The basic premise of the TV game show “Name that Tune” is for the contestant to identify a song by its title before any opponent does.
One version has the contestants placing a bid as to how few notes it will take for them to identify the tune.
Another form of the contest is the “Golden Medley” where contestants have 30 seconds to name seven tunes as they play in rapid succession. Game shows aside, the ability to recognize sounds quickly is a basic survival skill. Our caveman ancestors learned to identify noises made by hyenas and tigers out looking for a meal. Children in the 1960s were taught to take cover when warning sirens signaled an impending nuclear attack. All drivers know that when their car starts to make a funny noise, it’s time to see a mechanic. We don’t worry about man-eating beasts in our homes, but homeowners should be keeping their ears open for sounds coming from their central HVAC units. A banging noise may indicate a problem with an AC compressor. If it buzzes like a swarm of bees, then you may have an electrical problem. A clicking or hissing noise can come from any number of sources. If it whistles or emits a screaming-like noise, even the most tone-deaf homeowner knows that trouble is brewing with a possible refrigerant leak. When your HVAC system begins to make any unusual noise, the last thing to do is try to play “Name that Tune” because there are no prizes to be awarded. Turn the system off and call your HVAC provider who will be able to send out a qualified HVAC technician who should be able to identify the “song” your HVAC system is playing in one note.