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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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Camel Train

Hope of Glory The Wedding Day

English1318
1
’Twas a day in early springtime,
By an ancient wayside well,
Eliezer paused to rest his camel train.
He had found a bride for Isaac
Ere the evening shadows fell,
For his weary journey had not been in vain.
 
Oh, get ready! Evening shadows fall.
Don’t you hear the Eliezer call?
There’s going to be a wedding,
And our joy will soon begin,
In the evening when the camel train comes in.
2
So he took the fair Rebekah,
Dressed in jewels rich and rare,
Quickly to her waiting bridegroom far away.
Where Rebekah loved her Isaac,
And he loved Rebekah fair;
Oh, it must have been a happy wedding day.
3
Now the blessed Holy Spirit,
From our Father God above,
Has come down to earth to find a worthy Bride.
For our Isaac over yonder
Has prepared His tents of love,
And He wants His fair Rebekah by His side.
4
We have left our kinfolk gladly;
We have bade the world goodbye.
We’ve been called to be His pure and spotless Bride;
Where we’ll soon behold our Jesus
In that blest eternity—
What a happy, happy wedding that will be!

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David C Kesler

Martin, Georgia, United States

Oct 15, 2026

The Camel Train… David Clarke Kesler version
ORG.
’ Twas a day in early springtime.
By an ancient wayside well.
Eliezer had paused to rest his camel train.
He had found a bride for Isaac.
Er’ the evening shadows fail.
Oh his weary journey, it had not been in vain.
ORG.
So he took the fire, Rebecca.
Decked with jewels rich and rare.
Back to Abraham. And Isaac far away.
Where Rebecca loved her Isaac.
And he loved Rebecca Fair.
Oh, it must have been. A happy wedding day.
DCK
Rebecca left her kin folks there gladly.
She had to bid her world goodbye
For she was going. To a land so far away.
Where she would love her Isaac forever.
As the years rolled swiftly by.
What a wonderful, beautiful life. That must have been.
DCK
I can see that faithful servant.
As he leads Rebecca fair.
To her waiting husband, Isaac, far away.
As she would ride that dusty old camel.
Far across the desert bear.
She is thinking of her happy wedding day.
CHO.
Oh, get ready.
As the evening shadows fall.
Don't you hear?
That Eliezer call.
There's going to be a wedding.
And our Joys will soon begin.
In the evening. When the camel train comes in.
ORG.
Now the Blessed Holy Spirit.
From the Father God above.
Has come to earth. To find a worthy bride.
For our Savior. That's over Yonder.
has prepared His tents of love.
And He wants this fair Rebecca by his side.
ORG.
Now we have left our kin folks here gladly.
And we have bid this old world goodbye.
'cause we're going to a land. So far away.
Where we shall soon behold our Savior.
In his home beyond the sky.
What a happy, happy wedding. That will be.
CHO.
We are on this old camel journey.
To a land beyond the sea.

Where the Savior waits to meet his happy bride. What a Holy. Consummation.

What a glorious Jubilee.
When we shall see.
The fair Rebecca by his side.
DCK
There's going to be a wedding.
Somewhere up in the air.
And I have an invitation to attend.
For it will be. That rich young Isaac.
And his sweet Rebecca fair.
Say now, won't that be. A happy wedding day.
CHO
ORG.

That will be a joyful meeting. When this camel train comes in. When Rebecca? Leaves that old camel. Out, by the way. For then we can close. Our weary journey. Midst, the joyful noise and din. That will surely be. A happy wedding day.

CHO.
TAG…
THE CAMELS ARE COMING….!!!

This song was written by F. M. Lehman and copyrighted in 1924. I have a copy of the original score from the Copyright Office. Washington DC.

A lady in South Alabama. Gave the song to my Aunt, Ruth Kesler Hill. The Kesler family began to sing this song in 1929.

This song originally had 3 verses. Over the years. We started singing it as 6 Verses. And somewhere along the way. Another verse was added…In 1987. On the way to a recording studio. I added. Two more verses. And I put the song in chronological order. Or at least the way I see it.

THE CAMEL TRAIN POEM Author unknown.. Found on the original. Copyright version.

As the evening shadows lengthened

A dusty Train draws near a wide-mouthed well.

