The Nashville Numbering System: An Aid to Playing by Ear (Hal Leonard Studio Series)

The Nashville Numbering System: An Aid to Playing by Ear is a guitar-focused instructional method and song collection by Neil Matthews, Jr., inventor of the Nashville Numbering System and a founding member of The Jordanaires, the vocal quartet closely associated with Elvis Presley. Used for decades by musicians, singers, songwriters, and recording professionals in Nashville, this number-based approach provides an alternative to traditional notation for communicating chord progressions in rehearsals, performances, and studio sessions.

This edition explains the Nashville Numbering System while also sharing the story behind its development through quotes, anecdotes, and photographs connected to country and popular music. Alongside instruction, readers can explore the system through twelve well-known songs that demonstrate how the method functions in real musical settings.

Published as part of the Stylistic Method series, the book combines practical instruction with musical application. It serves as both a reference resource and a study guide for musicians interested in understanding one of Nashville's most influential tools for playing, singing, arranging, and communicating music. The combination of instructional content, artist stories, and song examples helps connect theory with everyday musical situations.

Beyond presenting the mechanics of the numbering system, the book offers valuable context about how the method became a standard within professional music environments.

Song List
Beautiful Brown Eyes * Blue * Boot Scootin' Boogie * Crying in the Chapel * Green Green Grass of Home * He Stopped Loving Her Today * Heartbreak Hotel * (Hey, Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song * I Fall to Pieces * King of the Road * Make the World Go Away * Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys