query by humming (QbH)

Query by Humming (QbH) is a recognition system for melodies in which the request for music titles is made by singing or humming.

The requester hums, whistles or sings the requested melody into the microphone and the QbH system determines the requested piece of music by matching it with stored melodies.

The technical realization of the system developed by the Fraunhofer Institute is based on the decomposition of the sung melody into individual tones, the pitch of which is analyzed and quantized. To enable comparison with stored melodies, the quantized tones must be provided with a time signature that eliminates the inequalities in the audition.