Music theory is a subject that still intimidates even the best players, but it shouldn’t. I used to reckon that if I wanted to be a professional player, then I would have to learn how to sight-read sheet music.

Well I establish out that’s not the truth.

Now it is vital to have a vital music theory knowledge, but you can make a full time living being a highly paid musician, without knowing how to read a single note.

The reason why is that most major producers and studios don’t use sheet music.

They use the number system (Nashville System).

Music theory comes down to number not notes. To this day, I still can’t tell you what note I’m hitting right on the spot. All though if I look I can tell you quick, but I by no means reckon that I’m playing a C, D, E, I only reckon about the facts that I’m playing.

The reason why the number system is so well loved, is that you can promptly transpose music on the glide. Instead of costs hours re-charting out the notes in conventional sheet music.

The number system adds for quick interaction among musicians in live playing situations, which breeds on the glide, creative compositions.

So what is the number system, and how do you use it?

Well the number system is based off the major scale.

If we go to the key of C Major, the we have the notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C

This is how you should play it on the guitar:

E|————————————————–|
B|————————————————–|
G|————————————————–|
D|——————-9-10—————————|
A|———-8-10-12———————————|
E|-8-10-12——————————————|

So not remember about what the notes are for a second, just play the notes in the order higher than, and count to 8.

So instead of saying, C, D, E, F,:

Place a number to the notes, only refer to the notes as their number. I.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (octave)

All you need to know is the key, and you’re able to improvise on the glide.

Learn the major scale, because no matter what key you’re in the 2 chord is always in the same position, the 4 chord, is always in the same position. So you can play and transpose the music on the glide.

So instead of saying, play C-F-G, I just tell you; “Hey we’re in the key of C, and we’re doing a 1-4-5 advance”.

But if at the last minute I say switch the keys to Eb. Then you don’t have to try to run around figuring out what chords to play. You know where the 1 chord is, the 4 chord, and then the 5 chord.

Let’s say spontaneously I want to go to the 6 chord to take the music into a different direction. All I have to do if we were in the key of G is say the number 6 vs. trying to mouth go to E minor.

By studying the number system youÆll be able to increase your interaction to any musician, and augmented interaction equals better music hands down.