A comely maiden…
offers to draw for the thirsty traveler… And his camels.
The incident ripens into a romance most thrilling.
How our hearts burn within us
as we read it over and over again.
Is there not another weary train…
…drawing to A close…
Of its age long journey.
Is there not another Rebecca?...
Almost ready to ride away,

To the silver tents…
Of her Isaac.
The evening is upon us.
The shadows have lengthened.

The Omens are pregnant with culminating Eventualities….
The smell of orange blossom is in the air.
We hear the Musical twinkle of silver….
As the Angel sets the table
for our Bridal breakfast.
Our eyes are lifted.

To the Arch of blue.
All aglow with Advent Glory.
There's going to be a wedding.
In the evening….
WHEN THE CAMEL TRAIN COMES IN…!!!

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David Clarke Kesler

Martin, Georgia, United States

Oct 22, 2025

The camel train was written by Frederick M Lehman in 1924…. My aunt Ruth Hill went with my grandfather, DH Kesler Sr. , to South Alabama in 1929 to run a revival a lady down there gave my aunt Ruth the lyrics to this song. I wrote three more verses to this song and when I called the copyright office in Washington DC the lady they said that she had just sung the song…. And they sent me a copy of the original copyrighted version.

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Deborah Q

Deland, Fl, United States

Aug 3, 2025

I just love this song. This is the 1st time I heard this beautiful song 💕 when Jimmy Swaggert sang it just before he passed away. My Mom has loved Jimmy Swaggert for many, many years. Mom is 86 years old now and I am going to be 65 this year. I cry every time I hear this song with happiness I have been found by Our Lord and Savior; along with Jesus Christ his son who gave his life for us all

Bless us all who accept the Lord into our heart ❤️ and ask for forgiveness of our sins.

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James Smith

Mansfield, Ohio, United States

Jan 26, 2025

I love this hymn which is a beautiful picture of the Father sending his servant (Eliezer) as the Spirit to seek a wife (the church, Christ’s bride) for his Son Jesus Christ. I was always taught the Bible is a great love story. At the end of this age there will be a great wedding feast celebrating the marriage of Christ with the church. What a wonderful event that will be. I’m living and loving Jesus now so I will be part of that bride then. I wish all Christians had this view of the Bible! I also love the peppy music that reminds me of a celebration. I recently saw an u tube of a community church singing this song for the first time. The congregation was Spirit filled.

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Suzanne Brooks

Lima, OH, United States

Oct 6, 2023

My husband and I sang this at our own wedding in 1975. We learned it from Ray Boltz who was a friend of my husband at the time. We were so happy to find out the author, and that Hansel was a first cousin to William Branham.

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Jose Fernandes

Paramaribo, Suriname

Apr 18, 2023

As a young man I lived in a commune in Fresno California and was always under the impression that one of the brothers there wrote this song. We sang it somewhat different; in 2 when it goes “quickly to her waiting “ we sang; back to Abraham and Isaac far away. And in 4 We’ve been called to be His pure and spotless Bride; we sang :we are going to a land beyond the skies . But hey it was in the early 70 ‘s

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Dick Adams

United States

Feb 12, 2023

Does anyone know the copyright status of the lyrics & music to “Camel Train”? We searched ccli. com & hymnary. org, but didn't find it on either site.

Based on the comments here, it seems Hansel Paul Vibbert (1916–1986) was the lyricist and composer. We found his photo and burial record at findagrave. com.

We'd like to put the song online at the Cyber Hymnal™ if it’s in the public domain, or we can get the copyright owner’s permission. We have an outstanding image of Rebecca & Eliezer that could be used to illustrate it.

Dick Adams

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Daniel Xu

Netherlands

Dec 29, 2020

It's a beautiful song! I'd like to compose a score based on this midi and introduce this song to the fellowship I go to. But the midi file seems rather messy e. g. no reasonable split between measures and notes are spreaded through the staff. I'm using Musescore3 and would like to get a tidier version of the same midi. Could anyone give a help?

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Seanne Villanueva

Sacramento, CA, United States

May 3, 2020

We sang this at our wedding. Today is our 45th wedding anniversary. God is so faithful and Wonderful.

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Carolyn Holland

Mission, TX, United States

Nov 3, 2019

I sang this as part of Lester Roloff's girls' choir from Rebekah Home for Girls way back in 1973. My family and I always enjoyed singing it in the car on road trips. Great song and great message!

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