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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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Immortal, invisible, God only wise

Worship of the Father His Immortality

English14
1
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.
2
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
3
To all life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish, but nought changeth Thee.
4
Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render, O help us to see:
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.
5
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

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Cornelius Nkemjika

Abuja, Abuja/deidei, Nigeria

Feb 5, 2025

Immortal Invisible God only wise, song came mind from spirit at prayer altar. One of hymns we use to sing during morning assembly at Queens college Enugu many years ago.

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Anthony Dankwah

Kumasi, Ghana

Jan 29, 2025

This is more than a song to me

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Anonymous

Benin City, Edo, Nigeria

Jan 19, 2025

I raised hymns in my secondary school Edo college at the assembly. Immortal invincible was one.

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DJ Chow

Centennial, CO, United States

Jan 5, 2025

"Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise!"

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Kenneth Chukwuma

Lagos, Nigeria

Jan 2, 2025

I was praying when this song came into my spirit and was delighted to see the greatness of God in the song which made me deeply connected to His throne of mercy.

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Mr Nnamdi Emmanuel

Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria

Dec 29, 2024

Immortal the only Wise King I joined the host of heaven to adore the holy name hallelujah. it's awekneth my spirit to know how great our God is. hallelujah.

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Emehara Agu Edmund

33310 Lormont, Gironde Nouvelle Aquitaine, France

Nov 27, 2024

God, blessed be your holy name, because only you is immortal and you alone is invisible, only you is glorious, Alelluyah to your holy name I praise you and I worship you in Jesus Christ name Amen.

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Anonymous

Nov 25, 2024

The immortal and the Invisible God though we may not see you but we see your handiwork everywhere Glory be to your name forever

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Funmilola Omoya

Akure, Nigeria

Nov 24, 2024

Only you is worthy of my praises, the dependable God. Thy goodness and faithfulness are forever. Halleluyah

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Paul Alan Cook

United Kingdom

Oct 28, 2024

God woke me this morning at 01. 50 AM and showed me this Hymn. Therefore; I declare it as His WORD for those who have this inspiration. At this time of great testing, we are told that Hymns will no longer be sung in the churches. If you are wise enough to perceive the 'Apocalypse of Thomas', synthesised from both versions; you will perceive the Truth of what the LORD is showing us; concerning the removal of the Holy Spirit from many churches in these last days; therefore, treasure this hymn and remember His WORD, for His Glory not our own.

I remind all spiritually awakened brethren; that as you know, God speaks to His own. It is therefore a great comfort to me to receive this; for His Glory, not my own; and to be able to write these words for all brethren wherever you are; to urge you and encourage you in these last days; He is Ancient of Days; He is Almighty, all enduring, Invincible, as well as Invisible; He is our Heavenly Father and we attest Him.

Those who play at religion will soon be punished for their Godlessness; be warned, be diligent, be ready; in Holiness the LORD has passed down His WORD in the form of this Hymn, it is a byword for His nature. I urge you brethren to read and know the Apocrypha; particularly inspired works like the Apocalypse of Thomas. For there are indeed many churches laying empty and the Spirit has passed from many.

To encourage you; I say only these things:

Concerning the LORD God:

John 4:24 "God is Spirit."
Matthew 6:6-13 "This is how you should pray to the Father."
Concerning the LORD, Yah, Yahweh, Yahshua:
1 John 2:6 "If you abideth in Him, walk as He did."
John 8:32 "Know the truth and the truth will make you free."

Matthew 7:7-8 " Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find."

Matthew 6:33 "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all things will be revealed unto you."

John 14:6 " I Am, the Way, the Truth and the Life and no-one comes to the Father except by me."

Cross-referencing: Genesis 22:1-2, Exodus 3:14, John 1. 1/Revelation 19:13, Luke 24:13, Isaiah 7:14

Remember, saints; there is only one original and true church; that of the LORD Jesus Christ (Yahshua Ha Messiach); the Messiah and Messenger, Melchizedek and High Priest (see Book of Melchizedek (aka Hebrews)) our intercessor before the Father; God Almighty; El Elyon. (Psalm 91)

We are to have the patience of saints in the days to come. Revelation 14:12

"No disaster can over take you,
No plague come near your tent,
I protect whoever knows my name." (Psalm 91)
Yah, Yahweh, Yahshua, Emmaus, Emmanuel
The LORD Jesus Christ.

God bless you all. If you are reading this message; you are indeed favoured by God.

Go wherever He sends you. Seek His instruction and ask Him; it will be different for each of you; some will remain in place. Many forget to ask and be guided. Be humble, listen to Him, follow Him; do not make the mistake of simply appealing to Him for what you need. Ask Him how you can serve Him. We are here for Him and His Father's glory.

"My sheep know my voice and they follow me."

See you at the wedding feast, brethren; all those who are invited; for many are called but few chosen and the path is narrow and straight. Currently there is no spotless bride and a further shaking is required to prepare you all for the calling. Many will depart in these days for their sakes because they cannot prevail to the end.

God bless you and may this message form a protective prayer over you and your family; a covering from the LORD God. Amein.

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