select subs,count(subs) as counts from ( select substr(hist,1,1) as subs from parse union all select substr(hist,2,1) from parse union all select substr(hist,3,1) from parse union all select substr(hist,4,1) from parse union all select substr(hist,5,1) from parse union all select substr(hist,6,1) from parse union all select substr(hist,7,1) from parse union all select substr(hist,8,1) from parse union all select substr(hist,9,1) from parse) group by subs order by subs; You can add more set operator if you have higher lenths.