Music and theme songs are powerful ways to brand media and hook audiences. Think of your favorite TV show and how you can probably recite the theme song by heart. That’s why when it comes to branding your YouTube channel, using intro music and outro music is a great way to set yourself apart. We’ve picked the top 15 royalty free music tracks from our library that you can use for intro music for YouTube.
How to choose intro music for YouTube
When you add intro music and outro music to your videos, you can easily set the tone or mood for your YouTube channel while grabbing the attention of your viewers. Whether you choose to use two different songs or the same song for both, your audience will come to associate the music you choose with the content you make.
To make your intro or outro music stand out even more, you can pair it with an template (check out our top intro templates for DaVinci Resolve and Premiere Pro). But when it comes to actually choosing your intro music, there’s a few different elements to consider.
The first thing to consider when you’re choosing your intro music for your YouTube channel is what your objectives are. Are you creating lighthearted comedy videos? Or are you making in-depth tutorials? The kind of videos you create should inform the type of music that you choose for your intro or outro. For example, if you’re making videos that cover breaking news updates, you’ll want to choose music that’s more serious and conveys a sense of urgency.
Regardless of the type of intro music you choose, we recommend staying with tracks that are more upbeat and energetic. Uptempo music will grab the attention of your audience and get them excited to watch your video.
Though there are some exceptions to that rule, including if you do ASMR videos or make videos about more serious topics. In those cases, lower tempo or slower music may work better to brand your channel. Ultimately, the intro music for YouTube that you choose should complement your video content and brand. Good Mythical Morning has changed up their intro music through the years, but always kept it fun.
Top 15 intro music and outro music tracks
1. Walking Through Downtown
Happy – Playful – Rock
Download Walking Through Downtown
2. Hip Hop Promo
Hip Hop – Chill Out
3. Disco Time Baby
Pop – Electronic – Playful
4. Driving Stomp Percussion
World – Happy
Download Driving Stomp Percussion
5. Southern Folk Rock Intro
Rock – Blues – Country
Download Southern Folk Rock Intro
6. Funk That Feelings
Inspiring – Playful – Happy
7. Afternoon Coffee
Hip Hop – Electronic – Chill Out
8. Vintage Funky Intro
Hip Hop – Chill Out – Playful
9. Future Bass Advert Promo
Epic – Pop – Inspiring
Download Future Bass Advert Promo
10. Liquid Night Crystals
Hip Hop – Dark – Electronic
Download Liquid Night Crystals
11. Smooth Chillhop Vibe
Inspiring – Ambient – R&B
12. Dinner Party Orchestra
Classical – Relaxing – World
Download Dinner Party Orchestra
13. Saudade Bossa Nova (loop)
Relaxing – Folk – Jazz
Download Saudade Bossa Nova (loop)
14. Beast Mode Activated
Epic – Pop – Hip Hop
15. Ladder to the Sun
Happy – Inspiring – Playful
Explore even more royalty free music
The final piece of advice we’ll give you is that best practice says your intro for your video should only be five to ten seconds long. Whichever track you choose for your intro music for YouTube, you’ll only be using a small section of it. If you don’t find your perfect tracks in our selection of tracks above, you can find lots more music in our audio library. With a Storyblocks subscription, you can access all of the royalty free stock audio, footage, templates, and more for an affordable price.
Editor’s Note: We updated this post to include additional information. It was originally published on May 15, 2019.
