Skip to content
hymnal.net
hymnal.net
My Songs

About Numbered Notation

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

Conflict today is fierce

Spiritual Warfare By the Lord’s Coming

English893
1
Conflict today is fierce,
The strength of Satan more;
The cry of battle calling now
Is louder than before.
The rebel voice of hell
E’en stronger now becomes;
But list, the midnight cry resounds,
Behold, I quickly come!
2
Trials more bitter grow,
The fighting doth enlarge;
Hell’s forces rally all their pow’rs
And gather for the charge.
Yet while we wait and watch
And feel the war severe,
We hear the joyful song ring out,
Jesus, the Lord, is near!
3
’Tis harder at the end
The word to testify,
For Satan fights with all his pow’r
Our witness to defy.
Much greater strength we need
The foe to overcome;
How happy when the Lord we see
And all our sighing’s done!
4
Who then will forward go
Strong in His mighty power?
Who then will firmly trust the Lord
Until the vict’ry hour;
Till with the conqu’rors blest,
The triumph song’s begun?
That man will then rejoice to hear,
Behold, I quickly come!
5
Who then will choose God’s best,
And take the narrow track,
Though passing thru the wildest storms,
Yet never turning back?
Who now will dare press on,
Enduring pain and fear?
All such will then rejoice to see
Jesus, the Lord, is near!
6
Though deep the darkness be
We still would onward go,
Till we the day of rapture greet
And glory ’round shall glow.
’Tis there we’ll see the Lord,
And Satan overcome;
The overcomers will rejoice,
Jesus, the Lord, has come!

Delete Comment

Delete this comment? This cannot be undone.

Anitha Nokku

Tustin, CA, United States

Jul 8, 2026

Lord let the 7 fold intensified spirit shine brighter and brighter in all the believers in this fierce age. All we need to do is watch for his coming, stand firm, declare Gods victory, trust in the Lord, endure and press on so that we can rejoice at his coming at the marriage of the lamb.

The overcomers will rejoice,

Jesus, the Lord, has come!

Read more
Rose-Marie

Surrey, BC, Canada

Jan 20, 2026

Who then will choose God’s best,
And take the narrow track,
Though passing thru the wildest storms,
Yet never turning back?
Who now will dare press on,
Enduring pain and fear?
All such will then rejoice to see
Jesus, the Lord, is near!

Read more
Maria L

Fremont, California, United States

Jul 3, 2024

Praise the Lord!

May we go on with the Lord and allow Him to produce us as His overcomers, the bride of Christ, those who go on with Him, move one with Him, and who will eventually enter into the wedding feast, enjoying the marriage of the Lamb! Hallelujah!

Read more
Jack Petrash

Irving, TX, United States

May 25, 2024

This hymn is very profound in truth and a strong exhortation for us to practice Paul's exhortation in 1Timothy 2:1: I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men.

Read more
RIGHTEOUS

Olympia, WA, United States

Apr 1, 2022

The warfare is stronger at the end. In the world situation now, you see how much the enemy even wants to literally kill, steal, and destroy, discourage, stumble, persecute, and wear down the ones "predestinated unto sonship." He wants to stumble people in their faith so that they doubt the goodness of God's heart toward them in the midst of the suffering in the world, for one thing. And if not trying to damage us through sufferings, death or imprisonment, the ridicule for their faith, and persecutions, then he will cause us to fall asleep and enjoy the earthly things while forgetting that a warfare even exists. But in Christ there is the power of resurection, and even a power that seated Christ far above all, subjecting all things under His feet, and making Him head over all things to the Church, His Body (Eph. 1). (Revelation, the book that calls for overcomers in chapters 2-3, also shares with us that the Spirit is now called the seven Spirits, implying that the power and grace of the Spirit has now been intensified 7-fold so that we can answer His call to become "he who overcomes" in this dark age. Not just power, but 7 fold power. ). In Ephesions 6 it says we can be empowered in this powerful Christ, for the warfare, and in Eph 5 says we can become His Bride that is glorious and without spot or wrinkle. This Bride, in a white garment, is seen in Revelation 19, and will come back with Christ as His army to overcome antiChrist and end this dark age, bringing in the age of the kingdom. God needs those who answer His call to be "he who overcomes" in Revelation 2 or 3. He needs the 144, 000 in Revelation 14 as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. He needs the man-child in Revelation 12. He needs His Bride who will make herself ready in Revelation 19. Until He gets this, there can be no Revelation 21-22. He has prepared Himself as the resurrection power and the grace for us to become what He needs; we just need to receive His grace and say,

Amen, I'm willing for you to make me an overcomer, and work with you to gain others for Your Bride. Lord, do get Your glorious Bride, get Your overcomers, so you can end this dark age!" I love this part of the hymn. :

"Who then will forward go
Strong in His mighty power?
Who then will firmly trust the Lord
Until the vict’ry hour;
Till with the conqu’rors blest,
The triumph song’s begun?
That man will then rejoice to hear,
Behold, I quickly come!"

