The Numbering System

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Throughout this website I make use of numbers in place of note names to show scale and chord configurations. The reason for this is simple. Let me illustrate with a few examples. Let's look at the major scale in a few different keys:

First we have the key of C major, then Ab major, then C# major. Notice that the note names are all over the place! Trying to memorize all of this is quite a task. However, you can see that the shape of the scale is the same for all three. This is because they are all major scales and it's this shape (or configuration) which makes them major scales.

By the numbers

Next, let's look at the same configuration using the numbering system instead of note names:

The shape is still the same and now we have a diagram that applies all across the board! We would only have to learn this shape once and refer to things by their numbers. It's a more generic way of expressing the same information.

Also, if we want to refer to a specific interval, it's easy:

• A 5th is a 1 and a 5
• A 7th is a 1 and a 7
• A 3rd is a 1 and a 3, etc.

This makes it a lot easier to find your intervals and chords.

As another example, a major chord is comprised of the intervals 1, 3, and 5. What if we want a major chord in the key of G? We take the number shape to the guitar where the 1 is on G and count off a 1, 3, and 5. If we wanted to do it just by note names, we would have to know that it's a G, B, and D. What if we wanted C# major? We would have to know that it's C#, F and G#! Too much to remember when we can just say 1, 3, 5 for any key.

It works for scales, too

This idea works well for scales as well. As long as we keep relating everything to the major scale, we can use this principle for any scale. Look at the next diagram of a harmonic minor scale. We have a flat 3rd (b3) and a flat 6th (b6), and this is how this scale differs from the major scale.

So every chord or scale has its own unique configuration. It is the configuration which makes it that particular chord or scale. Therefore, we can always relate it to the shape of the major scale and reduce it down to the numbers to make the job of learning it much easier and make so much more sense out of it.

Further info

I have the formulas for many chords and scales on my Formulas page.

These formulas are also built-in to my Chord and Scale Finder by Interval page if you want to see and use them more easily.

If you want to check these formulas, configuration, or shapes out by their actual note names on the guitar, you can open up a separate window with my Chord and Scale Finder by Note Name page and do a comparison study.