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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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Blessed assurance

Assurance and Joy of Salvation Born of the Spirit

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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Joel Essiaw

Accra, Achimota, Ghana

Mar 11, 2017

God is Good.

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Pastor Enoch Harmon

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Mar 6, 2017

On the 4th of March two thousand seventeen, Sunday night as I sat down and began to think of the goodness of God Almighty in my life through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, then I remember this hymn Blessed Assurance and I googled it on my phone, and begin to sing it with all my heart. Truly Jesus Christ of Nazareth is my personal Savior and Redeemed. Glory be to God Almighty Amen it's Pastor Enoch Harmon

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Revelin Rozario

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Feb 24, 2017

How wonderful it is to have this blessed assurance that we are the children of God & that He reigns in us.

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Bethwell Mbugua

Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 16, 2017

This song truly uplifts my soul, I don't take it for granted all the mighty He has done. All to me are praises of honour.

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Veronica

Whitby, Ontario, Canada

Feb 7, 2017

I like this song. I sing it to myself all the time often for comfort and to remind myself that there is nothing better in the world than walking hand in hand with God. He is the best friend or boss anyone can ever have. It's a pleasure to serve Him.

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Dave Hayes

Halifax, NS, Canada

Jan 25, 2017

imagine Faith so strong and deep that even though you are blind you write hundreds of songs for no other than to praise our Lord and Saviour! Certainly my favourite.

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Jana

Cleveland, OH, United States

Nov 26, 2016

I thought I saw something go down the hall. it just spooked me and I couldn't get back to sleep. It wouldn't surpise me if those really do exist but I was rattled and don't like the thought of it. I began to say the Lord's prayer out loud and I meditated on what it meant as I said it. I felt a peace and reassurance at the end and this song "Blessed Assurance" popped in my head and I looked up all the lyrics. I was able to fall asleep peacefully and didn't need a night light. I have my Blessed Assurance.

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Laarnie Talip

Lala, Lanao Del Norte, Philippines

Nov 4, 2016

Yes!!! Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!!!

J E S U S IS M I N E...

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Kimberly Baehr

Dallas, Texas, United States

Nov 3, 2016

When the enemy of my soul comes against me, and I'm tempted to believe lies that disturb my mind and go against God's Word and His promises - if I give in to temptation, my spirit experiences terror and agony -- but by His Spirit in me -- I choose to submit to God and believe His Word -- and the enemy flees, just as His Word promises. At the moment, He gives me the power to overcome my human doubts and weaknesses. At that moment I know true Blessed Assurance. Today my Savior brought this song I loved as a little girl to my mind -- while in the midst of a spiritual battle in my thoughts. I praise Jesus that I am washed in His blood and born of His Spirit, just as the song declares. I'm so thankful for the relief and peace that come with the assurance that I belong to Him -- that I'm an "heir of salvation" and "a purchase of God"!!! Thank you Lord Jesus for re-assurance when I need it, and forgiving my doubt and giving me the power to overcome doubts. Lord Jesus, please bless all those in your body who are weak and struggle as I do -- with your Blessed Assurance today. Amen.

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Henry

Gallup, NM

Oct 23, 2016

Kaleb Vaughn, I also love some of the old hymns, especially Blessed Assurance. I also love some modern music. I think the church is again poised to believe the wonder of God expressed in hymns like Blessed Assurance. Have you listened to For the Cross ?

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