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About Numbered Notation

All steps
  1. The numbers are the notes of a scale
  2. “1=C” tells you where to start
  3. Dots make a note higher or lower
  4. How long each note lasts
  5. 0 means rest
  6. Bar lines and the time signature
  7. Curves: ties and slurs
  8. The words sit under the numbers
  9. Repeat signs and 1. 2. endings
  10. Minor keys: “6=A”
  11. Put it together: a line of a hymn
  12. Check yourself
  13. Try it on a hymn

The numbers are the notes of a scale

Numbered notation (jianpu, 简谱) writes a melody as numbers instead of notes on a staff. You do not need to read music: take one small step at a time and press Play on any example to hear it while each number lights up. Sound only starts when you press Play.

Instead of notes on a staff, each note is a number from 1 to 7. They are the seven steps of the scale you already know: do re mi fa sol la ti. After 7 the scale starts again at 1.

The seven numbers with their names. Press Play and say each name as its number lights up.
Sing along: do re mi fa sol, and back down to do.

If you can sing do re mi, you can already sing every number from 1 to 7. Tap or click any number to hear just that note.

“1=C” tells you where to start

At the top left of the sheet you will see something like 1=C. It means the number 1 (do) is the note C, and every other number counts up from there. 1=G means do is G, so the whole tune sits a little higher. Nothing else changes: the same numbers make the same shape, only higher or lower.

1=C: do is C.
1=G: the same numbers, starting higher.

Not sure where C is? On a piano it is the white key just left of the two black keys. Or ignore the letter and start on any note that is comfortable for your voice: the tune only has to keep its shape. The − and + key buttons on a hymn page shift the key for you.

Dots make a note higher or lower

A dot above a number means one octave higher. A dot below means one octave lower. Two dots mean two octaves. No dot is the middle range, where most of a tune lives. The name stays the same; only the height changes.

The same number at three heights: dot below, no dot, dot above.
A tune that climbs: it starts on a low sol and ends on a high do.

How long each note lasts

Tap your foot at a steady pace: each tap is a beat. A plain number lasts one beat, so you sing a new number on every tap. Dashes, lines and dots change that.

A plain number is one beat

Four numbers, four beats: one number for each tap.

A dash holds the note longer

Each dash adds one beat. The 5 lasts two beats and the 3 lasts four.

A line underneath makes it shorter

One line is half a beat, so two underlined numbers share one beat. (Two lines are a quarter of a beat.)

A dot after makes it half as long again

A dot after a number adds half its length. The first 5 lasts a beat and a half, and the short 3 fills the rest of the second beat.

0 means rest

A 0 is silence for one beat. Keep counting and keep tapping, but do not sing. Dashes after a 0 make the silence longer, just as they hold a note longer.

Sing 1 3 5, stay quiet for one beat, then come back down. Rests light up too, so you can feel the pause.

Bar lines and the time signature

Tall lines cut the music into bars, each holding the same number of beats. The two small numbers at the start, like 4/4 or 3/4, say how many: 4/4 is four beats in every bar, 3/4 is three. The first beat of each bar is the strongest, so lean on it a little. A double line with a thick edge marks the end.

4/4: count 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4. The first beat of each bar sounds a little louder.
3/4: count 1 2 3, 1 2 3, the lilt of a waltz.

Curves: ties and slurs

A curve over numbers joins them. If it joins two of the same number, it is a tie: sing the note once and hold it for both. If it joins different numbers, it is a slur: sing them all on one syllable, gliding from one to the next.

A tie: the 5 is sung once and held across the bar line, six beats in all.
A slur: “Him” is sung on two notes, 3 then 2.

The words sit under the numbers

Each number gets one syllable, written right underneath it. A short dash after part of a word means the word carries on under the next number. If a number has nothing under it, it belongs to a curve or a dash: keep singing the syllable you are on.

Read left to right, one syllable for each number: Twin-kle, twin-kle, lit-tle star.

Repeat signs and 1. 2. endings

A bar line with two dots, :|, means go back and sing that part again, from the matching |: sign (or from the start if there is none). Sometimes the repeat has two endings. Sing ending 1. the first time; on the repeat, skip it and sing ending 2. instead.

Play it: you hear the 1. ending, the repeat, then the 2. ending. Watch the highlight jump back.

