The Nashville Number System (also just called the number system) is a way of writing the chords to a song in a 'universal' or neutral key using numbers instead of chord names. This way the song can be played in any key at any time with out rewriting it.
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- Free Nashville Number System
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My Ukulele Chord Chart Using the Nashville Number System is the chord chart every beginning ukulele player needs. The clean design makes it easy to read and its unique formatting reveals the patterns behind the chord progressions you’ve been memorizing.
WHY I LOVE the Nashville Number System
Simply put, the Nashville Number System (NNS) is a method of referring to chords by their numbers rather than their letters. The numbers reflect the relationship the chords have to each other, and once you’re familiar with the most popular chords in a few different keys, you’ll start to identify these patterns everywhere.
- The Nashville Number System is a method of transcribing music by denoting the scale degree on which a chord is built. It was developed by Neal Matthews in the late 1950s as a simplified system for the Jordanaires to use in the studio and further developed by Charlie McCoy.
- The Number System Here at Grace our instrumentalists use what is referred to as the Nashville Number system. This is a serious but simple form of notation developed in Nashville, but is used and respected by musicians all over the world. This method of notation has several.
- Nashville Numbers is an ingenious system of music notation shorthand, named for its use of numbers rather than letters to identify chords. The system dates to the 1950’s, when charting technology consisted of pencil and paper.
- The Nashville Number System has evolved into a complete method of writing chord charts and melodies-combining Nashville shorthand with formal notation standards. The Nashville Number System is 128 pages with a step by step method of how to write a Nashville number chart for any song.
Being able to identify and change the key of a song are invaluable skills for musicians, and the Nashville Number System simplifies that process for us. As you experiment playing and singing in different keys, you'll develop a feel for which keys tend to be a good fit for your vocal range and that will give you so much more confidence when singing.
HOW TO USE IT
In the video below, I use the NNS to play You Are My Sunshine and When the Saints Go Marching In in two different in different keys. Sign-up for my newsletter to receive a free printable that accompanies the video.
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The Nashville Numbering System is a method of denoting chord letter symbols by numbers, and it's one of the most important concepts taught in guitar lessons , really useful when dealing with chord progressions .
Roman Numerals System is another way for describing chord progressions, and it's a little more complex than the Nashville system because it uses uppercase and lowercase Roman Numbers.
In this tutorial, we're going to learn how to use both systems in a number of different situations. Are you ready?
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Nashville Number System Vs Roman Numerals System
With the Nashville Number System, each chord of the scale is denoted by a number, depending on its position in the scale; have a look at the table below to get an idea:
| Key | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am | Bm/b5 |
| G | G | Am | Bm | C | D | Em | F#m/b5 |
As you can see, the numbers are always the same, while the key can change. If we say: a 1-4-5 song in the key of C, that's means C, F and G.
A 1-4-5 song in the key of G, is G, C and D.
On the web, there's a bit of confusion about the Nashville Number System, because some folks use Roman Numbers (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII) instead of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, but the meaning is the same.
Actually, Roman Numbers are used in the Roman Numerals System, a more powerful way to the denote chord progressions, because, using lowercase and uppercase, it also provides information about the quality of the chords. Keep reading this article to learn about this.
Chords Degree Roman Numbers Chart - C and G Keys
Uppercase and Lowercase numbers
Nashville Number System Chart Software
Roman Numbers can be written in uppercase or lowercase: this indicates the type of chord
- The roman numbers for Major chords are written in uppercase (e.g. C, G, F)
- The roman numbers for Minor chords are written in lowercase (e.g. Am, Dm, Em)
- The roman numbers for Half-diminished chords are written in lowercase and with the ° symbol (e.g. Bm/b5)
- We can have other symbol like the 7, for example, V7 denotes a Dominant chord in the fifth degree of the scale
In this way the Nashville Number System also shows the types of the song chords .
For example, the progressions I V vi vii° in the key of C is composed of these chords: C G Am Bm/Bf
Let's have a look at the chords table below. As you can see, the first chord of the scale is denoted with the roman number I, the second with ii, the third with III, and so forth. Pay attention to the uppercase and lowercase letters, and notice how major and minor chords are denoted. (the last chord, B, is a diminished chord).
| Key | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am | Bm/b5 |
| G | G | Am | Bm | C | D | Em | F#m/b5 |
How To Use Numbers Table
Let's say we take one of the more common progressions known as the I-IV-V , or the 1-4-5
Now suppose that your band mate says: 'This song is I-IV-V'
We look at the table above, and immediately we know that:
- In the key of G the chords are G C D
- In the key of C, the chords are C F G
Easy, isn't? What you have to do is to understand the relationship between the chord and its scale degree number. In this way, you can denote chords with numbers and deal with progressions and chord substitution easier.
Another powerful device used to manage keys and chords (and much more) is the Circle Of Fifths , that deserves a separated tutorial.
Be sure to check the free download area: you'll find several pdf ebooks that will teach you new chords, scales, fretboard notes and theory. A great help for improving your skills!
Full Chart of keys and Roman Number System Numbers
Here below you find a complete chart showing the chords for all the keys .
This table is useful for knowing the chords in a key, and for transposing songs to another key .
