Alexa is the voice assistant that makes life easier.
And besides being able to do numerous tasks…
Many people still wonder:
“Can she play a specific song?”
Well, I found the answers.
Read on to find out:
- 3 efficient ways to play specific songs on Alexa.
- Different voice commands for playing specific songs.
- How to stream music from your phone, tablet, or laptop to your Echo device.
- And lots more…
How to play specific songs on Alexa – 3 ways
You can play music on Alexa by saying clear and specific voice commands. Another way is by subscribing to music providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, etc. You can also play specific songs by pairing another gadget via Bluetooth with your Echo device.
#1: Use Amazon Music
Alexa and Amazon Music work seamlessly together…
Because they belong to the same company.
So, it’s ideal to use Amazon’s official music streaming platform.
If you’re interested in signing up…
Amazon Music offers 3 kinds of music subscriptions:
- Amazon Music Free.
- Amazon Music Prime.
- Amazon Music Unlimited.
And to show their differences, I made a short table:
| Type of subscription | Amazon Music Free | Amazon Music Prime | Amazon Music Unlimited |
| Ads | Yes | No | No |
| Alexa interaction | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Offline playback | No | Yes | Yes |
| High-definition (HD) | No | No | Yes |
| Ultra-high definition (UHD) | No | No | Yes |
| Amazon Prime membership required | No | Yes | No |
| Price | Free | 8.99 USD per month | 9.99 USD per month |
| Available titles | Limited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Now, with Amazon Music Free, you’ll experience some limitations.
For example, you don’t have access to all songs.
Plus, if you request a specific track, it might only play a snippet instead of the full version.
With Amazon Music Prime and Unlimited, you don’t need to worry about that because you’ll get full access to the platform’s services and features.
So, keep that in mind.
Now, if you want to play songs with Amazon Music, you can use voice commands for Alexa.
These are spoken commands that let you control your music from anywhere in the house.
Important: Voice commands need to be specific and clear. This makes it easy for Alexa to understand and prevents her from playing the wrong music.
Further reading: 5 Steps To Connect Alexa To A Bluetooth Speaker
Basic voice commands for playing music
The setup for a basic voice command to play music goes like this:
Just start with “Alexa…” and then choose from the following:
- “… play.”
- “… pause.”
- “… play (genre).”
- “… play (station name).”
- “… play (playlist name).”
- “… play (emotion) music.”
Since these voice commands are somewhat general…
Alexa plays what matches your voice command.
But to be more specific, you can…
Use clear voice commands for playing specific songs
These requests will help Alexa play the exact song you’re looking for.
Hence, they need to be precise and understandable.
Here are some helpful guidelines:
Start by saying “Alexa…” and end with:
- “… play (song, album, or artist).”
- “… play (song) from (title playlist).”
- “… play (song) from (album) by (artist).”
If you want examples of how to do so, you can try…
- “Alexa, play Sign of the Times by Harry Styles.”
- “Alexa, play Dreams, by Fleetwood Mac, from the album Rumours.”
- “Alexa, play the acoustic version of Dive, by Ed Sheeran, from the album Divide.”
The more precise you are, the easier Alexa will be able to play that specific song.
Try it out.
However, if you don’t want to sign up for Amazon Music, you can also…
#2: Use a different music streaming service
Nowadays, there are many music services out there.
Popular music providers you can connect to your Alexa are:
- Tidal.
- Vevo.
- Spotify.
- Deezer.
- Pandora.
- iHeartRadio.
- Apple Music.
But to use these music providers on your Echo device…
You first have to link them to the Alexa app.
Here’s how to link a new music service in 6 easy steps:
- Go to the Alexa app.
- Select More.
- Choose Settings.
- Go to Alexa Preferences.
- Choose Music & Podcasts.
- Tap on Link New Service.
- Select the music service you want and follow the on-screen instructions.
And for visual guidance, you can check out this helpful video:
If you’re done, try it out.
#3: Use Bluetooth
Another easy way to play a specific song is by using Bluetooth.
This is a short-range wireless connection, and most Echo devices have it, as well as your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
And if you have your music downloaded as a local file on your gadget, Alexa can play it.
So, you’re not required to have a paid streaming service to listen to any specific song you want.
Just make sure your device has Bluetooth.
After that, it’s easy: just pair your device with Alexa.
Here’s how to do it with a smartphone:
- Go to Settings on your smartphone.
- Activate Bluetooth.
- Place it close to your Echo device.
Then go to the Alexa app on your smartphone and take these 6 steps;
- In the Alexa app, go to Devices.
- Select Echo & Alexa.
- Choose your Echo device.
- Go to Bluetooth devices.
- Select your smartphone from the list.
Done!
Now that the connection is established, just give Alexa the correct voice command, and you’re set.
Alternatively, you can choose the specific song directly on your smartphone, and it will start playing.
Happy listening.
You might also like: 3 Easy Steps To Play SoundCloud On Alexa
#BONUS: Use the AUX input
Last but not least: AUX input.
You can find this on many devices as a 3.5 mm jack input for your headphones.
Just use an audio cable, and the music will be heard on your audio accessories.
And the AUX input on your Echo device works the same.
But there is just 1 big but…
Not all Echo devices have an AUX input.
Here are the 4 Echo devices with this feature:
- Amazon Echo Studio.
- Amazon Echo 3rd Gen.
- Amazon Echo 4th Gen.
- Amazon Echo Plus 2nd Gen.
So, if you have 1 of these…
Try to connect it with an audio cable to your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Then play the specific song, and happy listening!