formed to create a section of a song.

Accidentals modifying a scale degree are usually written to the left of the number. ♭7 ('flat 7') represents a B♭ major chord in the key of C, or an A♭ major chord in the key of B♭, or an F major chord in the key of G.

Chord type[edit]

A number by itself represents the enharmonic triad (music) on the scale degree:

If the song includes other chords besides these triads, additional notation is needed.

If a chord root is not in the scale, the symbols ♭ or ♯ can be added. In the key of C major, an E♭ triad would be notated as ♭3.

Minor chords (outside the key) are noted with a dash after the number or a lower case m, In the key of D, 1 is D major, 1- or 1m would be D minor. Similarly a major chord can be noted with a capital M. In the key of C, 2 is D minor, 2M is D major.

Other chord qualities such as major sevenths, suspended chords, and dominant sevenths use familiar symbols: 4^Δ7 5^sus 5⁷ 1 would stand forF^Δ7 G^sus G⁷ C in the key of C, orE♭^Δ7 F^sus F⁷ B♭ in the key of B♭. A² means 'add 2' or 'add 9'.

Chord inversions and chords with other altered bass notes are notated analogously to regular slash chord notation. In the key of C, C/E (C major first inversion, with E bass) is written as 1/3; G/B is written as 5/7; A/G (an inversion of A7) is written as 6M/5; F/G (F major with G bass) is 4/5. Just as with simple chords, the numbers refer to scale degrees; specifically, the scale degree number used for the bass note is that of the note's position in the tonic's scale (as opposed to, for example, that of its position in the scale of the chord being played). In the key of B♭, 1/3 stands for B♭/D, 5/7 stands for F/A, 6/5 stands for Gm/F, and 4/5 stands for E♭/F.

Depending on the style, chord inversions can be used to achieve an alternative sound when using the Nashville Number System. Some examples that could be applied to practice is the 1-4-5 chord progression. Lets say we use the C minor chord and couple it with an inverted F Minor chord to a G diminished. The sound attributes changes subtly. This can be effective when musicians are attempting to capture a specific emotion or sound.

Chord qualities[edit]

- = m^[2] = minor
⁷ = dominant 7th
Δ = major 7th - (it takes four characters to write 'maj7' as opposed to one, 'Δ')
° = diminished
°⁷ = diminished seventh
°^M7 = diminished major seventh
⁺ = augmented 5th
ø = ø⁷ = half diminished seventh
⁺⁷ = augmented minor seventh
^+M7 = ⁺Δ = augmented major seventh

Rhythm and articulation[edit]

NNS charts use unique rhythmic symbols as well, and variations in practice exist. A diamond shape around a number indicates that the chord should be held out or allowed to ring as a whole note. Conversely, the marcato symbol ^ over the number, or a staccato dot underneath, indicates that the chord should be immediately choked or stopped. The 'push' symbol ('<' and '>' are both used) syncopates the indicated chord, moving its attack back one eighth note, to the preceding 'and'. A sequence of several chords in a single measure is notated by underlining the desired chord numbers. (Some charts use parentheses or a box for this.) If two numbers are underlined it is assumed that the chord values are even. In 4/4 time that would mean the first chord would be played for two beats and the second chord would be played for two beats. 2- 5 1 means a minor 2 chord for two beats, then a 5 chord for two beats, then a 1 chord for four beats. If the measure is not evenly divided, beats can be indicated by dots or hash marks over the chord numbers. Three dots over a given chord would tell the musician to play that chord for three beats. Alternatively, rhythmic notation can be used.

Example[edit]

'After You've Gone' by Creamer and Layton 1918

Verse, mm.7-23 (Play realization on guitar and, for comparison, the score Play):

Chorus, mm.24-43 (Play realization on guitar and, for comparison, the score Play):

See also[edit]

• Nashville E9 tuning and Nashville tuning (high strung)

References[edit]

1. ^The Nashville Number System by Chas Williams — This book has been used by Belmont University, MTSU, ETSU, Lee University, Liberty University and many others to teach the NNS. It includes the CD 'String Of Pearls and number charts of the songs by Nashville studio musicians and producers; also interactive charts of the songs.
2. ^ ^abcMiller, Michael (2005). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory, p.243. Penguin. ISBN9781592574377. 'The Nashville Number System is very much like the Roman numeral notation system, except it uses regular numbers...instead of Roman numerals.'
3. ^Costello, Patrick (2003). The how and the Tao of Folk Guitar: Volume One: Getting Started, p.54. Funkyseagull.com. ISBN9780974419015.
4. ^Marshall, Wolf (2008). Stuff! Good Guitar Players Should Know: An A-Z Guide to Getting Better, p.70. Hal Leonard. ISBN9781423430087.

