Roman Numerals

Roman numerals are used to analyze chords.

This process is known as 'Roman Numeral Analysis' (RNA).

There are three main conventions:
  • Classical
  • Jazz (Mark Levine)
  • Nashville Number System (NNS)

This project will primarily be using the jazz conventions. It is important to follow the conventions of whatever circle you happen to be in. "Bad conventions are better than no conventions at all."

Roman numerals are used to abstract chord progressions, the same way scale degrees are used to abstract melodies.


Major tonal centers

Classical:
  , ii, iii, , ,vi, vii

Jazz:
   !, @-, #-, $, %, ^-, &º

NNS:
  1, 2-, 3-, 4, 5, 6-, 7

Minor tonal centers

Classical:
  i, ii, , iv, v, ,

Jazz:
   !-, @º, b#, $-, %-, b^, b&

NNS:
  1-, 2, 3, 4-, 5-, 6, 7
    or sometimes:
  6-, 7, 1, 2-, 3-, 4, 5