How To Read a Progression

The common chord progressions on this page are written in the Nashville Number
System. This is how professional studio musicians read music. They are given a
piece of paper with a bunch of numbers on it. Each number represents a chord that
is to be played.

Each number represents a note in the scale. For example, if you are in the key of
G, and the progression starts with a 1, then you play a G major chord. If you were
in the key of E 1 would be an E major chord.

If the progression says a 4, you would count up the scale until you get to the fourth
note in the scale and then you build that three note chord.

A number by itself will always be a major chord. A number with a minus – sign in
front of it represents a minor chord. So with the progression 1, 4, 6-, 5 all the
chords will be major except for the 6 which will be a minor chord.

Need To Know Progressions

Here is a list of some of the progressions that you are most likely to hear in a song.

1 4 6- 5

1 5 6- 4

1 6 5 4

1 6 4 5

6 4 1 5

1 5 4 5

1 5 4 1

1 5 4