Have you ever watched a YouTube video and found yourself captivated by the background music, only to realize you have no idea what the song is called or who performed it? You’re not alone. Many viewers often struggle to identify the catchy tunes playing in the background of their favorite YouTube content. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to track down that elusive melody. In this article, we’ll explore various steps and techniques to help you find the background music used in YouTube videos.
Introduction
YouTube has become a hub for content creators to share their videos, and background music plays a crucial role in setting the mood and enhancing the overall viewing experience. Whether you’re a curious listener or a content creator looking for inspiration, knowing how to identify the music used in YouTube videos can be incredibly useful. Let’s dive into the different methods you can employ to uncover the soundtrack behind your favorite YouTube content.
Step 1: Check the Video Description
The simplest and most straightforward method to find background music in a YouTube video is to check the video description. Many content creators are considerate enough to list the music they’ve used in their videos, often including the song title, artist name, and even links to the original tracks.
How to check the video description:
- Scroll down below the video player.
- Look for a “SHOW MORE” or “…more” button and click it to expand the full description.
- Scan the description for any mentions of music, songs, or a dedicated “Music” section.
Content creators may format this information in various ways, such as:
- “Music: [Song Title] by [Artist Name]”
- “Background track: [Song Title]”
- “Music credits: [List of songs and artists]”
If you’re lucky, you might even find direct links to the songs on platforms like Spotify, SoundCloud, or the artist’s official website.
Step 2: Use YouTube’s Built-in Music Recognition Feature
YouTube has recently introduced a music recognition feature that can identify songs playing in videos. This feature is not available for all videos, but it’s worth checking if it’s enabled for the video you’re watching.
To use YouTube’s music recognition feature:
- Play the video and look for a music note icon in the bottom-right corner of the video player.
- Click on the music note icon to see information about the song currently playing.
- If available, you’ll see the song title, artist name, and sometimes even a link to listen to the full track on YouTube Music or other platforms.
This feature is particularly useful for videos that use popular or commercially licensed music. However, it may not work for custom-made or lesser-known tracks.
Step 3: Utilize Music Recognition Apps
If the video description doesn’t provide the information you’re looking for, and YouTube’s built-in feature isn’t available, you can turn to third-party music recognition apps. These apps use sophisticated algorithms to identify songs based on audio samples.
Popular music recognition apps include:
- Shazam
- SoundHound
- AHA Music (Chrome extension)
Using Shazam to identify YouTube video music:
- Open the Shazam app on your smartphone.
- Play the YouTube video on your computer or another device.
- Tap the Shazam button in the app to start listening.
- Hold your phone close to the audio source.
- Wait for Shazam to analyze the audio and provide the song information[2].
For browser-based solutions, the AHA Music Chrome extension is an excellent option. It can automatically detect and identify music playing in your browser, including YouTube videos.
Step 4: Check the Video Comments
Sometimes, other viewers may have already asked about the background music, and the answer might be hiding in the comments section. Many YouTubers respond to such queries in the comments, or other viewers might have shared the information.
To check video comments:
- Scroll down to the comments section below the video.
- Look for comments asking about the background music.
- Check for replies from the video creator or other viewers providing song information.
While this method isn’t guaranteed to work, it’s often worth a quick scan through the top comments to see if anyone has already identified the music.
Step 5: Use Online Music Recognition Services
Several online services allow you to identify music in YouTube videos by simply pasting the video URL. These tools can be particularly useful when you can’t use smartphone apps or browser extensions.
One such service is Audiotag.info:
- Copy the URL of the YouTube video containing the music you want to identify.
- Visit Audiotag.info in your web browser.
- Paste the YouTube video URL into the provided field.
- Click “Start Recognition” and wait for the results.
This service uses audio fingerprinting technology to analyze the video’s audio and match it against its database of songs.
Step 6: Contact the Video Creator
If all else fails, you can always reach out to the video creator directly. Many YouTubers are happy to share information about the music they use in their videos.
Ways to contact a YouTube creator:
- Leave a comment on the video asking about the background music.
- Check the video description or channel page for contact information.
- Look for the creator’s social media profiles and send them a message.
When reaching out, be polite and specific about which part of the video contains the music you’re interested in. Remember that creators may receive many messages, so be patient while waiting for a response.
Step 7: Use Google’s “Hum to Search” Feature
If you can remember the melody of the background music, you can try using Google’s “Hum to Search” feature. This innovative tool allows you to hum, whistle, or sing a melody, and Google will attempt to match it to a song in its database.
To use Google’s “Hum to Search”:
- Open the Google app on your smartphone.
- Tap the microphone icon in the search bar.
- Say “What’s this song?” or tap the “Search a song” button.
- Hum, whistle, or sing the melody for about 10-15 seconds.
- Wait for Google to analyze and provide potential matches.
While this method may not always be accurate, especially for instrumental tracks, it can be a fun and effective way to identify catchy tunes stuck in your head after watching a YouTube video.
Conclusion
Finding the background music used in YouTube videos doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By following these steps, you’ll have a variety of methods at your disposal to identify those elusive tunes. Start with the simplest approaches, like checking the video description and comments, before moving on to more advanced techniques such as using music recognition apps or online services.
Remember that not all background music in YouTube videos will be easily identifiable. Some creators use royalty-free music or custom compositions that may not be in public music databases. In such cases, reaching out to the creator directly might be your best bet.
As you explore these methods, you’ll likely find a combination of techniques that works best for you. Whether you’re satisfying your curiosity, looking for new music to add to your playlist, or researching for your own content creation, these steps will help you uncover the soundtrack behind your favorite YouTube videos.
Happy music hunting, and may you never again be left wondering about that catchy tune in the background of your favorite YouTube content!
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