Hey guys! Are you looking to spice up your videos, podcasts, or presentations? Background music can really make a difference, adding emotion, setting the mood, and keeping your audience engaged. But where do you find high-quality, royalty-free music without breaking the bank? Don't worry, I've got you covered! Let's dive into the world of free background music and how you can use it to enhance your content.

Why Use Background Music?

First off, let's talk about why background music is so important. Think about your favorite movies or TV shows. Can you imagine them without their soundtracks? The music is what amplifies the emotions, builds suspense, and makes those scenes so memorable. The same principle applies to your own content. Background music can:

• Enhance the emotional impact: Music can evoke feelings of joy, sadness, excitement, or tranquility, making your content more relatable and engaging.
• Set the mood: Whether you're creating a spooky horror game or a relaxing meditation video, the right music can instantly set the tone.
• Maintain audience interest: A well-chosen track can keep your audience hooked, preventing them from losing focus.
• Add professionalism: Using high-quality music makes your content sound more polished and professional, which can boost your credibility.

But here's the catch: you can't just use any song you like. Copyright laws protect musicians and their work, so using copyrighted music without permission can land you in legal trouble. That's where royalty-free music comes in.

What is Royalty-Free Music?

Royalty-free music isn't actually free in the sense that you don't have to pay for it at all. Instead, it means that you pay a one-time fee for a license to use the music, and then you don't have to pay any recurring royalties to the copyright holder. This can save you a ton of money in the long run, especially if you're creating a lot of content.

There are different types of licenses available, so it's important to read the fine print before you download anything. Some licenses might restrict how you can use the music, such as limiting it to non-commercial projects or requiring you to give credit to the artist. Others might give you more freedom to use the music in any way you want.

Now that we've got the basics covered, let's talk about where you can find free background music for your projects.

Top Websites for Free Background Music

Alright, let's get to the good stuff! Here are some of the best websites where you can download free background music:

1. YouTube Audio Library

YouTube Audio Library is a fantastic resource directly from YouTube itself. It offers a vast collection of tracks and sound effects that you can use in your videos. The best part? Everything in the library is completely free to use, even for commercial purposes. You can filter the music by genre, mood, instrument, and more, making it easy to find the perfect track for your project.

Why it's great:

• Huge selection: Thousands of tracks to choose from.
• Completely free: No hidden fees or royalties.
• Easy to use: Simple interface with advanced filtering options.
• Safe to use: You don't have to worry about copyright issues.

How to use it:

1. Log in to your YouTube account.
2. Go to YouTube Studio.
3. Click on "Audio Library" in the left-hand menu.
4. Browse the music or use the filters to find what you need.
5. Download the track and start using it in your videos!

2. Incompetech

Incompetech is a website created by composer Kevin MacLeod, who has generously made his music available for free under a Creative Commons license. His music is used in countless videos, games, and other projects around the world. While you can use his music for free, he does ask that you give him credit whenever possible.

Why it's great:

• High-quality music: Kevin MacLeod is a talented composer who creates a wide variety of music.
• Free to use: As long as you give credit, you can use his music for free.
• Large catalog: He has a huge collection of tracks to choose from.
• Easy licensing: The Creative Commons license is straightforward and easy to understand.

How to use it:

1. Go to the Incompetech website.
2. Browse the music or use the search bar to find what you need.
3. Download the track.
4. Give credit to Kevin MacLeod in your project.

3. Free Music Archive

Free Music Archive is a project of WFMU, a freeform radio station in New Jersey. It's a curated library of high-quality, royalty-free music from a variety of artists. The music is licensed under various Creative Commons licenses, so be sure to check the specific license for each track before you use it.

Why it's great:

• Curated selection: The music is hand-picked by experts, so you know you're getting high-quality tracks.
• Variety of genres: You'll find music from all sorts of genres, from classical to electronic to hip-hop.
• Free to use: As long as you follow the terms of the license, you can use the music for free.
• Support artists: By using music from the Free Music Archive, you're supporting independent artists.

How to use it:

1. Go to the Free Music Archive website.
2. Browse the music or use the search bar to find what you need.
3. Check the license for the track.
4. Download the track.
5. Follow the terms of the license when using the music.

4. Bensound

Bensound offers a selection of high-quality music tracks that are free to use as long as you give credit to Bensound. They have a variety of styles, perfect for corporate videos, vlogs, and more. If you don't want to give credit, you can also purchase a license.

Why it's great:

• Professional quality: Bensound's tracks are professionally produced and sound great.
• Easy to use: The website is user-friendly and easy to navigate.
• Versatile: The music is suitable for a wide range of projects.

How to use it:

1. Go to the Bensound website.
2. Browse the music and select a track.
3. Download the track.
4. Include credit to Bensound in your project or purchase a license.

5. Pixabay Music

Pixabay is well-known for its free stock photos and videos, but they also have a great selection of free music. The music is royalty-free, meaning you can use it without paying any fees. It's a great option for adding a professional touch to your projects.

Why it's great:

• Royalty-free: Use the music without worrying about ongoing fees.
• Wide variety: Lots of different styles to choose from.
• Easy to find: Integrated with Pixabay's other free content.

How to use it:

1. Go to the Pixabay website.
2. Navigate to the Music section.
3. Browse and download the tracks you like.
4. Use the music in your projects.

Tips for Choosing the Right Background Music

Okay, so you've found a few websites with free background music. But how do you choose the right track for your project? Here are a few tips:

• Consider the mood: What kind of feeling do you want to evoke with your content? Choose music that matches the mood you're trying to create.
• Think about your audience: Who are you creating this content for? Choose music that will appeal to your target audience.
• Pay attention to the tempo: The tempo of the music can affect the pacing of your content. Choose music that matches the pace of your video or presentation.
• Avoid distracting music: You want the music to enhance your content, not distract from it. Choose music that is subtle and doesn't overpower your message.
• Test it out: Before you finalize your video or presentation, test out the music to make sure it works well with your content.

How to Properly Attribute Music

Giving credit where credit is due is essential, especially when using Creative Commons music. Here's a general guideline:

• Artist Name: Always include the name of the artist or composer.
• Track Title: Mention the name of the track you're using.
• Source Website: Link back to the website where you found the music (e.g., Incompetech, Bensound).
• License Type: Specify the Creative Commons license (e.g., CC BY 3.0).

For example:

"Epic Adventure" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Editing and Mixing Music

Once you've downloaded your chosen track, you might want to edit or mix it to fit your project perfectly. Here are a few basic tips:

• Trim the Music: Use audio editing software (like Audacity, which is free) to cut the track to the exact length you need.
• Adjust the Volume: Make sure the music doesn't overpower your voice or other sounds in your project.
• Fade In/Out: Create smooth transitions by fading the music in at the beginning and out at the end.
• Add Effects: Experiment with effects like reverb or echo to enhance the sound (but don't overdo it!).

Final Thoughts

Adding background music to your content can really take it to the next level. By using the resources and tips I've shared in this article, you can find high-quality, royalty-free music that will enhance your videos, podcasts, and presentations. So go ahead, get creative, and start making some awesome content! Remember always to respect the licenses and give credit when it's required. Now go out there and create something amazing!