Nashville Number System
A way of writing chord progressions using numbers that stand for scale degrees, so the same chart works in any key.
Developed by studio musicians in Nashville to speed up recording sessions, the system writes a progression as numbers rather than chord names, so a chart can be transposed instantly by saying what key it is in. It adds its own shorthand for minors, extensions and rhythmic pushes, which is compact enough to be written on a scrap of paper or called out across a room. The numbers are the same information as roman numeral analysis, written more quickly.
Example: A chart showing the numbers one, six minor, four and five can be played in any key once the key is named.
See also
Related
- PageScale degree
- PageRoman numeral analysis
- PageChord progression
- PageAugmented chord
- PageBlue note
- PageBlues scale
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley