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If you are looking for an unknown song, you can track it down using simple tricks and helpful software. This is how you can find the song you liked.
Search for an unknown song as soon as you hear it
Of course, the easiest way is to use software to find the song. However, this requires that you let the unknown song search for it directly while you are listening to it. You have a number of different options for doing this.
- PC software: You can search for tracks on your computer using AudioTag, for example. This web service allows you to upload snippets of songs to help you find the right one. Alternatively, there is also AHA Music, where you can either play the song or sing or hum the melody. Midomi, Musipedia and WatZatSong are also useful for tracking down unknown songs.
- App for on the go: You can also use an app for your cell phone and, for example, record music in a café or at a club. The app will then show you the artist and the title of the music. Shazam, for example, offers such a function. Alternatively, you can use SoundHound, where it is possible to sing or hum unknown songs to find them.
Finding songs after the fact
Sometimes, however, you can’t record songs directly because you can’t turn on the app while driving, for example, or because it would simply take too long in many cases. Then you should proceed as follows.
- Be sure to remember reference points. Is there anything that is constantly sung in the song? Is there anything distinctive to be heard? Is it a woman, a man or a band singing? It’s best to write down such things immediately or as soon as possible.
- If you can hum the melody or even sing parts of it, you can ask friends and acquaintances for help. Here you can use services like SoundHound or AHA Music. In the best case, these will then tell you the name of the artist and the title of the song.
- If you don’t have such a possibility, you should use search engines like Google and enter a few lines of the song there. For example, it makes sense to enter repetitive text passages. With a bit of luck, this will be the chorus and you may find the song faster.
- If you don’t find anything suitable, or if several songs apply, you can also go to music platforms like YouTube and check them there. Listen to different songs and ask yourself if they are the song you are looking for. Tip: If you listen to music here often, you might also want to try the music streaming service YouTube Music.
- If you heard the song on the radio, you can also do something completely different and remember the time when you heard the song on the radio. Then go to the radio station’s homepage and see if they have a playlist of the songs that the radio station has played recently. At the specified time, this song should also be displayed there with the artist and title name.
More tips for searching for unknown songs
If that doesn’t help, it’s worth taking note of the following tips:
- If you keep missing out on good songs because you can’t find them again, you should definitely put music recognition apps on your home screen, for example using a widget. This way, you can start the search faster and waste less valuable time if you’re in a hurry and the song isn’t playing for too long.
- Many modern smartphones also have their own music recognition options built in, so you don’t need another app. This is possible with Siri on iOS (“What is this song?”) and the Google Assistant on Android (“What song is this?”).
- If you have no or only a few clues, it is worth browsing through playlists on music streaming services or listening to radio stations that play similar music. This way, you might be lucky and be able to find the unknown song again and thus note it down or save it directly.
