How can you use music to set the tone for your YouTube videos?

1 Know your genre and audience

The first step to use music effectively is to know your genre and audience. Different types of videos require different types of music. For example, if you are making a tutorial, you might want to use a calm and clear background music that does not distract from your voice. If you are making a comedy, you might want to use a upbeat and quirky music that matches your humor. If you are making a travel vlog, you might want to use a dynamic and diverse music that reflects your destination. Think about what kind of mood and emotion you want to convey to your viewers, and choose a music genre that suits your niche and target audience.

2 Find royalty-free music sources

The next step is to find royalty-free music sources that you can use for your YouTube videos. Royalty-free music means that you can use the music without paying any fees or royalties to the original creators. This is important to avoid copyright issues and monetization problems on YouTube. There are many websites and platforms that offer royalty-free music for creators, such as YouTube Audio Library, Epidemic Sound, Artlist, and Bensound. You can browse and download music tracks by genre, mood, tempo, and duration. You can also filter by license type, such as attribution, non-commercial, or creative commons.

3 Edit your music to fit your video

The final step is to edit your music to fit your video. You can use video editing software, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, iMovie, or Filmora, to import, trim, fade, and adjust your music tracks. Additionally, audio editing software like Audacity, GarageBand, or Soundtrap can be used to mix, edit, and enhance your music tracks. To edit your music effectively, try aligning it with your video clips. Utilize the beat, rhythm, and melody of the music to match the pace and transitions of your video. Additionally, balance your music with voice and sound effects by adjusting volume and using equalizer and compressor tools. Furthermore, add fade in and fade out effects to create smooth transitions between your music and video. Using music to set the tone for YouTube videos can really elevate the quality and engagement of your audience. Follow these steps to choose, find, and edit music that suits your genre, audience, and message. Don't forget to experiment and have fun!

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?