We've all been through this: a song keeps playing and you can't remember the title or the singer. While lyrics are still the easiest way to recognize notes, something like a simple melody can sometimes be enough for you to recognize music. For starters, try asking a friend who is good at music for help. However, in today's age of high-tech, there are many online programs designed and available for you to help you find the song you're looking for.
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Method 1 of 3: Leveraging Technology
Step 1. Find the right application or program for you
There are many apps, programs, and websites on the internet dedicated specifically to identifying music. You can use it to recognize songs easily.
- Online music searchers like Midomi and WatZatSong are great places to meet people who have experience and interest in identifying music.
- The virtual piano keyboard can also be used to identify melodies on some online sites, such as Folk Tune Finder and Musipedia.
- If you've had formal musical practice, you can also enter notes via notation (C, C#, D etc.) on sites like JC ABC Tune Finder and Themefinder.
Step 2. Use a music recognition app
If you're listening to music you want to know the title and singer of, try using the Shazam app to identify it. Download the app, open it, and hold the phone close to the sound source for a few seconds. The app will try to recognize the currently playing song, and if successful will show you the title and singer.
- Soundhound is another great music recognition app. You can find the song you're looking for by muttering it into the microphone. This method isn't perfect, but it works if the related melody keeps ringing in your head.
- Not infrequently music recognition applications fail to produce results because the background noise around them is too loud to be able to identify songs clearly. In that case, wait until it calms down a bit, or move closer to an area where the music can be heard louder.
Step 3. Record yourself muttering a melody
Find a quiet and quiet place. When you're ready, record yourself mumbling or singing a melody. You can simply use a regular webcam microphone to record. Try to sing the song as clearly and accurately as possible so that databases or online communities can identify you and help you.
If you want to enter a melody via a virtual keyboard, make sure the rhythm and pitch are as accurate as possible
Step 4. Include all the additional details you can think of
If your program or site includes a text box, take advantage of it to include as much information as you know about the song. The most useful details include the genre of the music, and the background the first time you hear it. While not applicable to automated databases, these additional details can help community members identify the music you're looking for.
Step 5. Post your request
How you post a song search query depends on the site you're using. Most will ask you to create an account, which shouldn't take more than a few minutes. From here, all you have to do is post a request and wait for a response, which is a fairly simple process.
Step 6. Wait for an answer
Communities like Midomi are made up of people who are passionate about music and who love to help. If you get different answers, it's a good idea to check all of them. When you finally hear the related song, you'll immediately recognize it. There is a sense of relief and satisfaction in identifying the song you are looking for so feel free to be proud!
YouTube is a great and effective place to find and listen to music. No matter how rare or new the related song is, the video should be on this platform
Method 2 of 3: Trying to Remember Yourself
Step 1. Try to determine how much you remember from the related song
If you're trying to remember a forgotten song instead of starting from scratch, maybe you can do it yourself. If the melody of the related song is already in your head, try to remember other things related to it. Are there any catchy lyrics or rhythms to be heard? While the melody is the easiest part of the music to remember, you'll find it easier to find the more details you remember.
- Remembering lyrics is the most useful way to identify songs because you can use 3-4 words in a lyric sequence to search for a song on Google's search engine.
- Unfortunately, you can't force yourself to remember so this method is not guaranteed to be successful. The chances are just getting bigger.
Step 2. Meditate
In addition to having health benefits, meditation if it is good for remembering something. Find a quiet and peaceful place to relax, and clear your mind. Focus on your breathing, and keep your inhalations and exhalations under control. Meditate for 10-15 minutes. Let yourself get away from trying to remember songs; the song can pop in the head by itself without any coercion.
Meditation just to remember a song will actually make it difficult for you because the brain will be forced to try to remember
Step 3. Visit the place where you last heard the song
Often times, going back to where you last heard the related song will help you remember more details. Try going back to the relevant place, preferably at the same time you heard the song, and imagine yourself listening to the melody.
