Best Background Music for Every Video Style

Choosing the right background music is as essential as selecting the right visuals or voiceover. But what works best depends heavily on the type of video you’re creating.

In this article, we’ll break down how to choose the right music for different video formats and goals, with practical tips for creators, marketers, and editors alike.

Why Background Music Matters

Music has a direct effect on how we perceive visual content. It can make a scene feel more urgent, hopeful, nostalgic, or dramatic. In video production, background music serves to:

• Create emotional resonance

• Establish pacing and rhythm

• Enhance storytelling

• Maintain viewer attention

• Elevate production value

However, using the wrong music—or none at all—can work against your video. A corporate presentation with comedic jazz, or a tense scene with upbeat pop, will quickly undermine the message you’re trying to convey. Context is everything.

Choosing Music Based on Video Type

Let’s look at how to approach music selection depending on the video’s purpose and audience.

1. Vlogs and Personal Content

Tone: Casual, authentic, engaging
Recommended music: Lo-fi, acoustic, indie, soft electronic

Vlogs thrive on relatability. The background music should complement the creator’s voice and visual storytelling without distracting from it. Light instrumental tracks help maintain flow between cuts and keep energy consistent.

Tip: Avoid lyrics unless they’re subtle—vocal tracks can compete with narration or dialogue.

2. Corporate and Business Videos

Tone: Professional, clear, trustworthy
Recommended music: Ambient corporate, soft piano, minimal electronic, uplifting orchestral

Corporate videos—whether internal presentations, product overviews, or investor updates—require music that feels polished and neutral. The goal is to support messaging and maintain viewer focus, not entertain.

Tip: Choose music with a steady tempo and clean arrangement to match your branding and voiceover cadence.

3. Product Demos and Commercials

Tone: Dynamic, modern, attention-grabbing
Recommended music: Modern pop, electro-funk, upbeat indie rock

Here, you want your product to shine. Music should be energetic, on-brand, and clean enough to let visuals and text take center stage. Consider tracks with a clear structure to align with product highlights and call-to-action moments.

Tip: Match the rhythm of your music with your edit cuts—this enhances flow and professionalism.

4. Educational and Explainer Videos

Tone: Informative, accessible, focused
Recommended music: Light ambient, minimal piano, soft synths

For instructional content, clarity is king. Music should sit well in the background and serve primarily to keep the viewer engaged over time without pulling focus from the voiceover or visuals.

Tip: Avoid overly dramatic or emotionally charged music—this can create tonal dissonance.

5. Social Media Content (Shorts, Reels, TikToks)

Tone: Fast-paced, trend-driven, bold
Recommended music: Pop, electronic, trap, quirky and upbeat

With just seconds to hook the viewer, social content demands tracks with instant impact. Look for catchy intros, rhythmic loops, and strong beats that align with the platform’s native trends.

Tip: Consider cutting your video around the beat—rhythmic editing is proven to boost engagement on mobile.

6. Documentaries and Story-Driven Content

Tone: Emotional, cinematic, narrative
Recommended music: Cinematic orchestral, ambient soundscapes, world music

Documentary scoring requires nuance. Background music should evolve with the story, enhancing emotion without manipulating it. Use subtle cues for transitions, interviews, and dramatic peaks.

Tip: Think in terms of acts—use different musical themes to support each chapter of the narrative.

7. Gaming and Entertainment Videos

Tone: Energetic, immersive, stylized
Recommended music: Electronic, synthwave, rock, chiptune/8-bit

Gaming content is often fast and visually dense, so the soundtrack needs to keep pace. Use genre-appropriate music that matches the tone of the gameplay or commentary.

Tip: If streaming, make sure your background music is royalty-free and cleared for commercial use.

Licensing Considerations: Royalty-Free vs. Free Music

When choosing music, it’s not just about aesthetics—it’s also about legality.

• Royalty-free music means you pay once (or subscribe) and can use the music in multiple projects without recurring fees.

• Creative Commons music is free, but often comes with restrictions like attribution or limited use in monetized content.

• Public Domain tracks are free to use with no legal restrictions, but options are limited and typically outdated.

Using royalty-free music from platforms like HookSounds gives you high-quality, professionally curated tracks without the legal risks or time-consuming licensing research.

Final Thoughts

Music is one of the most underappreciated yet critical tools in video production. Selecting the right background track can significantly elevate the impact of your content, no matter the format.

At HookSounds, we offer our exclusive library of background music designed specifically for creators who care about quality and clarity. Our tracks are curated by real musicians, and our licensing is straightforward—so you can focus on storytelling, not paperwork.

So, what are you waiting for? join HookSounds now!