searching for music by how it sounds?

[fourtwentyfour]

From time to time I hear music that I like, often orchestral tunes backing adverts. There are a few styles I seem drawn to.

One is playing now on CNN, Quest's World of Wonder.

Another, also on CNN, last week, was about Budapest, Iconic Budapest, I think.

In the mid 1990s there was a style of music I liked, but I never knew how to find it.

I have tried a search by keywords and failed, but how about some method of search by listening to sounds and narrowing down to a likely style, is it possible?

Sadly I can't explain in words how things sound.

Thanks.

[SalvorHardin]

The Shazam app on Android phones can identify instrumental music (and songs) by sound. Activate it, make sure that your phone is online and let it search.

I use it to identify music on TV programmes. Also music on adverts.

Another app which does the same is Soundhound. Both are on Google Play Store and are free. The search works by using the app producers' databases

[vrdiver]

+1 for Shazam

Once you've got the name of the track, try typing it into Spotify (the free version is fine). You can then select the artist and "go to artist radio" (in the "..." button next to "Play" and the heart symbol. This will select similar music from other artists, giving you a chance to explore around the specific soundtrack that grabbed your attention in the first place.

Alternatively, if it was a music track in a tv show, you can try typing the name of the show into Spotify. E.g. if you like "Suits" or "Breaking Bad" you can get the soundtracks from Spotify directly.

VRD

[fourtwentyfour]

Thanks.

I don't have names of tracks, and the sound is, only just, in my head. (or on the source as I hear it, maybe I should record it?)

There are types of music, Jazz, Pop, 1980s etc. What if there were a database by type, something where a click would produce a sample sound with a searchable name/type? I am sure that what I like has a type label.

[fourtwentyfour]

I am investigating Shazam, I didn't ignore it!

[servodude]

I am investigating Shazam, I didn't ignore it!

There are a few projects around on the internet that might help:
https://www.musicmap.info/
http://everynoise.com/
- they might not have example sounds/clips but they might help you find it what to look for
And they're a fun way to eat up time
- sd

[mc2fool]

I don't have names of tracks, and the sound is, only just, in my head.

If you can hum it ... https://www.midomi.com/

[SalvorHardin]

I am investigating Shazam, I didn't ignore it!

No problem

I gather that Shazam can't detect songs and music unless it's got the songs' specific audio "footprint" in its database (just found out that Shazam is owned by Apple). So it won't work with your own singing or humming unless your version of the song is in the database.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shazam_(application)

I've just tested Soundhound for Android, which does work if you sing, hum and/or play the song/tune yourself. I've got a terrible singing voice yet Soundhound managed to recognise "Men of Harlech", "God Save the Queen", "Kalinka" and "Eleanor Rigby"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SoundHound