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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.

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Here a Little, There a Little

Experience of Christ General

New Songs157
1
We’re renewed and revived by the Lord day by day;
He is grace upon grace and refreshing as dew.
Shining brighter and brighter, our path’s a clear way,
As morning by morning His mercies are new.
2
Transformed by beholding from glory to glory,
And from strength to strength on to Zion we go.
Constitute us with truth as daily we study—
Here a little there a little—Your Word to know.
3
Perfected and nourished from house to house meeting,
We speak one by one that the church may be built.
As little by little ev’ry enemy’s fleeing,
More and more surpassingly with glory we’re filled.
 
Day by day,
Grace upon grace,
Brighter and brighter,
Morning by morning
(His mercies are new.)
 
Glory to glory,
Strength to strength,
Here a little,
There a little
(Your Word to know.)
 
House to house,
One by one,
Little by little,
More and more
(With glory we’re filled.)

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Rosita Enriquez

Anaheim, CA, United States

Jul 12, 2012

Yes, praise The Lord for "from house to house." Hallelujah for this organic way of meeting from house to house. "One by one" One prophesies, then another follows in the meetings to build up the Body of Christ!

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Tata

Krwci, Banten, Indonesia

Mar 3, 2012

Many times, I think too much and become so anxious and feel life is so heavy. This whole song cheers my heart and revives my hope. No need to keep being in anxiety. Hallelujah!!! He works upon us day by day, grace upon grace, His mercies morning by morning can sustain us in every situation during our waiting and preparing for His second coming. Amen.

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Wilfred Vergara

Manila, Philippines

Jan 3, 2012

AS Christians we are luminaries on this dark and dreadful earth.But for this light to continually shine and not fizzle out like a cold coal, we need to be those who are renewed and revived day by day. We don't need to spend too much time to be renewed, even in two minutes we can be in eternity as long as we enjoy the Sun of righteousness which is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. If we are those who are revived our whole day will be full of light. As Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until the full day. Praise the Lord.

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L. C.

San Juan, M.M., Philippines

Sep 25, 2011

Day by day,
Grace upon grace,
Brighter and brighter,
Morning by morning
Glory to glory,
Strength to strength,
Here a little, There a little,
House to house,
One by one,
Little by little,
More and more

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Helena Munasque

Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte, Philippines

Aug 17, 2011

Thank You Lord for reviving and renewing us day by day! Your grace is as refreshing as dew and your mercies are new!!!

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Maria Kim

New York City, NY, United States

Jun 11, 2011

The tune and lyrics have uplifted my spirit and soul very much!

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Evangeline Ngo

Diamond Bar, California City, United States

Sep 18, 2009

Renewing, Reviving, Shining, Perfecting, Transforming, Constituting, Nourishing, Speaking, Infilling-everything is of the Lord. All we need is to stay open and be those beholding Him day by day, for His mercies are new and refreshes us with His bountiful grace. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Amen!

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Edgar

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Aug 20, 2009

Amen in His Body.

Though we are experiencing church meetings secretly (due to law prohibition), we steadfastly continuing His will of meeting with the saints. Hallelujah!

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Andrea Carla Haway

Lucena City, Quezon, Philippines

May 11, 2009

Oh...this song's the theme of our Summer Truth Training this year...very nice song...

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♥♥Ronaline Magsino♥♥

San Fernando Pamp., Pamp., Philippines

Apr 22, 2009

Lately I have been very busy with...work, family and the worldly enjoyment I almost lost my enjoyment. There is this sister who asks me to listen to this hymn and I really enjoy it so much.

Why is it that a little time for the Lord is hard to give when we spend a lot of time with nonsense things. We should not underestimate the little time we give. This little time will nourish us and give us supply. This little by little would become more and more.

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