How to use Unbound’s “Search by Meter” function:
At the bottom of the main Unbound page find the “Search by meter” box. You can enter commonly used abbreviations (see below) or enter numbers separated by a space (not a period): for example, “8 7 8 7 D”. Using this search will allow you to find a variety of texts that may be sung to a tune of a given meter, or vice-versa.
As opposed to musical meter, which refers to beats per measure, a hymn’s meter is the number of syllables per poetic line. A text can be matched (or “paired”) with a tune with corresponding melodic lines. When a pattern repeats, the letter D for “double” is used. Some of the most widely used meters in English language hymnody are listed below. Some use letter abbreviations, and are typically listed first in a metrical index.
CM
Common Meter, 8 6 8 6; for example NEW BRITAIN / “Amazing Grace”
CMD
Common Meter Double, 8 6 8 6 8 6 8 6; for example KINGSFOLD / “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”
LM
Long Meter, 8 8 8 8; for example HAMBURG / “When I Survey”
LMD
Long Meter Double, 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8; for example JERUSALEM / “O Day of Peace”
SM
Short Meter, 6 6 8 6; for example DENNIS / “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”
SMD
Short Meter Double, 6 6 8 6 6 6 8 6; for example TERRA BEATA / “This Is My Father’s World”
7 6 7 6 D; for example, AURELIA / “The Church’s One Foundation”
8 7 8 7 D; for example, NETTLETON / “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
10 10 10 10; for example EVENTIDE / “Abide with Me”
11 11 11 11; for example, FOUNDATION / “How Firm a Foundation”
