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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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The love of God is greater far

Worship of the Father His Love

English28
1
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell.
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.
 
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
2
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love, so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
3
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Words & Music © 1923, Ren. 1951 by Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188.

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Tom

Richmond, VA, United States

Jul 8, 2022

Amy, see the hymn “just as I am”. Your fears will melt away.

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Roslyn

Singapore

May 20, 2022

Very inspiring song about God's wonderful Love. What is man that thou art mindful of him?

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Dan

Sandersville, MS, United States

May 5, 2022

o Amy from Missouri and whoever else is at that place in life.

Imagine a child terrified from a bad dream in the middle of the night. The child believes that the object of their fear is completely real and that they have every reason to be terrified! Then the loving father or mother picks the child up and wraps their child in their arms to comfort them and quietly assure them that they are safe and nothing can hurt them because mommy or daddy is there and they love that child with all their heart!

Amy, you are like the child. I am too. We can become completely convinced by the enemy of our soul that we are filthy, guilty and infected with the deadly disease of unworthiness! Voices in the night scream that you are guilty and you must pay! “There is no forgiveness for you! ” I have heard those same voices and felt the panic and fear. But Amy, when you turn to your Father and listen, you can hear “echoes of mercy and whispers of love“! When you run to your Father, He will pick you up with his strong, gentle arms of immeasurable love and hold you close to his heart, and you can hear Him say “Amy, my love for you will never end, no matter what, and I will not allow ANYTHING, even what you fear the most, to separate you from my love! ”. As he holds you, the voice that commanded the universe into existence whispers to you, “Shhhh, it’s ok, I’m right here, be still and know that I am God. In quietness and rest will be your strength”. And the very hands that formed Adam from the dust of the earth and then willingly allowed Adams descendants to drive nails through them, for you and me, those very same hands will hold you close and brush your hair from your face and gently wipe the tears from your eyes.

It is truly the greatest love story ever told! The ultimate creator displayed His ultimate love for His wayward creation and paid the ultimate price when they least deserved it, to make a way for them to come back home, if they would only use it! For Christ showed his love toward us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Amy, sometimes I wear a ball cap at work all day long. And when I come home the first thing I do is take that cap off and put it on a hat rack. But after a while, sometimes it feels like it is still on my head and I reach up to take it off but it isn’t there any more. It has already been removed. Sometimes other things in life are like that too. Your sin, your guilt, your unworthiness has all been paid in full! Every barrier between you and your loving heavenly Father has been completely removed. Sometimes, like my old cap, we feel like they are still there. But they are not! We find that we cannot trust those feelings. There is nothing else for you to fear! It has ALL been nailed to the cross and YOU ARE FREE!!! So the next time you feel excluded by fear and unworthiness, remember that God says you have been made worthy and you have nothing to fear! You may still FEEL that fear from time to time. Sometimes it may take a bit of courage to trust your Father more than your feelings, but trust me, once you do it, you won’t regret it! So take courage, stand up, walk into His presence! I’d bet he’s got a huge hug just waiting for you! I just know it would thrill His heart and yours too!

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Michael

Alabama, United States

Apr 1, 2022

To Amy from Missouri. The Lord has shown you this love!! He paid your sin debt in full on the cross. We’re all unworthy, that’s part of the beauty of what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us. “For all of sinned and come short of the glory of God”. “There’s none righteous, no not one”. “But, God commendeth His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us”.

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Marita Adams

Georgetown, KY, United States

Mar 29, 2022

Words cannot express the love of God. Just look at the cross to know it. Thank You Jesus.

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Tope

Lagos, Nigeria

Mar 10, 2022

Ever since I heard this hymn on the tube, it rested in my soul. The lyrics give deep and vivid description of the love of God to all mankind no matter where they are. The hymn tells how his love reaches to the lowest hell and to the highest sky. This is a deep conviction that God loves me measurelessly and eternally. Thank you Lord 👑 for this immeasurable love. Amen.

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Deb Corcoran

Delhi, NY, United States

Feb 26, 2022

The last stanzas moves me to tears; beautiful poetry, a beautiful reflection of God the Fathers unending grace to us. Like the parable of the 10 virgins, who were all saved and awaiting the Bridegroom, only 5 were prepared and went…. Christ is coming soon! for His bride, be prepared doing the LORDS business, not being distracted by worldly things surrounding us. Wake up brothers and sisters because the time is at hand. PTL

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Ana Lara

Storrs, Connecticut, United States

Feb 4, 2022

Frederick Martin Lehman was born August 7, 1868, Mecklenburg, Schwerin, Germany and died February 20, 1953, Pasadena, California. He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.

Lehman was the husband of Emma Louise Dermyer. He emigrated to America with his family at age four, settling in Iowa, where he lived most of his childhood. He came to Christ at age 11, as he relates:

“One glad morning about eleven o’clock in the morning while walking up the country lane, skirted by a wild-crab apple grove on the right and and the osage fence, with an old white-gate in a gap at the left, suddenly heaven let a cornucopia of glory descend on the eleven year-old lad.

The wild crab-apple grove assumed a heavenly glow and the osage fence and unearthly luster. That old white-elm with its sun-wrapped boards gleamed and glowed like silver bars to shut out the world and shut him in with the ‘form of the fourth, ’ just come into his heart. The weight of conviction was gone and the peans of joy and praise fell from his lips."

Lehman studied for the ministry at Northwestern College in Naperville, Illinois, and served pastorates in Audubon, Iowa; New London, Indiana; and Kansas City, Missouri.

In 1911, he moved to Kansas City, where he helped found the Nazarene Publishing House

The majority of Lehman’s life was devoted to writing sacred songs; his first was written while a pastor in Kingsley, Iowa in 1898. He wrote and published hundreds of songs, and compiled five song books.

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Amy

Lake Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

Jan 24, 2022

Lord, please show me this love. I am desperate to know your love. I sing this song and I ache to feel your love in my heart. I just feel so unworthy and feel like my heart is too broken and my mind is filled with fear. I love you Lord. Please allow my heart to heal so that I can experience your love. Please touch me, Lord.

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Esterline Walters

Petit-bourg, Guadeloupe

Jan 15, 2022

Oh how I love this hymn! I can never sing it enough knowing that God's love is measureless brings comfort to my soul.

Great lyrics! Imagine the ocean was all ink to write the love of God would drain the ocean dry! Thank you Jesus for loving me 💕

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