How To Read Numbered Musical Notation (简谱) - A Brief Primer (Viewer Request)

Have you guys ever seen number musical notation? It was invented in France, modified in Germany, and then made its way to China. The system (called 简谱 in China) is widely used in China. A viewer requested that I break down and teach how to read Number Musical notation, so I'm delivering. This system is so simple once you learn the basics. What I love about it is that it really breaks music down to its mathematic core. Hope you all enjoy and find this very interesting. Now you'll be able to read all Chinese music ;)
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[@LottieLucid]

you have such a beautiful voice!

[@JerrySings]

Thank man!

[@SuperValencia101]

I was scrolling through youtube to learn about jianpu since i play guzheng.... and you pop up! Thank you

[@JerrySings]

Awesome!

[@2020victory1]

Where can i buy a jianpu notations for english songs

[@mayumizaporteza9770]

Thank you so much! A friend of mine asked me to transcribe a Chinese hymn that he learned, and this helped me understand the numbers and symbols better. I have more confidence in writing the notes with the correct tempo.

[@CasaErwin]

That's very similar to the notation they use in Nashville. You have a key specified, then the numbers ( 1 thru 7 ) are all scale degrees. In the key of D (I guess D Major) 1 is D, 2 is E, 3 is F#, 4 is G, 5 is A, 6 is B and 7 is C#.

[@JerrySings]

What's the notation called in Nashville?

[@CasaErwin]

@@JerrySings I think it is just called "Nahville Notation".

[@JerrySings]

@@CasaErwin Thanks!!

[@hygog]

isnt it the same thing?

[@BrendanPowerMusic]

Thanks Jerry, excellent explanation and demonstration. As well as for singers, Jianpu is perfect for folk instruments that come in different keys, like wooden flutes and harmonicas. You can pick up a different harp and keep reading the same music - so easy!

[@danielx40]

I’ve been writing songs with this notation since 2006. The fastest way to jog down a melody.

[@winzaw1860]

How do we write with computer, please?

[@qqqquito]

It's quite a challenge to learn sight-sing vocally (as opposed to sight-playing the piano) using either fixed do or movable do on the five-line stave in all 15 different keys. The *numbered musical notation* (or *Jianpu* as it is known in China) on the other hand is pretty easy. Anyone with a modest interest in music can pick it up fairly easily and quickly. I got the impression that a higher percentage of people in China can sight-sing (because *Jianpu* is widely available in China) than in a country where only the five-line stave is used, though I don't have exact statistics.

[@CasaErwin]

I have to disagree with one thing. I think the movable DO method of sight singing is just about equivalent to this Jianpu of which you speak. Of course I am basing that on the way I understand it from reading about it here. 1 to 3 = major third, and do to mi = major third. The only difference is that one system uses numbers to represent the scale degrees and the other system uses syllables to represent the scale degrees. They are both independent of any specific key.

[@thatchacre5763]

Sadly, you're wrong. Despite this very simple and highly readable notation very few people in China can sight-sing, because the average musical cultivation in China is just way lower than Europe and America.

[@neilhughes-nelson7708]

"and she beat me in front of the class" jesus man do you need a hug? do you wanna talk about it?

[@mariskastevens8646]

thanks Jerry, simply great!

[@oudsouqmalaya9169]

Such a great video!!! Thank you

[@TheMCGibson]

That's a hell of a way to start a video. Thanks for the video, I am learning taishogoto 🙏

[@KimYunji-._.-]

May I ask what is the number 7 on the video???

[@vonbryannnaca2411]

woah. you are really have a good voice! :)

[@Wolfythereviewer]

Thanks Jerry!

[@naukanews]

You are very good teacher!!!! Greetings from Russia!

[@Kinobambino]

This was a really interesting video. Even tho I'm a novice

[@SaQisax]

COOL

[@kannan3801]

Jianpu See key in, standard 0 no ,1-7 Dot -octave above Line on top -tempo

[@tenzinchoedup3648]

HiJerry, Thank you for the excellent explanation it really helped me. What kind of software or site you used for writing this numbered sheet music? i hardly find any good one.I would be grateful if you recommend me .

[@JerrySings]

I’ll look at my bookmarks.

[@tenwang7]

Hello Tenzin Choedup la, of course, I'm new to these things but you can write the notation musical sheet using microsoft word through symbols which I haven't fully tried except watching on youtube. Other thing, you can download the textmusic app from Apple Store which I did by paying $3.99 and at least helpful for underlining either a single or double line under each number notes but found quite laborious. Hopefully, this might be helpful to your inquiry!

[@zelbarnap]

@@tenwang7 though the testmusic app needs some work and i can't get a hold of the creator. I would love for this to be updated!

[@alexandrenarolles7994]

where could I find some jianpu books?

[@Garfield_Minecraft]

i just knew why asian kids can play music now

[@alexandrenarolles7994]

Where can i find some instructional books about it?

[@umi_nari]

thanks

[@beecy2317]

Hi. I play dizi quite a while but often I saw symbols on the the top of the notation like a small ‘wave line’ ,‘ a cross with a line on top’, tiny numbers on top of the notation etc can u explain if poss thk

[@wheresthequestionwheresthe9511]

Hi Be seen so basically the other symbols mean some sort musical trick you do when playing the dizi. One wave means doing like a bird chirp by blowing and quickly lifting your finger up and down on a key to create another sound effect.

