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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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Just as I am

Gospel Coming to the Lord

English1048
1
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
2
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
3
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt;
Fightings within, and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
4
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
5
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
6
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

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Selene Leyva Hernandez

Fort Stockton, TX, United States

Dec 31, 2023

Lord Jesus praise You for coming to us when we can't. Praise You for Your great and exceedingly promises. I love You and ask that You captivate me Oh Lord Jesus!!

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Betsy Erhabor

Staten Island, NY, United States

Dec 30, 2023

After I read psalm 51 this hymn came to my mind and I searched for it to surrender myself again to my Father. And glad I did because JESUS CHRIST came through for me. Thank You LORD JESUS CHRIST.

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P Huvar

Amelia, Virginia, United States

Dec 30, 2023

This morning as I was looking for the lyrics of this great hymn, feeling so needy for my El Shaddai. The words of Just As I Am ministered to be... poor, wretched, blind... yes I am. I have nothing without Him. I am nothing without Him. He gives everything. And then I began to read all these beautiful comments of people all across this earth. Hungry for Jesus. Coming, running into His presence, falling on their knees to worship and adore Him. I was so moved, seeing this "great multitude , that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb." Rev. 7:9

We're not alone. Together we come. Just as we are. And He Gives... He gives us the robe of white as praise flow from our hearts and we are healed by the Glory of God. For He is the Sun of Righteousness that rises to bring healing to the nations. " the nations will walk by His Light and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor to Him" rev. 21:24

Amen. Thank you to all who have written here.

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Obioma Caleb

Aba, Abia, Nigeria

Dec 20, 2023

One of my favorite Hymn songs! Melodious and Breaks the Spirit and the Heart!

I will never stop loving this song and using to worship my father 😍

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Ana Lara

Storrs, Connecticut, United States

Dec 7, 2023

This very familiar hymn has a beautiful story attached to it. 200 years ago, Charlotte Elliott was a gifted artist and writer living in England. A serious illnesses however, affected her feet, and she became crippled and depressed, spending the following decades feeling useless to anyone and wrestling with her pain and despondency. Sometime later, a pastor friend from Switzerland paid her visit to encourage her. She dismissed him, then later felt guilty about it. Deciding she needed to get her personal relationship with Christ in order, she went to apologize to the pastor. She confessed that she wanted to get herself right with God, but had too many barriers between her and the Lord and she had to clean up her life first. The pastor replied, “just come as you are. ” Those words remained with her, and more than a decade later, the advice that had allowed her to come to the Lord as she was, were penned in a simple but powerful hymn about trusting Jesus and His redemptive work. It has inspired many people to repent and believe in the Gospel. Billy Graham used it in his crusades to call many-a-sinner to come forward and give their lives to Christ and find forgiveness in Him.

Lewis Codington (paraphrased by AL)

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Adasi Dick

Andoni, Rivers State, Nigeria

Nov 13, 2023

Just finished reading Hebrews 10 and my heart was troubled, then from nowhere this hymn pop up in my mind, I googled it and the LORD YESHUA refresh my spirit man.

Hallelujah!!!

YESHUA my KING, I come! I come!

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Monika

Portland, OR, United States

Nov 11, 2023

On this day that peace was proclaimed from the 2nd world war, the Lord proclaims peace upon our hearts. To those of us who have chosen to place our trust in His one and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Yeshua the Messiah. Saviour of the world, Prince of Peace, Lord of our lives to whom have received Him through grace on top of grace. Thank you Lord! We praise you! You are worthy!

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Salome

Nairobi, Kajiado, Kenya

Oct 31, 2023

I was preparing to receive The Eucharist with the song.. I enter the Holy of holies... then just as I stood to receive.. just as I am came. I quickly googled asung it in my heart. I'm so blessed!

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Nworah Onyekachi Promise

Anambra, Nigeria

Oct 20, 2023

What God did in my life was beyond human expression. Oh how much I love, I will love continually till I come to him and lay to touch his feet. My saviour Lord Jesus thank you for the journey so far. I love You Lord

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Lee L

Kain, Hainaut, Belgium

Oct 18, 2023

Searching for a Healing Prayer, I looked for "God will make a way" and could not find it. Than I saw "Beneath the cross of Jesus" and feeling at home, I continued and found the way to get to the Father, "Just as I am". Queen words rang a bell in my heart, as I was reading her words, and remembered that Jesus said: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I will be among them". And It is my belief that Jesus and the Father heard us and we are going to experience the healing we so much seek in His Grace. Thanks be to God for Jesus. Father, I love you.

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