If you have ever opened a traditional hymnbook, you may have noticed a small notation at the bottom or top of a hymn text, usually written in abbreviations such as “C.M.,” “L.M.,” or a series of numbers like “8.6.8.6.” For many people, these markings are a mystery. However, learning how to read hymn meters is not difficult, and once understood, it opens up a richer world of hymn singing and tune selection.

Understanding hymn meter allows you to match different hymn texts with suitable tunes, recognize the structure of poetic language, and appreciate the craft behind classic hymnody.

What Is Hymn Meter?

In hymnody, meter refers to the pattern of syllables in each line of a hymn text. Hymn writers often wrote their texts in regular patterns so that they could be sung to multiple tunes. This practice made it easier to spread hymns widely, especially in times when not every congregation had printed music.

For example, a hymn written in Common Meter can be sung to any tune that fits that same meter. This is why you may find several different tunes used for the same hymn text in different churches or hymnals.

The Number System: Understanding 8.6.8.6 and More

One of the simplest ways to read hymn meter is through the numerical system. Each line of the hymn text is assigned a number that corresponds to the number of syllables in that line. For example:

• 8.6.8.6 means:

  • First line: 8 syllables

  • Second line: 6 syllables

  • Third line: 8 syllables

  • Fourth line: 6 syllables

This pattern repeats for each stanza of the hymn.

Let’s take Isaac Watts’s famous hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” as an example. The first stanza reads:

When I survey the wondrous cross (8)
On which the Prince of glory died (6)
My richest gain I count but loss (8)
And pour contempt on all my pride (6)

The pattern here is 8.6.8.6, which is Common Meter (often abbreviated as C.M.).

Common Meter (C.M.)

Common Meter is the most widely used meter in English-language hymnody. The 8.6.8.6 pattern has a natural rhythm that fits well with the English language and works with many classic hymn tunes.

Examples of Common Meter Hymns:

• “Amazing Grace” (John Newton)

• “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” (Isaac Watts)

• “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” (Charles Wesley)

Example: “Amazing Grace”

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound (8)
That saved a wretch like me (6)
I once was lost, but now am found (8)
Was blind, but now I see (6)

Once you know this pattern, you can pair the text with a variety of tunes that use Common Meter. For example, “Amazing Grace” can be sung not only to the familiar tune New Britain but also to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun” or “Gilligan’s Island,” though the latter is usually for illustration rather than worship.

Well-known Common Meter Tunes:

• New Britain (used for “Amazing Grace”)

• St. Anne (used for “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”)

• Arlington

• Martyrdom

Because Common Meter is so prevalent, many hymnals group C.M. tunes together, allowing worship leaders to mix and match texts and tunes when appropriate.

Long Meter (L.M.)

Long Meter uses the pattern 8.8.8.8. This means that each of the four lines in a stanza has eight syllables.

Example: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” can also appear in L.M. versions, though the more classic L.M. example is:

All people that on earth do dwell (8)
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice (8)
Him serve with mirth, His praise forth tell (8)
Come ye before Him and rejoice (8)

This hymn is traditionally sung to the tune Old Hundredth, a stately and well-known melody often used for the Doxology.

Examples of Long Meter Hymns:

• “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” (William Kethe)

• “Before the Throne of God Above” (in some settings)

• “Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun” (Isaac Watts)

Well-known Long Meter Tunes:

• Old Hundredth

• Duke Street

• Hamburg

Because of the uniform 8-syllable lines, Long Meter hymns have a strong, balanced rhythm that suits grand and solemn tunes.

Short Meter (S.M.)

Another common pattern is Short Meter, which uses the pattern 6.6.8.6.

Example: “Blest Be the Tie that Binds” (John Fawcett)

Blest be the tie that binds (6)
Our hearts in Christian love (6)
The fellowship of kindred minds (8)
Is like to that above (6)

Short Meter gives a slightly brisker and more compact feeling than Common or Long Meter, making it suitable for both reflective and joyful hymns.

Well-known Short Meter Tunes:

• Boylston

• St. Michael

Irregular Meters

Not all hymns fit neatly into Common, Long, or Short Meter. Some hymns have irregular meters, meaning their lines vary in syllable count in ways that do not repeat a simple pattern. These hymns usually have tunes written specifically for them and cannot easily be matched to other melodies.

Example: “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” (Henry Baker) uses an irregular meter of 8.7.8.7 with a refrain.

Irregular meters allow hymn writers more freedom, but they reduce the interchangeability between texts and tunes.

Why Hymn Meter Matters

Understanding hymn meter is not just an academic exercise. It has several practical benefits:

1. Matching Texts and Tunes
   If you know a hymn text is C.M., you can pair it with any C.M. tune. This is useful when your congregation knows a particular tune well but wants to learn a new text, or when you want to vary the musical feel of a familiar hymn.

2. Recognizing Poetic Structure
   Meter reveals the underlying poetic rhythm of the text. It helps singers phrase the lines correctly and understand how the text was crafted.

3. Teaching and Memorization
   Metrical patterns make hymns easier to memorize. Many people who grew up singing hymns can still recall them decades later because the poetic structure lodged in their minds.

4. Composing New Hymns
   For those who write new hymn texts, understanding meter allows you to craft texts that can be sung to existing tunes, greatly expanding their usability in worship.

How to Identify Hymn Meter Yourself

If you want to figure out the meter of a hymn that does not have it listed, follow these steps:

1. Count the Syllables in Each Line
   Speak the line slowly and count the syllables. For example, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound” has eight syllables.

2. Write Down the Numbers
   Do this for each line in the stanza.

3. Compare to Standard Meters
   If the pattern matches 8.6.8.6, it’s Common Meter. If it’s 8.8.8.8, it’s Long Meter. If it’s 6.6.8.6, it’s Short Meter. Otherwise, note the irregular pattern.

4. Check Against Known Tunes
   If you’re selecting a tune, look up tunes that match that meter. Many hymnals have metrical indexes that list tunes by their meter.

Reading hymn meter may seem like a technical skill at first, but it quickly becomes second nature. Common Meter, Long Meter, and Short Meter are the foundational patterns of English hymnody, and recognizing them allows worship leaders and congregations to explore the richness of the hymn tradition.

By learning to read these meters, you gain the ability to match texts and tunes, appreciate poetic craftsmanship, and carry forward a heritage that has shaped Christian worship for centuries. Whether you are a musician, hymn writer, or simply someone who loves to sing, understanding hymn meter deepens both your knowledge and your worship.