Re: [Harp-L] Nashville notation

"Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx> · Thu, 6 Oct 2005 15:07:34 -0700

It is a help to chord-harmonica and other chord instruments such as guitar 
and keyboard but is not much help to harmonica soloists. It deals with the 
chord names and not with the notes of the melody.
It only works well if you have it thoroughly memorized to instantly know 
that the V chord in the key of G is D, etc.  You also have to know the key 
signatures to know, for instance, that the III chord in the key of A is C#, 
not C., etc

Then there are minor keys... where the III chord in the key of Am is C and 
not C#, etc. The system is used by people who already have a thorough 
knowledge of chords and harmony.
IF you are playing a diatonic by ear, switching to the appropriate harp and 
position solves the transposition problem.  You only have to decide which 
harp to use and that occurs before the song starts. There are not  many 
chords on a diatonic and even fewer on a chromatic.
For studio musicians, it is really handy because every vocalist wants a key 
that puts the song in her best range.  The vocalist may just tell the band, 
"I sing this song in B-flat" and assume that the band can transpose it 
instantly, even if the sheet music is written in G.  . For playing 
instrumentals, not much transposing is required
Really good musicians can go both ways.  If the sheet music is in G, then 
they recognize the C chord as the IV... which is the G chord if they are 
playing in the key of D, etc.
Sadly, there ain't no free lunch!   ;o)
Vern
Visit my harmonica website: http://www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Garry Hodgson" <garry@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

To: "samblancato" <samblancato@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 6:29 AM

Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Nashville notation
"samblancato" <samblancato@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I can read music (though I can really sight read). I'd be real interested 
in

seeing this Nashville system; I've heard of it before from a recording

studio guy I met who worked in Nashville.  I'm for anything that makes

communication between musicians easier. Anybody know where I could get a

primer on this system?

http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/nashvillenumbersystem.html
http://www.alanhorvath.com/LSN5.php
----
Garry Hodgson, Technical Consultant, AT&T Labs