Many, if not most, pop and jazz musicians are used to reading the chord symbols found on lead sheets and in fake books (like G7, C6, Dm). The Nashville Number System uses similar chord symbols, but instead of having these chord symbols specific to a particular key, chord symbols in the Nashville system are independent of the key. This independence from any particular key is the heart of the number system, and it is the reason the notation is so powerful and popular.
Why, you may wonder, is it helpful to have chords notated generically, with numbers instead of the letter names? There are many reasons. For one, it makes transposing much easier. Consider, for instance, walking into a gig where the singer wants the song a little bit lower than the key in which it was originally recorded, because the original song is too high for his or her voice. A chart using traditional chord symbols would have to be completely rewritten for the new key, whereas a chart using Nashville numbers would not have to change.
Nashville numbers can also help make a song that is in a tricky key much easier to play. For example, most guitar players would say that a song in Ab major is not in a friendly key, especially when compared to G major. With a Nashville chart, a guitar player can simply put a capo on the first fret and play a song in Ab as if it were in G major. There would be no need to read the song in the wrong key, convert from one key to another on the fly, or rewrite the entire song in G major. Piano players with electronic keyboards can use a similar strategy: just press the “transpose” button, and every song can be played in C major!
Perhaps the greatest benefit of the Nashville Number System is that it allows musicians to see patterns in harmony and form across a variety of songs, even though the chords to those songs may be different. In this regard, the Nashville Number System is the best tool for those interested in songwriting or learning how songs are organized. If you become an expert in the Nashville Number System, you have the ability to see that many popular songs have similar structures and chord changes, even though they may sound different.
Learning to play from a Nashville chart takes some getting used to, but there is no better way to learn than to play along with some of the greatest songs in country music. I compiled the songs in this book carefully, trying not to let my personal tastes get in the way. The songs were selected based on their inclusion in a number of different sources — such as the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, Grammy, and Nashville Songwriters Association International awards, Billboard charts, as well as “greatest country songs” lists from magazines, websites, and television. Even though some songs in this book may not be in regular radio rotation anymore, I believe these songs represent some of the most well-known and well-respected songs in the history of country music.
In the pages that follow, I describe the mechanics of Nashville number notation. A certain level of music theory knowledge is helpful, but do not get discouraged or overwhelmed if you are new to music theory. The best way to learn the system is to jump in and play along with a song. Many professional musicians on the Nashville scene do not have degrees in music or much formal training in music theory. Nonetheless, they have all figured out how to play from charts like the ones in this book, and you can too!

