The hints for today’s NYT Strands are clear if you like watching bands play.

Strands, the New York Times‘ sophisticated word-search game, tests players with a variation on the classic word search. Words can be created from adjacent letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, and can also alter direction, forming distinctive shapes and designs. Each letter in the grid contributes to an answer. There’s always a central theme linking each solution, along with the “spangram,” a unique word or phrase that reflects the day’s theme and occupies the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an elusive hint and omitting the word list, Strands makes for a more difficult game that tends to take longer to complete than its other offerings, such as Wordle and Connections.

If you find yourself in a bind or pressed for time, we’ve compiled all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle to assist you in moving forward at your own pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Banding together

The words pertain to music.

Today’s NYT Strands theme clearly defined

These terms refer to items that can be seen at a concert.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

This day’s NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

This day’s spangram is Checklist.

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