ALL NEWS

Now you can hum to search Google for that song you can’t remember (but can’t forget)

Oct 15, 2020, 3:52 PM | Updated: Jan 25, 2023, 11:53 am

Google song...

The Google Inc. search page is displayed on a smartphone in an arranged photograph taken in the Brooklyn Borough of New York, U.S., on Friday, July 24, 2020. (Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

(Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

(CNN) — If you’ve ever had a song stuck in your head but can’t remember enough lyrics to search for it, Google has a solution: hum to search.

Google unveiled a new search feature Thursday that lets users search for songs by humming a few bars, in an attempt to help you identify music.

The feature is now part of Google’s mobile app and Google Assistant, where you can say “what’s this song?” (add a “Hey Google” first on Google Assistant) and then hum, whistle, or sing for 10 to 15 seconds. The results will include several probable songs, along with the search engine’s estimation of how likely it is that each is the one you’re looking for.

Google said the feature, which was announced along with several other new search-related functions during an online event held by the company, will be available first in English on Apple’s iOS and in over 20 languages on Google’s Android mobile platform. Users don’t need to have perfect pitch in order to get the feature to work, according to Google.

Hum-to-search isn’t a brand new idea — SoundHound, for instance, offers a hum-recognition feature — though it is new to Google. Like many of Google’s search offerings, the feature uses machine learning: Essentially, software analyzes the tune you hum (or sing or whistle), turning it into a sequence of digits that can then be compared with tons of digitized songs to find a few that appear similar. The company has been working on using artificial intelligence for music recognition for a number of years.

The feature may be in high demand: Aparna Chennapragada, a Google vice president who introduced it during Google’s streamed event on Thursday, said people ask Google “what song is playing” nearly 100 million times each month.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

All News

Camps have sprung up at several university campuses across Australia....

Hilary Whiteman and Angus Watson, CNN

Australian student protests show US campus divisions over Gaza war are going global

In the past 10 days, pro-Palestinian protest camps have appeared at seven Australian universities.

54 minutes ago

Bobby Ratliff, left, and his wife, Theresa, hold hands a memorial service for their son, Odin, and ...

Becky Bruce

Parents of boy killed in meth-fueled, high speed crash sue Utah state agencies

Odin Ratliff and Hunter Jackson, both 3, were playing with their toy trucks in a corral outside Cedar Valley Stables in Eagle Mountain on May 2, 2022, when the driver crashed through multiple fences at over 100 miles per hour.

2 hours ago

President Elizabeth "Betsy" Cantwell, left, applauds after Gail Miller gave the commencement addres...

Collin Leonard, KSL.com

Gail Miller tells USU graduates to ‘lead with love’

Gail Miller gave students advice based on her decades of business experience and philanthropy, saying one of the guiding principles of the Larry H. Miller Company has been "be a student, be a teacher, be a leader."

3 hours ago

Pro-Palestinian protestors gathered outside the Jon M. Huntsman Center....

Emma Keddington

Pro-Palestinian protestors gather outside University of Utah commencement, move to county jail

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protestors gathered outside the University of Utah's commencement ceremony, moved to the Salt Lake County Jail.

4 hours ago

This image from video released by the U.S. Army, shows a frame from a haunting new video, released ...

LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press

New Army video aims to lure recruits for psychological operations

A haunting new video is the latest effort by the U.S. Army to lure soldiers to some of its more secretive units.

5 hours ago

Chad Daybell, right sits next to his attorney, John Prior, during his murder trial in Boise on Frid...

Aimee Cobabe

Chad Daybell’s family takes the stand in Boise murder trial

Chad Daybell's family took the stand today, to give jurors an idea of how he reacted to his wife Tammy Daybell's death.

7 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

a doctor putting her hand on the chest of her patient...

Intermountain Health

Intermountain nurse-midwives launch new gynecology access clinic

An access clinic launched by Intermountain nurse-midwives provides women with comprehensive gynecology care.

Young couple hugging while a realtor in a suit hands them keys in a new home...

Utah Association of Realtors

Buying a home this spring? Avoid these 5 costly pitfalls

By avoiding these pitfalls when buying a home this spring, you can ensure your investment will be long-lasting and secure.

a person dressed up as a nordic viking in a dragon boat resembling the bear lake monster...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Legend of the Bear Lake Monster

The Bear Lake monster has captivated people in the region for centuries, with tales that range from the believable to the bizarre.

...

Live Nation Concerts

All the artists coming to Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre (formerly USANA Amp) this summer

Summer concerts are more than just entertainment; they’re a celebration of life, love, and connection.

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

Now you can hum to search Google for that song you can’t remember (but can’t forget)