How to Find the Name of a Song without Knowing the Lyrics

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The web’s most comprehensive list of legit sites and apps to answer the question, “What song is this?”
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Got a tune stuck in your head but can’t remember what it’s called or who made it? At a bar when a catchy song pops on but there are no lyrics for you to Google? Luckily, there are plenty of ways to find the name of song—even if you can’t quickly punch the chorus into a search engine. In this article, we’ll cover all of the reputable resources you can use to get the info you want so you can throw a new track on your favorite Spotify playlist.

How to Find the Name of a Song without Lyrics

If the song is playing, use Shazam, Siri, MusicID, or Soundhound to identify the title and artist. Hum the tune of a song to Google or Midomi to find potential matches. If you're stuck, try describing it on the NameThatSong subreddit or on WatZatSong.

1

Shazam

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    If the song is actively playing right now, pull your phone out and quickly download Shazam. Tap the button in the middle of the app and hold the phone up near the speaker if it’s nearby. Shazam will automatically identify the song and artist for you. [1]
    • Shazam is totally free and it’s available for both iOS and Android.
    • Soundhound used to be another alternative to Shazam, but reviews for the app from the past year indicate that it’s not a great option anymore and the company has moved on to other ventures. [2]
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2

Siri

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/43\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/43\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Apple actually bought Shazam a few years ago, so Siri has the same capabilities as the Shazam app. When a song is playing, simply open Siri and ask her to identify the song that’s playing. It’ll scan the audio [3]
    • You can also add Shazam to the control center on your iPhone or Apple Watch by updating your phone and adding “music recognition” in the control center settings.
3

MusicID

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    MusicID works just like Shazam. You tap a button while a song is playing and it pulls up the artist and the name of the song. However, MusicID also has a location-tracking function so that you can remember where you were when you heard the song, and it contains a lot more trivia and info about the song than Shazam has. [4]
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4

Soundhound

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  1. Identify songs on the go with the Soundhound mobile app. Hear a song you don’t recognize on the radio, or while you’re waiting in line for a cup of coffee? Pull up the Soundhound app on your phone and tap the orange button. In a matter of seconds, Soundhound will ID the exact song you’re currently listening to. [5]
5

Google

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    Open Google in your phone and tap the little microphone icon to activate it. Say, “What’s this song?” and then hum the tune that’s stuck in your head for 10-15 seconds. Google will scan through the internet and pull up a list of potential matches based on what you hummed. [6]
    • You can do this in a browser if you have a microphone or webcam, too.
    • If you know any lyrics from the song, you can sing them instead.
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6

Midomi

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    So long as you’ve got a microphone built into your laptop or PC, you can use Midomi to find your song. Open the website and sing or hum what you can remember of the song. Midomi will search online and pull up a list of potential options. [7]
    • If the song is playing in the background, Midomi will work the exact same way Shazam does.
7

AudioTag

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b8\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b8\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you happen to have a link to a website where the song is playing or a random snippet of an audio file, then go to AudioTag. Click the “upload file” button to submit a sample, or “enter link” to provide a website link. If the title and artist information exist, AudioTag will pull it up! [8]
    • AudioTag also has a database of obscure music videos, info about current radio rotations, and a time machine function to explore old or forgotten tunes.
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8

WatZatSong

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If algorithms and robots aren’t able to automatically identify the song, that doesn’t mean the info doesn’t exist—the file just may be corrupted or it may be too loud in the room for something like Shazam. Post a recording of the song (or of you humming the tune) and post it on WatZatSong. Someone may help you out! [9]
    • People on WatZatSong get a kick out of trying to figure out where obscure songs come from.
    • If you don’t want to upload anything, try posting on reddit’s r/NameThatSong board. Describe as much as you can about the tune and wait for the suggestions to roll in.
9

Musipedia

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/48\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/48\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is a really neat tool—you open a digital piano and then you press the keys with your mouse. Based on the order of the notes, Musipedia will search through sheet music records and audio logs to identify songs that use those notes. [10]
    • This website is pretty old and buggy, so try to be patient.
    • If you get too many results to go through and you know how the song starts, enter the notes at the start of the song and select the option to only scan beginnings.
    • The more notes you enter, the more accurate the results will be. Don’t worry if a few of the notes are incorrect—Musipedia will generally figure it out.
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10

IMDb

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/81\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/81\/Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Find-a-Song-Without-Lyrics-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you heard a tune in a movie or on a show, pull up the IMDB page for the flick or show. Then, scroll to the “Soundtracks” section and expand it. You should see a list of all songs that appeared in the media. [11]
    • If you don’t remember the specific movie but you can remember an actor or actress who was in it, pull up their IMDb page and scroll through the filmography until you find it.

Community Q&A

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  • Question
    I have tried to hum a song but I can´t get the song right. They are singing something like this "It´s gonna be fine by me it´s gonna be fine by you," with a woman singing. Any ideas?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Is it "It's Gonna Be Fine" by Freedonia? That seems like a likely option given your description.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 13 Helpful 12
  • Question
    What is the hymn with the words "We are one in the lord marching one by one?"
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    There don't appear to be any songs or hymns with those lyrics specifically in that order. Are you thinking of "When the Saints Go Marching In" or "The Battle Hymn of the Republic?" Those both seem like likely options that have similar lyrics to what you've mentioned.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 16 Helpful 13
  • Question
    I know the name and start of a song, but can't find it anywhere. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    Type the lyrics into Google (or any search engine) and it should pop up. Also, SoundHound and Shazam are apps that can help with this.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Alexa, the AI assistant for the Amazon Echo, can identify songs that it’s currently playing. It can also find a song for you if you sing the lyrics. Unfortunately, it can’t name a song for you if you hum the tune or play it in the background. [12]
        Thanks
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      • If you can remember even a few of the lyrics, Googling the lyrics is probably the fastest way to identify the song if it isn’t actively playing and you don’t have Shazam open. Just enter a few words, put it all in quotes and then add the word “lyrics” at the end.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/11/18661008/shazam-identify-songs-through-earphones-internal-music-android-ios
      2. ↑ https://www.vox.com/2018/1/24/16930330/soundhound-billion-unicorn-fundraising-shazam-music-recognition-app
      3. ↑ https://techpp.com/2020/11/23/iphone-song-recognition/
      4. ↑ https://musicid.en.softonic.com/android
      5. ↑ https://www.soundhound.com/soundhound/
      6. ↑ https://blog.google/products/search/hum-to-search/
      7. ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/midomi
      8. ↑ https://alternativeto.net/software/audiotag/
      9. ↑ https://alternativeto.net/software/watzatsong/
      1. ↑ https://www.educationworld.com/awards/2005/r0305-25.shtml
      2. ↑ https://help.imdb.com/article/imdb/general-information/where-does-the-information-on-imdb-come-from/GGD7NGF5X3ECFKNN?ref_=helpart_nav_27#
      3. ↑ https://www.smarthomepoint.com/amazon-echo-identify-songs-new-video/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To find a song without lyrics, try using a mobile app or website to track down your tune. For example, use the mobile app Soundhound if you don’t have a recording of the song but are able to hum or sing it. If you have an Andriod phone with the Google app installed, initiate the app by saying “Okay Google” and then asking “What song is this?” while the song plays into your phone. Alternatively, if you have an iPhone, say “Hey Siri” and ask about the song that's playing. You can also use websites like Midomi to find your song if you can play it into your computer’s microphone. If you don’t have access to the song, go to Musipedia and use their virtual keyboard or whistle the tune into your microphone to identify the song. To learn how to ask people online to help you identify a song, keep reading!

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