WhatsMusic: find a song by sound

A track is playing in a cafe and the title is on the tip of your tongue. Or a line from a video stuck in your head but you have no idea who sings it. The WhatsMusic bot identifies a song from a voice message, a video, a lyrics snippet or a link. 🎧

More than a million people use it, and the bot's description promises to recognise "any song". Here is how to work with it and what to expect.

Four ways to find a song

According to the bot's description, you can send any of these:

• A voice message. Record a piece of the song playing nearby, or hum the melody.
• A video. Send a clip whose music you want identified.
• A line of lyrics. If you remember the words, type them.
• A link. A link to a clip where the track plays works too.

Use whatever is at hand. The most reliable is usually a recording of the original, not singing from memory.

Recording so it works

Recognition depends on audio quality. A few tips:

1. Move closer to the source. The music should be louder than background noise.
2. Record 10 to 15 seconds. A very short clip gives too little to compare.
3. Pick a verse or chorus. They have more recognisable features than an intro.
4. Stay quiet while recording. A voice nearby spoils the result.

If the first try fails, record a different part of the same song. 🔁

Why it sometimes finds nothing

Recognition services generally compare a short audio fingerprint against a database. If the song is brand new, rare, a remix, a live recording or heavily processed, there may be no match. A hummed tune is also harder to match than the original.

So do not get discouraged. Change the method: if recording failed, try searching by a line of lyrics. ✍️

Commands and language

The bot has two visible commands. /lang switches the interface language and /legal shows legal information. Everything else is simple: send your material and wait for the result.

The bot profile links to a help page with answers to common questions. Open it if something is unclear.

Good to know

The bot profile hints that ads may appear. Avoid suspicious links and never enter card details on unfamiliar pages. 🛑

Do not send the bot recordings of private conversations, since other people's voices can end up in the clip. A clean track without bystanders is enough for music search.

Found the song? Save its name in your notes or a playlist so you never lose it again.

It helps in everyday moments: music in a shop, in a film or in someone's story. It is especially handy for a short clip where nobody credited the artist. 🚗