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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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Have Thine own way, Lord

Consecration Yielding to the Lord

English449
1
Have Thine own way, Lord,
Have Thine own way;
Thou art the Potter,
I am the clay.
Mould me and make me
After Thy will,
While I am waiting,
Yielded and still.
2
Have Thine own way, Lord,
Have Thine own way;
Search me and try me,
Master, today.
Whiter than snow, Lord,
Wash me just now,
As in Thy presence
Humbly I bow.
3
Have Thine own way, Lord,
Have Thine own way;
Wounded and weary,
Help me, I pray.
Power, all power,
Surely is Thine,
Touch me and heal me,
Savior divine.
4
Have Thine own way, Lord,
Have Thine own way;
Hold o’er my being
Absolute sway.
Fill with Thy Spirit
Till all shall see
Christ only, always,
Living in me.

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Mary Pfleegor

Wailuku, Hawaii, United States

Mar 14, 2026

We have been pray reading through the book of Romans and are currently in Romans 9. One of the sisters in the Zoom shared with us hymn 450 and 449 and I am so impressed with the Lord’s selection for His interests. Wonderful songs sang for the first time this year 2026

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Valerie Forrest

Brooklyn, NYC, United States

Jan 23, 2026

Have your own way Lord in my life because you are the potter and I am the clay thank You Lord. Amen 🙏🏾

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Un Hermano

Nov 22, 2025

JEHOVAH AS THE POTTER
AND ISRAEL AS THE POTTERY
Scripture Reading: Jer. 18—20

As the Potter our God has the absolute right over us. Regarding us, He has the right to do whatever He likes. This thought is found not only in Jeremiah 18 through 20 but also in Romans 9 . I believe that Paul was considering these chapters of Jeremiah as he was writing Romans 9 concerning God’s sovereignty in His selection. In verse 21 he asks, “Does not the potter have authority over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor? ” God, the Potter, certainly has such authority. His selection is according to His absolute right. He may choose one vessel and reject another. He has the full right to do anything in any way to His pottery.

From Jeremiah’s word in 15:10—17:27 , we can see that there was something within him that was different from God’s thought regarding Israel. I believe that the feeling within Jeremiah was that God’s judgment upon Israel was too severe. At least he was not satisfied with the situation. In a sense, he was arguing with God. Instead of arguing with God directly, Jeremiah argued indirectly by expressing his feeling to his mother, saying, “Woe is me, my mother, because you bore me, / A man of strife and a man of contention to the whole land” ( 15:10a ). This is a strong word. God did not give Jeremiah’s mother an opportunity to respond but came in to speak with Jeremiah and even to argue with him. As God spoke to Jeremiah, He asked him, “Can one break iron, / Iron from the north, or bronze? ” ( v. 12 ). Here God was indicating that He was determined to use the Babylonians as iron to judge and punish Israel.

Following this section in which he tells of his experience of arguing with God, Jeremiah went on to write a section concerning Jehovah as the Potter and Israel as the pottery. This section makes it very clear that God is absolutely free to do whatever He desires to His people. He has the full right, just as a potter has the full right over the pottery. If we see this, we will be able to understand these three chapters.

I. JEHOVAH AS THE SOVEREIGN POTTER

Jeremiah 18:1-10 reveals Jehovah as the sovereign Potter, the One with the absolute right over His pottery.

A. The Potter Working and Reworking the Pottery

Jehovah told Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house ( vv. 1-2 ). Jeremiah saw that the potter was working and reworking the pottery at his wheel into another vessel, as it seemed good for him to make ( vv. 3-4 ). This indicates that the potter has the full right to do whatever he desires with the clay.

B. Jehovah as the Sovereign Potter Being Able to Do with the House of Israel, as the Clay in His Hand, in Changeable Ways

Jehovah as the sovereign Potter is able to do with the house of Israel, as the clay in His hand, in changeable ways according to Israel’s condition ( vv. 6-10 ). Verse 6 says, “Am I not able to do with you, O house of Israel, as this potter does? declares Jehovah. Behold, as the clay is in the hand of the potter, so you are in My hand, O house of Israel. ” This word to Israel was also a word to the prophet, a word that would clear up his concept. Jehovah seemed to be saying to Jeremiah, “Do not hinder Me from doing whatever I will to do with the house of Israel. Israel is clay in My hand, and I deal with them in changeable ways. Depending on their condition, I can punish them or exalt them. ”

Life-study of Jeremiah

Message 18 (LSM)

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David Alao

Gardner, Kansas, United States

Aug 29, 2025

Overwhelmed by a demonstration of God's power over my life most suddenly and unexpectedly. I give all glory to God Almighty 🙌🏽

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Andrea Haile

Lancaster, United States

Jul 30, 2025

🎶 Have Thine own way, Lord 🎶 Have Thine own way 🎶 Hold o'er my being 🎶 Absolute sway 🎶 Filled with Thy Spirit 🎶 Till all shall see 🎶 Christ only, always🎶 Living in me 🎶

"Christ only, always, Living in me" 💖

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Alex, Owen, Josiah & Eden

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Jun 10, 2025

The Lord lead us to this song after appreciating the truth of 1 Samuel 16:7 in our family devotions. A favourite song of mine (Alex/Dad) and a new song for us kids (Owen (11), Josiah (9) & Eden (6)). May God write it on our hearts.

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Patricia

Princeton, Illinois, United States

Jun 3, 2025

In response to anonymous June 1.

Oh what a Savior!

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Anonymous

Jun 1, 2025

Hallelujah

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Sharon

Braintree, Massachusetts, United States

May 27, 2025

jehovah-rapha the great and mighty healer, thank you God for your unconditional love and faithfulness everyday of my life ❤️. thank you yeshua for healing and restoration. thank you 🙏❤️. in Jesus Christ of nazareth name I pray amen 🙏🙌👏🤲💞💯🕊️🌹❤️

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Bob Ables

Charleston, SC, United States

May 15, 2025

This morning in my time with the LORD, this song came to mind as I was praying for a young Christian friend. I too heard this song being sung by my Morher as she did her domestic chores, and many times at church.

Fifty years ago, I prayed these words and was born again into His kingdom. The first thirty-two years were much wasted on the allures of this world and like John Newton’s confessions in another great hymn, I was a desperate and lost soul.

Hallelujah, what a Savior. To Him be the glory.

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