Who can decipher this? Nashville Number System

[DrummerwStrings]

Your terminology is just a little confused here. Root Position doesn't refer to the lowest note in the arrangement - it refers to a chord arranged such that the Root is the lowest note. So it isn't possible to have a chord in 3rd Inversion and Root Position at the same time. The Root is nothing more than the letter-name or scale degree after which the chord is named.

I didn’t proofread & may have implied something I didn’t intend. I thought 3rd inversion would have the seventh as the lowest note, next note the Root, then the third & fifth (of a Major Chord).

My teacher used ‘Root Position’ when describing inversions to differentiate from the Root, but I’m more concerned about the inversion (tho I realize now ‘Root Position’ may not mean what I thought). Time to dust off some books.

 

[SteveCS]

I didn’t proofread & may have implied something I didn’t intend. I thought 3rd inversion would have the seventh as the lowest note, next note the Root, then the third & fifth (of a Major Chord).

My teacher used ‘Root Position’ when describing inversions to differentiate from the Root, but I’m more concerned about the inversion (tho I realize now ‘Root Position’ may not mean what I thought). Time to dust off some books.

Yes and no. The inversion is defined only by the bass note: Root is in the bass for root position, 3rd in the bass for 1st inversion, etc. The arrangement of notes above the bass is of no consequence. It could go 5, 3, 5, 7, R and still be 2nd inversion. There is nothing which dictates that the Root must be next in pitch above 7th in 3rd inversion.

Perhaps also refresh on 'closed' vs 'open' voicing. 3rd inversion in closed voicing will be as you describe - 7, R, 3, 5.

 

[BrassedOn]

What about those dots?

View attachment 4583971

My guess is like in standard notation if in 6/8 time (triplet feel) that this bar should have a duplet feel; instead of 6 eighth notes, it’s 4 dotted eights, like in All Blues you might go duple feel on the D7 | Eb D7 turnaround.

 

[GoesThump]

I recommend this book, but had no idea it was this expensive now. I’m going to treat my copy better.

Also, there are several good YouTube videos.

The Neal Matthews book is also a good/inexpensive place to start on Nashville Numbering System. (Matthews is sometimes credited with inventing it in the 1st place.) ISBN 0881883352, $13USD on Amazon.com

GT

 

[Tonecaster]

It looks to me like someone snuck in a little (pseudo) standard notation to indicate some rhythmic info.

That's common to do that. The other option is to put hash marks above the chords to denote strikes or accents. I also write "signature riffs" in the margins. Think of the descending arpeggiated riff from Go Your Own Way...

 

[vokain]

This book was recommended at Victor Wooten's music camp by him and Rod Taylor

https://www.amazon.com/Song-Charting-Made-Easy-Play-Along/dp/1423463676#:~:text=(Music%20Instruction).,paper%20in%20about%20five%20minutes!