One of the most critical elements of a great YouTube video is the background music. Whether you’re adding music to set the tone, energize a vlog, or underscore a tutorial, the right music can elevate your content and keep viewers engaged. But finding the perfect music, especially free music that’s also royalty-free, can be a challenge.

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In this blog, we’ll cover the best free music sources for YouTube videos and show you how to edit them into your videos for maximum impact.

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Why Use Free Music in Your YouTube Videos?

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YouTube is strict about copyright, and using unlicensed music can result in your video being taken down or demonetized. Free, royalty-free music ensures that you can legally use tracks in your videos without worrying about copyright issues. Plus, these tracks are budget-friendly (or completely free), which is ideal for creators just starting out or those working with limited resources.

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Best Free Music Sources for YouTube Videos

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Here are some of the best platforms to find free, royalty-free music for your YouTube content:

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1. YouTube Audio Library

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YouTube itself offers an extensive Audio Library filled with free music and sound effects that you can use in your videos.

• What it offers: Thousands of free music tracks, searchable by genre, mood, duration, and attribution requirements. There are also a variety of sound effects.

• Licensing: Some tracks require attribution, while others are completely free to use without credit.

• How to access: Log into YouTube Studio, go to the Audio Library section, and download the music directly to your device.

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Why use it? It’s free, easy to access, and designed specifically for YouTube, so there’s no risk of copyright issues on the platform.

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2. Free Music Archive (FMA)

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The Free Music Archive is a curated library of royalty-free music with contributions from various artists and labels. You can filter by genre, mood, and license type.

• What it offers: A wide range of music genres, including indie, electronic, jazz, and classical.

• Licensing: Most tracks are free to use for personal and commercial projects, but check individual licenses for attribution requirements.

• How to access: Visit the Free Music Archive website and search for tracks based on genre or license type.

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Why use it? The FMA offers a broad selection of high-quality music from lesser-known artists, perfect for adding a unique flair to your YouTube content.

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3. Incompetech

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Incompetech is a popular site created by composer Kevin MacLeod. It offers a wide selection of royalty-free music that’s commonly used by YouTube creators.

• What it offers: A massive library of music in various genres, including background music for tutorials, vlogs, and podcasts.

• Licensing: Free to use, but requires attribution to the artist (Kevin MacLeod). Paid licenses are available if you don’t want to give credit.

• How to access: Visit the Incompetech website, browse the categories, and download the tracks you like.

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Why use it? Incompetech has a great selection of music that fits a variety of styles and genres, making it ideal for almost any type of YouTube content.

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4. Bensound

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Bensound offers a variety of free music tracks that are perfect for YouTube videos, from cinematic scores to upbeat background tunes.

• What it offers: Music in genres like acoustic, electronic, corporate, and cinematic, tailored for creative projects.

• Licensing: Free to use with attribution. You can also purchase a license to use the music without giving credit.

• How to access: Visit Bensound, browse by genre or mood, and download the free tracks.

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Why use it? Bensound is a great source for professional-sounding tracks that can elevate the production quality of your YouTube videos.

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5. ccMixter

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ccMixter is a community-based platform where artists share their music under Creative Commons licenses. It offers a variety of remixes, samples, and original music for your projects.

• What it offers: A unique selection of remixes and original compositions across various genres, created by the community.

• Licensing: Most tracks are free to use with attribution, but the specific license may vary depending on the track.

• How to access: Visit ccMixter and explore the community’s music library based on mood, genre, or use case.

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Why use it? If you’re looking for something unique and community-driven, ccMixter is an excellent place to find experimental and creative tracks.

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6. FreePD

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FreePD (Free Public Domain) offers music that has been released into the public domain, meaning you can use it without attribution or licensing.

• What it offers: A smaller library of public domain music in categories like cinematic, classical, and electronic.

• Licensing: Completely free, with no attribution required.

• How to access: Visit the FreePD website and download the music files directly.

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Why use it? FreePD is a great option if you’re looking for tracks that are truly free and don’t require any licensing or attribution.

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How to Edit Free Music Into Your YouTube Videos

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Now that you’ve found the perfect music for your YouTube video, the next step is editing it into your content. Here’s how you can do that effectively:

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Step 1: Import the Music into Your Video Editing Software

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• Open your video editor (such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or iMovie).

• Import the music file you’ve downloaded from one of the sources listed above.

• Drag and drop the music file into your timeline, placing it on the audio track below your video clips.

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Step 2: Sync the Music with the Video Content

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To create a professional result, your music should sync well with your video content. Here’s how to do it:

• Trim the audio: If the music track is longer than your video, trim the audio to match the length of your video content. Use fade-ins and fade-outs to avoid abrupt cuts.

• Match the beat: Edit your video to sync with the beat of the music. For instance, cut to a new scene or add a transition when the music hits a beat drop.

• Adjust the volume: Make sure the background music doesn’t overpower your dialogue or sound effects. Lower the volume of the music during speaking parts and increase it during visual-only sections.

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Step 3: Use Music for Transitions and Breaks

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You can use music to enhance transitions between scenes and break up different sections of your video. For example:

• Add a short music clip between scene transitions to create a seamless flow.

• Use music to introduce or close out your video by fading it in at the beginning and fading it out at the end.

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Step 4: Adjust the Music for Pacing

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The tempo of your background music can affect the pacing of your video. Here are a few tips to match the music with the mood of your video:

• For upbeat, fast-paced videos (like vlogs or action scenes), choose energetic tracks with a higher BPM (beats per minute).

• For calm or reflective content (like tutorials or educational videos), use slower, more relaxed music that complements the pace of your speaking.

• Adjust the speed of the music if necessary. Most video editing software allows you to slightly speed up or slow down audio to fit your video’s rhythm.

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Step 5: Export and Check for Copyright Issues

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Once you’ve added and edited the music into your video, export the file and upload it to YouTube. Even when using free music, it’s a good idea to double-check the track’s licensing terms and ensure you’re following any attribution requirements.

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To do this:

• Add the required attribution in your video description if the music source requests it.

• Use YouTube’s Copyright Checker tool to verify that your video is free from any copyright claims before publishing.

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Conclusion: Music Is the Key to Enhancing Your YouTube Videos

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Using free, royalty-free music is an effective way to elevate your YouTube content and avoid copyright issues. Whether you’re looking for an upbeat track to energize your vlog or calming background music for a tutorial, the sources listed above provide a wide variety of options. By editing the music seamlessly into your videos, you can create a more engaging experience for your viewers.

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If you’re looking for professional help with editing music and video content, Viral Ideas can assist with all your video production needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you create captivating YouTube videos with expertly edited music.