Skip to Main Content

Music

A Library Subject Guide

Boolean Search Tips

Use:

  • AND
    This strategy will narrow your search. 
  • OR
    This strategy will broaden your search. Put words linked by OR inside parentheses ( ).
  • Quotation marks " "
    Using quotation marks will ensure that the database finds results that use that exact phrase.
  • Asterisk * 
    The * symbol tells the database to search for alternative word endings, for example: cultur* will search for culture, cultures, cultural

Keyword Searching

How do I choose keywords for my searches?

  • Words to include
    For a music research topic, you would want to include, at the very least, the artist's name and the title of the work you're researching. If you're not searching for a specific piece of music, you would want to include the main concepts from your topic.
  • Use quotation marks
    If the work's title or if a concept is longer than one word, you can optimize your search by putting quotation marks around the title or phrase. Using quotation marks will ensure that the database finds results that use that exact phrase.  
  • Use AND
    To search for both the writer and the work together, you need to link your search terms with and. This strategy will narrow your search. 
Beethoven AND "Symphony No. 7"

Found too many results?

  • Add more keywords
    If you find that you are retrieving too many results, try adding more keywords to further narrow your topic.
Beethoven AND "Symphony No. 7" AND review

Found too few results?

  • Use OR
    If you are searching for a lesser-known writer or work, you may not find much information about the particular writer and work you have chosen. In this case you can try broadening your search by using or to link your terms. This strategy will broaden your search because it will return results that mention either Beethoven OR "Symphony No. 7"
Beethoven OR "Symphony No. 7"

 

  • Look for more general information 
    If you are still having trouble finding enough information, try looking for more general information about themes, motifs, or symbols that may occur in the work you are studying, or about traits typical of a particular type of writing.
"classical symphonies"

Video Review on Keywords

Video Review on Searching

More Research Help

You can review your searching skills with our Database Searching Basics guide and this UMGC Library Webinar on Boolean Searching.