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11-16-2007, 11:55 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Nashville | |
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bradjonesbass  Also if it's a Nashville chart it will probably read I - iii - vi - ii - V - I (or something like that), rather than using the chord names. upper case = Major chord, lower case = minor chord. If the song is in C, the I = C, V = G, ii = dminor, iii = eminor, vi = aminor.
Study some theory. | Just a point of clarification, if it's a "Nashville Number" chart it would most likely read:
1, 3-, 4, 5, 1
or
1, 3m, 4, 5, 1
The underlying theory is exactly the same.
Every "Nashville" chart I've ever had to use used actual numbers and not the Roman counterpart. Here's an interactive example from Chas Williams website
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11-16-2007, 12:11 PM
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Endorsing Artist: FBB Bass Works/Barker Bass | | Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Monroe Twp, NJ | | If you're trying to get a handle on reading chord charts, a fairly easy way to get some learning under your belt is to go out and buy a piece of sheet music ... you know, the kind they sell at GC or Sam Ash or whatever your local music store is. Get a piece of sheet music for a tune you're familiar with, even if it's not the exact type of music you play.
The sheet music will give you the chords noted on the top of the staff, usually the melody written out in notation below that, and then the words below the staff. As you play along with the song, you'll see how the chords fit into the measures and get a little comfortable with what the symbols look like.
Chords charts are really pretty easy, you just have to get used to using them ....  |
08-02-2008, 10:04 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: England | | | Are jazz chord charts a whole different ball park to normal chord charts? |
08-02-2008, 11:37 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Redhotbassist Are jazz chord charts a whole different ball park to normal chord charts? | Nope. Same thing. |
08-02-2008, 01:34 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pacifica, CA, USA | | | Just wanted to point out that in many cases chord charts will contain some bars with standard notation or rhythmic notation in the places where it's the arranger's intent to have you play a specific line or kicks with the band. In other words, if you can't read, at the very least, rhythm notation, you're not going to be able to read every chord chart you could come across.
Last edited by Scot : 08-02-2008 at 11:13 PM.
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08-02-2008, 09:03 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Los Angeles | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Scot . . . .you're not going to be able to read any chord chart you could come across. | You mean "every", not "any", correct? Just don't wanna scare the OP off too much 
If it's rock/pop you'll prolly be given very basic chord charts with nothing fancy, and certainly no notation, but yeah, learn as much as you can 'cause ya never know!
As for notation, I can't read myself out of a paper bag, but I know my theory inside and out, and often end up writing the chord charts for people I work with, so it all depends.
About the Nashville numbers approach---one of the best things I ever did was start writing my own charts out that way for bands I worked with, especially singer-songwriters who were prone to changing keys on the fly to try and find the best key for their voice. I LOVE numbers charts! |
08-02-2008, 11:27 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pacifica, CA, USA | | Thanks, pbass2. I did mean "every" and fixed that.
I don't agree that pop/rock charts will certainly not have any notation. Pop/rock music can have kicks and breaks and, when arranging and writing chord chards, you'll need to use rhytmic notation if you want to be sure they're played. If you're handed a chart with no rhythmic notation but the tune has some kicks or breaks in it you'll probably want to have some system of writing them in so that you're sure to play them when reading the chart in a performance.
Yes, the Nashville number system is fabulous and can be a real time-saver. It can likely have rhythmic notation as well. |
08-03-2008, 03:01 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Los Angeles | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Scot If you're handed a chart with no rhythmic notation but the tune has some kicks or breaks in it you'll probably want to have some system of writing them in so that you're sure to play them when reading the chart in a performance. | Definitely---you'll at least want to use your own kind of "short hand" whatever that might be, until it's all committed to memory. But at the end of the day, as I discovered as a weak reader, whatever little "cheat-sheet" system I came up with for that sorta thing is still never as efficient as real notation | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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