When you’re learning to play an instrument, sometimes it’s tough to get motivated to practice – especially if you’re playing songs and exercises that don’t really excite you. When you start playing your favorite songs, though, you might find yourself able to get into your music a bit more. There are many ways to find the lyrics and chords to your favorite songs, but not all of them are simple, and sometimes you might end up more frustrated trying to track down lyrics or chords than you would be practicing music that you’re not listening to on your stereo regularly.
How Do You Find a Song You’ve Heard?
There are a few different ways you can go about finding song lyrics or chords:
- Use a search engine like Google or Bing. Simply enter the lyrics of the song into the search bar and see what comes up.
- Search for the artist’s name or the title of the song.
- Look up the lyrics on a lyrics website like Genius or Metrolyrics.
- Use your smartphone to record a few seconds of the song. Then, try using a Shazam-like app to identify it.
If all else fails, you can always ask a friend or family member if they know the name of the song. Your music instructor is usually more than willing to help, too.
Once you know more about how lyrics and chords are written, you’ll have an easier time identifying them and learning how to play them in the future, too. Check out the video below for more information on how to do so (or again, ask your music instructor for help!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrwEgHDT8jg
How to Find Songs by Lyrics or Chords
There are two main options for finding song lyrics and chords. One option is to go to your local music store and ask if they have the sheet music for the song you’re looking for. This is fairly easy, as the salesperson can point you in the right direction. The other option is to go online and try to find it. While you might be able to find more obscure songs this way, you also run the risk of finding music that has been transcribed improperly and won’t sound like your favorite song regardless of how well you practice. That’s never fun! Here’s how to make your search easier:
Consult Your Private Instructor to Help You Find Song Lyrics and Chords
When you’re trying to find the lyrics and chords for a specific song, make sure to ask your music teacher for advice. He or she may know of a website or a local music shop that can provide you with just what you’re looking for. And if you stumble upon the music for that elusive song but it doesn’t quite sound the way you want it to, your teacher can definitely help you determine what needs to change in order to make it sound like the original recording.
If you’re playing guitar, for instance, you might come across a song that is actually played with a capo on the third fret, but the chords you’ve found do not call for a capo and instead show a fair number of inverted chords. While the general structure of the song will be the same, you’ll likely find that you can never completely duplicate the same guitar sound as in the recording. Your teacher can help you discern these differences and help you transpose the chords so you can use a capo and sound just the way you want it to.
On the other hand, if you’re playing piano, you might find that the music you’ve found is missing a few parts of the chords that make the difference between sounding close and sounding exactly like the recording. Again, your private teacher will be able to hear which notes each chord is missing and help you fill in the gaps.
Transcribed Music
Often music that is transcribed will be slightly simpler to play than what the original arrangement was, to make it easier for a wider range of piano players to practice it. While this is a good idea to start learning songs, if you’ve practiced the same melody for months and it still doesn’t sound the way it does coming through your stereo, the frustration will be back in spades. Working with a good private instructor to help you find the differences between your arrangement and the original recording is key.
Tips for Finding Music Online
With the advent of the internet, it has become easier than ever to find new music. However, with so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are a few tips for finding new music online.
Try a Search Engine
If you know the artist or song you’re looking for, try using a search engine like Google. Simply type in the artist’s name or the song title, and you should be able to find what you’re looking for.
If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, try browsing through an online music store such as iTunes or Amazon. You can usually browse by genre or style of music, making it easy to find something that interests you.
Third, there are a number of websites that allow you to stream live concerts and DJ sets. This is a great way to discover new music and see your favorite artists in person and it’s also a good method of how to find a song by lyrics, too.
Use a Website
There are many sites out there that offer guitar chords and tablature, as well as sheet music and lyrics for piano. You may find that the more lyrics and chords you search for online, you’ll keep coming back to the same few sites and settling in on a couple that have the proper arrangements and selection of songs that you want. Here are a few guitar sites that have a great selection of lyrics and chords to get you started:
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Ultimate Guitar: This website has over 800,000 songs of chords and tabs. If it’s a hit song from a major recording artist, chances are you can find it here!
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Guitar eTab: With around 200,000 listings, this site is another great resource.
Chordie: This site is even more expansive than the other two combined. The only drawback is that most of the songs on here are not completely accurate, so use this as your last resort.