7 INTRODUCTION
8 CHORD NOTATION BASICS
10 CHORD NOTATION DETAILS
13 METER
14 RHYTHM
16 FORM
18 SPECIAL SYMBOLS
20 FINAL THOUGHTS
20 BIBLIOGRAPHY
20 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
21 ACHY BREAKY HEART (DON'T TELL MY HEART) / BILLY RAY CYRUS
22 ACT NATURALLY / BUCK OWENS
23 AIN'T NOTHING 'BOUT YOU / BROOKS & DUNN
24 ALCOHOL / BRAD PAISLEY
25 ALL MY EX'S LIVE IN TEXAS / GEORGE STRAIT
26 ALL THE GOLD IN CALIFORNIA / THE GATLIN BROTHERS
27 ALMOST PERSUADED / DAVID HOUSTON
28 ALWAYS ON MY MIND / WILLIE NELSON
29 AMAZED / LONESTAR
30 ANY MAN OF MINE / SHANIA TWAIN
31 AUTOMATIC / MIRANDA LAMBERT
32 BABY'S GOT HER BLUE JEANS ON / MEL MCDANIEL
33 BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS / JOHNNY HORTON
34 BEER FOR MY HORSES / TOBY KEITH & WILLIE NELSON
35 BEFORE HE CHEATS / CARRIE UNDERWOOD
36 BEFORE THE NEXT TEARDROP FALLS / FREDDY FENDER
37 BEHIND CLOSED DOORS / CHARLIE RICH
38 BELIEVE / BROOKS & DUNN
39 A BETTER MAN / CLINT BLACK
40 BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD / RASCAL FLATTS
41 BLUE / LEANN RIMES
42 BLUE BAYOU / LINDA RONDSTADT
43 BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN / WILLE NELSON
44 BLUE MOON OF KENTUCKY / BILL MONROE & THE BLUEGRASS BOYS
45 BOOT SCOOTIN' BOOGIE / BROOKS & DUNN
46 BOP / DAN SEALS
47 A BOY NAMED SUE / JOHNNY CASH
48 BREATHE / FAITH HILL
49 CAN THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN (WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN) / THE CARTER FAMILY
50 CHATTAHOOCHEE / ALAN JACKSON
51 CHECK YES OR NO / GEORGE STRAIT
52 CHICKEN FRIED / ZAC BROWN BAND
53 CHISELED IN STONE / VERN GOSDIN
54 COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER / LORETTA LYNN
55 COAT OF MANY COLORS / DOLLY PARTON
56 CONVOY / C.W. MCCALL
57 COULD I HAVE THIS DANCE /ANNE MURRAY
58 COUNTRY BUMPKIN / CAL SMITH
59 CRAZY / PATSY CLINE
60 CRAZY ARMS / RAY PRICE
61 CRAZY GIRL / ELI YOUNG BAND
62 CRUISE / FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE
63 THE DANCE / GARTH BROOKS
64 DELTA DAWN / TANYA TUCKER
65 DESPERADOS WAITING FOR THE TRAIN / JERRY JEFF WALKER
66 THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA / CHARLIE DANIELS BAND
67 D-I-V-O-R-C-E / TAMMY WYNETTE
68 DON'T COME HOME A DRINKIN'(WITH LOVIN'ON YOUR MIND) / LORETTA LYNN
69 DON'T IT MAKE MY BROWN EYES BLUE / CRYSTAL GALE
70 DON'T LET OUR LOVE START SLIPPIN' / VINCE GILL
71 DON'T ROCK THE JUKEBOX / ALAN JACKSON
72 DRIVIN' MY LIFE AWAY / EDDIE RABBITT
73 EASY LOVING / FREDDIE HART
74 EIGHTEEN WHEELS AND A DOZEN ROSES / KATHY MATTEA
75 80'S LADIES / K.T. OSLIN
76 EL PASO / MARTY ROBBINS
77 ELVIRA / OAK RIDGE ROYS
78 FANCY / REBA MCENTIRE
79 FLOWERS ON THE WALL / STATLER BROTHERS
80 FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN / LESTER FLATT, EARL SCRUGGS & THE FOGGY MOUNTAIN BOYS
81 FOLLOW YOUR ARROW / KACEY MUSGRAVES
82 FOLSOM PRISON BLUES / JOHNNY CASH
83 FOR THE GOOD TIMES / RAY PRICE
84 FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN / RANDY TRAVIS
85 FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES / GARTH BROOKS
