Use audio recognition when you can hear the original recording, hum the melody when that is all you remember, and search an exact lyric when you have words. Picking the method that matches your clue is faster than trying the same app repeatedly.
Match the clue to the method
| What you have | Try first | Then try |
|---|---|---|
| The original recording is playing | Shazam or built-in music recognition | record a cleaner section and retry |
| Only the melody is in your head | hum or whistle to Google | play the melody on an instrument |
| One lyric line | search the exact phrase in quotation marks | add language, genre or vocal type |
| Music inside a video | recognize audio from another app | play it on a second device |
| A sped-up remix or cover | identify the original first | search the original title plus remix terms |
Identify the recording with Shazam
Apple’s official Shazam guide explains recognition around you and in another app on iPhone and Android. Once identified, open the result on a streaming service or use our music platform directory to find the correct destination.
- Move closer to the speaker and reduce conversations or competing sound.
- Start recognition just before a chorus or vocal line, not during a quiet intro.
- If the song plays in another app on the same phone, keep it running and use Shazam over that app.
- Try a different section before concluding that the track is not in the catalog.
Find a song by humming
Open the Google app, tap the microphone, choose Search a song and hum, whistle or sing the clearest part for roughly 10–15 seconds. Correct lyrics and perfect pitch are not required because the system compares the shape of the melody.
Google describes the process in its Hum to Search announcement. Keep a steady tempo, repeat the hook twice and avoid tapping a second rhythm while humming.
Search by lyrics, video or visual clues
A lyric fragment
Put four to eight unusual consecutive words in quotation marks. Add lyrics, the language, approximate genre or male/female vocal. If a word is unclear, search several phonetic alternatives instead of correcting it once and assuming it is right.
A social video
Check the sound label, caption and pinned comment first. If the audio is hidden, play a speech-free portion on a computer or second phone and identify it with your main device.
A music video you remember
List distinctive details: location, color palette, era, plot and performers. A query such as “2010s music video woman driving red car at night” is more useful than a broad genre guess. Reverse-image-search a saved frame when possible.
Why recognition fails
Cut a section without dialogue, raise its level gently and compare more than one method. When a vocal line is intelligible, an exact lyric search can beat fingerprint recognition.
- The excerpt is too short, quiet or covered by speech.
- It is a live, slowed, sped-up or heavily edited version.
- The song is unreleased or absent from the recognition catalog.
- The clip uses a cover, sample or production-library track under a different title.
- The recording is distorted or captured far from the source.
Remixes, covers and samples
Identify the underlying composition first, then add remix, edit, sped up, slowed, cover or the name of the platform. An unofficial edit may not have a streaming page, but the uploader may credit its creator in the description.
Identification does not grant reuse rights. If you plan to sample the recording, review the terms of your beat or music license and obtain the required permissions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find a song by humming it?
Yes. Use Google’s Search a song feature and hum or whistle the most recognizable part for about 10–15 seconds.
How do I identify music playing on the same phone?
Run Shazam over the other app. If the app or device blocks system audio, play the clip on a second device.
Why does Shazam return the wrong version?
The clip may be a remix, cover or noisy excerpt. Retry on the chorus and compare the original recording with the result.
How can I find an instrumental song?
Use audio recognition for a recording or hum the melody. Add contextual clues such as the video, scene, instrument and genre.
Preparing a release?
Cover Art Place — visuals and release services for musicians in one place. Pick what your track needs on the home page.