Nashville Numbers
Do Re Mi_Fa Sol La Ti_Do or the major scales
Do Re Mi_Fa Sol La Ti_Do illustrates the major Scale which most western music is based on. It is a subset of the 12 notes we have. There are seven unique notes in the major scale. “Do” is in there twice because the second Do is an octave higher
The first note is followed by a note that is two notes higher, the next note is two notes higher, the next note is one note higher, the next note is two notes higher, the next note is two notes higher, the next note is two notes higher and then you are back to the first note that is one note higher and is the same note but one octave higher
Helpfuls tips
A half step is the same thing as a semitone
A whole step is 2 semitones
A fret is half step or 1 semitone
You can use the old standby Do Re Mi, etc to help you remember::
Do Re Mi_Fa Sol La Ti_Do
½ step ½ step
2 2 1 2 2 2 1
The Italians used the "ee" sound in Mi & Ti to mark the ½ step. Mi to Fa and Ti to Do are half steps. Whole steps are the distance of two half steps, (two frets on the guitar). Do to Re, Re to Mi, Fa to Sol, Sol to La, and La to Ti are whole-steps.
Tip
So the Major scale in the Key of C is:
C Major C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C
Nashville Numbers
All that Nashville numbering System does is give a number to the notes in the Major scale.
Look at the two chord song, Jambalaya, in key of C
Jambalaya
[C]Goodbye Joe, me gotta go, me oh [G7]my oh Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the [C]bayou
My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh [G7]my oh Son of a gun, we'll have good fun on the [C]bayou
Chorus
[C]Jambalaya, a-crawfish pie and-a fillet [G7]gumbo 'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my machez a[C]mio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be [G7]gay-oh Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the [C]bayou.
It could also be written as:
[1]Goodbye Joe, me gotta go, me oh [57]my oh Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the [1]bayou
My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh [57]my oh Son of a gun, we'll have good fun on the [1]bayou
Chorus
[1]Jambalaya, a-crawfish pie and-a fillet [57]gumbo 'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my machez a[1]mio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be [57]gay-oh Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the [1]bayou.
If you know the key of the song, in this case C you replace the number with the appropriate major chord Name IE: 1 = C 5 = G
If the number has a 7s, minors +5, etc qualifer associated with it you play that chord as a 7th, minor, etc.
So Jambalaya is a two chord song consisting of 1 and 57 chords. Knowing this you can play Jambalaya in all 12 keys by playing the 1st and 57th chords of each key.
The 12 keys are as follows:
A lot of songs written in the western world are based on the 1, 4, 5 chord progression, it is estimated that over 75% are based on that progression, Blues, Folk, Country, etc.
Look at the songs you play and you will begin to see these patterns. It makes it much easier to remember songs, play, transpose and play with others when you understand this concept.
So if I told you we are going to play Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville and I said it was a 1, 4, 5 the verse was a 1 , 5 and the chorus was 4, 5, 1, could you play it in your favorite key? Try it!!
Tip - Find the keys you can comfortably sing in an learn those keys.
Interesting short article on the mechanics of learning by ear vs looking at sheet music
http://www.playukulelebyear.com/first-time-visitor/
Every wonder why there are 12 notes? Click Here
