Nashville Number System
Chord charts to numbers & back
About the Nashville Number System
The Nashville Number System writes chords as scale numbers, so one chart works in any key: in G, G–D–Em–C is 1–5–6m–4, and in A the same numbers are A–E–F♯m–D. Paste a chord chart with the chords above the lyrics, chords inline like [G], or a bar chart, and it's converted with the columns still lined up. Slash chords (D/F♯ becomes 5/7), sevenths and sus chords are kept, and chords outside the key show as ♭3, ♭6 or ♭7. Go the other way to turn a number chart into chords in any key, and use the trainer to learn the numbers by sight and by ear.
- Paste your chord chart, chords or numbers.
- Choose the key, or press Guess the key.
- Copy or print the converted chart.
- Open the Trainer to practise naming numbers and chords, or hearing them.
Frequently asked
What is the Nashville Number System?
A way of writing chord charts with numbers instead of chord names. Each number is a step of the key's major scale: in C, 1 is C, 4 is F, 5 is G and 6m is A minor. Because the numbers don't change, the band can play the same chart in any key.
How are minor chords written?
With a small m or a minus sign after the number: 6m or 6-. Choose which you prefer. Other chord types stay as they are, so Em7 in G becomes 6m7 and Dsus4 becomes 5sus4.
How do minor keys work?
By default numbers count from the minor key's root, so in A minor, Am–F–G is 1m–♭6–♭7. If your band counts from the relative major (6m–4–5), tick that option.
What does 5/7 mean?
A slash chord: the 5 chord with the 7th note of the scale in the bass. In G that's D/F♯.
Is what I type sent to a server?
No. The tool runs entirely in your browser and there's no server behind it, so what you type never leaves your device and nothing is stored. You can check: it keeps working if you go offline after the page has loaded.
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