# The Nashville number system

*Module 15 · Lesson 3: Songs and charts · BazzLow*

> Read and write charts with numbers instead of chord names.

Before this lesson: [15.2 Lead sheets and chord charts](https://bazzlow.com/en/songs-and-charts/lead-sheets-and-charts/) · [8.2 Roman numerals](https://bazzlow.com/en/harmony-in-a-key/roman-numerals/)

Roman numerals say what a chord does. Nashville numbers do the same job with numbers that are quicker to write, which is why session players often use them.

## Chords as numbers

The **Nashville number system** writes chords as **Arabic numbers** for scale degrees, like Roman numerals (lesson 8.2) but simpler to write. The key is given at the top, so the **number chart** works in any key without rewriting. For bassists the system fits well: the numbers are the roots to play.

Main conventions; they vary between musicians:

- **1 4 5** = major chords on those degrees;
- minor chords with a minus or “m”: **6-** or **6m**;
- 7th chords as **5⁷** or **57**, and so on;
- borrowed or chromatic chords with a flat or sharp before the number: **♭7**, **♭3**;
- slash chords: **1/3** is the 1 chord with the 3rd in the bass; **4/5** is the 4 chord over the 5th in the bass;
- one number is one bar (in 4/4) unless marked; a **split bar** has two or more numbers grouped, often underlined or boxed;
- a diamond around a number means hit the chord and let it ring.

*An 8-bar Nashville chart (1 – 6- – 4 – 5 – 1 – 6- – 4 5 – 1) written out in five keys. Bar 7 is a split bar.*

| Key | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Chart | 1 | 6- | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6- | 4 5 | 1 |
| C | C | Am | F | G | C | Am | F G | C |
| G | G | Em | C | D | G | Em | C D | G |
| D♭ | D♭ | B♭m | G♭ | A♭ | D♭ | B♭m | G♭ A♭ | D♭ |
| A | A | F♯m | D | E | A | F♯m | D E | A |
| E♭ | E♭ | Cm | A♭ | B♭ | E♭ | Cm | A♭ B♭ | E♭ |

In G, “1 – 6- – 4 – 5” is G – Em – C – D. In D♭ the same chart is D♭ – B♭m – G♭ – A♭.

## Minor keys

In minor keys some musicians number from the minor tonic (“1-” is i), others from the relative major (“6-” is i). Agree on which before using a chart.

## Try it

Write the progression C – Am – F – G – C/E – F – G – C as a Nashville chart. Then play it in A and in E♭ from the chart.

## New terms

- Nashville number system
- number chart
- split bar

Page: https://bazzlow.com/en/songs-and-charts/nashville-number-system/