As an exercise, try to find the chords for a I-IV-V song in F major key (solution at the bottom of the table).
| Key | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am | Bm/b5 |
| G | G | Am | Bm | C | D | Em | F#m/b5 |
| D | D | Em | F#m | G | A | Bm | C#m/b5 |
| A | A | Bm | C#m | D | E | F#m | G#m/b5 |
| E | E | F#m | G#m | A | B | C#m | D#m/b5 |
| B | B | C#m | D#m | E | F# | G#m | A#m/b5 |
| F# | F# | G#m | A#m | B | C# | D#m | E#m/b5 |
| C# | C# | D#m | E#m | F# | G# | A#m | B#m/b5 |
| Cb | Cb | Dbm | Ebm | Fb | Gb | Abm | Bbm/b5 |
| Gb | Gb | Abm | Bbm | Cb | Db | Ebm | Fm/b5 |
| Db | Db | Ebm | Fm | Gb | Ab | Bbm | Cm/b5 |
| Ab | Ab | Bbm | Cm | Db | Eb | Fm | Gm/b5 |
| Eb | Eb | Fm | Gm | Ab | Bb | Cm | Dm/b5 |
| Bb | Bb | Cm | Dm | Eb | F | Gm | Am/b5 |
| F | F | Gm | Am | Bb | C | Dm | Em/b5 |
The chords for a I-IV-V song in F major key are: F Bb C
Each scale degree has a specific function in the rules of modern western harmony, and knowing how to combine them is the foundation of chords progression theory.
1st - Tonic
The I chord is the tonic chord , the root chord that all other chords are based off of, for now on we will use the key of C, so C will be our tonic chord.
2nd - Supertonic
The ii chord is the supertonic chord , which is one musical step above the tonic. The reason it is lowercase ii and not II is because the supertonic is often a minor chord. So in the key of C the ii chord is Dm.
3rd - Mediant
The mediant chord or the iii chord is also a minor and is the least used in most chord progressions. For the key of C the iii chord is Em and is a very weak chord compared to the others in the key.
4th - Subdominant
The IV chord is an F major which is known as the subdominant , it is very commonly used in many progressions and is one note below the dominant.
5th - Dominant
The V chord is the dominant chord , in this case a G. This chord is the second most important to the tonic or root chord of the progression, the dominant is used for tension as it often wants to resolve to the back to the tonic.
6th - Submediant
And then we have the vi chord, another minor chord and in this case Am. This is known as the submediant chord and provides a great contrast with the tonic.
7th - Leading Tone
And finally we have the vii chord, the leading tone . This chord is played in a variety of ways but always has the feel of needing to lead right back into the tonic, thus a leading tone.
Here is a helpful pdf reference sheet with the chords for all the major and minor keys .
Some popular songs denoted with the Roman Numerals System
So now that we have an understanding of chord progression basics and the Roman numbering system, let’s look at some of the more common and simple progressions out there. We will stay in the key of C for all examples.
One of the most basic progressions used in folk music and reggae is I-V , or C-G.
These simple two chord songs can be very popular such as Camptown Races or Alouette and even the Beatles Yellow Submarine . Often a 7th is added to the V or dominant chord in these songs.
I IV I V I (C F C G C in the key of C)
Another popular progression is the blues progression I-IV-I-V-I and of course 7ths can be added to make C-F-C-G7-C.
There are so many variations on the blues progression and it doesn't take much skill to play around with it, early blues songs and early rock are based around blues progressions.
In Rock n Roll another common progression is I-bVII-IV, now that means the seventh chord is a major and flat.
C-Bb-F is used by Roy Orbison in You Got It and Boston in their song More Than A Feeling , in fact variations of this progression are well known by those in rock and pop rock. Snow leopard games.
Nashville Number System Chart Symbols
I II IV I (C D F C in the key of C)
And finally another basic one is the pop rock lydian progression of I-II-IV-I , notice that the II is not a minor (ii) in this situation.
C-D-F-C was used in Eight Days A Week by the Beatles and Mr. Tambourine Man by the Byrds.
Now sometimes these chord progressions mentioned above are used for verses, choruses, and sometimes bridges.
Rarely is the same progression used throughout the entire song Resident evil 4 hd movie patch.
However it is important to recognize these progressions.
After a while you will start to pick them out when you hear new songs, and even later still you will learn to appreciate subtle changes that songwriters make to common progressions .
That way they can create a song that will be liked, yet will still be a little different than the rest. Remember to always pay attention to the way in which various chords sound with each other, a tonic, dominant, and so on mean nothing if they cannot work off each other.
Each time you now learn a new chord, notice how it sounds when played before or after other chords you already know. Experiment as much as possible with chords , keys, and as many chord progressions as you can find!
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Nashville Number System Chart Examples
Now you should have a good understanding of the these systems and its use in composition, improvisation and songs transposing. Below you find some useful resources for moving forward with the study of chord progressions:
Free Nashville Number System
- Chords in Keys Pdf - Free Download - This reference chart contains the chords (3 tones and 4 tones) for all the major and harmonic minor keys.
- Rockabilly chord progressions Lesson Series - This lesson shows you how to play the I IV V chord progression in Rockabilly style .
- Randall Williams Complete Lesson Series - In this video lessons series, teacher Randal Williams explains chord progressions theory and songwriting for acoustic guitar.
Printable Nashville Number System Chart
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