Identifying an unknown song can be frustrating and time consuming. With the rise of music streaming services and digital music files, songs aren’t always accompanied by accurate metadata like song titles or artist names. Luckily, there are some quick methods you can use to figure out what that mystery track is.
Listen Closely to Lyrics
One of the fastest ways to identify a song is to listen closely to the lyrics. Focus on the chorus first, since that tends to be the most memorable part of the song. Try to pick out unique words or phrases that you can then Google or search for on lyrics sites like Genius or AzLyrics.
For example, if the chorus contains the lyric “I’m walking on sunshine,” you can search for that phrase and will likely find that it’s the song “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves. Pay attention to lyrics that mention specific names, places, dates, or numbers as those tend to be even more unique.
Use SoundHound or Shazam to Identify Songs
If you only have a short clip of the song, one of the easiest ways to identify it is to use a song identification app like SoundHound or Shazam. These apps listen to a song clip and compare it against their databases of millions of songs to find a match.
To use these apps, simply open them up and let the song play within range of your device’s microphone. In just seconds, you’ll get the artist name and song title. This method works best with tracks that have unique melodies or prominent vocals. The apps may struggle with lesser known artists or remixes.
Search for Lyrics Online
If SoundHound or Shazam can’t pick up the song, go back and listen closely to the lyrics again. Jot down a few distinct phrases or verses that stand out, especially the chorus. Take those lyrics and paste them into a search engine like Google, surrounded by quotation marks. This will search for that exact phrase and often bring up lyrics sites that may identify the full song.
For example, searching for the lyrics “lie awake on a long night” brings up results for “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver. You can also try lyric search engines specifically made to identify songs like Midomi or Musixmatch. Just sing, hum, or input the lyrics and they’ll provide matches.
Ask Other People
One of the simplest ways to identify a song is to ask other people if they recognize it! Share a clip with friends who may listen to the same music and artists as you do. Post the song clip on your social media networks or music forums asking if anyone can name the song. Include any details like lyrics, the genre, or where you heard it.
You can also show the clip to a music expert like a DJ or someone who works at a music shop or radio station. They tend to have an encyclopedic knowledge of songs and can often name obscure tracks other methods may miss.
Check the File Metadata
If you have the actual media file for the song, you may be able to identify it from its internal metadata. Right click the file and select Properties on Windows or Get Info on Mac. There should be various tabs or sections with data like Artist Name, Track Title, Album, and more.
This method works best with files you have downloaded or ripped yourself, as illegal downloads or pirated tracks are less likely to have accurate metadata. But if available, the metadata can provide all the info you need without having to run a search.
Use Mobile Apps to Identify the Song
In addition to dedicated song identification apps like Shazam and SoundHound, there are other mobile apps that harness the power of their user communities to identify songs.
Apps like Musi, TrackID, and AHA Music let you record song clips just like the identification apps. Then they will show you possible matches as suggested by other users who have identified the same song. This crowdsourced approach works especially well for newer or lesser known indie music.
Search by Lyrics on Google
One of the quickest ways to identify a song is simply searching for the lyrics on Google. This works best if you have captured a unique phrase or verse from the song lyrics.
Simply type the lyrics you know surrounded by quotes, like “I walked for miles till I found you.” Click on result links that look like they match based on the website description, especially lyric sites. Oftentimes the correct song will be one of the top results on Google.
Use Alexa or Siri
If you have an Alexa device or an iPhone, you can also ask your smart assistant to identify a song. Just start playing the mystery track and say “Alexa/Siri, what song is this?” The assistants will listen and provide their best match.
This method works better with Alexa, which is directly integrated with Amazon’s music library. Be sure to have the volume turned up on the speaker so Alexa can accurately capture a clip to analyze.
Conclusion
Identifying an unknown song doesn’t have to be a headache. Using lyric snippets, song identifier apps, online communities, metadata, and smart assistants can help you figure out that mystery track. Focus on distinct lyrics, choruses, or melodies and use all the tools available to you. With a systematic approach, you’ll go from not knowing the song to Shazamming it in no time.
| Method | How it Works | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listen to Lyrics | Focus on memorizing unique lyrics, especially the chorus, to search online | Free and easy | Only works if lyrics are audible and unique |
| Shazam/SoundHound | Song identification apps listen to clip and identify through audio fingerprinting | Fast and accurate identification | Only works with short, high-quality clips |
| Search Lyrics Online | Input memorable lyrics into Google or lyric sites to find matches | Simple and straightforward if lyrics are distinct | Won’t work if lyrics are common or hard to distinguish |
| Ask People | Have friends, social networks, or music experts listen to identify the song | Good for discovering new, niche music | Relies on others being familiar with the song |
| Check Metadata | View artist, song title and other info embedded in the media file | Provides complete, accurate info if present | Only works if quality metadata exists in file |
| Mobile Apps | Users identify songs through communities in apps like Musi and TrackID | Taps knowledge of active user bases | Less reliable for obscure or new music |
| Alexa/Siri | Ask smart assistant “What song is this?” to identify the track | No effort if assistants can recognize the song | Only works for popular songs assistants have in database |
Here are some additional tips and information about identifying unknown songs:
If you heard the song on the radio, check the station’s website or social media, where they often list recently played tracks. You can also call the station to ask.
Figure out the genre, era, and style of the song, which can aid your searching. Knowing if it’s rock, hip-hop, jazz, 80s, etc. will narrow down potential matches.
Search for misheard lyrics or gibberish phrases in case you didn’t hear the real lyrics correctly. This accounts for your interpretation.
Use DJ music databases like DJHelper and Whosampled which allow search by beats per minute, year, and instruments to find remixes and covers.
Check film and TV soundtracks database if you heard it in a movie, commercial, or TV show. Sites like IMDb, Tunefind, and WhatSong catalog music by production.
Buy a physical music recognition device like the Automatic Music Recognition (AMR) box which can identify songs playing nearby by matching audio fingerprints.
Lookup music charts from the timeframe when you likely heard the song and browse top hits from that era to see if anything rings a bell.
Search virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa by singing or humming part of the melody rather than lyrics if you don’t know the words.
Use your smartphone recorder to capture a longer clip of the song, as most identifier apps need at least 10 seconds to make a match.
If you know the artist, browse through their album and song catalogs to see if any titles or melodies sound familiar.
Check radio station playlists for the day and time you heard it. Many post recent history on their websites or social media.
Contact the music publisher or record label directly with a clip if you can narrow down who may own the rights, and ask if they recognize it.
Post on large, active music forums with a clip asking for help. Communities like Reddit’s r/NameThatSong or r/WhatsThisSong can identify hard to find tracks.
As a last resort, contact an intellectual property lawyer who specializes in music copyright to perform a comprehensive song search for you, for a fee.
Knowing just a lyric, melody, or basic details about an unknown song is often enough to identify it with the right approach and tools. Next time you find yourself wondering “what song is this?” try these methods to unlock its mystery once and for all.