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About Numbered Notation

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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English308
1
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
 
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
2
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
3
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

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Marcia

United Kingdom

Feb 26, 2022

I was at a very good friend’s Mother’s funeral yesterday. We were sitting in the church awaiting the arrival of the family members. As we waited, one of our Pastors asked the worship team to sing, so we could just spend some time ministering to the Lord. This song was the first song (not on the list) which was sung.

I gave my life to the Lord in my 30’s, I didn’t attend church before that. The song lyrics were unfamiliar to me, but I was familiar with the chorus.

The past few months have been challenging, spiritually and physically. My Mum passed away 9 years ago, and she would always reassure me, my siblings and everyone who God brought her way, always. In all circumstances she had words of wisdom, which I now know were directly from the word. (read her Bible every morning, but didn’t attend church)

As I sang the song yesterday I remembered where I’d heard the song. My Mum would sing the chorus at the top of her voice, “This is my story” whenever she received news that may have caused others to breakdown.

I’d never really heard the rest of the song.

I’ve just written down the lyrics, as I believe the Lord was encouraging me that I am not alone in the storm. That He has always been with me through all of the challenges, He’s never left me and will never forsake me. He was reassuring me, like my Mum would have, to keep my eyes fixed on Him.

Jesus truly is our blessed assurance... this truly is my story.

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Alfred Dove

Columbus, OH, United States

Feb 24, 2022

This song gave me strength at the news of my daughter’s dear friend passing.

It dropped into my spirit as I tried to ease her grief. I sang it over and over to comfort her spirit. It one of my favorite hymns.

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Kervine

Brooklyn, NY, United States

Feb 19, 2022

This is my mother favorite Song

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Anilvictor Kondan

Ambernath, Maharashtra, India

Feb 15, 2022

Praise the Lord
My favorite hymn..
All Glory to God
Amen

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Owuor

Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 14, 2022

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love

A lovely reassuring spirit lifting song.... I'm lost in the Almighty GOD love! All is at rest. Amen

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Saviour

Ìbàdàn, Òyó State / Southwest Region, Nigeria

Feb 13, 2022

A soul lifting song!
Blessed assurance Jesus is mine.
His power is mine
His riches is mine
His protection is mine
His provision mine
His direction and wisdom is mine
His health and healing is mine.
Hallelujah Glory be to God in the highest, Amen!

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Uduak

Eket, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria

Feb 13, 2022

Singing this hymn with my family for night prayers.

Thank you Lord

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Gary

Topeka, KS, United States

Feb 13, 2022

Just observing how many places around the world are commenting here. Truly The Spirit of Jesus is moving throughout the world. How I long for His return when He gathers The family of God into one. Blessed assurance.

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Annemarie Schroeder

Denver, CO, United States

Feb 12, 2022

Today, this song came to my mind as I heard of a good friend's mom entering Jesus' presence yesterday! She was 97 years young! Yes, it sure is BLESSED ASSURANCE to know we get to experience heaven when Jesus becomes our Savior and will one day spend eternity with Him and loved ones that know Him too! Beautiful song with awesome lyrics!

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Jerome Lancaster

Upper Marlboro, MD, United States

Feb 12, 2022

My wife and I were about to start our morning devotional when this song dropped into my spirit and I began sing this song. My wife joined in. We couldn't remember all the verses so I googled to search for the lyrics and came to this website. It is indeed awesome not only to just find the lyrics, but to find the wonderful comments giving praise & glory to our Heavenly Father. God bless you all richly.

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