Learn
The Nashville Number System
A way of writing a song down so that it works in any key. Start with the guide, which has all of it on one page; the lessons below take one topic at a time.
Start here · the complete guide
The Nashville Number System, explained
What the numbers mean, how long a chord lasts, how it is played, where the song goes, minor-key songs, and every mark in one table — with worked examples drawn by the same renderer that draws the library. Read it once and the lessons become references.
Read the guide →One topic at a time
Lessons
- 01Reading a chartHow do you read a Nashville number chart?
- 02Split bars and beat marksHow do you write two chords in one bar?
- 03Diamonds, marcatos and N.C.What does a diamond mean on a Nashville chart?
- 04PushesWhat does the push mark mean on a Nashville chart?
- 05Repeats, endings and section bracketsHow do repeats and first and second endings work in the number system?
- 06Minor-key songsHow do you chart a song in a minor key with numbers?
- 07Chord qualities and slash chordsHow are minor, seventh, sus and slash chords written in numbers?