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. At GrassTrax we use the Nashville Number System (NNS) for the chord charts that come with our tracks, so you can have a simple chord progression document that will work in any key. The NNS is used by many musicians worldwide, and especially professional studio musicians who work with a variety of artists and need to be able to easily change the.
Understanding notes and chords as they relate to the ONE or tonic or key of song is a huge milestone in understanding music to a fuller potential.
For years, I did not really think in this way but as soon as I started to, I began to hear everything differently. I was able to hear the chords of songs quicker, and pick out melodies faster.
This numbering system is HIGHLY recommended for guitarists who have gotten past the basics and are looking to really up their game.
If you have not already, please check out my blog on “how to read charts”. That will tie in well with this blog and attachment as well.
Feel free to download this attachment and start thinking of these chord progressions by their corresponding number to REALLY change your playing forever.
The Nashville Number System Chart
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We've all been there...
We posted the song on Planning Center in the key of F, (and everyone learned it in F), then on Sunday morning the vocalist can't hit the high-note. She needs it dropped to the key of E... Or, in the middle of rehearsal, you realize it'd be great to flow from one song into the next, but you learned one in the key of B and the other is the key of C. Do you need to run back into the church office and print out new chord charts for the band?
Nashville Number System Chart Pdf
The Nashville Number System (NNS) will soon become your best friend. NNS is a method of transcribing music by denoting the scale degree on which a chord is built. It was developed by Neal Matthews, Jr. in the late 1950s, and it's become the standard in many of the churches in America.
How does it work?
Instead of using chords (like 'G, D, Em, C'), the NNS uses numbers, and the numbers represent scale degrees. For example, in the key of C, it would be: C=1, Dm=2, Em=3, F=4, G=5, Am=6, G#º=7, C=1. The chart below makes this clear for each of the keys:
Nashville Number System Chart For Crazy
A few helpful notes:
Most worship songs are in Major keys. Since this is NNS–101, the chart above is for Major keys (and doesn't show the half-steps between A,B,C,D,E,F,G). As you learn NNS, you'll be able to 'read between the lines' of this chart and apply it to any Major key.
In Major scales:
The 2, 3, 6 scale degrees are always minor.
The 1, 4, 5 are always major.
The 7s are technically diminished chords, but typically played as 5/7 in contemporary worship music. (Note the 5/7 chords shown in the bottom corners.) The same is true for 3s... Lots of time they're played as 1/3 in worship songs, as transition chords. Always check with your band to decide which choice is right for the song.
How to begin learning the chart on your instrument:
Guitarists, start with the key of G. Pianists, start with the key of C.
These chords are likely very familiar to you. Take note of the connection between each chord and number. (Remember: 1,4,5 are major, 2,3,6 are minor, and 3s and 7s are typically transition chords)
Pick a familiar song, How Great is Our God (Key of G)/(Key of C) and transpose it from chords to numbers.
After you become comfortable with this first key, jump to another.
Guitarists, if you learn the numbers for the key of G and the key of C, you unlock every key if you play with a capo.
All keys from G — B can be played with a capo in the G formation.
All keys from C — F# can be played with a capo in the C formation.
As you begin getting comfortable with numbers, pick a time to email your team and share that you want to begin introducing NNS in the team. (Send them to this article: http://worship.school/blog/nns)
The next Sunday, pick a staple song from your repertoire and use numbers instead of chords. Don't go 100% NNS from the start, people will be overwhelmed and/or discouraged. Slowly integrate it and your team will learn with you. Here's a sample number chart for our song, Lion of Judah (#).
Finally, we should remember that as we grow in these small competencies, we're obeying Psalm 33's call for us to 'play skillfully.'
Can we get by with chord charts for the rest of our lives? Sure... But if you ever get tapped to hop on stage with professional musicians, you'll be darn glad you learned your numbers :)
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