86 THE GAMBLER / KENNY ROGERS
87 GENTLE ON MY MIND / GLEN CAMPBELL
88 GIVE IT AWAY / GEORGE STRAIT
89 GO REST HIGH ON THAT MOUNTAIN / VINCE GILL
90 GOD BLESS THE U.S.A. / LEE GREENWOOD
91 GOD GAVE ME YOU / BLAKE SHELTON
92 A GOOD HEARTED WOMAN / WAYLON JENNINGS & WILLIE NELSON
93 THE GOOD STUFF / KENNY CHESNEY
94 GUITAR TOWN / STEVE EARLE
95 GUITARS, CADILLACS / DWIGHT YOAKAM
96 THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WHOLE U.S.A. / DONNA FARGO
97 HARPER VALLEY P.T.A. / JEANNIE C. RILEY
98 HE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAY / GEORGE JONES
99 HE'LL HAVE TO GO / JIM REEVES
100 HELLO DARLIN' / CONWAY TWITTY
101 HELLO WALLS / FARON YOUNG
102 HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT / KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
103 HERE'S A QUARTER (CALL SOMEONE WHO CARES) / TRAVIS TRITT
104 HEY, GOOD LOOKIN' / HANK WILLIAMS
105 (HEY, WON'T YOU PLAY) ANOTHER SOMEBODY DONE SOMEBODY WRONG SONG / B. J. THOMAS
106 THE HIGHWAYMAN / THE HIGHWAYMEN
107 HOLES IN THE FLOOR OF HEAVEN / STEVE WARINER
108 HONEY / BOBBY GOLDSBORO
109 THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME / MIRANDA LAMBERT
110 HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?! / TOBY KEITH
111 I AM A MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW / THE STANLEY BROTHERS
112 I BELIEVE IN YOU / DON WILLIAMS
113 I CAN LOVE YOU LIKE THAT / JOHN MICHAEL MONTGOMERY
114 I DRIVE YOUR TRUCK / LEE BRICE
115 I FALL TO PIECES / PATSY CLINE
116 I HOPE YOU DANCE / LEE ANN WOMACK
117 I MAY HATE MYSELF IN THE MORNING / LEE ANN WOMACK
118 (I NEVER PROMISED YOU A) ROSE GARDEN / LYNN ANDERSON
119 I RUN TO YOU / LADY ANTEBELLUM
120 I SAW GOD TODAY / GEORGE STRAIT
121 I SAW THE LIGHT / HANK WILLIAMS
122 I STILL BELIEVE IN YOU / VINCE GILL
123 I SWEAR / JOHN MICHAEL MONTGOMERY
124 I WALK THE LINE / JOHNNY CASH
125 I WAS COUNTRY WHEN COUNTRY WASN'T COOL / BARBARA MANDRELL 8 GEORGE JONES
126 I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU / DOLLY PARTON
127 I'M MOVIN' ON / HANK SNOW
128 I'M MOVIN'ON / RASCAL FLATTS
129 I'M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY / HANK WILLIAMS
130 IF I DIE YOUNG / THE BAND PERRY
131 IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES / GARTH BROOKS
132 IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH HELL (BEFORE THE DEVIL EVEN KNOWS) / RODNEY ATKINS
133 IF YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY (I'VE GOT THE TIME) / LEFTY FRIZZELL
134 IN COLOR / JAMEY JOHNSON
135 INDEPENDENCE DAY / MARTINA MCBRIDE
136 ISLANDS IN THE STREAM / KENNY ROGERS & DOLLY PARTON
137 IT WASN'T GOD WHO MADE HONKYTONK ANGELS / KITTY WELLS
138 IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE / ALAN JACKSON & JIMMY BUFFETT
139 IT'S SUCH A PRETTY WORLD TODAY / WYNN STEWART
140 IT'S YOUR LOVE / TIM MCGRAW & FAITH HILL
141 JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL / CARRIE UNDERWOOD
142 JUST GOT STARTED LOVIN' YOU / JAMES OTTO
143 JUST TO SEE YOU SMILE / TIM MCGRAW
144 KING OF THE ROAD / ROGER MILLER
145 KISS AN ANGEL GOOD MORNIN' / CHARLEY PRIDE
146 LET YOUR LOVE FLOW / THE BELLAMY BROTHERS
147 A LITTLE GOOD NEWS / ANNE MURRAY
148 LITTLE GREEN APPLES / ROGER MILLER
149 LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING / TIM MCGRAW
