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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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Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption

Assurance and Joy of Salvation Redeemed by the Blood

English303
1
Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption;
No riches of earth could have saved my poor soul.
The blood of the cross is my only foundation;
The death of my Savior now maketh me whole.
 
I am redeemed, but not with silver;
I am bought, but not with gold;
Bought with a price—the blood of Jesus,
Precious price of love untold.
2
Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption;
The guilt on my conscience too heavy had grown.
The blood of the cross is my only foundation;
The death of my Savior I only can own.
3
Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption;
The holy commandment forbade me draw near.
The blood of the cross is my only foundation;
The death of my Savior removeth my fear.
4
Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption;
The way to God’s kingdom could not thus be bought.
The blood of the cross is my only foundation;
The death of my Savior redemption hath wrought.

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Un Hermano

Oct 5, 2025

FAITH, LOVE, AND LIFE IN GOD’S
ADMINISTRATION OF GRACE
BEING JOINED TO GOD THROUGH
BELIEVING IN CHRIST
PUTTING OFF THE FORMER MANNER
OF LIFE AND WALKING IN HOLINESS

First Peter 1:14-19 says, “As children of obedience, do not be fashioned according to the former lusts in your ignorance; but according to the Holy One who called you, you yourselves also be holy in all your manner of life; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy because I am holy. ’ And if you call as Father the One who without respect of persons judges according to each one’s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear, knowing that it was not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, that you were redeemed from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot, the blood of Christ. ” We have been redeemed to put off our former manner of life by Christ’s shedding of His precious blood for us, the payment of a great price for us. He was prepared by God before the foundation of the world, and He has been manifested in the New Testament age, raised from the dead, and glorified. He also will manifest Himself again for our salvation to reach its completion. According to Peter’s thought, how could we turn back to live in our former manner of life, knowing that our precious Redeemer has paid a great price for us? We should completely put off our former manner of life and no longer be ignorant and indulgent in lust. Rather, we should pass the time of our sojourning with a fearing heart, as those who are holy unto God, so that we can be according to God’s governmental arrangement. Then when God comes to judge, we will have boldness before Him.

The Living under God's Governmental Administration
in His Salvation and the Provisions of the Divine Life
Chapter 6 (LSM)
CWWL, 1955, vol. 2

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Ana Lara

Storrs, Connecticut, United States

May 12, 2025

James Martin Gray, the author of this hymn, was born May 11, 1851 in New York City. He became the president of Moody Bible Institute. His father Hugh Gray had eight children and died shortly after James was born. Later, he was raised by his eldest brother. After college, he entered a formal training in the Protestant Episcopal Church for a ministerial career.

In 1873 he accepted Christ at 22 years old through the reading of a booklet on the book of Proverbs in the quietness of his room.

In 1877 he became the pastor of the Church of Redemption in Brooklyn, New York and later in the small town of Newburgh-on-the-Hudson to the Church of the Cornerstone. In 1879 James pastored the First Reformed Episcopal Church for 14 years. He associated himself with The Boston Bible and Missionary Training School from its inception in 1889 he taught courses there until 1904.

Dr. Gray married Amanda Thorne in 1870, they had two boys: Hugh in 1872 and James in 1879. After Mrs. Gray died, James Gray married Susan G. Grey, who bore him Curtis in 1883 and Philip in 1891. She served as a member of the Boston Missionary Training School teaching Bible Introduction courses and a course on Christian Evidence.

When Mr. and Mrs. Gray moved to Chicago, Susan took interest in the wives of the Moody seminary students and prepared them for further ministry alongside their husbands. Susan Gray passed away on January 4, 1919.

Dr. Gray lectured at the Moody Bible Institute from 1892 and continued until 1904. Moody personally enlisted Dr. Gray in the Northfield Conference because he admired his lectures and preaching in the Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial Church). He also started Bible classes throughout England and at the Moody Institute. In 1904, Dr. Gray accepted a position to become one of three deans who would jointly lead the institute following Mr. Moody’s death. In 1907 Gray became the sole dean of the Moody Bible Institute. His title was changed from dean to become the first president of the Institute.

Dr. Gray was awarded the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Bates College of Livingston, Maine in June 1864 and the Doctor’s Degree of Law from the Des Moines University in 1929. He resigned as president of the Institute at the age of 83 to accept the office and title of President Emeritus (an honorary title given to a person who retired).

After his retirement, James Gray traveled extensively while maintaining his teaching and editorial ministries. He died on September 21, 1935 after having a massive heart attack. He was laid to rest next to his second wife Susan in the family lot of the Woodlawn Cemetery in New York City. A memorial tablet with his name was made for him in 1937 and The Tori-Gray Auditorium at the Institute was dedicated in part to him in 1955 honoring his years at the Institute.

From 1896 to 1936 Dr. Gray’s major writings were published and 18 are still available. Also, he wrote numerous hymns… close to ninety in number, some of which are found in hymnal.net. They are: 303, 311 and 328. He also was among one of seven editors of the Scofield Reference Bible.

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Maria L

Fremont, California, United States

Dec 31, 2024

Lord, thank You for redeeming us not with gold or silver but with precious blood as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot, the blood of Christ! How we praise Him for purchasing the church through His own blood! What a precious blood! How precious we are in the Lord’s eyes, for Him to shed His own blood for the church! Praise the Lord 😀

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Eriya Muwanguzi Royal

Kampala, Uganda

Mar 30, 2024

Awesome!!
Lovely!!
Brilliant revelation of the finished Work of Christ.

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Sister X

Jun 10, 2020

What a redemption I have been fully bought. I am His and He is mine!

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Sam Epaja

Kampala, Uganda

Nov 7, 2019

thank you so much my Christ for all the love at Calvary. I feel blessed to be the son of my savior..

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Jon

Harvest, AL, United States

Oct 6, 2019

I am redeemed, but not with silver;
I am bought, but not with gold;
Bought with a price—the blood of Jesus,
Precious price of love untold.
Amen! we are redeemed !!!

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Emily Ruth

Oil City, PA, United States

Jul 6, 2018

Praise God for this. I just heard about this song through a testimony of someone praying this hymn over someone who was gloriously healed. I searched google and found this. Thank you for using your talents to do this. It is ministering to me!

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A.Z ;)

London, Ontairio, Canada

Mar 30, 2016

We want nothing other than Christ!! His blood is so precious!!!!

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Zama M

Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Mar 12, 2016

Thank you for such wonderful lyrics..it's towards Passover and we're celebrating His death and thankful to God for letting His only begotten son to redeem us with His precious Blood.

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