External links[edit]

• The Nashville Number Fake Book by Trevor de Clercq — This book includes a detailed overview of the Nashville Number System as well as complete charts for 200 acclaimed country songs.
• The Nashville Number System – Site for the book Song Charting Made Easy: a Play-along Guide to the Nashville Number System by Jim Riley, with a preview including charts and play-along music tracks
• The Number Song – a chart with (auto-playing) audio explanation and playthrough by Jimi Whitelaw, Chip Hardy, Rod Lewis, and Tim Grogan of Nashville Demo Studio. Shows standard musical notation such as repeat signs, D.S. al coda, rhythmic notation, and staccato dots used in a Nashville Number System chart.
• Learn the Nashville Number System – information on rhythm notation is included in the Flash-based 'Nashville Number System Quiz and Rhythm Tutorial'. Also includes a separate Flash-based ear training quiz.
• Oral use example: 'Ok.. it's a standard 12 bar in 'G' but add a 2 on the bridge ...kick it off from the 5 ... hit the 4 on the way down and then into the 1 ... watch me for the 2'
• Diamond on the 1 – a 'gig bag book' by Nashville musician Jonathan Riggs that introduces the basic concepts of the Nashville Number System

Nashville Number System Chart Worship

If you are an experienced musician, you probably are already familiar with the Nashville Number System or have at least heard of it. For those of you who are not familiar with it, it is definitely a useful system to know.

The Nashville Number System (also just called the number system) is a way of writing the chords to a song in a 'universal' or neutral key using numbers instead of chord names. This way the song can be played in any key at any time with out rewriting it.

How It Works

We start by taking the key the song is in and writing the scale. For example if we are in the key of D, we write a D scale.

DEF♯GABC♯D

We then assign numbers to each of these notes.

12345671DEF♯GABC♯D

Now each of these numbers becomes a chord.

1 is a D chord.
4 is a G chord.
♭7 is a C chord.
3m is an F♯ minor chord.
etc.

Nashville Number System Chart For Bass

These chords are then used in songs.

This is just a very brief look at the system. For a better understanding you should check out The Nashville Number System Ebook.

So why is this useful?

Now you're probably asking, 'Why would I take the time to do this?' The answer is simple: because everybody in the music industry uses the Nashville Number System. You know, 'when in Rome'? In fact, most Pros and good amateurs will usually assume you already know how to use it.

But WHY does everyone use it? When you write out a song in numeric notation like this, the numbers can be applied to any key. So this example can now be translated to C instantly:

1 = C
♭7 = B♭
4 = F
1 = C
2 = D
5 = G
1 = C
1 = C

But what if you're in the studio and the lead singer says 'It's a little too low, let's go to D.' Easy. Use the formula:

D C G D E A D D

'Still too low. E♭?' Not a problem.

E♭ D♭ A♭ E♭ F B♭ E♭ E♭

Obviously you wouldn't be rewriting this every time. The more you use this and the more familiar you are with your scales, the less you have to think about it. '1 4 5 in D? Easy, that's D G & A.'

Free Nashville Number System

Now SOMEONE out there is asking 'Couldn't I just transpose it from key to key without this?' Yes. Technically you could transpose it from A to E♭. 'So you'd measure the distance from A to E♭, which is 6 half steps. So then your next chord is G, so six half steps from G is... oh yeah D♭. So now, six half steps from D is... uhh A♭. And then six half steps from A again is uh..' ZZZZzzzzz.... ZZZZZzzzzz....

Or you could just start on E♭ and use the same numbers you already had. See why we use it now?

If this still seems a little hard at first, just trust me. When you learn your scales and numbers, it is a bazillion times easier than the other way. And THAT is why everyone uses the Nashville Number System.

Nashville Number System Chart For Crazy

Again, this is just a very brief look at it. Click here to learn more about it.