Patrick1962 - Posted - 07/23/2024:  18:10:44

Ok..so...I just want to check and make sure I am understanding this correctly...If I am playing a song that is G-C-D-G, that its 1-4-5-1, right? And if I wanted to play that in say, the key of A, I would play A-D-E-A, or key of C..C-F-G-C, is that right? Reason I ask is because that just seems too easy..ya know?
Also wanted to know how do you number a chord progression if it has a minor or a 7th chord in it? For example: Em-C-Am-D? or for example..G-G7-C-C7? How would you number those?

Nic Pennsylvania - Posted - 07/23/2024:  18:45:07

First answer: Yes, you've got it! These things can be easy to overthink.

Second answer: If you're in the key of G, then you could write out Em - C - Am - D as vi - IV - ii - V.
G-G7-C-C7 could be I - I7 - IV - IV7 (if you're in G) or V - V7 - I - I7 (if you're in C).

Nic Pennsylvania - Posted - 07/23/2024:  18:50:03

What you're getting at is what's called "diatonic harmony". Think of the scale as a Lego kit. The "diatonic chords" are the structures we can build using only the blocks from that kit.



For example, the G major scale goes:



G(I) - a(ii) - b(iii) - C(IV) - D(V) - e(vi) - f#(vii)



Notice that some are lower case? These "degrees" of the scale have minor chords associated with them. The uppercase letters are your major chords. Each "degree" also has a mode associated with it. These modes are also major or minor. If you guessed that the degree with the minor chord associated with it has a minor mode to which it corresponds, then you've got it!



 

Edited by - Nic Pennsylvania on 07/23/2024 18:52:56

cow_tools - Posted - 07/23/2024:  18:56:54

Yes, everything moves up or down relatively so you would be correct.
When numbering the chords you use roman numerals in lower case for the minor and diminished chords and upper case for the major.
So Em-C-Am-D becomes i-VI-iv-VII.
G-G7-C-C7 is a little more complicated because you're dealing with a series of chords that don't naturally exist in the major scale, assuming its a simple blues progression though I would just call it I-I7-IV-IV7, and probably wouldn't even bother with roman numerals. Outside of blues the 7th chord has a very specific function so that won't always be the case.

Patrick1962 - Posted - 07/23/2024:  19:55:02

Awesome..thanks everybody

Greg Denton - Posted - 07/24/2024:  03:51:30

the Nashville Number System uses Arabic numbers rather than Roman numbers. The minor chords are written with a minus sign in front of them.
Em C Am D (if it's in the key of G) would be
-6 4 -2 5

janolov - Posted - 07/24/2024:  04:59:29

You can read about the Nashville Number system here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashvill...er_System

The Nashville Number system are based on Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc.). I wonder where and how the system with Roman numbers was developed?

Old Hickory - Posted - 07/24/2024:  05:33:27

quote:

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Originally posted by Greg Denton

the Nashville Number System uses Arabic numbers rather than Roman numbers. The minor chords are written with a minus sign in front of them.

Em C Am D (if it's in the key of G) would be

-6 4 -2 5

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In my experience, the minus sign (and other symbols for diminished, major 7, etc.) go after the number. But I could be wrong.

Nic Pennsylvania - Posted - 07/24/2024:  05:40:17

I learned the system when recording jingles. I've always used Roman numerals, but it doesn't really matter what number system you use. I think I prefer Roman numerals because it's easier to see major/minor with upper and lowercase letters, which helps when using secondary dominants and minors. It's also less confusing when you want to denote a 6th chord (e.g. I6 vs. 16). 



To Ken's point, yes. I've always seen the symbols (+/aug, °/dim, -/minor, 7/dom 7, M7/ Maj7) come after the degree symbol. Like the Roman/Arabic numerals though, this too doesn't matter s'long as what's written is understood. 

Edited by - Nic Pennsylvania on 07/24/2024 05:54:49

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 07/24/2024:  06:14:51

quote:

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Originally posted by Patrick1962

 Reason I ask is because that just seems too easy..ya know?

 

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It IS easy!

Texasbanjo - Posted - 07/24/2024:  08:28:04

I remember how delighted I was once I learned and understood the Nashville Numbering System. It was so easy to change keys just by thinking 1, 4, 5, (or whatever progression).

And yes, it is easy to learn, use and understand.

250gibson - Posted - 07/24/2024:  12:24:54

quote:

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Originally posted by janolov

You can read about the Nashville Number system here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashvill...er_System

The Nashville Number system are based on Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc.). I wonder where and how the system with Roman numbers was developed?

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 Roman numerals representing chords based on the scale degrees  has been used for 100s of years when discussing music theory. The Nashville system is new and uses Arabic numbers instead to represent the chords/scale degrees. I never understood why it is considered different then the old way, but apparently someone thought it was easier to understand.  However the Nashville system introduces some ambiguity as only Arabic numbers are used, so it can be unclear if the number is a chord, scale degree, or interval.