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Nash Number Sys

The document discusses the Nashville Number System, a method of musical notation using numbers instead of chord names. Each major chord in a key is represented by its scale degree number, with minor chords indicated using dashes. It is easy to write and read, allowing for quick transcription and sight-reading. The system is used widely by musicians. Key charts provide the number equivalents for major, minor, and diminished chords in all major keys.

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Riaan Pretorius
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104 views5 pages

Nash Number Sys

The document discusses the Nashville Number System, a method of musical notation using numbers instead of chord names. Each major chord in a key is represented by its scale degree number, with minor chords indicated using dashes. It is easy to write and read, allowing for quick transcription and sight-reading. The system is used widely by musicians. Key charts provide the number equivalents for major, minor, and diminished chords in all major keys.

Uploaded by

Riaan Pretorius
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Grace Worship

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
benefits: it’s easy to write allowing for quick transcriptions and it’s easy to read allowing for
improved sight-reading and quick transposing.

Definitions:
• Transpose: to play in a different key
• Notation: writing down of music. Notate: to put musical “notes” onto page.
• Diatonically: occurring naturally within the scale.

Basic Idea: Using numbers instead of chords

The number represents the chord in that key. For example in the key of C:

C = 1
D = 2-
E = 3-
F = 4
G = 5
A = 6-
B = 7dim

Keep in mind that they key signature and all accidentals (flats and sharps) are applied. This
makes 2, 3, and 6 minor, indicated using dashes and the seventh chord occurring
diatonically is a diminished chord. (B, D, F). Minor chords are also indicated using lower
case.

1 = C, E, G (Major)
2- = d, f, a (minor)
3- = e, g, b (minor)
4 = F, A, C (Major)
5 = G, B, D (Major)
6- = a, c, e (minor)
7º = b, d, f (diminished)
BPM: (Beats Per Minute)
A player must not only know where on their instrument to play the music, they need to
know how to count the music written. Each beat equals four counts per note written. In
standard time.

Form:
If the number stands by itself, it takes up a whole bar.
1 4 1 4
If the number(s) are underlined, the underlined portion takes up a bar. A “split bar” is two
underlined numbers indicating the bar has been split equally in half. Both numbers get an
equal amount of time.
1 4 1 4 1 4 1 4
To notate a chords placement within the bar, dots are used to indicate which beat the
chord is played on.
(¾ time) (Jesus Paid it All)
• • • • • •
1 1/3 4 1 5 1

Written in blocks of four specifically for the rhythm section. Extra bars are added to the last
bar in the phrase so the drummer always knows when to emphasize the downbeat.
4 6- 5 4 6- 5 1

Other Articulations:
• Diamond: Play the chord as a whole note and hold through remainder of the bar.

Chord Guide:
Key of G: (1 Sharp, F#)
1=G
2=A
3=B
4=C
5=D
6=E
7 = F#

Key of D (2 Sharps, F#, C#)


1=D
2=E
3 = F#
4=G
5=A
6=B
7 = C#

Key of A (3 Sharps, F#, C#, G#)


1=A
2=B
3 = C#
4=D
5=E
6 = F#
7 = G#

Key of E (4 Sharps, F#, C#, G#, D#)


1=E
2 = F#
3 = G#
4=A
5=B
6 = C#
7 = D#

Key of B (5 Sharps, F#, C#, G#, D#, A#)


1=B
2 = C#
3 = D#
4=E
5 = F#
6 = G#
7 = A#

Key of F# (6 Sharps, F#, C#, G#, D#, A# E#)


1 = F#
2 = G#
3 = A#
4=B
5 = C#
6 = D#
7 = E#

Key of G# (7 Sharps, F#, C#, G#, D#, A# E#, B#)


1 = G#
2 = A#
3 = B#
4 = C#
5 = D#
6 = E#
7 = F#

Key of F (1 Flat, Bb)


1=F
2=G
3=A
4 = Bb
5=C
6=D
7=E

Key of Bb (2 Flats, Bb, Eb)


1 = Bb
2=C
3=D
4 = Eb
5=F
6=G
7=A

Key of Eb ( 3 Flats, Bb, Eb, Ab)


1 = Eb
2=F
3=G
4 = Ab
5 = Bb
6=C
7=D

Key of Ab (4 Flats, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db)


1 = Ab
2 = Bb
3=C
4 = Db
5 = Eb
6=F
7=G

Key of Db (5 Flats, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb)


1 = Db
2 = Eb
3=F
4 = Gb
5 = Ab
6 = Bb
7=C

Key of Gb (6 Flats, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb Cb)


1 = Gb
2 = Ab
3 = Bb
4 = Cb
5 = Db
6 = Eb
7=F

Key of Fb (7 Flats, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb Cb, Fb)


1 = Fb
2 = Gb
3 = Ab
4 = Bb
5 = Cb
6 = Db
7 = Eb

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