How to Get Lyrics From a Song With AI Transcription
Want to get lyrics from a song that isn't in any lyrics database: a demo, a live recording, a song in another language, or just a track you own a file of? You can transcribe the lyrics straight from the audio on your iPhone, follow them line by line as it plays, and use stems to decode the words the AI can't hear.
Import the song into Song Practice and open Lyrics. The words are transcribed with AI in many languages, and the current line is highlighted as the track plays. For words that come out wrong, switch the mix to Vocals only, slow the song down and loop that line.
When a lyrics transcription app beats a lyrics website
Lyrics sites are fine for the biggest hits. They are much less help when:
- The song is a live version, a remix or an alternate take with different words.
- It's a demo, a band rehearsal or a song a friend recorded.
- The song is in a language you don't read fluently, or from a scene that lyric sites rarely cover.
- The posted lyrics are simply wrong, which happens more than you'd think.
Transcribing lyrics from audio works from what is actually sung on your recording, and it lines the words up with the music, which is what you need for practice.
Step by step: get lyrics from a song on iPhone
- Get Song Practice. Download it free from the App Store on iPhone or iPad.
- Import the song. Choose it from Files, your iTunes file sharing library, Photos (for a video of a performance), cloud storage, or paste a link. DRM-protected tracks such as Apple Music downloads can't be imported.
- Open Lyrics. Song Practice transcribes the vocals with AI. It transcribes many languages, so it isn't limited to songs in English. The exact list depends on your device and iOS version.
- Press play and follow along. The current line is highlighted as the track plays, so your eyes stay in the right place even through fast verses.
- Fix the tricky spots. Use the stem and loop tips below to check any line that doesn't look right.
How to hear unclear words
No transcription is perfect, and neither are human ears. When a line doesn't make sense, use the same tools musicians use to work out parts by ear.
Isolate the vocals
Open the Mix sheet and tap the Vocals only quick mix. Stem separation runs on device and splits the song into vocals, drums, bass and other, so the voice is left on its own. Words buried under guitars or cymbals often become obvious once the band is gone.
Slow the line down
Consonants go by fast. Drop the speed to 70–80% and the pitch stays exactly the same, so the singer still sounds like themselves but each syllable has room. Going much lower than 60% can smear consonants, so don't overdo it. More in how to slow down a song without changing pitch.
Loop the line
Set A and B markers around the single line and let it repeat. Hearing the same two seconds ten times in a row is the fastest way to settle a disputed word. Nudge the markers by a beat to catch a pickup syllable. See how to loop part of a song.
What affects transcription accuracy
| Situation | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Clear lead vocal, sparse mix | Usually very close. Occasional homophones or names to check. |
| Dense, loud mixes | More missed or merged words. Check lines against Vocals only. |
| Heavy vocal effects | Distortion, strong pitch correction, vocoders and long delays can confuse the AI. |
| Backing vocals and harmonies | Overlapping voices may blend into one line or drop out. Your ear decides. |
| Screamed, whispered or mumbled delivery | Hard for people and machines alike. Expect gaps. |
| Mixed languages in one song | Lines that switch language mid-song may need extra checking. |
Using lyrics to practice singing
Once the words are right, the synced lyrics become a practice tool. Loop a verse and sing it with the highlighted line until you don't need to look. Then switch to the Karaoke quick mix to mute the lead vocal and sing the part yourself. If the song sits too high or low, shift the key by up to 12 semitones either way without changing the tempo. The full routine is in Song Practice for singers.
A note on copyright
Song lyrics are usually protected by copyright. Transcriptions you make in Song Practice are for your own personal practice: learning a song, rehearsing, or understanding a line. Don't publish or share transcribed lyrics of songs you don't have the rights to.
Common questions
Which languages can it transcribe?
Many, well beyond English, including songs in languages you are still learning. The available languages depend on your device and iOS version, and the accuracy caveats above apply in every language.
Can I get lyrics from a video?
Yes. Import the video from Photos or Files and Song Practice works with its audio, including lyrics, stems and loops.
Is lyrics transcription free?
The app is free to download and the free tier has limits. Song Practice Pro unlocks unlimited separations and lyrics, WAV, M4A and MIDI export, and removes ads.
Get the words to your next song
Free on the App Store. AI lyrics in many languages, synced as it plays.
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