Ok up to now we've discussed the C major scale, the intervals between the notes, the way that all the chords for any given key are constructed and now we want to talk about how to create and or communicate a song to other musicians without written music...
Many many songs today use very common patterns. So common in fact that someone somewhere found an easy way to discuss/communicate a song pattern to anyone on any instrument that understands this system without having to see it written down. This is very handy for a guitar player that cannot read piano sheet music and for piano players that don't know guitar shorthand. Guitar shorthand is the notes all guitar players see over the words of a song that tells them what chord to play... Something like C Am F G (Believe it or not, most piano players don't understand that)...
The method is call the Nashville Numbering System...
nashville numbering system - Google Search
In short every chord is represented by a number so we have a formula which we know from our previous lessons that goes like this...
C is the first chord of harmonized notes in the key of C and is a Major chord based on the intervals it is often referred to as the 1 or the I
D is the second chord on harmonized notes in the key of C and is a Minor chord based on the intervals it is often referred to as the 2 or the ii
E is the third chord on harmonized notes in the key of C and is a Minor chord based on the intervals it is often referred to as the 3 or the iii
F is the fourth chord on harmonized notes in the key of C and is a Major chord based on the intervals it is often referred to as the 4 or the IV
G is the fifth chord on harmonized notes in the key of C and is a Major chord based on the intervals it is often referred to as the 5 or the V
A is the sixth chord on harmonized notes in the key of C and is a Minor chord based on the intervals it is often referred to as the 6 or the iv
B is the seventh chord on harmonized notes in the key of C and is a diminished chord based on the intervals it is often referred to as the 7 or the vii.
So with that, once you begin to formulate chord patterns for your songs you can communicate them like this...
Ok guys: Lets play a 1 4 5 in the key of C...
Or Lets play a 1 6 4 5 in the key of G
etc. etc.
This becomes a very effective way for musicians to communicate with each other while creating music or just jamming in the garage...
Here's your homework for this week...
What name is the song form of 1 4 5 known as?
Where have you heard 1 6 4 5 song forms (what musical genre)?
Bonus question: What musical genre lives on the ii V I (2 5 1)?
See you next week.