Minor keys: “6=A”

A song in a minor key, which usually sounds more serious or tender, is labeled like 6=A instead of 1=C. It means the number 6 (la) is the home note, here A. The numbers keep their usual names; the tune simply feels at home on 6 and often ends there. 6=A uses the same notes as 1=C.

It starts and ends on 6 (la), the home note. Listen to the darker colour.

Put it together: a line of a hymn

This is the first line of hymn 8, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow”, written in numbered notation. Try the slow tempo first, and sing the words as each number lights up.

1=G in 4/4. Three silent beats, then “Praise” on beat 4. The dots under 7, 6 and 5 mean those notes dip one octave lower.

Check yourself

Four quick questions, with no score and no pressure. Tap an answer to see right away why it is right or wrong. You can always try another answer.

Tap the number that is held the longest.

Tap the 5 that is one octave higher than the first 5.

What does a 0 mean?

Under 1=G, which note is the number 1?

Try it on a hymn

You opened this from a hymn that has a Numbered view, so you can try it right now.

  1. Look at the top left of the sheet: the key, such as 1=D, and the time signature, such as 3/4.
  2. Find the first number and sing it. Then follow the numbers from left to right with the words underneath, one syllable for each number. Press Play in the player to hear the recording while you follow.
  3. Letters above the numbers (C, G7) are chords for a guitarist or pianist. Ignore them while you learn the tune.
  4. To be guided, open the Learn tab and press Play. Under Display, set Learn notation to Numbered (or choose Numbered on the Lead Sheet tab first). For hymns that have numbered lines, each line of numbers scrolls into view in time with the recording while a bouncing ball follows the words; other hymns show the piano notation there. The Speed menu slows it down.

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Buried with Christ, and raised with Him too

Union with Christ Identified with His Death and Resurrection

English483
1
Buried with Christ, and raised with Him too;
What is there left for me to do?
Simply to cease from struggling and strife,
Simply to walk in newness of life.
Glory be to God!
2
Risen with Christ, my glorious Head,
Holiness now the pathway I tread,
Beautiful thought, while walking therein:
He that is dead is freed from sin.
Glory be to God!
3
Living with Christ, who dieth no more,
Following Christ, who goeth before;
I am from bondage utterly freed,
Reckoning self as dead indeed.
Glory be to God!
4
Living for Christ, my members I yield,
Servants to God, for evermore sealed,
Not under law, I’m now under grace,
Sin is dethroned, and Christ takes its place.
Glory be to God!
5
Growing in Christ; no more shall be named
Things of which now I’m truly ashamed,
Fruit unto holiness will I bear,
Life evermore, the end I shall share.
Glory be to God!

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Un Hermano

Nov 29, 2025

THE REVELATION THAT WE

ARE DEAD, BURIED, AND FINISHED

After seeing that Christ is our life, the second aspect of the revelation that we must see is that we are dead, buried, and finished. Some may ask, “When did we die, and when were we buried? ” We died with Christ on the cross on the day that Christ died, and we were buried on the day that we were baptized (Rom. 6:6 ; Col. 2:12). After someone dies, most of the time he is buried right away. With us, however, we were dead for more than one thousand years before we were buried. After being dead for over one thousand years, one day we were baptized by the church. Once a person is buried, he is completely finished. Eventually, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us that we are dead, buried, and therefore completely finished. We all need such a revelation. Most of us know the doctrine that we were buried in our baptism, but we need not only the truth of this matter but the revelation. We need the Holy Spirit to reveal the spiritual fact to us that we have been buried with Christ.

