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

Like a river, glorious

Comfort in Trials By Peace in the Lord

English719
1
Like a river, glorious
Is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious
In its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth
Fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth
Deeper all the way.
 
Stayed upon Christ Jesus,
Hearts are fully blest;
Finding, as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
2
Hidden in the hollow
Of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow,
Never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry,
Not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry
Touch the spirit there.
3
Every joy or trial
Falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial
By the Sun of Love.
We may trust Him fully
All for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly
Find Him wholly true.

Delete Comment

Delete this comment? This cannot be undone.
Sandy Wolfe

SeaTac, Washington, United States

Dec 17, 2016

This coming Sunday is the 4th Sun of Advent; This Sunday we light the candle of "Peace" and this old hymn is very good for this great Peace our Lord gives.

Thank you for this site....

Read more
Sheelagh Hanly

Carrick On Shannon, Ireland

Sep 28, 2016

I have been trying to get a video or someone singing hymn called Like a River with the following words: Love is flowing like a river,

Flowing out of you and me,
Flowing down from the mountains
Like a river to the sea,
Love is flowing from you and me.

This hymn continues with peace and hope and love with the same basic verses.

I know the first two lines are similar to another Hymn called Love is flowing like a River and that is the one that keeps coming up when I search. If you can help me find this one above on video or with someone singing it I would appreciate it please.

Thanks in anticipation.

Sheelagh Hanly

Read more
Marlene

Montgomery, TX, United States

Jun 5, 2015

On having my quiet time this morning, I suddenly realized some of the phrases from this hymn were going through my mind but I couldn't think of the name or anything more than those few words. I googled those along with "hymn" and I found this site. What a great tool! I'm very excited to find it. The hymns are gradually being forgotten and they are so rich in teaching and encouragement. Thank you!

Read more
Adeola

Lagos, Nigeria

Apr 21, 2015

Thanks be to God for life and the event I'm passing through. Been stressed and have been going through life journey ignoring Him. Putting all in a balance I've come to realize that living with heaven in view matters and gives you unexplainable satisfaction in life. I've asked for forgiveness and I know He has heard. May His mercy and grace keep us in Him.

Read more
Anonymous

Austin, TX, United States

Mar 26, 2015

We may trust Him fully
All for us to do
They who trust Him wholly
Find Him wholly true.

Amen! Thank You, Lord that we may trust You wholly and find that You are wholly true!

Read more
Pat Treachler

San Angelo, TX, United States

Aug 31, 2013

Praise You, Lord Jesus Christ. You are indeed a most loving and gracious God! Every good and perfect gift comes from You and You sovereignly orchestrate every event in my life. Thank You Lord for choosing for me. I thank You for my auto accident that no one else was hurt and that You have forgiven me and brought me so much closer to You. You put a hymn in my mind today "Lord lead me to some soul today" and brought me to this site. please forgive me for not using the time You've given me wisely in the past and please use me Lord to lead others to YOU, that You might receive all the glory and honor due Your Name. I love You Lord and I desperately want to honor You every minute of every hour for the remainder of life. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

Read more
Jean Weaver

Tazlina, Alaska, United States

May 9, 2013

Don't know how I came upon this site but I am amazed and so blessed. It is truly amazing. I have always been blessed by hymns, but today was led through my devotions to the thought of peace...true peace amidst many storms in my life. Thank You, Lord, to directing me to this site. I guess I found it after googling the hymn, O this full and perfect peace. Thank You, Lord.

Read more
Betty Jane Bonn

Dunlap, Illinois, United States

Oct 30, 2012

This hymn about the peace of God that passes understanding reminds me of another beautiful old hymn, "Wonderful Peace." I offer to you the words:

Wonderful Peace

Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.

Refrain

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!

I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!

And I think when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the anchor of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be:

Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept this sweet peace so sublime!

God bless you all who are "stayed upon Christ Jesus."

Read more
Jill Sell

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Oct 19, 2012

I have been whistling this tune and singing this special hymn today. What a blessing and reminder for me to stay in peace and rest.

Read more
John White

West Chicago, IL, United States

Sep 15, 2012

I was feeling rushed this morning and was reminded of this song. So, I googled it and sang along. Just what I needed today. Thanks.

Read more