Nashville Number System and Modulation
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Nashville Number System and Modulation
How does the Nashville Number system notate temporary shifts in key, changing keys, modulation etc for instance a ii-V I of V?
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Bill, to modulate to a new key in a song, my somewhat clunky solution is to write something like "New 5" for the 5 chord leading into the new key. I'd draw an up-arrow above the staff, too.
Imagine we have been playing in C and want to modulate up a whole tone:
. . . | 1 6 | 2 5 | 1 | NEW 5 || 1 6 | etc.
Imagine we have been playing in C and want to modulate up a whole tone:
. . . | 1 6 | 2 5 | 1 | NEW 5 || 1 6 | etc.
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If the new key center is fairly temporary, I'd stick to numbers in the original key. So the bridge of Steel Guitar Rag (say, in E) works out of the 5 chord, right? I would simply keep my numbers referring to the key of E. Here's the end of the verse and the start of the bridge:
. . . 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 ||
[Bridge] 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 |2 | 5 |5 | etc.
. . . 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 ||
[Bridge] 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 |2 | 5 |5 | etc.
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That makes sense, Thanks Chris. My only question: if you indicate "New 5", how do you indicate that the new 5 is in D (in your example) and not E or something else (ie. A7 as opposed to B7)
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- Howard Parker
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Ah... Skip, perfect. thanks.
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- Dave Mudgett
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If it's a true key modulation, I write mod <new_key>, e.g., mod G for a modulation to G at the point where the modulation starts. So modulating from C to G, what used to be a 5 is now 1. On a word-processor typed file, I just write it inline as Chris does, to conserve vertical space. On a handwritten sheet, I usually write it just above the line where it starts, again to conserve space.
There may be some type of semi-official standard for how to notate modulations, but I don't know it. I did a search on this and found several different approaches. For example, this link - https://www.guitarthinker.com/lessons/n ... ber-system - shows an example that uses mod with an arrow denoting the direction (up or down) and then the number of whole tones it modulates up or down. I definitely prefer to indicate the new key because it's easy to write and requires no special characters on a word-processor generated chart. It is also my experience is that it confuses others less. What Skip writes is also very clear and easy to notate on either a handwritten or non-handwritten chart.
I stick with the original key center unless there's a clear modulation. I hear no modulation in Steel Guitar Rag. Here's one academic paper - https://www.midside.com/publications/de ... 9_jmtp.pdf - that makes an argument for changing key center even when the tonality moves from the major tonic to the relative minor - look at Example 9 on page 15. Standard music notation requires no notational change at all - e.g., the notes of Aminor are written the same as Cmajor. So I would not make a change unless it felt like the section feels, e.g., like it has really moved away from the Aeolian mode - e.g., moving from Emaj to C# Dorian, and even then I would probably not do it.
There may be some type of semi-official standard for how to notate modulations, but I don't know it. I did a search on this and found several different approaches. For example, this link - https://www.guitarthinker.com/lessons/n ... ber-system - shows an example that uses mod with an arrow denoting the direction (up or down) and then the number of whole tones it modulates up or down. I definitely prefer to indicate the new key because it's easy to write and requires no special characters on a word-processor generated chart. It is also my experience is that it confuses others less. What Skip writes is also very clear and easy to notate on either a handwritten or non-handwritten chart.
I stick with the original key center unless there's a clear modulation. I hear no modulation in Steel Guitar Rag. Here's one academic paper - https://www.midside.com/publications/de ... 9_jmtp.pdf - that makes an argument for changing key center even when the tonality moves from the major tonic to the relative minor - look at Example 9 on page 15. Standard music notation requires no notational change at all - e.g., the notes of Aminor are written the same as Cmajor. So I would not make a change unless it felt like the section feels, e.g., like it has really moved away from the Aeolian mode - e.g., moving from Emaj to C# Dorian, and even then I would probably not do it.
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Fascinating thread. Thanks to everyone for their contributions.
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- Bill Cunningham
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I didn't even know there was such a thing as a "Chas Williams Nashville Numbers book" . Thanks. I'll look it up.
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Chas Williams is an accomplished Nashville guitarist and Dobro player. An old friend, we worked together with David Gates, of “Bread” fame years ago. His book is top notch. https://nashvillenumbersystem.com/
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I ordered it yesterday
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I think I am listed in Chas's book as a contributor . .
Anyway, writing in the "new key" is ad hoc, whatever will alert you. Like Bill and Dave, I sort of write it in above the place where the old key becomes the new key.
I like the stick man image! I'll write it in red ink, maybe with a pair of glasses or an exclamation mark: anything that gets my attention!
Note: If I do a more complicated chart, like with jazz progressions, I break down and use actual chord names.
Anyway, writing in the "new key" is ad hoc, whatever will alert you. Like Bill and Dave, I sort of write it in above the place where the old key becomes the new key.
I like the stick man image! I'll write it in red ink, maybe with a pair of glasses or an exclamation mark: anything that gets my attention!
Note: If I do a more complicated chart, like with jazz progressions, I break down and use actual chord names.
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Exactly as Chris said... if it's a tune with some complex changes or a bunch of bass substitutions, etc, then letters are the way to go.
And, of course before you start the tune it's always a good idea to point out the mod...where it is & what it is.
It's also been my experience that red ink can sometimes disappear under stage lighting.
And, of course before you start the tune it's always a good idea to point out the mod...where it is & what it is.
It's also been my experience that red ink can sometimes disappear under stage lighting.