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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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At Calvary

Assurance and Joy of Salvation General

English342
1
Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary.
 
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty,
At Calvary.
2
By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned
To Calvary.
3
Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing
Of Calvary.
4
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary!

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Steph Mahiaini

Colorado Springs, CO, United States

Jul 24, 2017

I woke up with this song in my head. This is our precious Gospel: that God in His mercy sent Jesus to die for sinful me, on Calvary's tree and that He rose again on the third day!! My sins are forgiven, I have been set free. This is the Good News,

"Pardon there was multiplied for me, There my burdened soul found liberty, At Calvary"

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Daniel Moses

Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Jun 25, 2017

Thank You Jesus for the plan of salvation and for saving me. Thank You for the Holy Spirit and how He inspires men to write wonderful lyrics like this. Keep me until Your return oh Lord. Help me to be a light to this dark world, thank You Father.

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Frank Akushie

Accra, Gar, Ghana

Jan 10, 2017

2. Lord heal Thy child we ask
of Thee,
Cast out our ills that we be free,
Thy healing clay my ailments scourge,
Fountain of life my spirit purge.

Hymn poetry by Frank Akushie (c)2012. Inspired by Luke 5: 20- 26, Luke 7: 22, Mark 8: 22-25,Mark 9:17 - 27, John 5:5 -9.

Tune ALFTOR (c) by Frank Akushie ; or suitable popular tune for MHB. 353, (Just as I am), or tune VENI EMMANUEL noted a.d.1854 (no refrain).

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Frank Akushie

Accra, Gar, Ghana

Jan 3, 2017

Motivation, Morale and Perseverance.
Be not afraid of sudden snare,
Your vest of faith forever wear,
Where the field is strewn with fear,
Our Christ will show that He is near.
(c)2012. Inspired by Psalm 118: 6 , Proverbs 3: 25-27.

Can be sung to tune Antwerp, L.M., MHB 590 or it's other tune.

Peace and Mercy
God in Thy love rests our belief,
Be Thou our source of blest relief,
We cry to thee, for perfect peace;
Our hopes indeed in Thy promise.
(c)2012. Inspired by Psalm 86: 5 - 6 , Psalm 119: 156.
Can be sung to MHB additional tunes 15 (Rimington L.M. )
By Frank Nii Amoo Akushie
BBA, Cleveland State University (U.S.A.),Dip. D.P.,MCP.

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Steve Miller

Detroit, MIchigan, United States

Jan 2, 2017

Dr. R. A. Torrey on one occasion told the following touching story. He had received a letter from a broken-hearted Presbyterian minister who asked him to take his son into the seminary as a student. This son, he explained, had become obsessed with the thought that he was beyond redemption. Dr. Torrey told the father that although he sympathized with him, he did not feel a Bible School was the place for a young man in this condition. Their purpose was to train young men for the ministry, and it was important that young men know Christ as personal Savior before they entered training.

However, the friend continued to plead for his son, and finally Dr. Torrey wrote, "Send him along". The young man arrived and was eventually shown in to Dr. Torrey's office. Dr. Torrey opened a conversation, but the young man, completely despondent, could only hang his head and say, "I am possessed with the devil." Dr. Torrey replied, "I think quite likely you are, but Christ is able to cast out devils." The young man argued for some time that his case was hopeless.

Several weeks passed by and the young man had occasion again to be in Dr. Torrey's office. Still despondent, he again stated that his case was hopeless. Dr. Torrey said, "Young man, do you believe the Bible?" He responded, "Yes, I believe every word of the Bible." "Do you believe John 6:37, 'Him that comes unto Me I will in no wise cast out'?" "Yes", was the reply, "but I have committed the unpardonable sin". "The Scripture does not say, 'He that has not committed the unpardonable sin, and comes unto Me, I will in no wise cast out'." Then the young man, still spiritually blind, declared that God could not save him because he was possessed with the devil. Again Dr. Torrey presented John 6:37 and said, "This scripture is the word of Jesus Himself, and He does not say, 'Him that is not possessed with the devil, and comes unto me, I will in no wise cast out'."

Dr Torrey said, "Now, will you come? Stop your nonsense and kneel down." The young man knelt and Dr. Torrey told him to follow him thus in prayer: "Dear Jesus, my heart is hard as a millstone." He repeated it and the following: "But You have said in Your Word, 'Him that comes unto Me I will in no wise cast out'. I believe this statement of Yours. Though I don't feel it, I believe You have received me." When they had finished this prayer, Dr. Torrey asked, "Did you really mean it, did you come?" He replied, "I did". "What then must He have done?" "He must have received me."

Dr. Torrey then sent the young man to his room with the advice that whenever the devil tempted him to doubt God's Word, he was to meet him with John 6:37 and to stand firm on the fact that he came to Christ the Savior, who, true to His Word, received him. This he did, and as time went by the Lord gave him real joy and assurance in believing.

After many years of faithful service as a minister of the Gospel, this young man, Rev. William R. Newell, wrote this lovely hymn and moving testimony. - 'More Living Hymn Stories' by Wilbur Konkel

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Robert

PA, United States

Nov 27, 2016

Are not verses 3 & 4 out of order?

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Clement Ayo

Ughelli, Delta, Nigeria

Nov 1, 2016

This is the song through which the message of salvation was preached to me and I gave my life and my love to Jesus Christ. I always recall the topic of the message and this song. Thank You Jesus.

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Beny Anthony

Houston, Texas, United States

Aug 4, 2016

Knowing not that it was for me He died...Thank God He told me....now I have no excuse. He said His people perish for lack of knowledge...I thank Him for Him Mercy o! Lovyeah Adonai. Thank You Lord for the person that scripted this lyrics.

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Lynda

Billings, Montana, United States

Jul 26, 2016

Love this old hymn~ O the love that drew salvations plan! :)

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Jennifer

Rome, GA, United States

Jul 14, 2016

From Cincinnati ❤️ This old hymn made me cry!!! Thank You Jesus for dying for me❣

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