Nashville Number System

caeman · #1 08-26-2009, 01:09 PM

So...anyone here use the Nashville Numbering System when playing?

DaZombieWoof · #2 08-26-2009, 01:15 PM

Never formally used it, but have had people state song structure that way.

For example, Blues gig is 1-4-5 all night. Going with numbers you can do the pattern in any key to accomodate whoever you are backing.

caeman · #3 08-26-2009, 01:21 PM

I have some biker buddies that play and they know the nashville number system. They were throwing numbers around when they were recently up my way and I couldn't follow, until someone else started spouting off the letters, instead.

Now I am getting what they were doing.

Sparkdog · #4 08-26-2009, 01:25 PM

Yup...I started playing with a blues band a few months ago that has some heavy hitters in it, including one guy who was voted "country guitarist of the year" at one point in his career, and these guys use strictly that system.

Really threw me at first because I have a mostly rock background, so when they started throwing changes at me mid-song, like "there's a 2-5 intro to the 4!" the change had come and gone before I figured out what chords they were talking about!

I had learned this a long time ago, but I had to do some homework to get comfortable with it again. These guys fly by the seat of the pants a lot so you can't be working it out in your head while playing, you have to know where it is under your fingers.

Works great once you have it though, doesn't matter what key you're in so transposing for singers is a snap.

MoEllis · #5 08-26-2009, 01:32 PM

I've used it my whole life, never knew it was called that though lol thats sad cuz i'm in school for jazz too haha

caeman · #6 08-26-2009, 01:33 PM

From what I am reading, the system has migrated to pretty much every area of music.

no_fret · #7 08-26-2009, 01:38 PM

I use it a lot in all kinds of music. It's a lot easier to hold up the correct number of fingers than try to read someone's lips across a stage.

dmrogers · #8 08-26-2009, 01:40 PM

Yep, works pretty good.

It's nice to have at least some knowledge of the system.

Sparkdog · #9 08-26-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caeman

From what I am reading, the system has migrated to pretty much every area of music.

Yup...2 of the guys in my blues outfit also play in jazz groups, and the country git player still plays country sessions...they all use it.

It gives the players a common language to communicate song structure and simplifies things, but it's worth noting that it doesn't just refer to the scale degrees...to use it correctly you have to understand the connection to diatonic harmony so you have the major/minor intervals right.

Then it becomes REALLY useful for a bassist because you know how to outline each chord in the progression and bring different colors to the bass line. I'm studying theory with a jazz guitarist at the moment, and that is one of the coolest things he's opened up for me.

1954bassman · #10 08-26-2009, 01:49 PM

I started using it about 20 years ago. I prefer the NNS to chord charts, lyric sheets etc. I can look at 1145 / 6644 / 4455 / 1145 and remember it through the entire verse, and then see 1145 / 1145 / 1145 / 1451 and get through the chorus without having to stare at my charts the whole time I am playing an unfamiliar tune. Plus as stated earlier, key changes are a no-brainer, especially on a five string.

Mark

**Stumbo** · #11 08-26-2009, 01:50 PM

Here's a book on the NNS:
Nashville Number System

honestjohnny · #12 08-26-2009, 01:51 PM

bassrique · #13 08-26-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Here's a book on the NNS:
Nashville Number System

Yep, this audio/visual sample is great:

http://nashvillenumbersystem.com/SOP.html

Calebmundy · #14 08-26-2009, 02:49 PM

Yes I do (see location).

kimokeo · #15 08-26-2009, 02:52 PM

Here's another example of the NNS. Don't worry about playing in Nashville (and many other places) if you do not know this system.

http://www.don-mclean.com/guitars/nashville1.asp

caeman · #16 08-26-2009, 06:21 PM

I have a feeling this is the system one my church's band member is using. He is starting a project where by he is going to provide the music to the band in any key they want. At first, I thought maybe he just really good as transposing, but now, I think he has converting all of our music to NNS and then from there, everything else is just rote.

I am fairly certain that of all the members of the synagogue band, he is the only one would know NNS.

CElton · #17 08-28-2009, 08:51 AM

It's a great system. Very handy when someone wants to change a key. Learn it, live it...

TL5 · #18 08-28-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calebmundy

Yes I do (see location).

ditto - lots

btw the Chas Williams book is great

caeman · #19 08-28-2009, 09:02 AM

Okay, something else now added to the list of things to learn, then.

DaZombieWoof · #20 08-28-2009, 09:16 AM

So much easier to adjust to vocalists when you are all not sure which key it's going to work best in. I think I would rather have a NNS chart than chord sheet.

How does that system deal with usual whatever chord with something else in the bass? Is it number over number which would make sense?