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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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Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Encouragement For Fellowship with the Lord

English645
1
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.
 
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
2
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conqu’rors we are!
3
His Word shall not fail you, He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

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Leon Estes

Lowell, Arkansas, United States

Mar 31, 2012

I have enjoyed this hymn for many years. If I may, here is some background on this hymn:

The author and composer of this hymn, Helen H Lemmel, relates that one day, in 1918, a missionary friend gave her a tract entitled "Focused."

The pamphlet contained these words - - -

"So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full into His face and you will find that the things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness."

These words made a deep impression upon her. She could not dismiss them from her mind. She recalls this experience following the reading of that tract: "Suddenly, as if commanded to stop and listen, I stood still, and singing in my soul and spirit was the Chorus, with not one conscious moment of putting word to word to make rhyme, or note to note to make melody. The verses were written the same week, after the usual manner of composition, but none the less dictated by the Holy Spirit."

-Adapted from Kenneth Osbeck

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Lily Pham

Garden Grove, CA, United States

Jan 30, 2012

I really enjoyed this hymn. As a young person, I am getting to know the Lord in a more personal and intimate way. And as I see the Lord more as my Friend and Companion, I realize that all the worries and troubles I have, everything I go through, the Lord is there with me. I just have to turn to Him and enjoy Him! And my burdens will be carried for me! That I can gain more of Him!

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Peter Cua

Taipei, Taiwan

Apr 16, 2011

Since late last year, I became worried over some health issues. I am taking medication but I feel that I am not getting healed and my health will never be the same again. I knew this was the Lord's chastisement. The Lord wanted me to come back to Him. Upon the Lord's mercy, I heeded His call and He led me out of darkness and into His light again. Yesterday my sister told me that she has been enjoying this hymn in the last 2 weeks. I looked it up in the hymnal and it is hymn #645. Thank the Lord for giving me this hymn. It serves as a great reminder that I must constantly turn my eyes upon Jesus and let Jesus take over all my health problems. Hallelujah! I received much help too from the comments posted by beloved saints all over the world. Praise the Lord for His universal Body.

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Jay Parmar

Leeds, Uk, United Kingdom

Mar 25, 2011

The Lord truly is everything to me, He lifts me up, and out of my troubles, when there is no help around me. I made a decision to trust Him, no matter what happens in my life. It is the best decision I ever made.

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Jan Law

Loveland, CO, United States

Mar 24, 2011

For so many years I have been overwhelmed with taking care of serious health problems in our family. I get so tired & discouraged. I often forget to "turn my eyes upon Jesus." When I remember, He gives me peace. It is wonderful to read other comments of how Christ is helping others. Reading them helps me feel not so alone.

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Sis LC

Auckland, New Zealand

Feb 23, 2011

PTL. I've been quite troubled recently about what to do with the entanglements of this world. It's answered so easily! "Turn your eyes upon Jesus! and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." Even when our will is weak, our strength is frail, and feel like there's no hope in being delivered from the body of this death, simply turn our eyes upon Jesus! Whenever our heart turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away!

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Riny

Berlin, Germany

Oct 31, 2009

O Lord Jesus, I love You. Thank You for always reminding me to turn my eyes upon You. I'm learning that everything is not real but Christ! You are the only thing that is real to me, Lord. I love You so much.

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Boaz Leong

Manila, Philippines

Oct 22, 2009

I usually sing this when I am weary and troubled. I t reminds me to turn to Him. I also enjoy the words "look full"...not partial but full!

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Errol G. Broderick

Kingston, West Indies, Jamaica

Jul 18, 2009

I thank God for this site, it has been such a blessing to me, an encouragement to keep holding on.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

1. O soul are you and weary troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There's light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon

Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of this earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace.

2. Through death into life everlasting He past and we follow Him there; Over us sin no more hath dominion, For more than conquerors we are!

3. His word shall not fail you He promised; Believe him and all will be well: Then go to the world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell!

Read more
osmar suarez

New York City, NY, United States

Jul 10, 2009

The light of His glory is available for us to enjoy in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). Praise the Lord we can just look full in His wonderful face to receive His marvelous shining. May we all reflect His shining as we behold Him daily with an unveiled face (2 Cor. 3:18).

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