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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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His countenance angels can often behold

Longings For Fellowship of Christ’s Sufferings

English1137
1
His countenance angels can often behold,
But ne’er taste His love in His grace;
His saints, though they know of His pure, boundless love,
Have never yet once seen His face.
His saints will before long His visage behold,
E’en in His bright glory will share;
But Mary, beholding His tears as He wept,
Could touch His heart’s agony there.
Could touch His heart’s agony there.
2
We’ll soon see the Lord, as He is, face to face,
We’ll know Him as never before;
But that touch today, healing our broken heart,
In that day will be felt no more.
That day, though our lips offer unceasing praise,
No tears, then, nor prayers fervent burn;
Nor is there the comfort received through much pain,
Nor trust gained through trials to learn,
Nor trust gained through trials to learn.
3
Exceeding in glory, that day we’ll be crowned,
Yet there’ll be no cross to obey;
The sweet fellowship of His suff’rings for us
We only can share in today.
Once we’ve that rest entered, no weariness then,
Nor chance will remain to partake
The trials nor the hardships, nor happiness lost,
Nor suffering borne for His sake,
Nor suffering borne for His sake.
4
Oh, chances to suffer for Him are so few,
His shame and derision to bear;
Such blest opportunities soon pass away,
That He in our troubles may share.
All loneliness, misunderstandings and scorn
Despisings and sorrows will flee;
I treasure these blessings, for through them, O Lord,
I enter sweet oneness with Thee,
I enter sweet oneness with Thee.
5
I long to behold, Lord, Thy countenance soon,
What rapture with Thee, Lord, to meet.
But neither seek I all these trials to avoid;
Such times, Lord, are too rare and sweet.
Have mercy on me, fill me with Thy great love,
For Thee, Lord, to live at all cost;
Lest Thy servant, hoping for that blessed day,
That day, regret chances were lost,
That day, regret chances were lost.

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Un Hermano

Apr 10, 2026

THE PROPER CONDITION
OF A LIVING PERSON
----------
Needing to Speak
----------

We have a name that we are living, and many denominations acknowledge that we are living. However, are we actually living? Let us first consider whether the elders and co-workers are living. A living person surely must speak; this is especially the case when he meets with others. Although it may seem normal for a person not to speak when he is alone in a room, it is difficult for me not to speak even when I am alone. I always feel that I have to say something, and I often call, “O Lord Jesus! ” When no other persons are with me, I can speak to angels, because there is always at least one angel accompanying me. In Matthew 18:10 the Lord Jesus said, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in the heavens continually behold the face of My Father who is in the heavens. ” This clearly shows that even the least among the believers have angels accompanying them. Not speaking is wrong; all living persons must speak.

Being Shining Stars and Leading the Saints
to Be Living to Take the New Way
Message 1 Being Shining Stars and Leading the Saints
to Be Living to Take the new way CWWL, 1987 (LSM)

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Un Hermano

Apr 10, 2026

VII. THE ANGELS MINISTERING
TO THE HEIRS OF SALVATION
----------

Let me share with you some real examples of the ministry of angels. When Peter was put into prison, an angel came, opened the door, and led him out of the prison (Acts 12:5-16). Peter then went and knocked on the door of the house of Mary. When Rhoda, a maidservant, opened the door and told the people in the house that it was Peter, they said that it must have been his angel. We all have at least one angel. Matthew 18:10 proves this: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in the heavens continually behold the face of My Father who is in the heavens. ” We should not wrong our brothers, because their angels are in the presence of the Father. The angels of God are ascending and descending on the heavenly ladder ministering to the heirs of salvation. We could also cite the example of Cornelius, who was visited by an angel when he was praying (Acts 10:1-4). Furthermore, Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of Jehovah encamps / Around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. ” If you love God and seek Him, He will send angels to camp around you.

Life-study of Hebrews
Message 5 Heirs of Salvation
(LSM)

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Miles Mistler

Los Angeles, CA, United States

Jan 12, 2026

This hymn sounds like it influenced “This Wonderful Faith. ” Very similar

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A Sister In Chicago

Chicago, IL, United States

Jan 8, 2024

After the semi annual training, where we saw how much Christ could be to us as the all-inclusive land, this hymn touched me! This morning, I realized that in that day He will be everything, but we won’t be able to experience Him as the hills and valleys, as the wheat with barley – just so many rich items for us today! Oh Lord Jesus, we only have today! We want to experience You as the land today and every day until we have made ourselves ready for THAT day!!

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Vincent Grize

Bern, BE, Switzerland

Jun 7, 2022

Lord, grant us such a view in all our sufferings today.
" Oh, chances to suffer for Him are so few,
His shame and derision to bear;
Such blest opportunities soon pass away,
That He in our troubles may share."

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Anonymous

Nov 22, 2020

Words written by brother Watchman Nee.

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Bridge

Saipan, Cnmi, Northern Mariana Islands

Jul 29, 2019

I treasure these blessings, for through them, Oh Lord,
I enter sweet oneness with Thee,
I enter sweet oneness with Thee.

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Anonymous

Singapore

Apr 21, 2019

Lord, have mercy on me.

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Michele Mensing

Waco, TX, United States

Jan 29, 2013

Have mercy on me, fill me with Thy great love, For Thee, Lord, to live at all cost; Lest Thy servant, hoping for that blessed day, That day, regret chances were lost, That day, regret chances were lost.

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Naomi

Dunedin, New Zealand

Oct 9, 2011

We'll soon see the Lord, as He is, face to face, We'll know Him as never before; But that touch today, healing our broken heart, in that day will be felt no more.

Wow! This song is so enjoyable! Lord we want to be filled with Your life! We want to know You in the most intimate way! Lord we are nothing without You! Praise You Lord!

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