As the popularity of smart home devices continues to grow, Amazon’s Alexa has become a household name for many. Among its many features, one of the most sought-after is its ability to play music on command. However, getting Alexa to play exactly the music you want can sometimes be a challenge. In this article, we will explore different ways to make Alexa play the specific songs, albums, or playlists you desire.
Connect your preferred music service
First and foremost, connecting your favorite music service to your Alexa device is essential. By default, Alexa uses Amazon Music as its primary music service. However, you can link other popular services like Spotify, Apple Music, or Pandora. Here’s how you can connect your preferred music service to Alexa:
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet.
- Tap on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner.
- Select “Settings.”
- Scroll down and tap on “Music & Podcasts.”
- Tap on “Link New Service.”
- Choose your preferred music service and follow the on-screen instructions to link your account.
Once you’ve connected your music service, you can set it as the default by following these steps:
- In the “Music & Podcasts” settings, tap on “Default Services.”
- Select your preferred service under the “Music” section.
- Tap on “Done” to save your changes.
Now, when you ask Alexa to play music, it will use your chosen music service.
Be specific with your commands
When requesting music from Alexa, it’s essential to be as specific as possible. Instead of saying, “Alexa, play some music,” try mentioning the song title, artist, album, or playlist you want to hear. For example:
- “Alexa, play ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen.”
- “Alexa, play the album ‘Rumours’ by Fleetwood Mac.”
- “Alexa, play my ‘Workout’ playlist.”
If you’re unsure of the exact name, you can also provide additional context to help Alexa find the right song. For example:
- “Alexa, play the song that goes, ‘We don’t need no education.'”
- “Alexa, play the theme song from ‘The Godfather.'”
Create and edit playlists
Creating and editing playlists can help you better organize your music and make it easier for Alexa to play exactly what you want. You can create playlists using your preferred music service’s app or website. Once you’ve created a playlist, you can ask Alexa to play it by saying, “Alexa, play my playlist.”
To add songs to an existing playlist using Alexa, you can say:
- “Alexa, add this song to my playlist.”
- “Alexa, add ‘Song Title’ by Artist to my playlist.”
Use voice commands to control playback
In addition to playing specific songs, you can also use voice commands to control the playback of your music. Some useful commands include:
- “Alexa, pause” or “Alexa, stop” to pause or stop the music.
- “Alexa, resume” or “Alexa, continue” to resume playback.
- “Alexa, next” to skip to the next song.
- “Alexa, previous” to go back to the previous song.
- “Alexa, restart” to start the current song from the beginning.
- “Alexa, set volume to [1-10]” to adjust the volume.
Explore music by mood, genre, or activity
If you’re not sure what specific song or artist you want to listen to, you can ask Alexa to play music based on a mood, genre, or activity. For example:
- “Alexa, play upbeat music.”
- “Alexa, play jazz music.”
- “Alexa, play music for studying.”
Use routines to automate your music playback
Alexa’s routines feature allows you to automate a series of actions, including music playback, based on specific triggers. For example, you can create a routine that starts playing your favorite playlist when you arrive home or at a specific time of day. To create a routine:
- Open the Alexa app and tap on the menu icon.
- Select “Routines.”
- Tap on the “+” icon to create a new routine.
- Set a trigger (e.g., “When this happens”) and add actions (e.g., “Music”).
- Customize the routine to your preferences and save your changes.
By following these tips and tricks, you can make Alexa play exactly the music you want, creating a personalized and enjoyable listening experience.