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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 Tempo menu slows it down without changing the pitch.

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Behold! behold the Lamb of God

Praise of the Lord His Redemption

English103
1
Behold! behold the Lamb of God,
On the cross! On the cross!
For us He shed His precious blood,
On the cross! On the cross!
O hear His all-important cry,
“Eli, lama sabachthani?”
Draw near and see the Savior die,
On the cross! On the cross!
2
Behold His arms extended wide,
On the cross! On the cross!
Behold His bleeding hands and side,
On the cross! On the cross!
The sun withholds its rays of light,
The heav’ns are clothed in shades of night,
While Jesus wins the glorious fight,
On the cross! On the cross!
3
By faith we see Him lifted up,
On the cross! On the cross!
He drinks for us the bitter cup,
On the cross! On the cross!
The rocks do rend, the mountains quake,
While Jesus all our sins doth take,
While Jesus suffers for our sake,
On the cross! On the cross!
4
And now the mighty deed is done,
On the cross! On the cross!
The battle fought, the vict’ry won,
On the cross! On the cross!
To heav’n He turns triumphant eyes;
” ’Tis finished” now, the Conqu’ror cries,
Then bows His sacred head and dies,
On the cross! On the cross!
5
But now He’s ris’n, ascended, crowned,
On the throne! On the throne!
Heav’n’s highest place for Him is found,
On the throne! On the throne!
Our hearts we low in worship bow,
And join, as one, to hail Him now:
“Worthy, O Lamb of God, art Thou!”
On the throne! On the throne!

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Un Hermano

Oct 20, 2025

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JOHN’S WRITINGS
AND THE BOOK OF EXODUS
The Lamb and the Tabernacle

There are several important items in the book of Exodus. The first item is the passover lamb. The book of Exodus is called Exodus because the passover lamb enabled the children of Israel to go out of Egypt. The second item is the tabernacle. After the children of Israel kept the passover, left Egypt, and reached the wilderness, God wanted them to build a tabernacle for Him. Hence, when we come to the end of Exodus in chapter 40 , we see a tabernacle erected and filled with the glory of God. Thus, we see that the first main item in Exodus is the lamb, and the last main item is the tabernacle. Now I would like to ask, in John’s Gospel, Epistles, and Revelation, what are the first and last main items? In John’s writings there are two “beholds. ” In John 1 there is one “behold”: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ” (v. 29), and in Revelation 21 there is another “behold”: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men” (v. 3). In Exodus there are the lamb and the tabernacle, and the lamb is for the tabernacle. Likewise, in John’s writings there are the Lamb and the tabernacle, and the Lamb is also for the tabernacle.

The Ultimate Significance
of the Golden Lampstand
Chapter 1 (LSM) CWWL, 1977, vol. 3

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Un Hermano

Oct 20, 2025

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JOHN’S WRITINGS AND THE BOOK OF EXODUS

The Lamb and the Tabernacle

There are several important items in the book of Exodus. The first item is the passover lamb. The book of Exodus is called Exodus because the passover lamb enabled the children of Israel to go out of Egypt. The second item is the tabernacle. After the children of Israel kept the passover, left Egypt, and reached the wilderness, God wanted them to build a tabernacle for Him. Hence, when we come to the end of Exodus in chapter 40, we see a tabernacle erected and filled with the glory of God. Thus, we see that the first main item in Exodus is the lamb, and the last main item is the tabernacle. Now I would like to ask, in John’s Gospel, Epistles, and Revelation, what are the first and last main items? In John’s writings there are two “beholds. ” In John 1 there is one “behold”: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ” (v. 29), and in Revelation 21 there is another “behold”: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men” (v. 3). In Exodus there are the lamb and the tabernacle, and the lamb is for the tabernacle. Likewise, in John’s writings there are the Lamb and the tabernacle, and the Lamb is also for the tabernacle.

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Ana Lara

Tolland, Connecticut, United States

Sep 23, 2018

Alfred P Gibbs was born in Birmingham, England in 1890. He was raised in Johannesburg South Africa. His twin brother brought him to Christ when he was a youth.

During WWII, he served as a military chaplain preaching to soldiers in training camps.

In 1919, he set out to Moody Bible institute and soon became involved with the Operation Rescue Mission with other prominent men of faith.

Alfred never married like JN Darby he lived out of a suitcase. Most of his writings were devoted to young believers.

In 1931, he published a songbook with his own words, music and composition. He was best known for his work with children.

In 1967, Gibbs died in an automobile accident. He is best remembered as a great Gospel preacher and a loving friend. Some of his hymns ara in “Choice Hymns of the Faith.”

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Steve Miller

Detroit, MI

May 10, 2014

The original 1st stanza says:

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.
----------------------

The original stanza 3, line 1 says "me" instead of "us", and stanzas 3 & 4 are in reverse order.

-----------------------
The original last stanza says:
Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The baptism of the heav'n-descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.
---------------

In the last stanza, 3rd line, "baptism" is changed to "kindling", "fullness" or "presence" in most hymnals to make it easier to sing as 2 syllables.

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Steve Miller

Detroit, MI, United States

Oct 14, 2014

Hoskins was an English Congregational minister. During the 3 years prior to his death [at age 43] he wrote 384 hymns. Hoskins also wrote "Let thoughtless thousands choose." - Songs of the Spirit by Martin

---------

stanza 1 line 3 originally says, He sheds for you His precious blood

---------------------

Stanza 3 line 1 originally says, "Come, sinners, see Him lifted up

-------------

In stanza 4, the original says "dying eyes" instead of "triumphant eyes."

----------------

Instead of stanza 5 above by Gibbs, the original concluded with the following 2 stanzas:

5 Where'er I go I'll tell the story
Of the cross, of the cross!
Of nothing else my soul shall glory
Save the cross, save the cross!
Yea, this my constant theme shall be
Through time and in eternity,
That Jesus tasted death for me
On the cross, on the cross!
-------------------
6 Let every mourner rise and cling,
To the cross, to the cross!
Let every Christian come and sing,
Round the cross, round the cross!
There let the preacher take his stand,
And, with the Bible in his hand,
Declare the triumphs through the land,
Of the cross, of the cross!

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