Nashville Chart

[chadhargis]

Do string players read NNS in Nashville?

I remember a Diva requesting a key change two hours before taping and being advised the 20 or so orchestral players had a fixed score.

I don't know about string players, but living in Nashville, I can tell you that every musician I know of knows the NNS. And if someone changes the key, they just go with it. It's never a big deal.

Now, if you have a music in standard notation in a specific key you may be in a pickle unless you can transpose on the fly. But there are so many musicians in Nashville who can just play...anything...without a chart. My brother can do that. He'll either ask for the chord progression, or have someone play a few bars of the various parts...and he's off to the races and doesn't miss a beat. It dumbfounds me how that can happen.

 

[SteveC]

I’d never make it there. People say I can play but I just ain’t that good.

 

[IamGroot]

Well, the string event happened a long time ago when folks were still using paper. I guess today in Nashville, they would have teleprompters and the director would just reissue the new score electronically in short order.

 

[Lownote38]

I’d never make it there. People say I can play but I just ain’t that good.

You underestimate yourself. There are people who make a living playing here that are terrible players. Then, there are the thousands of musicians who are here that think they can play, but are super terrible. You sound like you're actually in the right frame of mind. I don't take it seriously when people say compliment my playing, because I know I can always be better. That doesn't mean I can't hang with the players here, though.

 

[Lownote38]

Well, the string event happened a long time ago when folks were still using paper. I guess today in Nashville, they would have teleprompters and the director would just reissue the new score electronically in short order.

Or said diva would get fired.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Do string players read NNS in Nashville?

I remember a Diva requesting a key change two hours before taping and being advised the 20 or so orchestral players had a fixed score.

Most pro monophonic instrumentalists (horns, strings) can transpose on the fly. Keyboards (unless it's a piano) just hit the transpose button.

 

[Russell L]

I don't know about string players, but living in Nashville, I can tell you that every musician I know of knows the NNS. And if someone changes the key, they just go with it. It's never a big deal.

Now, if you have a music in standard notation in a specific key you may be in a pickle unless you can transpose on the fly. But there are so many musicians in Nashville who can just play...anything...without a chart. My brother can do that. He'll either ask for the chord progression, or have someone play a few bars of the various parts...and he's off to the races and doesn't miss a beat. It dumbfounds me how that can happen.

I think it's just good ear training that causes that. Not that I'm so good, but most times when I hear a chord progression I know what it is immediately. I can practice by driving around town and listening to a cd. However, at my age it's trying to remember it that's getting harder.

But, anyone can develop a good ear. The younger you are, the better your ear will develop, especially when you're a kid. It takes time, though. I started unusually early at the age of three on piano. Plus, our home was always filled with the sound of music. All that exposure and learning gave me a head start. Again, I'm not the best, but it's been nice t hear things in that way for all these decades. I just turned 69.