Skip to content
hymnal.net
hymnal.net
My Songs

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.

Open this guide as its own page

Download limit reached

Moment By Moment

Union with Christ Identified with His Death and Resurrection

English486
1
Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
Living with Jesus a new life divine;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
 
Moment by moment I’m kept in His love,
Moment by moment I’ve life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
2
Never a battle with wrong for the right,
Never a contest that He doth not fight;
Lifting above us His banner so white;
Moment by moment I’m kept in His sight.
3
Never a trial that He is not there,
Never a burden that He doth not bear;
Never a sorrow that He doth not share,
Moment by moment, I’m under His care.
4
Never a heartache, and never a groan,
Never a teardrop, and never a moan;
Never a danger but there on the throne
Moment by moment He thinks of His own.
5
Never a weakness that He doth not feel,
Never a sickness that He cannot heal;
Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,
Jesus, my Savior, abides with me still.

Delete Comment

Delete this comment? This cannot be undone.
Jim Smith

Mansfield, OH, United States

Sep 3, 2026

Moment by moment should be our experience. At least we should see he is with us moment by moment. When we abide with him, we get the riches of the vine.

Read more
Norah

Kampala, Uganda

May 11, 2026

Today has been a tough day, struggling with my self life. A line of this song came to mind, "looking to Jesus till glory does shine". And I was reminded that it's by looking to Jesus that I am actually transformed into his likeness. The more I look into myself, the more miserable I become. The more I look to Christ, the more glorious. So I'll keep looking to Jesus away from all things around me to him who is the author and perfector of my faith

Read more
A M E

Chicago, Il, United States

Dec 16, 2025

As the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

John 15:9, 10

Read more
John Schimnowski

Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Aug 19, 2025

Such a beautiful hymn in turning 63 this month the Lord brought this to my memory from when I was first saved I was 17, Jesus is so precious to me, so faithful to me. And he said and promised” I Will never leave you nor forsake you. I love him because he first loved me,

Read more
Frank Pytel

Chicago, Illinois, United States

May 14, 2025

Time can be broken into different segments: a year, a month, a week, a day. This hymn speaks of moments, "moment by moment". The impulse of the love of God in our hearts is constant and unceasing, that is, moment by moment. Throughout the day in all things, the love of God is touching, influencing and drawing us, moment by moment. Whatever our condition, the impulse of His love is moment by moment. Whatever the situation, the impulse of His love is moment by moment. His love is with us in all the common things, loving us moment by moment. As the impulses of His love visit us moment by moment, let us respond to Him with our moment-by-moment love. His love constrains us moment by moment.

Read more
Daniel

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Mar 23, 2024

Oh that we may understand how helpless in our own fleshly strength. God is our salvation and He works out our salvation in us. That salvation is a death to self that the Holy Spirit must work in us, so that the Holy Spirit alone may abide in us. The Holy Spirit will fill us. Please don't let anyone deceive you to believe that Jesus died only for forgiveness of sins. He died so that we being joined to Him in His death, may have new life in Him as well (the first two lines of this Hymn tell us this). But this death with Him that we receive by believing it to be true, must be worked out in us by the Holy Spirit in our real life experience. The Holy Spirit will work in our experience a death to self. In my case, it has been a most painful experience as God must remove everything that once brought me joy in this world from my life, so that He alone by His Holy Spirit will reign in my heart. He who loses his life in this world shall keep it for eternity. Unless a grain of wheat dies it remains alone but if it dies it shall bring forth much grain.

Read more
Chimburoma Igwe

Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Mar 18, 2024

I’m in pain going through bad times

No money for school fees no food broken pained but I believe that never a burden that he do not bear never a sorrow that he do not share every moment am under his care ❤️

Read more
James Smith

Mansfield, Ohio, United States

Jan 20, 2024

I tripped over this hymn this morning. I’m beginning to be aware of my experience of Him and see what Christ can be to me in so many ways. I come to Him each morning and He speaks to me and meets me where I am. I see I need him moment by moment. I also see how my desire changes overtime as a Christian. Here are some hymns that kind of show progress in a Christian’s life.

Oh, how glorious is that table Lord. Hymn 1112 We remember Him every Lords Table

Oh, I need the oh I need the every hour Hymn 371 We know our need is to experience Him every hour of the day.

Moment by moment, Hymn 486

We really have a walk with the Lord and desire Him who is so available . We long to stay with Him.

Abiding in the vine, Hymn 1162

Our ultimate state to abide continuously with Him and realize all His riches to us. This will happen in eternity.

Read more
Jim McClish

Alexandria, IN, United States

Dec 15, 2023

A friend of mine sent me this Song. I Love My LORD JESUS with All that I am and JESUS is LORD overall that he has given me. The LORD is my Shepherd I have all that I need Thank you JESUS for every breath I take. Jimmy 🙏🙏🙏❤️✝️

Read more
Jenny Farrell

Davenport, IA, United States

Oct 7, 2023

Tonight the lyrics of this beautiful hymn floated into my mind. The concept of deeply desiring a moment by moment relationship isn’t new—just growing in intensity these past few months. I sense an urgency to fully turn my eyes upon Jesus and to not look away. To be a living sacrifice. After Jesus gave His life for me, how can I give Him less?

I have walked with Jesus for many years, but now I’m seeing that I have held back parts of myself and huge swaths of my time, heart, and resources. God forgive me!! Time is short and He deserves my all. Lead me on.

Read more