Several readers have written in regards to the NASHVILLE NUMBER SYSTEM Book Review in Guitar News Weekly...

First there was: THE NASHVILLE NUMBER SYSTEM by Chas Williams. Book Review by Alice Franceschini

Then: THE NASHVILLE NUMBER SYSTEM - Review errors? comments by Dennis O'Neill

Then, in reply to Dennis, again from Alice Franceschini:

"Half step and whole step is NOT timing, it is the actual sound of the tone or pitch. Any basic piano teaching book will explain this. A quarter note would be timing. Timing also has a whole note and a half note... (there is a) difference between a note and a step."

Now Pete writes to say: "I believe Alice's message posted in Guitar News Weekly #55 (8/30/99) is in error...

A step is actually the interval between notes in a scale, not the actual sound of the note. For example, a whole step would be the interval between a "C" and a "D" in a C major scale. The reason this a whole step is because there is another note between a "C" and a "D" ("C" sharp or "D" flat). An example of a half step would be the interval between the "E" and "F" in the same scale since there is no note between the two (an "E" sharp is an "F").

So in conclusion, (in my opinion) a step has nothing to do with either timing or pitch, it is merely an interval between notes.

Pete Goulazian

Anyone else like to comment? - Ed