Frequently Asked Questions
What is lyrics typing?
Lyrics typing is typing practice where you type the lyrics of a song in real time while it plays. SongTyping syncs a YouTube video with the lyrics, pauses it automatically when you fall behind, and tracks your WPM so each session doubles as fun practice and a typing test.
Is SongTyping free?
Yes, SongTyping is completely free to use. The full catalog is browsable without an account; signing in with Google unlocks a few extras (see "Why would I sign in?" below).
Why would I sign in?
Signing in with Google unlocks features that aren't available to anonymous visitors: lyric translation while you type, and the ability to import new songs from Genius when your search doesn't return enough results. Signed-in accounts also let us bring back features like a personal recently-played list. You can still browse and type along to every song in the catalog without an account.
How is my typing speed calculated?
WPM (words per minute) is calculated using the standard formula: (correct characters / 5) divided by elapsed minutes. This gives a normalized measure comparable across different word lengths.
Why doesn't the video show for some songs?
The video player with sync only appears when subtitle/caption data is available for the YouTube video. Some videos have captions disabled by the uploader. You can still type the lyrics without the video.
What is the 1-minute challenge?
It's a timed mode where you type as many words as you can in 60 seconds. Great for quick practice sessions and tracking improvement over time.
What does 'Easy mode' do?
Easy mode removes capital letters and punctuation from the lyrics, so you only need to type lowercase letters. This is helpful for beginners or when practicing speed over accuracy.
Which languages are supported?
SongTyping currently supports songs in English, Spanish, French, and Hebrew, both for the song catalog and for the optional translation feature available to signed-in users. If you search for a song in another language, you'll see a notice that it isn't supported yet. The interface automatically adjusts for right-to-left languages (Hebrew). More languages may be added in the future.
How does the video pause feature work?
When enabled, SongTyping tracks your typing progress against the song's subtitle timestamps. If you fall more than 8 words behind, the video pauses automatically and resumes once you catch up.
Can I jump to a specific part of a song?
Yes. Use the scrubber below the video to seek the video back or forward, or scroll the lyrics box and stop where you want to start. The topmost visible word becomes your new typing position, and (when subtitle sync data is available) the video seeks there too. You can also click directly on any word to jump to it.
Can I request a song?
Yes. Sign in with Google and search for the song in the search bar. If it's available on Genius or YouTube, SongTyping will import it automatically. The song catalog grows as signed-in users discover new songs. Songs need at least 10,000 YouTube views to stay in the catalog.
Where do the lyrics come from?
Lyrics are sourced from the Genius API and YouTube captions. They are used for personal, educational typing practice only.