Creating Short Background Music (BGM)

When making YouTube videos, visiting blogs, giving presentations... background music is needed everywhere, right?

The problem is finding good free BGM isn't easy. Even when you find something you like, it's either copyrighted or it's common music everyone else uses...

But you're different now! You can make your own. Today let's learn how to create custom BGM for various situations.

Basic Principles of BGM - What Makes Good Background Music?

Background music isn't the main character. "Background" is the key. It shouldn't try to grab attention, just subtly enhance the mood.

Conditions for good background music:

1. Non-intrusive - Shouldn't be too prominent (content is the star)
2. Mood creation - Should enhance content mood (if video is sad, BGM should be sad)
3. Loopable - Should sound natural when repeated (not tiring on continuous play)
4. Appropriate length - Should match content length (30-second music for 5-minute video feels frustrating)

Think about it. When music in a cafe is too loud, it's annoying, right? That's bad BGM. Good BGM exists without existing, just slightly elevating the mood.

BGM by Situation

1. Cafe/Daily Vlog BGM

Mood: Comfortable and warm

Suno Prompt:

Chill lofi background music, soft piano, warm atmosphere, gentle beat, cafe vibes, no vocals

MusicGen Prompt:

Relaxing acoustic guitar loop, cafe background music, soft and warm
Duration: 30 seconds

Features:

• Soft bass
• Slow or medium tempo
• Centered on piano, guitar, bass

Use:

• Daily vlogs
• Cafe videos
• Cooking videos
• Study timelapses

2. Tech/Review Content BGM

Mood: Modern and clean

Suno Prompt:

Modern corporate background music, upbeat but subtle, clean production, tech vibes, instrumental

Features:

• Clean electronic sounds
• Medium tempo
• Rhythmic but not excessive

Use:

• Product reviews
• Tech explanation videos
• Tutorials
• Presentations

3. Workout/Motivation BGM

Mood: Energetic

Suno Prompt:

Energetic workout music, motivational, driving beat, uplifting, powerful but instrumental

Udio Prompt:

High energy electronic instrumental, gym motivation, powerful drums, inspiring melody

Features:

• Strong beat
• Fast tempo
• Rising melody

Use:

• Workout videos
• Motivational content
• Timelapses
• Highlight videos

4. Emotional/Travel Video BGM

Mood: Lyrical and beautiful

Udio Prompt:

Cinematic travel background music, emotional strings, beautiful piano, inspiring, scenic views, no vocals

Features:

• Orchestral sound
• Slow development
• Moving melody

Use:

• Travel videos
• Drone footage
• Sunset/sunrise videos
• Emotional content

5. Gaming/Streaming BGM

Mood: Concentration-enhancing

Suno Prompt:

Ambient gaming background music, electronic, subtle, non-distracting, focused atmosphere

MusicGen Prompt:

Chill electronic background loop, gaming stream, ambient, focused
Duration: 20 seconds

Features:

• Repetitive patterns
• Minimal volume changes
• Doesn't disturb focus

Use:

• Game streaming
• Work broadcasts
• Study lives

BGM Production by Length

15-30 seconds: For Intro/Outro

MusicGen Usage:

Upbeat intro music, energetic, short and punchy, electronic
Duration: 15 seconds

Purpose:

• Video intro
• Ending comments
• Transitions

1-2 minutes: For Short Videos

Suno Prompt:

1-minute background music, complete structure with intro and outro, smooth flow

Structure:

• 0-10 seconds: Intro
• 10-50 seconds: Main melody
• 50-60 seconds: Outro

3-5 minutes: For Long Videos

Udio Prompt:

Long-form background music, evolving melody, multiple sections, interesting but not distracting

Structure:

• Divide into sections to avoid boredom
• Add variations while maintaining consistency

Creating Loopable BGM

Perfect Loops with MusicGen

Prompt:

Seamless loop background music, smooth transitions, no clear ending, continuous flow
Duration: 20 seconds

Checkpoints:

• Do start and end connect naturally?
• Are there no sudden changes?
• Is it not boring when repeated?

Loop Editing Tips

1. Remove fade in/out
2. Maintain same key and tempo
3. Connect last beat to first beat

Copyright-Free BGM

Checking Commercial Use Permission

Suno:

• Free plan: Non-commercial use
• Pro/Premier: Commercial use allowed

Udio:

• Free plan: Non-commercial use
• Standard/Pro: Commercial use allowed

MusicGen:

• License check needed
• Mostly free to use

Credit Attribution

Music generated by Suno AI
or
Background music created with AI

BGM Recipes by Mood

Bright and Cheerful

Upbeat cheerful background music, happy ukulele, whistling melody, positive vibes, instrumental

Calm and Peaceful

Peaceful ambient background, soft piano, nature sounds, meditation, calm

Dreamy and Mysterious

Dreamy ethereal background music, ambient pads, mystical, floating, atmospheric

Tense

Tense background music, suspenseful, mysterious, building tension, subtle

Sad and Emotional

Melancholic background music, sad piano, emotional strings, bittersweet, gentle

Volume Control Guide

BGM shouldn't interfere with main content.

Recommended Volume:

• Videos with narration: -20 ~ -15 dB
• Videos with subtitles only: -12 ~ -10 dB
• Videos where music is main: -6 ~ -3 dB

Dynamic Control:

Quiet parts: Background music slightly louder
Speaking parts: Background music quieter

BGM Styles by Genre

Lofi Hip-Hop Style

Lofi hip-hop background beat, chill vibes, vinyl crackle, jazz samples, relaxed tempo

Use: Study, work, cafe atmosphere

Ambient Style

Ambient background atmosphere, soft pads, minimal melody, spacious, calming

Use: Meditation, yoga, sleep

Corporate Style

Corporate background music, professional, clean, upbeat but not too energetic, modern

Use: Business, presentations

Cinematic Style

Cinematic background score, orchestral, emotional, building, epic but subtle

Use: Documentaries, storytelling

Combining Multiple BGMs

Music Changes with Scene Transitions

Intro (0-30 seconds):

Soft intro background music, gentle build-up, welcoming

Main (30 seconds-5 minutes):

Main background music, consistent energy, smooth flow

Climax (5-6 minutes):

Building background music, crescendo, emotional peak

Outro (6-7 minutes):

Outro background music, winding down, satisfying conclusion

Practical BGM Package

YouTube Channel Signature Set

1. Intro Music (10 seconds)

Energetic channel intro, catchy, upbeat, memorable hook

2. Main BGM (3 minutes)

Main content background music, [match channel concept]

3. Outro Music (15 seconds)

Channel outro music, call-to-action vibe, upbeat ending

Optimizing MusicGen Usage

Short and Repeatable Loops

10-second loop:

Short music loop, 10 seconds, seamless, background

15-second loop:

Background music loop, 15 seconds, continuous, ambient

Usage:

• Arrange repeatedly in audio editing program
• Connect naturally with fade effects

Practice Assignments

Assignment 1: 3-Mood BGM Set

BGMs to create:

1. Bright intro (15 seconds)
2. Medium mood main BGM (2 minutes)
3. Calm outro (15 seconds)

Assignment 2: BGM for Your Content

• What kind of videos/content do you create?
• Create 3 matching BGMs
• Actually use them

Assignment 3: Loop Master

• Create perfectly repeating 20-second loop
• Check if natural when repeated 5+ times

Next Time Preview

Now that you've mastered background music, let's create something more special. