Tunes
"And for the English Tunes that we use in singing of Psalms, take this for a ground; Since God hath commanded us to sing Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs, and amongst others, those of David: and yet withal hath hid from us the Hebrew Tunes, and the musical Accents wherewith the Psalms of David were wont to be sung. It must needs be that the Lord alloweth us to sing them in any such grave, and solemn, and plain Tunes, as do fitly suit the gravity of the matter, the solemnity of God’s worship, and the capacity of a plain People."
- John Cotton, Singing of Psalms a Gospel-Ordinance
Metrical psalms are arragned to be sung in personal, family, or corporate worship. If you've ever sung a hymn, you're prepared to sing a psalm.
Meter
Meter refers to the arrangement of syllables and stanzas in a given psalm. "86.86" means that the number of syllables per line alternates eight, six, eight, and six.
A - maz - ing grace how sweet the sound (eight)
That saved a wretch like me (six)
Common Hymn Meters
Most psalms in these psalters use:
Short Meter (SM): 66.86
Common Meter (CM): 86.86
Long Meter (LM): 88.88
When there are an even number of stanzas, you can choose a tune that is twice as long. This is called doubled meter:
Short Meter Doubled (SMD): 66.86 66.86
Common Meter Doubled (CMD): 86.86. 86.86.
Long Meter Doubled (LMD): 88.88. 88.88.
Singing
Once you know your meter, you're ready to pick a tune. Here are some favorites:†
Short Meter (66.86)
Festal Song (Rise Up, O Men of God)
Southwell (Lord Jesus, Think On Me)
St. Michael (Stand Up and Bless the Lord)
St. Thomas (I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord)
Trentham (Breathe on Me, Breath of God)
Short Meter Double (66.86 D)
Diademata (Crown Him with Many Crowns)
Terra Beata (This is My Father’s World)
Common Meter (86.86)
Azmon (O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing)
Crimond (The Lord’s My Shepherd)
Dundee (God Moves in a Mysterious Way)
Morning Song (My Soul Gives Glory to My God)
New Britain (Amazing Grace)
Richmond (O For a Heart to Praise My God)
St. Anne (O God, Our Help in Ages Past)
St. Columba (The King of Love My Shepherd Is)
Winchester Old (Come Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire)
Common Meter Double (86.86 D)
Ellacombe (Hosanna, Loud Hosanna)
Forest Green (I Sing the Mighty Power of God)
Kingsfold (I Sing a Song of Bethlehem)
Llangloffan (O God of Earth and Altar)
Long Meter (88.88)
Duke Street (Jesus Shall Reign)
Germany (Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life)
Hamburg (When I Survey the Wondrous Cross)
Old 100th (Doxology)
Rockingham Old (When I Survey the Wondrous Cross)
Tallis’ Canon (All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night)
Truro (Lift Up Your Heads)
Long Meter Double (88.88 D)
Candler (Ye Banks and Braes)
Guidance (He Leadeth Me)
Sweet Hour (Sweet Hour of Prayer)
In Christ Alone
Before the Throne of God Above
† For a contemporary language psalter, see A Metrical Psalter by Julie and Timothy Tennent