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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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Great is Thy faithfulness

Worship of the Father His Faithfulness

English19
1
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
 
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
2
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
3
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

© 1923. Ren. 1951 Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188 www.hopepublishing.com All rights reserved.  Used by permission.

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Doug Rohl

Calgary, ABuja, Canada

Mar 31, 2015

I belong to a church of the Pentecostal teaching. It makes me so sad and at times angry that this last Palm Sunday morning five songs with words and melody I nor anyone else in that small congregation had ever heard were sung. My Pastor is convinced that these songs or much more likely chants put to music will draw people.

No it will not. I repeat, no it will not.

If you do not specifically sing about Jesus,by name, the blood and the cross, if you do NOT praise the Lord, then nothing spiritual will happen.

At first singing this new age stuff was to draw the young. That did not work out so well, for a very long time we have not had a new, unsaved person enter our church.

Then it was, well we will sing ONE hymn ever. I am not going to be there for what you mistakenly call worship service. And even that has passed.

This week, I am going to tell the Pastor that if we do not start to sing the songs that have drawn millions to Christ, and begin to prioritize the time honored hymns, I will not be there to sing stuff with words that do not stir my heart or anyone else. I will find a place near the building, turn on my portable cd player and listen to what I KNOW heals a troubled heart.

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Maobim

Abuja, Nigeria

Mar 31, 2015

This song is an everyday soul lifter for me; and I'm sure it's same for millions around the world. God bless you Mr. Bunyan Williams

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Steve Miller

Detroit, MI, United States

Mar 16, 2015

George Beverly Shea in "How Sweet the Sound":

At Moody Bible Institute I met the composer of this song, Mr. William Runyan. A tall, delightful gentleman in his 70's, Mr. Runyan taught piano and voice in the fine music department there.

We became good friends; it was an honor for me to spend time with Mr. Runyan and learn from him, for he was well-versed in hymnology. I was so pleased when he would call me at the radio department and say, "When you have an opportunity, come over. I'd like to play for you a new song I'm working on." He had great talent for writing inspiring music. This man's enthusiasm was incredible. He was always victorious and happy in the Lord.

Thomas Chisholm was born in a log cabin in Kentucky and wrote more than 1200 poems. In 1923, he sent the words of this hymn to Mr. Runyan. Upon reading these words, Mr. Runyan knew he had received a precious message that could touch lives around the world. He prayed that God would help him compose music that was uplifting and joyous. God answered that prayer. This hymn of praise has become a great favorite with congregations everywhere.

Cliff Barrows and I had an opportunity to meet Thomas Chisholm, at a senior care center. We found him seated on a park bench and talked with him for a little while. What a dear soul! He could have been thinking about his divinely-inspired words as he sat there under the trees: "Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. Blessings all mine with 10,000 beside!"

"O God my Father," Your love has never failed me. Through each season of my life, You have been present. Thank You for Your faithfulness.

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Phumelele

Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Mar 14, 2015

The song blesses me all the time. He is a faithful God indeed at all times.

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Elmer E. Wilson, Jr.

Florissant, Missouri, United States

Mar 13, 2015

I was reminded of this classic hymn recently and it stirred my heart!!!!

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Ruth

St Louis, MO, United States

Mar 13, 2015

Truly He is faithful!

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Bette Day

Orlando, FL, United States

Mar 13, 2015

If you have ever read any books written by Karen Kingsbury, you will know that this is a song that is referred to many times in her writings. She is an awesome author of Christian fiction. Follow the Baxter family through the many trials and tribulations that every person faces during their lifetime. No matter what happens, they pray and sing together and listen for the still small voice of God speaking to them. I highly recommend these books as a way to know that God is with us no matter what we are going through or where we are. Surely "He is Faithful."

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Susan

Beaverton, OR, United States

Mar 11, 2015

This is my favorite hymn of all time. It makes me cry whenever I hear it. I was a single parent and over and over again in my life I saw God's faithfulness. He is faithful even when we are not. SOMEDAY I am going to adapt this to a quilt or counted cross-stitch pattern!

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Sammy Mwatha

Mombasa, Coast, Kenya

Mar 6, 2015

What a faithful God, who never for a single moment abandons us!

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Iyiola Dayo John olufemi

Lagos, Nigeria

Mar 1, 2015

I love this song so much. It makes me to look back in retrospect and think of all the goodness of God, His keeping hand, salvation of my soul, His protection and provisions everyday. He is faithful and great is the Lord. I Love Him.

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