Then, having received this revelation, it will become a ruling power within you throughout the entire day. This revelation will rule you, protect you, and shine upon you all day. The light that you have been raised with Christ and hidden with Christ in God, as well as the revelation that you have put off the old man and put on the new man, will rule you and protect you, keeping you away from the old man and in the new man all day long. Through this you will experience Christ as your life and will be able to declare, “Christ is my life, and it is Christ who lives in me. I have nothing to do with good and evil. These things are foreign to me. My business is to deal with the living Christ who is my life. Day by day, and moment by moment, I am continually taking the ground that I have been buried with Christ and raised with Him too. Christ is my life. ” You will experience Christ more and more in your daily life and will avoid the temptation to do good and to overcome evil. This may sound strange to you, but the devil will tempt you to do good. If he is successful in tempting you to do good, then he will surely be successful in tempting you to do evil. Thus, whenever the enemy comes to tempt you to do good or evil, you do not need to say a word to him. You simply need to take the ground that you have been buried and that by being buried you have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Christ. If you do this, you will experience Christ as your life and will realize how easy it is to overcome evil. In fact, in a sense you will not even overcome it; you simply will have nothing to do with it because you have been buried and are in another realm—the kingdom of Christ. In this way Christ being your life will be a reality to you, and you will live by Christ and walk in Christ. Christ will increase in you and become everything to you. In addition, you will be built together with others to be a company of believers who are builded together in the Holy Spirit and with the life of Christ to be the real expression of the Body of Christ. May we all look to the Lord that He would have a way to carry out this work in these days.

The Mystery of God and the Mystery of Christ

Chapter 7 RECEIVING REVELATION IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE REALITY

CWWL, 1961–1962, (LSM)

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Samuel Gaitho Waweru

Nairobi, Kenya

Jan 13, 2025

Nothing like the Word, a Hymn and then a prayer for me!

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Emmanuel

London, United Kingdom

Jul 4, 2024

Buried with Christ and raised with Him too. Interesting comment

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Linda

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Oct 22, 2023

Brother Tom! Today I discovered your remarks 10 years after you posted them. And what joy they bring me! I don't know who you are, brother, or even if you're still in this life, but I will know you when I see you in heaven and we will celebrate Jesus together for all eternity!

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Anthea Ring

Devizes, Wiltshire, United Kingdom

Apr 27, 2022

A wonderful hymn that I haven't seen for years. So simple and yet totally profound and true.

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Samuel Appiah Ofori

Tournai, Hinaut, Belgium

Feb 24, 2021

I enjoy singing hymns which are usually based directly on the Word. Thus we can proclaim simply in faith to the Lord. Thank You Lord!

Living for Christ, my members I yield,
Servants to God, for evermore sealed,
Not under law, I’m now under grace,
Sin is dethroned, and Christ takes its place.
Glory be to God!

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Istifanus Ariko

Kaduna., Nigeria

Nov 20, 2018

No condemnation for me, as I live and keep my feet in Christ Jesus:

''if I die with Him, I will live with Him.

If I suffer with Him I will reign with Him... ''

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Steve Finnell

Jul 11, 2014

WASHING OF WATER? EPHESIANS 5:26 BY STEVE FINNELL

What does the washing of water found in Ephesians 5:26 mean? Should you, as a believer in Christ, look to creed books and Bible commentaries for the answer to that question or should you look to translations of the Bible for truth? Do you want to trust men or do you want to trust God's written word?

Ephesians 5:25-26...just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (NKJV)

How did Christ sanctify and cleanse the church? The church is the body of Christ. The church is comprised of Christians. How did Christ sanctify and cleanse the church?

Ephesians 5:26 to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's word;(The Living Bible- Paraphrased)

Ephesians 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, (KJV)

Ephesians 5:26 in order to make her holy, cleaning her with the baptismal water by the Word. (Weymouth New testament)

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Tom

Jan 18, 2013

Hallelujah! Praise God, it is all done. What is there left for me to do? NOTHING. Just enjoy His salvation and grace. But this is not a "do". It is a "done". I am on vacat-ion, at the beach, because I have "vacated" my being. It is empty, hallelujah! I am not trying to do ONE THING. Trusting this promise, that He lives in me, I have stopped living in me. Why should I continue? Why should I compete with God? And guess what? He comes in and makes His joyful home. Not only that, but He HAS to come in and make His home, poor Jesus, He has no choice. His Dad (and my Dad now) promised it, so whether He likes it or not, whether there is trash or dirty laundry that stinks in there, He HAS to make it right. And He does, with joy. I have been a Christian more than 2 decades, and I still don't get the "Sit", let alone the "Walk, Stand". I died. I really died. What a relief. No more "having" to be a Christian. No more having to be good. No more trying anything. I am done for. That burden is gone, and I am free to watch God inside me do what I could never do. The fake stuff is in the fire. I traded in my 1983 rusted out Escort and got the 2013 Rolls Royce, and for free!! That's the brand for me.

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