[@rennanlindemute8936]

Hi. I've been looking for a software or app which I can write melodies in jianpu. Do you have any recommendation? My system is Mac. Thank you

[@JerrySings]

I'll take a look!!

[@zelbarnap]

@@JerrySings any luck?

[@PracticaProphetica]

For Mac - NoteAbility Pro (don't confuse it with a note-taking app of a similar name). It works on Mac and iPad.

[@kungcecilia9081]

hi anyone know where to get this music software?

[@mariljacobs]

Where could I get a copy of the sheet music. Thank you

[@citrusblast4372]

Kind of reminds me of guitar tabs

[@BlackWinnyFr]

Just a question : could you also explain how are written chords ? Because I guess that for the moment this simple notation fits for monophony, as a singer, but there must obviously be something for example for brushed strokes on plucked string instruments, and for all the simultaneous keys played with both hands on a piano, etc.

[@JerrySings]

Yeah, I'll look into that!

[@BlackWinnyFr]

Thanks a lot, Jerry !

[@qqqquito]

For a chord, you just arrange the different notes vertically. Here is a *Jianpu* version of Beethoven's *Minute in G* : www.jianpu.cn/pu/86/86134.htm Professional musicians in China also use the five-line stave. But amateur song lovers learn *Jianpu* almost instantly, and they can find the sheets of their favorite songs in *Jianpu* and sight-sing them easily.

[@Riabh]

Musical algebra, what do the dot above the line and between digits Eg 1. 3 mean.

[@minniemay-]

i don't understand, how can I know which number is which note? can someone help please

[@cyril_jq]

This song is so familiar in your head that you just sing it out, but not following the rhythm given in the note

[@cyril_jq]

(also many syncopates in this version sound wierd and unecessary)

[@sasufreqchann]

you sound exacly like fighting breakdown commentary lol xD

[@JerrySings]

That's me :)

[@BethanyJung]

In my country we normally use this system in choir

[@21cmyhurrah]

Very easy and good system. Why not in Korea? I don't know. Do you read 1 as 'Do' and 2 as 'Re'?

[@jenniferolivarez1564]

you sing good

[@JerrySings]

Thanks!

[@mg6192]

How would you sing without lyrics? Can you sing using the Chinese numbers? For example sing yi, er, san, si, wu, liu, qi instead of do re mi fa so la ti. Would there be any downside to this method?

[@intercepte]

chinese sing do=1 ré=2 mi...

[@kungcecilia9081]

hi what software to download?

[@user-id1ut6wz3m]

I was searching this up and found you... Know you from the other fei cheng wu rao videos

[@Kirkunik1]

What about fingering? What about the base clef? What about chords? Looking at numbers in a straight line rather than a visual of notes climbing a ladder up the scale would be harder for me. Seeing a rest symbol versus a dot. Considering how complex Chinese writing is...they're going to all of a sudden make something as complex as music "simplified"? I think it's all a matter of what you're used to. I can see some advantages on an elementary level. But to play anything more complicated....numbers would be a bit taxing in my opinion. I think people teaching basic playing are using this primarily. But can you honestly say that a concert pianist is going to use this method to play Rachmaninoff? lol

[@PracticaProphetica]

Of course it is not designed for European classical compositions. Modulating between different keys in one piece would destroy the simplicity of numbered notation. It's designed for folk music, and instruments that play melody, usually non-chromatically. Instruments like the Chinese dizi, hulusi, bawu, erhu, etc. The advantage here is that to change the key, you just change the "1=D" to "1=C" (or whatever other key), and the notation stays the same. Then instead of your "D" flute, you pick up the "C" flute and just play the exact same numbers again. For that purpose, it is wonderful. No need for an entirely different score with sharps/flats changing each time.

[@ryandube7046]

can you read chords using this sytem

[@jadek8437]

yup it’s written as numbers stacked on each other

[@alicehocquet7497]

hey i understand everything except when there is a line under 2 notes?

[@FightCommentary]

It's breaking up the quarter notes to tell you that it's 8th notes

[@user-nh5fq4sw5t]

1:30

[@user-jg5em8ms8z]

Music teacher beat you in front of class when you were in China. You were not alone. It sucks.

[@user-jg5em8ms8z]

When I was in high school in China, we had something called 月考 meaning monthly tests. After each test, teachers read your name and grade in front of class and when you heard yours, you walked to the teacher and grabbed your test paper and came back to your seat, proudly or shamefully, depending on how good your grade was. My chemistry teacher, who had a policy of never beating girls which I don't know why, wore smile on his face while reading the names and grades, when a male student's grade was unexpectedly low, he smiled and took the glasses off the student's face and set them down, then the smile disappeared immediately; he beat the student's face quite hard in front of the whole class. In China, you are supposed to 尊敬师长 meaning "to respect your teachers". Well, my family asked me why I am a piece of shit not respecting some of my teachers, I don't know why either. When some parents being told "My teachers beat me", they say 老师也是为你好, meaning teachers beating you is good for you because they want you to do well in school.

[@KimYunji-._.-]

What is the number 7 on the notation????

[@hygog]

c#

[@TianMuYe]

Nah man, give me the 5 strings

[@travelintheuk1509]

Can you upload simple music for words don’t come easy for me please?