Do I really need the "Nashville Number System"?

[sshoihet]

@John_E

You Canadians might not want to read this next part, as it is blasphemy. Years ago I designed and installed an Aunt Jemima syrup batching and production system. Water, HFCS, fake color and fake flavor. It was literally the easiest process I ever built, and the last time I ever used anything but ‘boiled tree juice’.

I used to buy expensive organic grade B (now known as grade A dark) maple syrup but my daughter insisted on me buying aunt jemima for her

[howard]

I would say I understand; there’s some things you don’t mess with. There’s better ketchups but everyone wants Heinz; there’s (much) better cheap macaroni but everyone wants Kraft; etc. And not just for brand loyalty.

But not Aunt Jemima. That stuff is garbage and any real maple syrup kills it.

[franx]

There must be a “message” involved in the original topic. I have also struggled with the Nashville Numbers although I have gone several times over those chapters and feel I have been “stuck” in the lessons ever since. Of course I haven’t had the opportunity to really try to get beyond that but the fact that I have a hard time with it and following chapters use it has slowed me down completely. The “message” is probably “DO IT AGAIN”. You are not alone. Does it have something to do with German being a first lenguaje? That would be too much of a coincidence.
I probably need to eat a few pancakes with lots of syrup for Nashville to sink in.

[howard]

@franx

I probably need to eat a few pancakes with lots of syrup for Nashville to sink in.

That’s the spirit!

[John_E]

@howard

But not Aunt Jemima. That stuff is garbage

Yes, and sadly, its our brand, and, no longer called Aunt Jemima.
She is gone, and now it is “Pearl Milling Company” - which is the company that started the brand. Sigh.

[Barney]

@John_E

no longer called Aunt Jemima

Is that the Racist syrup? I have to admit I’m not as across the food and beverage market like some of you appear to be.

Growing up in the UK we had Uncle Ben’s rice or as my brother called it ‘Racist Rice’. It’s probably called something else now.

[howard]

Yeah, they finally renamed a bunch of these lingering things a while back.

[John_E]

Yep, it’s Ben’s Original now.

[Celticstar]

And don’t forget the iconic Golliwog.

[Alex_G]

Hi @franx ,

Thank you for getting back on the main topic. Good to know, that I’m not the only one having issued with Nashville…

I decided to move on with the lessons and maybe give it a trial later.

Thanks
Alex

[Celticstar]

@Alex_G

I decided to move on with the lessons and maybe give it a trial later.

That sounds like the best idea. You will get it sooner or later.

In time you are going to want to play without a lead sheet in front of you, in other words commit a song to memory, and that is when the Nashville Number System shines and makes it so much easier to do.

I believe a lot of the time we humans overthink and complicate things too much and when we do not understand things after a couple of attempts we become frustrated and just give up. Just keep on practicing and enjoying yourself

[howard]

I think where people get tripped up is that up until now, they have seen tab and standard notation, which describe the notes you play, discretely, at any given time.

The scale interval number systems, on the other hand, in the context being discussed here, are typically used to describe the structure of a song, measure by measure. It’s a slightly different concept.

Of course the scale numbers are also used to describe the relationships between notes as well, which may also confuse people.

[Alex_G]

@Celticstar

I believe a lot of the time we humans overthink and complicate things too much

Absolutely true!!!
Not only in relation to music

[John_E]

Is this really that difficult a concept?
Not sure I am seeing it.

[JoshFossgreen]

Hey all! Great discussion. Just wanted to add/clarify a couple bits:

• You caught me! The system I teach in B2B using Roman numerals apparently doesn’t fit the official (read:Wikipedia) definition of “Nashville Numbers.” In my experience as a musician, people use the Nashville/Roman numeral systems interchangeably, and refer to it all as Nashville Numbers regardless of Roman/Arabic numerals.
• I personally like the Roman numerals a lot better because it makes it clearer what’s a chord, and what might be a scale degree, if I want to sketch a chart like this and remind myself to play a triad lick on that first chord for example:
  
  
• Someone may have already mentioned this, but @Alex_G we’ll review that system a bunch more through the rest of the course, so it might click in place in a few lessons.
• And yes, I highly highly recommend understand chord progressions in this way!

[howard]

@JoshFossgreen

I personally like the Roman numerals a lot better because it makes it clearer what’s a chord, and what might be a scale degree, if I want to sketch a chart like this and remind myself to play a triad lick on that first chord for example:

I agree! It’s way better a notation in my opinion.

[franx]

@John_E I really don’t know how to describe it. The concept is quite understandable and it’s purpose is clear (Thank you @JoshFossgreen) but even understanding what it is all about as soon as I get to another lesson and a progression is mentioned I get confused and feel I have to go back to those lessons and I get stuck. I need to just continue and come back to it later.

[franx]

@JoshFossgreen Good to know the topic re-appears. I have a lot to catch up with but time has not been wasted since I haven’t stopped playing.

[John_E]

What I would say is this…

Until you know your scales or at least arpeggios or root-fifths by heart, you really don’t have to worry about it.

Also, unless your playing with others who are calling out changes using them, you don’t have to worry about them much.

One you start learning how to play over the “changes” they are handy otherwise ignore them.

[franx]

@John_E Makes quite bit of sense! I’m working on memorizing arpeggios and root-fifths and I don’t play other than by myself so… Thanks!