Posted in: Blues by keyboardologist on February 10th, 2007 | 0 Comments
Basic tools for the beginning musician, that even the pro’s use.
To understand the pattern you should be familiar with a very simple tool called the “Nashville number system.” If you’re playing with a band that uses this system, it makes it very easy because all you need to know to start with is, what KEY the song is in. From there you’ll only need to know “the progression.” Progressions are numbered patterns. Typically if you are playing blues, rock, jazz, country, or 50’s music; you’ll be using terms like:A 1-4-5, or 1-6minor-4-5 quite often. There are a lot of other progressions, but again this is just the basics.
I have heard different stories of how the “Nashville number system” came into use, but the one I’ll use is this: Back in the early days of recording, there was a problem with getting a bunch of different players to work together. Although there were some great players, you’d be suprised to know that a lot of them couldn’t read music. (Some of the best players I’ve heard can’t read music). The solution was the “Nashville number system.”
The players would simply need to know what KEY the song was in , and what progression. Assuming you have SOME knowledge about scales and chords, the number system works like this: If you were in the key of “C,” you know the notes in a major scale are: C-D-E-F-G-A-B. (All white notes on a piano). You simply assign a number to the note instead of a letter. So, you would have:1-2-3-4-5-6-7. Now a C-F-G becomes 1-4-5. It works with any key, so in the key of B flat for example, a 1-4-5 would be a Bflat chord, E flt chord, and F chord. Using this system it’s easier to signal the other musicians of a chord change, because you don’t have to yell across the stage. You just hold your hand up.
One drawback is the 6 & 7 chords require two hands to signal.
A fast way to get started playing some basic blues, is to pick one scale you like a lot. I am a piano player, so I like the major keys, and I dont like the key of C. The C major scale on the piano is all white notes, but for blues, it changes. My favorite key is D. (Bach thought Dminor was the saddest sounding key). I ‘m using the key of D for two other reasons: It is a common guitar key because you can use an open tuning; and for the piano, it takes some of the black notes away, which allow you to use whole tone scales, and easier fingering for faster ascending runs.
Knowing the D scale: D-E-F#-G-A-B-C#, play the scale by making the 3, 5, and 6 one half step flat. You’ll play this: D-E-F-G-G#-B-C. Sounds strange right? Now, drop out the 2 and the 6. You’ll play: D-F-G-A- C. This is a VERY basic scale, called the “pentatonic” scale. Penta of course – means five. Tonic- means tone; so you have a five tone scale. There are lots of variations to this type of scale, butno matter where you put the notes, they will always blend in with a typical blues progression.
As for the 1-4-5 progression (using the key of D), simply play as follows: 1111-4444-1111-1111-4444-44441111-1111-5555-4444-1111- 5555. Each set of numbers is a measure or “bar.” This is very basic, and once you play around with it, you’ll find other patterns, and you will immediately recognize where you are in the song. Thanks, for reading, and have fun.