This step can not only be applied in real places. For example, if you're listening to a song from a radio station, try plugging in the station again and listening to the broadcast. Popular music stations tend to repeat songs frequently. Maybe you can hear the song again after a long wait
Step 4. Mutter the melody over and over again
If you remember the melody of the song clearly, mumble it out loud so you can focus on it. By making the song clear to your ear, your brain can fill in the rest with what it remembers, and you can more easily bring those memories to your consciousness.
Better yet, it's a good idea to record yourself muttering a song. This way, you can become a fully active listener
Step 5. Do something else and let the memory come to you
Forcing yourself to remember things can be frustrating. If you want to remember a related song yourself, sometimes the best way is to let your mind wander to something else. Do something different and stick to your daily routine. Of course, this isn't a 100% guaranteed success, but it's not uncommon for the related song (and its title) to pop into your head when you're thinking about something else.
Method 3 of 3: Getting Help from Others
Step 1. Decide what you know about the song
If you're trying to identify a song using just the melody, it's important to consider how many melodies you can remember. Even the slightest bit of information can help and increase the chances of your partner recognizing the related song.
- If you make it a habit to pay more attention when listening to songs, these situations will be easier to handle later on.
- Make sure all the information you remember is correct. Memories can be weird at times, and some of the wrong melodies in a song can make your partner miss it at all or recognize it wrong.
Step 2. Find friends who might know the related song
Choosing the right person will play a big role in your efforts to remember songs. If you can clearly remember the melody of a song, chances are you know the genre as well. Many people prefer certain genres more than others, and people who like the genre of the song you're trying to remember might be able to help you.
You can also enlist the help of friends who have received formal music training because they are used to identifying pure music by melody
Step 3. Play or sing a melody
Find a quiet, undisturbed place so you can carry out this process smoothly. Sit down with a friend and repeat the melody of the related song to them, either by singing or playing an instrument. Recreate the rhythm of the melody of the related song as accurately as possible; melodies are not just simple notes!
While you can technically recreate the melody using almost any instrument, it's actually advisable to sing it. The human voice is capable of many expressions, especially if you are a trained musician. In singing a melody, you can also get the tone and color to make it more specific and more like the original song
Step 4. Describe other parts of the music that you remember
Give your partner context with the tone, rhythm, and general style of the song to help them define the song like any other melody. Part of what you're trying to do is put an accurate impression of the related song into his head. That way, it will be easier for him to recognize her.
A single melody can exist in many songs so context can be very helpful in identifying related songs
Step 5. Brainstorm
Now that you have given the melody to your partner, you can consult in determining the related song. Encourage him to ask about related songs. It may be that you are able to remember more based on the information a colleague provides. Try muttering the melody again after you've discussed it a bit, and see if you find anything new.
While you're discussing and muttering melodies, keep in mind that you can remember the song yourself, if only the related song was forgotten rather than never heard before
Step 6. Ask someone else
If the first person asked is not able to provide results, try asking someone else. When it comes to identifying melodies, usually the answer immediately comes to mind. Brainstorming with one person can be just a short question and answer with another person. Don't despair if it still doesn't work; find someone else, and try asking again.
Tips
- In most cases of music, the most recognizable part is the song lyrics. If you can remember a line from a related song, try using the Google search engine to find it.
- You can maximize opportunities by applying more than one method. If you can't remember it yourself, ask a friend for help and do an internet search to increase your chances of success.
Warning
- If you're trying to remember a song, remember that you can make things difficult for yourself by trying too hard. Sometimes, it's good to rest the mind; maybe, the name of the related song pops into your head.
- Online databases aren't completely reliable and it's hard to expect the data to be up to date due to the sheer amount of new music that's popping up. Classic songs will be easier to identify than songs that were just released a week ago. For new songs, it would be better if you ask someone else; if this song is often played on the radio, chances are other people know it too.
- If you're not getting results, consider the possibility that you've forgotten the melody of the song. If the melody is wrong, even the most advanced music recognition programs can't help you.
