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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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Safe in the arms of Jesus

Comfort in Trials By the Lord’s Arms

English679
1
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershaded,
Sweetly my soul doth rest.
Hark! ’tis a song of heaven
Borne in the sweetest voice,
Echoed by saints in spirit,
Making my heart rejoice.
 
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershaded,
Sweetly my soul doth rest.
2
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe from corroding care,
Safe from the world’s temptations,
Sin cannot harm me there.
Free from the blight of sorrow,
Free from my doubts and fears;
Only a few more trials,
Only a few more tears.
3
Jesus, my heart’s dear Refuge,
Jesus has died for me;
Firm on the Rock of Ages
Ever my trust shall be.
Here let me wait with patience,
Wait till the night is o’er,
Wait till I see the morning
Break on the golden shore.

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Elizabeth

Cherryville, North Carolina, United States

Mar 23, 2015

Safe in the arms of Jesus has blessed my heart this morning as I sit missing our dear Grandson Levi who went to heaven on April 4 2014. His life verse was Romans 8:18. He was A sweet witness to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus in whose loving arms he rests. Thank God for His unspeakable gift.

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Wilkey Cypriana

Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Oct 12, 2014

I have always loved The Lord and hymns are the most inspirational when one is deeply in prayer recognizing the presence and comfort of the Holy Spirit. This is where I am now, praying for a very very dear friend. The Holy Spirit popped this hymn in my heart and I just had to recall every single word in each stanza of the hymn. Now I know God has a word for me for my friend's situation. It is well so I no longer worry. Praise The Lord and His infinite wisdom. Amen.

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Sybil Wiltz

Webster, TX, United States

Sep 13, 2014

Beautiful and peaceful song. I love it so!! I'm Safe! Safe! Safe! Thank You Father in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!!

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Jennifer

Sydney, NSW, Australia

Aug 15, 2014

I am learning into my counselling course of how important it is to have a secure attachment. Many don't. They can be fearful or avoidant. It reminded me of this hymn, Safe in the arms of Jesus. That is our secure attachment! While those we love may leave or pass on, God is our only security.

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Bisi Bamidele

London, Essex, United Kingdom

Aug 6, 2014

I was awoken with a heavy burden. I begun to talk to the Lord as l was not able to phone any one as it was rather late—11:15 pm. Furthermore, l was fed up of telling people about my worry, so l decided to pray. To the glory of God the Holy Spirit who is our great Comforter, gave me this profound hymn—Safe in the arms of Jesus. Then, l was given another one—Praise God from whom all blessing flow. Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. From that point my heaviness melted. Praise the Most High. I admonish you to cast all your cares on Jesus, as friends will fail you. But Jesus will never fail.

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Ben Joshua

Calabar, Cross River

Jun 17, 2014

While praying this morning, I was asking the Father why did Jesus come to die for me personally. Though I know generally for humanity from sin but I wanted something more concrete that I could telling my children looking directly Into their eyes with conviction and a sense of who holds my hands in this seeming cool war going on around me. I heard Him say 'I AM THE DOOR'. I Rushed to understand the mystery from the Bible in John 10:1-9, my spirit sprung up with this song 'Safe in the arms of Jesus'. I say a very big thank you to the Spirit behind this song and the humble vessel that yielded to the call. For the owners of this site thanks for being the gatekeepers for God's people.

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Steve Miller

Detroit, MI, United States

Jan 28, 2014

This hymn was written in 1869 in New York City. Reportedly, Mr. Doane brought the music to Mrs. Crosby and asked her to write words for it.

"Let me hear it," she said. The blind woman sat attentively listening while he played his composition on a small organ. When he hand finished Mrs. Crosby told him:

"That says we are safe in the arms of Jesus. Let me see what I can do with it." Half an hour later, she was back with the lyrics as we know them more than 100 years hence. - George Beverly Shea in "Songs that Lift the Heart"

--------------------------
The 2nd 1/2 of the 1st stanza in the original says:
Hark! ’tis the voice of angels,
borne in a song to me.
Over the fields of glory,
over the jasper sea.
---------------------------
The last line of the chorus originally says:
sweetly my soul shall rest

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Chinedu

Isuikwuato, Abia State, Nigeria

Dec 30, 2013

Thank You Jesus. I know I'm safe in Your hands, come what may.

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Frederick Ellis

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Sep 5, 2013

When you are discourage and tempted and tossed thinking all is lost there came Jesus with His gentle arms to shelter you and caused you to rest in His peace knowing that it's He that sustained us; always remember the foot print in the sand when you don't see it He carries you on His shoulder so that you would soar like an eagle.

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Soji

Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria

Aug 28, 2013

I was thinking on the decadence of our generation, particularly how liberalism is eroding Christian values that built up nations. I whispered to the Lord to build up in me passionate hatred for whatever this generation accepts as good but which runs contrary to the teaching of Christ. And while I got to my office praying, this line 'Safe in the Arms of Jesus' flowed into my heart. I searched for it and it ministered greatly to my heart. It is an arsenal against the darts of corruption and immorality of all times.

Surely Jesus is there to see us through whatever tries to corrupt our faith.

Shalom

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