"Tune finder" means three different things depending on who is searching. Some people have a tune stuck in their head and want its name. Some heard a song in a TV show or film and want to know which song it was. Musicians, DJs and singers usually want something else: the song's key and tempo, so they can play along, mix it or sing it in the right range.
This guide covers all three, with the fastest free method for each, and what to do when none of them finds your tune.
Tune finder, in short
- Song playing near you: Shazam or SoundHound will name it in seconds.
- Tune stuck in your head: hum it into the Google app ("Search a song") or SoundHound.
- Song from a TV show or film: look the episode up on Tunefind, or search the scene with the show's name.
- Key and BPM of a song you have: drop the file into the free Key & BPM Finder, or tap along with Tap Tempo.
- Chords: the Chord Finder lists the chords as the song plays.
1. Find a song's name from the audio
When the song is playing (in a shop, a car, a video on someone else's phone), audio recognition apps are the quickest route.
| App | What it listens to | Best at |
|---|
| Shazam | The recording itself | Naming a commercial track in a few seconds, even in a noisy room |
| SoundHound | The recording, or your singing and humming | Recorded songs, and tunes you can only sing |
| Google app / Google Assistant | Your humming, whistling or singing ("Search a song") | Tunes stuck in your head, no lyrics needed |
Shazam and similar apps compare a fingerprint of the sound with a database of recordings, so they need the actual recording: they can't name a tune you hum. For that you need an app that matches melody.
2. Find a song by humming, singing or whistling
Google introduced hum-to-search in 2020. In the Google app, tap the microphone and Search a song, then hum, whistle or sing for 10 to 15 seconds. It matches the shape of the melody, not the sound of your voice, so you don't need to be in tune. SoundHound can do the same with sung or hummed melodies.
Tips that make it work more often:
- Hum the most memorable part, usually the chorus or the hook, not the intro.
- Use "da da da" or "la la la" instead of closed-mouth humming; clearer notes match better.
- Keep a steady tempo. Rushing the melody changes its shape.
- Try a few times, from different starting points.
If you remember a few words, a lyrics search is often faster: put the line in quotation marks and add "lyrics". Even a half-remembered line usually works.
3. Find a song from a TV show, film or advert
Tunefind lists the songs used in TV episodes and films, scene by scene, for a large number of shows. Search the show and episode, then look for the scene description. For adverts, search the brand plus "advert song" and the year; ad songs are often discussed on forums and in the comments under the ad on YouTube. If a song isn't listed anywhere, play the scene and use Shazam on it.
4. Still can't find it? Ask people
The communities that name songs for a hobby are remarkably good at it. r/NameThatSong and r/tipofmytongue on Reddit name tunes from a humming clip or a vague description. Record yourself humming with the free Voice Recorder, save it as MP3, and post it with whatever you remember: where you heard it, roughly when, the genre, and any words.
5. Find the key and BPM of a song
For musicians, a tune finder is a key finder and a BPM finder. You need both to play along, sing in the right range, mix two songs as a DJ, or build a beat that fits a sample.
With a file: the Key & BPM Finder
Drop an MP3, WAV or video into the free Key & BPM Finder. It analyses the song in your browser, so nothing is uploaded, and shows:
- The key, for example A minor.
- The tempo in BPM, plus half time and double time, because tempo detectors (and people) can hear a song at half or twice its pulse.
- The Camelot code, for DJs mixing in key.
- The relative key: A minor and C major share the same notes, so a song that sits between them can be heard as either.
For a song that changes key, the result is the key the song spends the most time in. The step-by-step key and BPM guide covers checking the result by ear.
Without a file: tap along
If the song is playing on another device, open Tap Tempo and tap any key on the beat. After eight or more taps you have a steady BPM. Tap the kick drum or the snare, not the hi-hats, or you'll get double the tempo.
By ear
To find the key without any tool, hum the note that feels like "home" at the end of the song, the note the melody wants to land on. Find that note on a keyboard (the Virtual Piano works with your computer keys), then decide whether the song sounds happy and bright (major) or darker (minor). That gives you a key, which you can then check with the finder.
6. Find the chords
Once you know the key, the chords usually come from a short list. The Chord Finder listens to the song and shows the chords in time with the music, so you can play along on guitar or piano. Tune the guitar first with the Guitar Tuner.
7. When the tune is your own
Sometimes the tune in your head isn't a song you heard: it's one you made up. No app will find it, because it doesn't exist yet. Hum it into the Voice Recorder before you forget it, then turn the hum into a finished song with Hum to Song. The humming guide shows what happens to a real hum.
Which tune finder should you use?
| You want | You have | Use |
|---|
| The song's name | The song playing nearby | Shazam or SoundHound |
| The song's name | A melody in your head | Google "Search a song" or SoundHound |
| The song's name | A few words | A lyrics search with the words in quotes |
| The song's name | A TV scene | Tunefind |
| The key and BPM | The song as a file | Key & BPM Finder |
| The BPM | The song playing somewhere | Tap Tempo |
| The chords | The song as a file | Chord Finder |
| A song of your own | A melody you made up | Hum to Song |
Frequently asked questions about finding a tune
How do I find a song by humming it?
Open the Google app, tap the microphone and choose Search a song, then hum, whistle or sing for 10 to 15 seconds. SoundHound also matches hummed and sung melodies. Hum the chorus with clear "da da" notes for the best match.
Can Shazam recognise humming?
No. Shazam matches the sound of the original recording, so it needs the song itself playing. For a tune you hum or sing, use Google's "Search a song" or SoundHound.
What is the best free tune finder?
It depends on what you want to find. For a song's name, Shazam (for recordings) and Google hum-to-search (for humming) are free. For a song's key and BPM, the SongUp AI Key & BPM Finder is free and doesn't upload your file.
How do I find the key of a song?
Drop the song into the Key & BPM Finder for the key, BPM and Camelot code. By ear, find the note the melody feels like it resolves to, then decide whether the song sounds major or minor.
How do I find the BPM of a song?
Use the Key & BPM Finder with a file, or tap along with Tap Tempo while the song plays. If the number looks too fast or too slow, check the half-time and double-time values.
How do I find a song from a TV show?
Search the show and episode on Tunefind, which lists the songs used scene by scene. If it isn't there, play the scene and use Shazam.
What if no app can find my song?
Record yourself humming it, then ask r/NameThatSong or r/tipofmytongue on Reddit, with where and when you heard it. People there name songs from very little.
The bottom line
Decide what "find" means first: the name, the key and tempo, or the chords. For the name, use Shazam for recordings and Google's "Search a song" for humming. For key, BPM and chords, the free Key & BPM Finder, Tap Tempo and Chord Finder do it in seconds. And if the tune turns out to be your own, Hum to Song can turn it into a finished track.