Read more
Medea

Tbilisi, Georgia

May 30, 2020

Watchman Nee had a keen awareness of the normally unseen war raging between God and Satan over the possession of mankind. As a voice declaring the truth concerning Christ in the spiritual darkness of China, Nee writes in this hymn how “hell’s forces rally all their pow’rs” to stir up “the wildest storms. ” This war grows stronger, louder, harder, and more bitter toward the end.

If the truth of this hymn unmasks Satan’s strategy to wear down and discourage God’s

people, it also works to awaken them from any confusion, numbness, and indifference toward the fight. Few Christians may ever be called to speak to thousands or suffer imprisonment for their faith as Nee did, but each one has an all-important opportunity to experience and display Christ’s overcoming life in daily routines. We are surrounded by people who desperately need to see Him expressed through us. This is our battlefield until at last “the triumph song’s begun! ”

As soldiers in Christ’s army, what should our attitude be toward this hidden, yet so real, war? Nee exhorts us to be encouraged, for the Lord Jesus quickly comes; to sing, for He is near; and to be happy, for we have greater power to witness. Captivated by His glorious return and motivated by the overcomers’ future reward, we “will forward go, strong in His mighty power. ”

Read more
Medea

Tbilisi, Georgia

May 27, 2020

1.
კონფლიქტი მძვინვარებს,
მტერი ძალას იკრებს;
ბრძოლის ხმა მოგვიხმობს ახლა
მეტად ვიდრე ადრე.
მოჯანყე გეენა
ხმას უფრო იმაღლებს;
შუაღამისას უფლის ხმა
ჰქუხს “მე მოვალ მალე! “

2.
დიდ განსაცდელებში,
ბრძოლა ძლიერდება;
მთელ თავის ძალ-ღონეს იკრებს
ჯოჯოხეთის  მხარე.
ჩვენ ვიცდით და ვფხიზლობთ,
ომის სიმკაცრეს ვგრძნობთ,
გვესმის მხიარული ჰანგი
უფალი ახლოა !

3.
სულ უფრო ძნელდება
სიტყვის დამოწმება,
მთელი ძალით მტერი ცდილობს  მოწმობის დარღვევას.
სიმტკიცე გვჭირდება,
მტრების დასაძლევად;
ვიხილავთ უფალს, ვიხარებთ
წუხილი გაქრება.

4.
მაშ, ვინ წავა  უფლის
მძლეველი ძალით წინ?   
ვინ მიენდობა მტკიცედ მას გამარჯვების დრომდე;
სანამ მძლეველებთან
ტრიუმფს არ იგემებს?
ასეთი ხარობს ესმის რა
“აჰა! მოვალ მალე! ”

5.
მაშ, ვინ აირჩევს ღმერთს,
გაყვება ვიწრო გზით,
თუმც გაივლის ძლიერ შტორმში
უკან არ დაიხევს?
ვინ გააგრძელებს გზას,
დაითმენს შიშს, ტკივილს?
ასეთი იხარებს ხილვით
უფალი ახლოა!

6.
თუმც ღრმა სიბნელეა  
მაინც  წინ მივიწევთ,
სანამ ატაცების დიდ დღეს
დიდებით ვიბრწყინებთ.
ვიხილავთ ჩვენს უფალს,
ვიმძლავრეთ რა მტერზე;
გამარჯვებულნი ვიხარებთ,
უფალი დაბრუნდა!

Read more
Hassan Stone

Bulacan, San Jose Del Monte, Philippines

Feb 29, 2020

Hallelujah Praise the Lord The Lord Jesus Already Win Amen put the armour of God Amen Emmanuel Defeat Satan

Read more
Minjarez

El Monte

Jan 25, 2020

Satan will be defeated!!!

Read more
Taylor

Fort Worth, Texas, United States

Jul 1, 2019

Lord, strengthen us with power and train us to fight the battle..! Yes, Lord here we are because of Your economy!

Read more