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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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Redeemed—how I love to proclaim it

Assurance and Joy of Salvation Redeemed by the Blood

English301
1
Redeemed—how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.
 
Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child, and forever, I am.
2
Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.
3
I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
4
I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in whose way I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.

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Mike Johnson

Plainfield, Indiana (IN), United States

Nov 1, 2016

Thank You Jesus for Your kindness and compassion, and thanks to whoever put this site up and keeps it.

I was watching Andy Griffith, Andy Taylor when him and Barny/Don Knotts started singing power in the blood and I started looking for those old hymns...where has TV gone to why has this earth fallen so far away.

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Henry Ridge

Woodruff, SC, United States

May 11, 2016

Yes, Yes, Yes To God be the Glory forever and ever. I know we will sing a new song in Heaven. To the Lamb of God who was slain for me I will ever praise Him. Redeemed and now I' so happy.

To you who might think it was but by chance you logged on here I can assure you that it was Almighty God who cares and invites you to seek Him and you shall know Him.

Blessing's from our Lord and Savior Jesus who is the I AM.

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Irvin Ndire

Nairobi, Kenya

Nov 19, 2015

Reminds me of Lamentations 3:22 "It is because of God's mercy that we are not consumed. His compassion so fail not. His mercy is new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness."

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Rawlings Obama

Mombasa, Coast, Kenya

Oct 8, 2015

Seriously!! Brethren, the Lord is good and has been good to me indeed. I have been really looking for this song. For sure I feel blessed listening to it. Indeed am redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Got no any other reason whatsoever to proclaim it. BE BLESSED.

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Clement Somanje

Durban, Kzn, South Africa

Mar 17, 2015

This is one of my favourite hymns it reminds of this blessed life after salvation or conversion you always have the feeling that something happened within your soul and that you were bought with

blood of the Lamb.

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Zolani Vusani

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Aug 25, 2014

Wow this is a truly blessing hymn. Wish I could sing it out loud now, you guys have made my Monday.

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Kris

Westlock, Alberta, Canada

Dec 15, 2013

This is such a special song... praise the Lord!

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Mary W.

Seattle, WA, United States

Mar 27, 2013

Thanks Mary from Lilburn, GA for the prayer and encouragement below. Hugs and prayers to you!:) Please keep us updated. I just checked out a website you might want to look into-www.healingcancernaturally.com. The Lord bless thee and keep thee. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

I was looking for the lyrics of "Have Thine Own Way" and found this website. God led me to this song "Redeemed" also and it brought on tears of gratitude toward my Lord Jesus. The comments below are really encouraging especially when someone has been waiting for complete healing of an illness from the Lord.

I'm going the nutrition/natural healing approach also. I just got my results from my FORECYTE breast cell test. My results showed I have some pre-cancerous cells so my naturopath is helping me clear this up and prevent cancer by stopping the inflammation with a new diet, Ondamed therapy, Pectasol C and more. I also had breast thermography showing some inflammation. Then the birthdate of my mom (who died of colon cancer Nov. of 2011) triggered a colitis flare up this month causing Dr. Darvish, my MD, to ask me to have colonoscopy.

These things are all wake up calls to me from the Lord to examine my heart and thoughts and lifestyle to live a healthier life, body, soul and spirit and to fully trust Him. To take very good care of my body for it is the temple of the Holy Spirit so I'll be able live life to the full and serve God through encouraging and loving others..

Yes, there will be days where we'll feel discouraged, trying to patiently wait on the Lord. I'm learning to trust Him fully and believe from my heart that HE IS FAITHFUL. God will never leave us nor forsake us and He will be with us always as we walk through illnesses and life's challenges. He gives us the strength, grace and courage to face anything as we continue to abide in Him and His Holy Word.

I keep reminding myself, "Everything is going to be alright, God is in control and He cares for me!" and in God's time I will be healed. Psalms 27:14

I avoid negative thoughts & reports and meditate on God's word. Singing praise songs and hymns like "Redeemed" really helps me most turning my heart, thoughts and eyes upon Jesus. I'm thankful for each day I'm alive! I thank God for this hymnal website!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!:)

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Mary

Lilburn, GA, United States

Mar 4, 2013

There was such a heaviness hovering over me today. I've been battling with breast cancer for about 5 months and trying to tackle it with a nutritional/alternative approach. I'm making progress, but it's slow and I felt very discouraged today. I feel like I am standing against the power of our culture that wants to give everyone chemotherapy poison or cut off a body part to get healed. Gasp. As I brought all this to my LORD just now, He reminded me that I have been REDEEMED....redeemed from the curse of sin and also from the curse of the effects of this fallen world, including this cancer. I've been redeemed , not by perishable things like silver or gold, but "with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (1 Peter 1:18)

I began singing this hymn that I have not thought of for years. I found this website that has not only given me the words, but the music as well! (Thanks to whoever posted this!) . I want to walk in that precious redemption TODAY and receive from HIM the healing that His blood has given me. Thank You, Dear LORD, for GRACE upon GRACE to look UP to You today (not around me at people and their opinions), and find my strength and healing in YOU. This battle is really THE LORD's. Thanks for listening, everyone! I pray this will encourage someone else today! God is AWESOME.

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Moses Jesudass

Plano, Texas, United States

Feb 9, 2013

This is one of my favorite hymns. I love to sing this hymn often. It touches my inner most emotions of my heart and draws me to my knees and worship Him with deepest gratitude for His infinite love demonstrated through the shedding of His precious blood for me.

Yes, I will sing of my Redeemer forever.

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