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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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Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus

Experience of Christ Trusting Him

English568
1
’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise;
Just to know, Thus saith the Lord.
 
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er,
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more.
2
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me,
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood.
3
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life, and rest, and joy, and peace.
4
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

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Florence Karimi

Nairobi, Kenya

Jan 21, 2025

Just woke up this morning, it's 3am EAT, and am waking up to the lyrics of this song ringing in me.

It's a tough moment for my family struggles after losing our dear mom through murder most foul, and we cannot just take it up.

So am preparing myself to travel upcountry to meet the DCI dealing with the criminal case.

It's a tough moment but I learn to trust in Jesus more and more.

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Ayesiga Johnson

Kampala, Fortportal, Uganda

Jan 14, 2025

I need some songs on WhatsApp for more practice of my choir, Jesus’ name be praised More

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Ngozi O

Enugu, Nigeria

Jan 8, 2025

I woke up at a little past midnight with the words from this hymn replaying in my heart. I had to come find the full lyrics to meditate on it.

Truth be told, trust is something the Lord and I have been working on for the longest time— it's been mostly me trying to get away from it, as I feel I have been disappointed in the past.

I do know that God never fails us, and my prayer, for myself and anyone else finding it difficult to trust totally is this— "for grace to trust You more, Lord".

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Jeffrey Eboh

Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Jan 5, 2025

I have always loved this song from way back 2013 when I usually used it to lull my daughter to sleep. Moreover, it has always been a song I use to encourage myself when I'm down in spirit and in motivation. Glory be to Jesus Christ Lord of all.

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Kay

East Midlands, United Kingdom

Dec 31, 2024

End of year reflection, praise and prayer. I was singing a medley of worship and praise songs when I started singing this one but realised the words weren't 'Jesus Jesus how I love you... ' it suddenly hit me that the words should actually be '... how I trust you.. ' I r been singing love for so long lol so I searched and found the lyrics here.

Twas funny as the last few years I have changed the words to lots of songs as it has been difficult time. And I realised sometimes we sing things without knowing it so I became jbtentional about not singing things that were no longer true believing one day they would be. And j guess this one is a prime example. I have never stopped loving God but I did stop trusting Him. Well not fully but nowhere near as confidentially as I once did. At the beginning of this year God asked me to trust Him completely and wholly. It was not an easy ask as j felt God had let me down so much over the past several years and I kinda felt like it was His fault my trust in Him wasn't as strong as it used to be but after a few weeks I said I would put my whole trust in Him. Suffice to say a few days later one of my parents was critically ill in hospital and spent most of this year in hospital. A lot of other things have happened this year and through ach and every twist and turn I kept the faith. Things are still messy but I can confidently say that I have learned to trust him that last verse is a keeper lol I've learned to trust Him and I know He will be with me til the end!

I accidentally saw the comments and was encouraged by what people wrote so thought I would share my testimony here to I the hopes it encourages someone else.

Placing your trust in people and things is hard, but it you haventbyet or you've forgotten how - put all your trust in God no matter how good things appear or how bad things feel trust I God always!

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Osasu Osayande

London, United Kingdom

Dec 25, 2024

How wonderful this is the song. It has been in my heart since the beginning of December.

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Joyful Maggie

Merlin, OR, United States

Dec 20, 2024

The Advent devotional I am reading, '"Unwrapping the Names of Jesus", after a devotional about His name, Lamb of God, asked us to pick a song that speaks of His sacrifice - and sing it to Him in thankfulness. This is the hymn that came to mind. I haven't sung it in MANY years, so I needed to look up the words. Oh, how rich the traditional hymns are!

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Donald Robinson

Dec 10, 2024

Some songs just come in spirit when you need them. I was awakened this morning and this song just resonated in my heart. God's timing is perfect. He knows just what I needed to hear.

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Michael Eleojo Mercy

Lokoja, Kogi, Nigeria

Oct 28, 2024

This song is a blessing to me. It helps me trust Him more. It's a source of encouragement to me. Thank you Jesus 🙌 🙌🙌🙌

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Summer

Roseau, Dominica

Oct 10, 2024

This song has been my prayer this entire week. Every time I prayer this song comes to me.

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