Studio (Music) Numbering System

Studio musicians have used a numbering system for many years. This numbering system applies to both chord changes and chord construction.

Using the key of C for an example. The C scale is C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C. The number scale is 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8.

The cool thing about the numbering system is this--look at the F scale for a comparison--F,G,A,Bb,C,D,E,F. The matching number scale is still 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. The number scale starts with the root note of any key.

Easy Chord Construction:

Major chords are constructed using 1,3,5 of any scale. Minor chords are constructed by using 1,3b,5 of any scale.

Inversions of the notes are played by changing the order of the numbers. 1,3,5...3,5,1...5,1,3. For the C chord, this would be C,E,G...E,G,C...G,C,E. This is how melodies are created. The melody usually follows the highest note played.

When you are playing a 7th chord, the note you add to 1,3,5 is 7D (dominant 7 or flat 7). The 7 on the scale is major 7 when added to a 1,3,5 chord and is often used as a transition to 7D (see picture below).

To make 9th, 11th and 13th chords, you simply add 7D to the number in the chord scale that mathematically adds up to the desired chord and play those along with the 1,3,5 as shown below:

• 9th chord=7D and 2 played along with 1,3,5.
• 11th chord=7D and 4 played along with 1,3,5.
• 13th chord=7D and 6 played along with 1,3,5.
• Some players drop 3 or add 2 when they play these notes.

Whether you play professionally or just for fun, play on! Don't ever lose the joy of playing music!

Music speaks when words fail. :)

Notice in the picture below, the different chords represented by the 1,3,5 scale (yellow highlight). The letters of the music scale are constant. The number scale moves to the specific chord being played.