Numbers or Notes?

[Justin Emmert]

Just curious, but do you play by numbers or notes? A little more context- do you think of the fretboard, chords, etc. primarily in numbers or notes?

[Jack Stoner]

Both. Sometimes I'll think "2 chord" and other times I may think of the actual chord.

[Howard Parker]

I'm with Jack.

[Dave Mudgett]

Definitely both. I think most people that can think in numbers can also think in notes. The notes are the notes - the numbers are an analysis of the notes' functions. You can probably can add a category for Both if you like - if you find you can't, I can definitely do it.

[Samuel Phillippe]

I play by ear. Can't read music so I think of it by chord and listen for the notes within the chord.
That then relates me to the position on the fretboard. My major problem with this is diminshed and augmented chords. Not knowing what makes them up causes me to have to experiment , if they are needed.

But then who can hear me, I only play at home right now. When I play out it is lap steel or regular guitar and the crowd usualy can't tell the difference. I know because they keep saying "Gee that was good" (LOL)

Sam

[Tom Gorr]

Make sure you include an option for neither

[Ken Pippus]

Both. Interchangeably.

[Colin Swinney]

Definitely both. If it’s a common key like C or G I just think of the chord names. It’s when you get to the less common Eb or Gb type keys that I start to think in numbers.

[Tom Watterson]

Post deleted by author, with apologies.

[Ian Worley]

Just curious, but do you play by numbers or notes?...

yes

[D Schubert]

Both, simultaneous and interlocked.

[Justin Emmert]

Definitely both. I think most people that can think in numbers can also think in notes. The notes are the notes - the numbers are an analysis of the notes' functions. You can probably can add a category for Both if you like - if you find you can't, I can definitely do it.

If you can add it, go for it.

[Detlef Webert]

Jack,
what the hell is 2 chord thinking ???
Never heard about it.

[Larry Jamieson]

2 Chord thinking...

Example: Key of C

C d e F G a b dim C

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

In the key of C, C is the one chord, d minor the 2, e minor
the 3, F the 4, G the 5, a minor the 6, b diminished the 7,
and C, back to one. I think in chord names in common keys, but if I have to play in Eb or Db, or some other uncommon key, I tend to think in the chord numbers instead.

[b0b]

On steel, numbers. I usually convert chord names to numbers in my head because it makes progressions easier to follow. I know the positions for the number chords more automatically than the named chords, and they're easier to memorize.

I also play bass, marimba, and keyboard. On those instruments I think in note names and chord names because it's easier than thinking in numbers.

On steel, you can think of everything as being in the same key, just moved up or down. Thinking in numbers makes that easy. Once you understand the major mode, you don't have to think much about the names. On marimba, every key is radically different. You practically have to relearn a tune to play it a half-step higher. Numbers are no help at all on marimba.

[Ron Pruter]

Both. Pretty much like Larry J.

[Eric Moon]

Both. Charting a 1-4-5 tune in Gb will sure make you tired of writing out flats. But do a tune where the bridge modulates to the flat 3, and you might wish you didn't use numbers.... and of course if the vocalist is going to change their mind three times about the key, numbers are better.

Just depends!

On the steel neck, I think in colors. I mapped the circle of fifths to the color wheel, and pasted them on the neck. Pretty sweet cheat I first used when learning electric bass years ago. Beats that random spray of dots on the neck, which still baffles me.

[Roger Rettig]

Numbers, or scale-tones.

Hearing intervals and knowing their relationship with their 'neighbours' is essential ear-training.

I should, more accurately, ticked 'both' but, as b0b said, on steel guitar, numbers seem to dominate for me. Of course, given a proper music-chart in the orchestra-pit, then it's a case of 'both'; you read the ink and those 'numbers' seem to pop into your head almost unbidden. You just can't help hearing them.

[b0b]

When listening without an instrument, I hear the numbers. Can't help it.

[Donny Hinson]

Before they were called "numbers", they were called "positions", and I memorized all the positions and their sounds. Players like me, who didn't know all the notes and chords by name, were called "position players". We just used positions we'd memorized, and moved them up or down to transpose. The second chord in any three-chord song was five frets up, and the third was two frets above that. It probably sounds silly and stupid, but I still use that thought process today.

[Edward Dixon]

Before they were called "numbers", they were called "positions", and I memorized all the positions and their sounds. Players like me, who didn't know all the notes and chords by name, were called "position players". We just used positions we'd memorized, and moved them up or down to transpose. The second chord in any three-chord song was five frets up, and the third was two frets above that. It probably sounds silly and stupid, but I still use that thought process today.

I started in'62 and we did the same until we found out about capos. That's one thing I like about PSG, the bar is like a a quick moving capo, if you can play in one key you can play in any key.

As far as the poll...
I just started PSG about 1 year ago. When it comes to thinking in terms of numbers vs letters it depends on who or what I am learning from. MDR (Most Direct Route)if they use numbers I think numbers, chords is chords and intervals are intervals. There is no purpose in converting one to the other except to explain it to those who don't know the difference. After 60 years of playing I mostly use my ear to learn the chord progression or melody and don't think of chords or numbers.

[Tom Gorr]

Before they were called "numbers", they were called "positions", and I memorized all the positions and their sounds. Players like me, who didn't know all the notes and chords by name, were called "position players". We just used positions we'd memorized, and moved them up or down to transpose. The second chord in any three-chord song was five frets up, and the third was two frets above that. It probably sounds silly and stupid, but I still use that thought process today.

That was the basis of my "neither". Outside of knowing where the E roots are - I play by position. Its for sure closest to nashville numbers, but it's not quite that direct either. Its more like, I hear a chord coming and my ear says to go up two and press A+B as an example.

My memory isnt strong enough to memorize the note or chord positions on every string with every pedal and lever combination.

For E9, I might try to remember scale tones by number in different positions someday... but more realistically I'll just follow my ear and not care too much about any of it.

For C6, since it is often more block chord playing than the more melodic E9 - it would be immensely helpful to learn by note and chord type so a person can play from chord charts or piano arrangements with chord charts above. It would speed up learning songs as "hunt and peck" is very tedious.

[Tucker Jackson]

Both. Leaning more on the numbers than note or chord names... depending on the key and the chord progression.

[Andrew Goulet]

This is a timely topic for me. I just got finished recreating all my charts for my primary working band in numbers rather than notes. I'm hoping that it helps me develop more interesting and varied fills and solos, and to decode why certain positions work better for certain tunes.

I'm a lifelong note person, trying to get better at using numbers.

[Dale Rottacker]

I may be somewhat peculiar... I don't think about ANY of that stuff, at least NOT while I'm playing. For me it's more positional instinct? I think I'm also more interested in chord "types" or a sound I hear in my head, rather than what the actual chord is. It's really easy for me to get lost in the weeds. "A Rose by any other name"?

I can read music, I get how chords are constructed, and the numbers make sense to me. I just don't use any of that stuff in real time. I think my ear has me shooting for a position. To this day if I do think chords or types of chords, I think everything in the Key of C on a piano. Thats always my go to. I guess somewhere in the recesses of my mind there's a connection being made, but most of the time I'm not sure it's a conscious thing.

I truly wish that my mind worked as others do, as I feel like I'm missing a lot by it not working in chords or numbers. Wooooooo is me