Nashville Number system

[Bill Mecca]

I've heard this term but have never gotten a real explanation... can anyone describe it?

[Morry]

Are you talking about laying out the chords in studio charts?

[Big Jim]

Look up Nashville Numbering system on the Internet. I seems to try to explain it, but I really don't understand it either. I've been playing Sax and Bass for about 35 years. I play by numbers sometimes. ie. 4 is 4 flats or Ab. etc.. I am not sure very many musicians today used the Nashville Number System. Mostly I've found that chord names work good for most. Best of Luck,
Big Jim

[sessionsax]

I have to deal with the Nashville numbering system all the time. I do sessionwork here in Nashville.

The system is pretty logical. All you are doing is applying numbers to the chord progression -- much in the same way as you do in music theory.

It is based on the positions of the
notes of musical scales. For example, the scale of C is:


C D E F G A B C


Here is that scale with the position numbers of the notes:


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


you can leave the last note ("C") off because it is simply the
first note repeated and is already numbered '1.' Using these numbers,
if you knew the chords to a song in the Key of C, you can easily
change them to the numbers: The Chord of C would be 1, D would be 2,
E would be 3, etc. G7 can be written 57 with the numbers. Fm would
be 4m. Bb7 would be 7b7, and so on.

Hope this helps

There is also a book on the topic

http://www.musicbooksplus.com/books/hl370.htm

[Bill Mecca]

thanks, just curious after hearing the term used and not really sure what it meant. close to what I thought (gee I must not be that dumb after all)

[morgan]

I thought it was this:

New arrival:
"Hello! I have come to Nashville! I can play guitar! I can play in all twelve keys. I can play rhythm so good the floor itself dances. I can play a lead so hot the guitar catches on fire! I can play behind my back. I can sing so beautifully the very sky will weep."

Nashville resident:
"Ah, yes, very good -- take a number for service please. Here is your tag. Your number is 490584".

Nashville agent/producer (loudly):
NOW SERVING number thirty-seven! Thirty-seven, please step forward!

For New York numbering, substitute New York and Saxophone as necessary.

[Morry]

It's just to allow the musicians to instantly transpose to another key if needed. A II-V7-I (or 2-57-1) is the same progression no matter what note of the scale you attribute to the root (I). I think we southerners are just a little slow, so they decided not to use roman numerals. :-)

[jazzbluescat]

I learned the system up in Boston, waaaaay back in '63.
I thought it was a, like, universal system; now it's Nashville, eh?
Tsk, tsk, hoity toity. Them Nashvillians are such innovators.

[Frank D]

Does the Nashville system apply to both kinds of music, i.e. Country AND Western?

(Sorry, I just love that one.)

[sessionsax]

Hey guys, back off on Nashville. We have quite a few talented saxophonist hanging out around here.

Check out

Mark Douthit
Kirk Whalum
Dennis Solee
Don Aliquo
Sam Levine

and can I humbly add myself.

Theres is a lot going on here besides country.

We may not have as many saxophonists per capita as NY, but for me, thats a good thing. It gives me way more opportunities.

[sessionsax]

Add to that list Jeff Coffin of bela fleck fame

and if you have never heard grammy nominated Jeff Kirk, you are missing out.

[Jeff Foster]

ROTFLMAO at morgan.

[jazzbluescat]

.....We have quite a few talented saxophonist hanging out around here....

No doubt.
But, don't they all have to sound like either Ace Cannon or Boots Randolf?
Them advant guardians.

[Tom ed]

I thought that the Nashville system also applied to chords where you used numbers instead of notes. A major 7 chord would be 1,3,5,7 and a ninth chord would be 1,3,5,b7,9. I have always found this to be the easiest way to remember chords. Nashville is one of my favorite trips, its just up the road a little way and there is always some interesting music goin on.

[Riff]

Modern day figured bass.

ii V7 I
2 57 1

It's all the same to me.
We've got nothing on Bach.

How do they show inversions?

Does V4,2 = 57/4 or something like that?

[sessionsax]

jazzredcat -- I personally have never been asked to sound like Boots or Ace. I hear plently of "can you do this like Sanborn" and once in a while I hear "can you do the Kenny G thing on that gold clarinet" -- which is all part of the business. Generally though you are pretty free.

Its true that there aren't as many Jazz gigs here -- but there are some really good clubs that will let you express that side of your playing.

Most of my work comes from the Christian scene which is basically all R&B.

But there are several exceptional Jazz players here -- its just not where the work is at.

Check out the players I mentioned -- and tell me if they sound like Boots to you

[morgan]

Modern day figured bass.
We've got nothing on Bach.
How do they show inversions?

Ah, somebody else noticed !

Jazz notation usually shows an inversion by naming the bass note, so
G7 (second inversion) is often notated
G7/D

As for numeric notation, I'd be curious too.
V7/5 ??
57/5

That "name the bass note" scheme usually misses the point anyway... for example, in this case if
G7/D
resolves to
D7
then it wasn't really a functional G chord in the first place, but more of a suspension, so why call it a G7 atall?


And what happens to all these numeric schemes when you have a few rudimentary key changes like in How High the Moon or something? Is that a "three" chord or is it a "two of two" or a "two of the new temporary key"?

[jazzbluescat]

..."can you do this like Sanborn" and once in a while I hear "can you do the Kenny G thing on that gold clarinet" -- which is all part of the business. Generally though you are....

Yeah, I guess that I'm a bit out of date.
....it's the same all over. People and places change with time, yet still remain the same, so to speak; you know.
I mean no slight against Nashville musicians.
My original statement about the Nashville # system was to simply state that they didn't "invent this wheel," IMO; and, I just got carried away....

...And what happens to all these numeric schemes when you have a few rudimentary key changes like in How High the Moon or something? Is that a "three" chord or is it a "two of two" or a "two of the new temporary key"?

I routinely think of this. It really shoots the heck out of my points of reference "system."

[sessionsax]

jazzredcat -- no slight taken. I appreciate your input on the forum -- and a ocassional jab is good for anybody. Take a listen to the players I listed. I do think that you might be surprised at the abilities of these players

[GHawk]

sessionsax,

Do you know Doug Moffett? If you do, is he still in Nashville? A PLAYER.