I went to one of @BanjoBen 's Cabin Camps early last year. There I was exposed, for the first time, to the NNS. It made sense to me then but the “clue light” didn’t come on until recently. At camp, our band sang Amazing Grace in G and I had the lead on that. I am certain everyone there realized that this is NOT my key as the high notes were pretty flat. (Some would say they were all flat but that’s a different story.) Now, had I been thinking, I could have asked the band if we could play it in D (my preferred key)…we all knew the NNS well enough to do it but we just didn’t.
So, fast forward to the present. A couple times in the last 6 months or so I’ve served as “Jam Coach” for a local teacher who teaches an intro to bluegrass jamming class. We focus on playing by ear, following a guitar for the chord changes (until they know the song at least), etc. In one session I was desperately trying to sing a high harmony part on “You Are My Sunshine” and there was no way that was gonna happen. All of a sudden…BING BING BING! I said, “Let’s try this in C”. (That led to a short capo lesson) but away we went. I was leading the song with a mandolin so I actually had to use the C shapes but in my head I’m just saying (1, 4, 1 whatever it was) and I’m heading down the road just as if I’d been playing and singing it in C forever. I commented to some of the stronger players in the class that I’d rather hear someone announce a song in a jam using the NNS and then tell me what key we’re in versus hearing someone say, “Okay, the chord progression is G, C, G, D” etc. Now when someone does that my mind goes straight to the NNS and that’s what I’m thinking of as we play.
Is this earth-shattering? Absolutely not…but it has made my playing a bit more fun. And speaking of playing…it’s time for some string therapy…trying to learn “Who’s That Knocking At My Door?”. Let’s see, chord progression is 1, 5(7), 1, 5(7)…
Have a great day and keep on pickin!
Ron