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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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Lord, how long

Experience of Christ Loving Him

Long Beach Songbook40
1
Lord, how long, dear Bridegroom,
’Til You come, Lord, how soon?
Don’t delay for that coming day, coming day.
Grant me, Lord, to be filled
With You, Lord, every day.
Dearest Lord, take me all the way.
 
Come, Lord Jesus,
Please come, dear Bridegroom;
Precious One, come soon, come soon.
Lord, consume me!
Oh Lord, don’t let me stray,
Faithful to You all the way.
2
Lord, make home in all my heart
In my secret, deepest parts,
Hidden, Lord, and reserved for You, for You.
You would be preeminent
In all things and all events,
Possessed by Thee to this extent.
3
In my prayer and deepest plea
In my spirit always be
Saturated and soaked with Thee, with Thee.
This would be my life daily.
Every hour expecting Thee,
This I pray, Lord, desperately!
4
The universe, in it we see,
In the sweetest touch of Thee,
You’re my choice and my destiny, destiny.
Lord, whate’er the price may be,
Lord, Amen, let it be!
Oh, my Love, please come back quickly!
5
In Your love I am constrained.
What’s within, I can’t contain.
Lord, I can’t any more restrain, restrain.
In Your love, I’ll pour on Thee.
And the church, Your Bride to be,
This my choice voluntarily.

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emarden p. octo

Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur, Philippines

Apr 27, 2009

Amen! The principle is we need to be matured before the Lord will come so that we will reign with Him in the millennial kingdom. We are His bride and He washes our wrinkles and spots so that we will be glorious in the wedding feast... Oh! COME LORD JESUS!

we are waiting for Your second coming!

Saints let us prepare! Amen! because of His love for us He will come to stay with us and in us eternally...mutual abode!!! Hallelujah!

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Alvin Lo

Hong Kong

Sep 26, 2008

One day right after I woke up, the Lord gave me this hymn, and I fell into tears at once. I realized I have not been thinking about the Lord's return in my life. I only cared for myself. I need to repent to the Lord for not yearning for His return!

Oh Lord Jesus, saturate me with You, and make home in my heart, all my deepest parts! Grant me a heart that always love You, and a mind that always think about You. I yearn for Your return!

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Betty Co

IL, United States

Jul 11, 2008

Oh Lord, don't let me stray,

Faithful to You all the way.

Lord, may I treasure You more today and faithfully await Your coming. I pray that my inward being would be One with You.

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mercy bumohya

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Jul 6, 2008

Amen..come dear Bridegroom. Every time I listen to this song I come to realize that in everything we do, it must be to hasten the Lord's coming. We should not be the reason to delay the coming of our dearest Bridegroom. Oh Lord Jesus, I hope there will be a meeting here in UAE. Lord, I want to be mingled with Your chosen people as a part of Body.

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Bridge

Marianas

Dec 26, 2006

I confess my love to the Lord. I think it's easy to love the Lord. I also admit that I don't have the desperate prayer to be watchful for our dear Bridegoom's return. This song reassures me that I need not be reluctant to let the Lord come in to the rooms deep within me that needs cleaning. Tonight I am touched by the Lord's dear trusting presence. He is ever gentle and caring...loving us with His very Being. Like a child, I really can only trust HIM. Even if I try, He knows that only He is able!! So now I pray, "Lord, have all the ground to accomplish your work in me. Come even into all the rooms that I do not know are even there! Lord I love You! And come Lord Jesus!

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Helen

Canada

Jan 21, 2006

I fear that I am not yet prepared for the Lord to come back again. Yet I can no longer grieve the Lord but hope for His return. Now the Lord's interest & desire is all I'm longing for. Saints let's all choose to pay the price for Him to be our destiny. That we may all hasten His coming and say "Amen. Come Lord Jesus."

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Rebacca

Malaysia

Sep 13, 2005

This hymn is a nice hymn and it makes me turn to the Lord when I listen to it! O Lord Jesus, please come to my heart. Make home in all my heart. Amen!

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Eunice Garcia

New York, U.S.A.

Aug 31, 2005

O Lord Jesus! Recently I have been so stirred up for the Lord's second coming, in fact nothing really seemed to matter but our Lord's return. (Of course we still have to "brush our teeth")

Going to the summer video training on I & II Thess. and Song of Songs, serving for the summer school of truth, and my daily bible reading has impressed with the this matter of the Lord coming again a second time. In fact my prayer and my aim is to live in light of the Lord's coming. Oh dear Saint's, we really have to check ourselves. Remember why we are here and what God has called us into. "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired for a possesion, so that you may tell out the virtues of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (I Peter 2:9."

Even though our God is Almighty, He has limited Himself to us. Oh saints, let's give ourselves to Him out of love for His purpose. When I say this, I speak to myself too. So let's be encouraged. May we be the generation to bring Him back! "Come Lord Jesus, Please come dear Bridegroom....."

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Rene Vreeken

Adelaide/Metcalfe, ON, Canada

Oct 4, 2002

As I grew up, church matters were only for Sunday. God and the church were not to be discussed throughout the week. However, after entering into the Lord's recovery, I came to realize that Christ is with us everyday!

The first time I heard and sang this song, my spirit cried out in the questions and calling of this song: Come Lord Jesus! Oh how my spirit yearns for the Lord's return!

We have to realize that for the Lord to return, He must have His purpose completed here on earth, and we have to be those who cooperate with Him in this matter. This song gives me the initiative and the desire to go on in the Lord's recovery. I want to be one of His overcomers who will see this song come to completion!

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