150 THE LONG BLACK VEIL / LEFTY FRIZZELL
151 LOST IN THE FIFTIES TONIGHT (IN THE STILL OF THE NITE) / RONNIE MILSAP
152 LOVESICK BLUES / HANK WILLIAMS
153 LUCILLE / KENNY ROGERS
154 LUCKENBACH. TEXAS (BACK TO THE BASICS OF LOVE) / WAYLON JENNINGS & WILLIE NELSON
155 MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY / EDDY ARNOLD
156 MAMA HE'S CRAZY / THE JUDDS
157 MAMA'S BROKEN HEART / MIRANDA LAMBERT
158 MAMMAS DON'T LET YOUR BABIES GROW UP TO BE COWBOYS / WAYLON JENNINGS & WILLIE NELSON
159 ME AND BOBBY MCGEE / ROGER MILLER
160 MEAN / TAYLOR SWIFT
161 THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL / CHARLIE RICH
162 MOUNTAIN MUSIC / ALABAMA
163 MY MARIA / BROOKS & DUNN
164 NEED YOU NOW / LADY ANTEBELLUM
165 NINE TO FIVE / DOLLY PARTON
166 NOBODY'S HOME / CLINT BLACK
167 ODE TO BILLY JOE / BOBBY GENTRY
168 OH, LONESOME ME / DON GIBSON
169 OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE / MERLE HAGGARD
170 OLD DOGS, CHILDREN AND WATERMELON WINE / TOM T. HALL
171 ON THE OTHER HAND / RANDY TRAVIS
172 ON THE ROAD AGAIN / WILLIE NELSON
173 ONE MORE DAY / DIAMOND RIO
174 OVER YOU / MIRANDA LAMBERT
175 PASSIONATE KISSES / MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER
176 QUEEN OF HEARTS / JUICE NEWTON
177 THE RACE IS ON / GEORGE JONES
178 REDNECK WOMAN / GRETCHEN WILSON
179 RHINESTONE COWBOY / GLEN CAMPBELL
180 RING OF FIRE / JOHNNY CASH
181 SEVEN YEAR ACHE / ROSEANNE CASH
182 SHE'S IN LOVE WITH THE BOY / TRISHA YEARWOOD
183 SHOULD'VE BEEN A COWBOY / TOBY KEITH
184 SMOKY MOUNTAIN RAIN / RONNIE MILSAP
185 SOMEWHERE IN MY BROKEN HEART / BILLY DEAN
186 SPRINGSTEEN / ERIC CHURCH
187 STAND BY YOUR MAN / TAM MY WYNETTE
188 STAY / SUGARLAND
189 STILL / BILL ANDERSON
190 STRAWBERRY WINE / DEANA CARTER
191 STREETS OF BALTIMORE / BOBBY BARE
192 SUMMERTIME / KENNY CHESNEY
193 SUNDAY MORNIN' COMIN' DOWN / JOHNNY CASH
194 SWINGIN' / JOHN ANDERSON
195 TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT / JOHNNY PAYCHECK
196 THANK GOD I'M A COUNTRY BOY / JOHN DENVER
197 THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT SUNDAY / CRAIG MORGAN
198 THERE GOES MY EVERYTHING / JACK GREEN
199 THIS KISS / FAITH HILL
200 THREE WOODEN CROSSES / RANDY TRAVIS
201 TO ALL THE GIRLS I'VE LOVED BEFORE / JULIO IGLESIAS & WILLE NELSON
202 WABASH CANNONBALL / ROY ACUFF
203 WALKING THE FLOOR OVER YOU / ERNEST TUBB
204 WATCHING YOU / RODNEY ATKINS
205 THE WAY YOU LOVE ME / FAITH HILL
206 WHAT'S HE DOING IN MY WORLD / EDDY ARNOLD
207 WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME / VINCE GILL
208 WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL / ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION
209 WHERE WERE YOU (WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED TURNING) / ALAN JACKSON
210 WHERE'VE YOU BEEN / KATHY MATTEA
211 WHY ME? (WHY ME, LORD?) / KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
212 WHY NOT ME / THE JUDDS
213 WICHITA LINEMAN / GLEN CAMPBELL
214 WIDE OPEN SPACES / DIXIE CHICKS
215 THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS / GARY MORRIS
216 YOU NEEDED ME / ANNE MURRAY
217 YOU'RE GONNA MISS THIS / TRACE ADKINS
218 YOU'RE STILL THE ONE / SHANIA TWAIN
219 YOU'RE THE REASON GOD MADE OKLAHOMA / DAVID FRIZZELL & SHELLY WEST
220 YOUR CHEATIN' HEART / HANK WILLIAMS