Nashville notation
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Nashville notation is a method of writing, or sketching out, musical ideas, using numbers in place of chord names. For example:
In the key of C, C=1, D=2, E=3, and so on for all twelve notes in the key. So, the chord progression C///F///G///C///
would correspond to 1///4///5///1///
in Nashville notation.
This also works the other way: 1///4///5///1///
in the key of G would become G///C///D///G///
This method of notation facilitates musicians (who are familiar with basic music theory) being able to play the same song in any key, perhaps to accommodate a singer's vocal range.