TikTok has introduced a new feature called “Sound Search,” which allows users to find songs by singing, humming, or playing them. This feature is currently available to some users in specific regions, but not yet widely accessible to all users.
This new feature provides an alternative method to search for sounds on the app. In a platform where trends based on songs change quickly, Sound Search can assist users in finding and staying up to date with current trends.
Similar to YouTube Music’s song detection tool, Sound Search on TikTok allows users to identify a song by singing, humming, or playing it. While Shazam is a popular song recognition tool, the capabilities of TikTok and YouTube Music go beyond Shazam by enabling users to recognize songs through humming or singing, rather than just playing the actual song.
Furthermore, unlike Shazam and YouTube Music that focus on identifying songs, TikTok’s tool not only helps users find songs but also shows videos that feature those songs.
In testing the feature, it was observed that the tool is more successful in recognizing popular songs on the app. For instance, when humming Rihanna’s “Umbrella” or singing the popular “oh no oh no oh no no no” sound, the tool was able to identify them quickly. However, the tool may encounter glitches when recognizing less popular songs that are not frequently used in videos.
Although TikTok mentioned that the tool is designed to find songs rather than TikTok-specific sounds, it was found that the tool could detect popular TikTok sounds and memes during testing.
If users have access to this feature, they can locate it by going to the search bar in the app, clicking on the microphone icon, and selecting “Sound Search.”
With many people already using TikTok as a search engine, this new feature enhances the app’s search capabilities. TikTok aims to become the go-to platform for users searching for songs, rather than relying on YouTube Music, Shazam, or Google.
Sounds play a crucial role in TikTok, driving trends and sometimes leading to the success of songs. Given the importance of sounds on the platform, TikTok’s introduction of Sound Search is a strategic move to improve song discovery while competing with Shazam and YouTube Music.
The release date of Sound Search for all users remains unknown. TikTok continues to evolve its features to provide users with a comprehensive and engaging experience on the app.