The Complete Nashville Number System
The Complete Nashville Number System
The shorthand working musicians use to communicate in real time. Learn the system, the theory behind it, and how to put it to work right away.
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The One System Working Musicians Use Every Day
The Nashville Number System is one of the most used and important pieces of musical knowledge I've ever come across as a guitar player. As someone who plays in bands, tours, and does sessions, it's the concept I lean on constantly. Once it clicks, communicating with other players in real time gets a whole lot easier.
It's basically become the industry standard for how musicians talk to each other across instruments, and it just makes everything simpler. I use it literally every single time I get together with other players, whether that's a gig, a rehearsal, or a recording session. This course is built to get you up to speed on all of it, no matter where you're starting from.
This isn't just music theory.
It's how to actually communicate with other players and put the numbers to work.
Here's What You'll Learn Inside
- What the Number System Actually Is Start with the big picture: what the system is, where it comes from, and why it's become the way working musicians communicate.
- The Theory That Makes It Click Build from the major scale up through chords and the harmonized scale, so the numbers actually mean something instead of being memorized.
- Real Progressions, Numbered Learn how common progressions work, including the four chords behind a huge amount of rock and roll, plus how to harmonize the minor scale.
- Beyond the Basics Get comfortable with slash chords, non-diatonic chords, and voice leading, so you can read and write more than just the simple stuff.
- Hearing It and Writing It Down Train your ear to recognize the numbers on the fly, then learn how to chart a song so anyone in the room can follow along.
What the Number System Unlocks for You
This is the knowledge that lets you walk into any musical situation and hold your own.
Communicate Like a Pro
Walk into any rehearsal, gig, or session and talk through songs in the same shorthand every working musician already uses.
Make Theory Make Sense
The numbers turn abstract theory into something practical you can actually hear and use when you're playing with other people.
Change Keys Instantly
Once a song lives in numbers instead of letters, moving it to any key becomes almost effortless.
Chart Any Song
Learn to write a song down quickly so you, or anyone else in the band, can pick it up and play it cold.
Everything You Need to Actually Learn It
The Complete Nashville Number System Curriculum
5 sections · 13 video lessons · PDFs throughout
Getting Started
2 lessons- How to Use This Course 1:13
- What is the Nashville Number System? 4:32
The Theory Foundation
4 lessons- The Major Scale 9:16
- Chord Basics 14:05
- The Harmonized Major Scale 10:47
- Know Your Chords 13:18
Building Real Progressions
2 lessons- The 4 Chords of Rock 'n' Roll 9:59
- Harmonizing the Minor Scale 7:47
Beyond the Basics
3 lessons- What are the Slash Chords? 7:22
- Understanding Non-Diatonic Chords 9:31
- Voice Leading 101 7:30
Putting It to Work
2 lessons- Ear Training for the Nashville Number System 13:13
- Write It Down 6:33
Built for Two Kinds of Players
Wherever you're starting from, this course is built to meet you there and get you up to speed.
🌱 The Theory Newcomer
Starting from square one? You're in the right place.
- You've never studied music theory and want a clear place to begin
- You want to understand what other players mean when they call out numbers
- You learn best when concepts are shown on the guitar, not just explained on paper
- You'd rather build real understanding than memorize a chart
🎯 The Player Leveling Up
Know some theory but fuzzy on the numbers? Let's tighten it up.
- You've got some theory background but never nailed down the number system
- You want to feel confident calling and following changes on a gig
- You're getting into sessions, worship, or fill-in work where this is expected
- You want to chart songs fast and communicate clearly with a band
"This is the one musical concept that I use literally every single time I get together with other musicians to play a gig, go to rehearsal, or work on a recording session."
— Rhett Shull