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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | We’ve been introduced to a different method of writing chords on sheet music. Instead of typical chord symbols, we’re experimenting with Roman Numerals where each numeral represents a chord’s placement within the scale. For instance, we’re doing a blues waltz that starts in C and modulates three times up to E flat. Instead of writing out every chord for every modulation, we’re using only the numerals (upper case numerals are major, lower case numerals are minor). When the tune modulates, the pattern remains the same and we transpose the chords in our heads.
As a result, chords like this (C, Em, Am, Dm, G, G/F, Em, F, E7, Am, Em, FM7, Em7/6 Am, Dm, Gsus, G7) that modulate to this (D♭, Fm, B♭m, E♭m, A♭, A♭/F#, Fm, F#, F7, B♭m, F#m, F#M7, Fm7/6, B♭m, E♭m, A♭sus, A♭7) and then again up to D and E♭ now look like this (I, iii, vi, ii, V, V/IV, iii, IV, III7, vi, iii, IVM7, ii7/6, vi, ii, Vsus, V7).
Matt Smith covered a little of this at his Amelia workshop, and he mentioned that this technique is often used by the pros in session work. Although it may represent a simpler means of writing where there are repetitive key changes, it does force you to memorize chord scales on the fly. This is the first time I've been able to use this writing style in a performance situation and I appreciate the time Matt spent introducing us to the concept. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | It's the Nashville Numbering System. It doesn't make any difference what key a song is in, if you have the numbers in front of you you can play it.... |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Thanks for adding that, Moody. |
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January 2002
Posts: 386
Location: nyc area | I'm glad something I showed you came in handy! |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Matt, as many of us suggested during the workshop, it takes many months, maybe a year or two, to fully digest all that you covered. What an informative time! |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | It is quite helpful to learn this system... here are a couple of charts that might add to the discussion:(they are also in my "OtherOFC Site) here: Tim\'s Images
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| It's like a capo for the brain. Just learn all the changes once and then it doesn't matter where you start.
Like modes. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | some of us just go 1, 4, 5 and then to the 6m and back to the 1, 4, 5,
or 1, 4, 5, 1, 4, 4dim, 1, 6, 2, 5, 1 with a turnaround
Romans are too had to write sometimes.
There are little signs to use for the puches and stops but I forgot them. |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | You guys are making this WAY too hard. You just need to get one of these Takamine guitars with the electronic CAPO's.
PAUL MOODY SPECIAL
Dave |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
electronic CAPO Wasn't there a 'box' that did this twix the git and amp/PA?  |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Its a good way to go. Once you get really comfortable, you almost do it automatically, which makes changing keys effortless.
What I mean is if you have a song in G, when you see the "G" your mind says "I", when you see the "C" your mind says "4", etc. Then when the singer says she'd rather sing it in "A", the switch is automatic. |
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July 2005
Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | Sometimes when I practice, I'll take a chord sheet and look at the chords, while playing the chords up a whole step, or down 3 half steps or whatever. Another capo for the brain.
I just assume it's doing me some good. Making a game out of what could be a boring exercise is probably a good idea. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Once you get to where you can think like this, the 1 4 5 ,it all gets so much easier. Even in just figuring out songs.
I would encourage people who are serious about playing to become familiar and fluent in the numbering system. It has helped me a ton. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Probably like many members, I, too, memorized basic progressions like 1-6m-4-5 and 1-3m-4-5 very early on in every key, but always referred to the sequences as basic folk/cowboy chord progressions that were readily applied to just about any campfire, folk, doo-wop, blues, surf, country and early rock and roll song ever written. Putting them to numbers on sheet music makes some sense, although I've just never done it before. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | I've got a guy out here who's an outstanding guitar/mando/bass player and he keeps pushing me to learn this system. I gotta get after it. With him pushing me and Matt stressing it at the Amelia Island clinic, I know it important..... |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | yeah, it is. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | and how tough can the system be when your only concerned with 3 chords! |
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An alternative method for chord charts
