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About Numbered Notation

Numbered Notation (also called Jianpu, 简谱) writes each melody note as a number from 1 to 7 instead of a note on a staff. The number shows the note's position in the song's scale -- not its exact pitch -- so the same tune looks identical no matter what key it's sung in.

Within one octave, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 correspond to the familiar do re mi fa sol la ti. A dot above a number raises it an octave higher; a dot below lowers it an octave lower -- no dot means the middle, as-written octave.

A plain number lasts one beat. A dash (-) right after a number holds that same note for one more beat. A line underneath a number shortens it instead -- one line is half a beat, two lines a quarter of a beat. A 0 is a rest: silence for one beat.

The label at the top of the sheet, like "1=C" or "1=Ab", shows which pitch scale degree 1 ("do") is tuned to. A song in a minor key is labeled "6=X" instead -- scale degree 6 ("la") is the true tonic. Chord names printed above the notes (like "C" or "G7") always use their familiar letter names, never numbers.

For example, under a "1=C" heading, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sound as C D E F G A B. Under a "1=G" heading, those very same numbers sound as G A B C D E F# instead -- same shape, different key.

Search me, O God, my actions try

Longings For God’s Searching

New Tune407
1
Search me, O God, my actions try,
And let my life appear
As seen by Thine all-searching eye—
To mine my ways make clear.
To mine my ways make clear.
2
Search all my sense, and know my heart
Who only canst make known,
And let the deep, the hidden part
To me be fully shown.
To me be fully shown.
3
Throw light into the darkened cells,
Where passion reigns within;
Quicken my conscience till it feels
The loathsomeness of sin.
The loathsomeness of sin.
4
Search all my thoughts, the secret springs,
The motives that control;
The chambers where polluted things
Hold empire o’er the soul.
Hold empire o’er the soul.
5
Search, till Thy fiery glance has cast
Its holy light through all,
And I by grace am brought at last
Before Thy face to fall.
Before Thy face to fall.
6
Thus prostrate I shall learn of Thee,
What now I feebly prove,
That God alone in Christ can be
Unutterable love.
Unutterable love.

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Frank Pytel

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Nov 19, 2016

As I have been dwelling on Song of Songs 2:9, this hymn repeatedly comes to me. The “searching God” in this hymn, and the phrase “he looketh forth at the windows” in the Song of Songs makes me think of His gazing upon us, His lovers! He sees us through any opening that is either big or small. His gaze is of love, with a concern that we would be where He is, not locked in our wall, our enclosure. May His searching eyes attract us out of every barrier that is built in our hearts, “that God alone in Christ can be unutterable love”!

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Frank Pytel

Chicago, Illinois

Aug 9, 2015

Just because something is hidden away from sight, doesn't mean it is not there. Adam and Eve hid, Rachel hid a stolen idol, Achan hid something, David tried to hide sins, and Ananias and Sapphria hid something for themselves, yet all these were not hidden from God's searching eyes.

As in this hymn, Psalm 139:23 uses the word "search" as David's request to God.

I've often resisted this prayer for searching, for there must be hidden things within that have not yet been dealt with, or I just didn't want to see. After honestly praying the words "search me", my actions began to display the hidden impurity within. The loving light of God brought forth what was hidden in my heart. His loving light also brought me to know the precious blood of His Son for forgiveness, and the cross for purging. May His searching in love and mercy continue that I may no longer display myself, but only Christ.

I appreciate the new melody of this hymn which is slower and more sober in His presence.

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