Customer Reviews

The Nashville Numbering System: An Aid to Playing by Ear (Hal Leonard Studio Series)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Hmmm...one review with 1* and another with 5*'s. What's a person to think?

I certainly can understand the 1* point of view. I do not understand the 5* statement about this being the "first book..." considering the fact that you can find most of the substance of this book through any good Internet search engine. As I looked through the book (I already know the Nashville numbering system) I thought, "Ok, you could really explain this in about 5 pages which isn't enough for a book so they added all this 'filler' to make it enough pages worth printing and charging a decent price". The filler does not make the book bad. You just need to understand that it is there going in to your purchase of it.

The book comes from a position of Neal Matthews Jr.(one of the Jordonaires of the back-up band to Elvis Presley) having solicited from his industry buddies how he (Matthews) came up with the system in addition to less than 10 examples of the system - all with very basic chord progressions. So in this sense the book could be more aptly entitled "The History of The Nashville Numbering System with Easy Illustrated Examples".

Also, the book is sprinkled with pictures of what young country fans now would consider "the old-timers"; there is no copyright on this book but one picture of Loretta Lynn is dated 1982 and the book definitely has an "old feel" to it's look and content (hey, look at that picture of B.J. Thomas with a huge Afro! - yeah, a little dated I'd say...). Producers mentioned, well-known in their day no doubt (and certainly an important part of Nashville country music history), would be unknown (and unimportant) to the average player today who's main interest in buying the book is to learn the system.

Although the system is explained and illustrated, there certainly could have been many more examples included of tunes actually using the system. I counted 8 songs, again all "old"; two Elvis Presley songs, "Green, green grass of home", "Another Somebody Done somebody wrong song", "Mamas don't let your babies...," "King of the Road" etc.

Unfortunately, these examples all use the basic I-IV-V chords. Current country songs, (while there are great songs currently being written with only three chords), are typically using more and more color chords not in the key. Bridges which modulate to chords outside the key etc.

The substance of the system certainly is explained and illustrated, but I think the lack of examples and the out-dated content is what might turn some people off who are really buying the book for the sole purpose of mastering the system. There is a chapter on studio lingo - but if it was studio lingo of 1982, well that's 25 years ago!

Bottom line: Keep this book as a historical record of the evolution and explaination of the system, but come out with a NEW edition with LOTS more current examples of current tunes that go "outside the I-IV-V box" like Rascal Flatts songs (What Hurts The Most), Montgomery-Gentry songs etc., to reflect the current studio atmosphere of what's really being experienced in Nashville in this post-2000 century.

This book is practically worthless. It is half filled with idiotic quotes from famous musicians about how wonderful the number system is. The Nashville numbering system is such an easy concept that you do not need any book, especially this one, to learn it. The author does not do a good job explaining the notations used in the examples. I cannot recommend this book to anyone.

Great! Short and to the point. I've loaned it to friends I play music with and use it with all beginners. Thinking by the numbers helps with ear training and being able to anticipate changes.
If you have ANY questions about the Nashville Number system buy this book

I teach beginning students to play guitar by ear, and I offer this book as a study aid for my class. I've played music professionally since I was fourteen years old. It took me many years to learn the concepts that are taught in the Nashville Numbering System. Using this book, beginners may understand some of the most important concepts about chord progressions and changing keys in a relatively short period of time. I urge anyone who is serious about playing music professionally to make this one of their first books. I give this book my highest rating.

Great book. Very informative. I'm not just saying that because he was my uncle. His name is Neal not Neil.