Nashville Number System vs. Roman Numerals (cotinued)
Wednesday we looked briefly at the Nashville Number system. Today I’d like to talk about the Roman numeral system equivalent and touch briefly on the benefits and disadvantages of each. The NNS system basically works like this:
Comparison
C - D - E - F- G - A - B - C
1 - 2- 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
The Roman Numeral Equivalent would be:
C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
I - ii - iii - IV - V - vi - vii° - I
Another comparison that needs to be made is how each system handles chord inversions. Inversions are so important to helping the overall sound of the music and shorthand ways to notate them are needed.
The NNS notates inversions as using the first number as the chord and the second number behind a slash as the chord degree (note) that needs to be played on the bottom. So, in the key of C, a C (1) that is in its first inversion would be notated as 1/3. A C in second inversion would be 1/5.
Roman Numeral system notates inversions quite differently. The same example above (C in first inversion) would be written as I 6 (the 6 being in superscript next to the I - sorry, couldn’t find the superscript button!) and the second inversion as I 6/4. (This is really hard to explain in a blog post, so when you’re finished reading the next section, come back and visit here for more information about inversions.)
Benefits and Disadvantages to Each
The major disadvantage to the Nashville Number System is that you need to already know if certain chords are major or minor. Whereas, in the Roman numeral system, an upper case numeral always indicates a major chord and a lower case numeral always indicates a minor chord. There are several symbols in the Roman Numeral system that indicate different types of chords (augmented, diminished, etc.) In the NNS, the type of chord always has to be written out (aug, dim, maj7, min7, etc.)
One advantage, however, to NNS is the ability to notate measures quickly. I found the use of parentheses as a means to notate measures particularly helpful.
One disadvantage to the Roman Numeral system is that the figured bass used for inversions can be difficult to understand. Inversions in NNS seem very easy.
Conclusion:
While I myself am not extremely familiar with the NNS, it’s starting to grow on me. If anyone has any other tips about it, please leave a comment! Also, why do you like one system or the other better? Have you had experience with either?
I’m actually more in favor of the Roman Numeral system because it’s what I learned. I see nothing wrong with the NNS though, if it’s used consistently and explained well.
But my overall choice is neither. I think it’s good to teach the basic concepts of both while implementing the whole of neither. In the average church worship setting, you’re really and truly not going to need to transpose on the fly (as the norm). You’re not really going to post music in the NNS or the RNS.
More times than not you’ll just post the chords and slash chords that you want your team to play. Again, I think it’s good for people to know how to transpose and how the systems work, but I don’t think it will ever become the status quo to print everyone’s music out in either.
Unless your worship team doubles as a studio band in it’s off time
Very informative posts! Keep em coming.
Comment by Russ — August 8, 2008 @ 10:01 am
Russ - right on. I’ve only ever seen chord names and note names combined with chord types (aug, maj7, min7, dim, etc.) in lead sheets.
But you’re right - especially if you’re recording, it’s very good to know.
Comment by Ryan Egan — August 8, 2008 @ 10:07 am
In typical notation with NNS, you won’t typically see 6/4, you’ll see 6 with a 4 underneath it on the following line. That’s important b/c the “/” actually indicates a split measure. NNS assumes a full bar for each chord (4/4 time signature means each number indicates 4 beats). 4/6- indicates that you’re going to play the 4 major two beat and the 6 minor two beats.
The main difference between NNS and Roman numerals, is that NNS has tons of other indicators <(push) .(just like music, add 1/2 beat to time) and some other symbols. I’ll email you a sample
And to answer the email you just sent, there’s no assumption about which chords are minors/majors:
1 2- 3- 4 5 6- 7 would be the notation!
Hope this helps some. I’ll send you a sample chart! It’s quite fascinating, and wherever I go from here, I want my bands to learn the NNS. It saved our rear-ends on plenty of occasions. The other problem with NNS is that it isn’t standardized, so different studios/organizations will sometimes differ. I’m no expert, just sharing what I learned over a year as a worship leader in Nashvegas!
mjd
Comment by Matthew Daniel — August 8, 2008 @ 12:13 pm
I’ve been very interested in the NNS for quite some time now. I’ve done some learning on my own. I have a question though - and this is where the break down has come for me. How do you teach this to people? We don’t have time in our practices to learn stuff like this. So it would require an extra session just for training on this. It would also be a challenge because we have different musicians with different skill levels. Just wondering how you guys have taught it.
Comment by David Lindner — August 10, 2008 @ 2:44 pm
Hey David - thanks for stopping by! Sorry it took me a while to get back to you.
I think you just have to do it like everything else - one step at a time, one person at a time. If you have the ability to get one on one with people for “mini lessons” or even get a group of pianists or a group of guitarists together to have short workshops on this, it might be the way to go.
Any other thoughts, anyone?
Comment by Ryan Egan — August 11, 2008 @ 6:59 pm
I used the number system as an easy way to transpose charts and still print out the chords. I saved my song with the numbers and then when we needed to change the key of a song I would say Find (1) Replace with (G), Find (4) replace with (C). Since they were the only numbers on the page my word processor would only change those numbers to the right chords. Might be a way to transition, or as a demonstration.
Comment by Russell Martin — August 26, 2008 @ 11:39 pm