Nashville Number System Group Workshop

Musicians of all levels and backgrounds should posses and develop the skills necessary to identify and understand chord changes by ear, as well the ability to transcribe those chord
changes. A strong understanding of functional harmony, common harmonic devices, and a concise methodology for communicating the chord changes and structure of a song is a
critical step in the development of every musician. During the course of this group class, we will thoroughly explore, examine, and master techniques for understanding common harmonic devices. Skills and techniques the will be covered include:

• chords in a key
• common chord progressions
• how to determine chords progressions by ear
• how to construct a Nashville number chart
• identifying and understanding non-functional harmony, chord substitutions, and chord inversions

We’ll achieve the above through demonstration, group transcription and discussion, and individual listening and transcription assignments. While there are no prerequisites for this course, it will be helpful to know some common chords on your instrument.