Be Specific
If you’re trying to find lyrics and chords for a specific song online, make sure to be as precise with your search as possible. Use the name of the artist and the name of the song when you are searching. If the artist has multiple recordings of the song, such as a studio version and a live version, also use the name of the album for the specific recording you’re looking for. Click through the first few results of your search, and browse around the website a bit before deciding which arrangement to start practicing. A good site will have a huge selection of lyrics and chords available, as well as possibly a key to deciphering any specific nomenclature of the music they have. This is always good to have in case there’s a notation that you aren’t familiar with. Of course, your private instructor can help you decipher these things as well. Good luck, and have fun!
Can You Identify Songs By Listening to Them?
There’s a reason why most people identify songs by listening to them – the melody is usually the most distinctive and memorable part of a song.
However, there are some people who claim to be able to identify songs based on just the lyrics.
While it is certainly possible to recognize a song based on its lyrics alone, it is usually much more difficult than identifying it by listening to the melody.
After all, there are many songs with similar-sounding melodies, but very few with identical lyrics. Additionally, most people have a better memory for melodies than for lyrics.
As a result, it is generally much easier to identify a song by listening to it than by reading the lyrics.
How Do You Find a Song That You Don’t Know the Name To?
Now you know how to find song lyrics and chords, but what about this common situation?
You’ve heard a song on the radio, at a party, or in a store but you don’t know the name of it. You may be able to identify the artist, but not the specific song title. Here are a few ways that can help you find that elusive tune.
One approach is to use a search engine specifically designed for music. Shazam and SoundHound are two popular options. Once you have installed the app on your phone, open it and hold it up to the speakers while the song is playing. The app will then attempt to identify the tune. If successful, it will provide you with the song title and artist name.
Another way to identify an unknown song is to hum the melody into a search engine such as Google or Bing. If you can sing or whistle a few bars of the tune, these search engines may be able to help you find its name. Simply type in something like “find song by humming” or “identify song by humming” and follow the instructions provided.
If you’re still having trouble tracking down the name of the song, try posting about it on a forum dedicated to identifying songs, such as TuneFind or This Is My Jam.
How Do You Figure Out Chords?
One of the most difficult things about learning to play guitar is trying to figure out chords. A chord is simply two or more notes played together, but there are seemingly endless combinations of notes that can be played. Even experienced guitarists can have trouble figuring out chords by ear.
Fortunately, there are a few methods that can help make the process easier. One approach is to start by finding the root note of the chord. The root note is the note that gives the chord its name. For example, the root note of a C chord is C.
Once you know the root note, you can use a guitar fretboard diagram to determine which other notes will complete the chord. Another method is to analyze the structure of a song to find repeating patterns.
Many songs follow a predictable chord progression, so once you figure out one chord, it can be easier to identify others. With a little practice, figuring out chords will become second nature.
Is There an App to Identify Chords in a Song?
There’s no shortage of apps that can help you learn to play guitar chords, but what if you’re already a skilled player? What if you just want to quickly and easily identify the chords in a song? Is there an app for that?
Fortunately, there are several apps available that can help you identify chords in a song. Most of these apps work by analyzing the audio signal and identifying the distinct frequencies present. This information is then used to determine the chord being played. While not all of these apps are 100% accurate, they can still be helpful, especially if you’re just starting out.
One of the most popular chord identification apps is Chordify. This app provides an interactive interface that makes it easy to find the chords in a song.
Simply load up the app, play a song, and watch as the chords are highlighted on-screen. You can also see the name of the chord being played, as well as a list of suggested alternate fingering positions. If you’re having trouble hearing a particular chord, you can even use the app’s built-in tuner to help you find the right note.
How to Find a Song from Lyrics or Chords
You know the feeling. You’re driving along, singing at the top of your lungs, and suddenly you can’t remember the words to the song. Or maybe you’re playing guitar and you can’t quite remember how to play that one chord.
Fortunately, there are a few ways to find a song from either its lyrics or its chords – and plenty of ways to learn lyrics and chords for your favorite songs so you can play or sing them, too.
And our best, most important tip to pay attention to?
If you want to learn how to play the guitar or piano, consider taking music lessons. A professional instructor can show you how to find the lyrics and chords for your favorite songs, and help you become a musician in no time. Sign up for music lessons today and get started on your musical journey!
Photo by Tarun Kumar
Megan L.