English FAQ

What should I do when I can’t understand a part of the lyrics?

In this case, you can always ask for help using the dedicated #english-speakers Slack channel. Discussions can be very helpful and more often than not will help you to figure out what is being said. Research can also be very valuable. For example, difficult to understand words in a song could well be city names, brands of clothing, or production labels, which can be revealed through a quick search of the artist or song in question. Leaving blank spaces or symbols indicating an indecipherable lyric, such as question marks, should be avoided.

How should I transcribe abbreviated words?

In our guidelines (available here https://community.musixmatch.com/guidelines under the ‘format’ section) you can find the standardised spellings which we use for a selection of commonly abbreviated words. This list includes the most frequently recurring examples but if you come across an abbreviated word not featured, feel free to contact a member of the Content Team for advice.

How should I transcribe backing vocals?

Backing vocals, commonly used in rap and gospel tracks, can be placed inside brackets, as to make it clear that they are secondary to the main voice. When using brackets be careful to follow our guideline regarding capitalization (again, available here https://community.musixmatch.com/guidelines under ‘formatting’. In short, backing vocals within brackets should not be started with a capital letter unless it is a pronoun or following a punctuation mark.

The sync should begin directly with the first sound of a line. There is no need to leave a space for a breath or anything else. When clicking the signalled button in the image to the right, you should immediately hear the start of the line.

Do I have to transcribe remixes?

As stated in the previously mentioned guidelines, all lyrical material should be transcribed. As long as a lyric is not remixed/produced to the point of 'indecipherability', it should be included in your transcription. Be careful to listen carefully to the whole track before reporting it as instrumental, as many dance tracks begin with a lengthy instrumental introduction before including lyrical content later. 

Do I have to transcribe spoken parts in live tracks?

Yes. The spoken parts are what distinguish a live track from a studio recording, and so it is important to include them in your transcriptions.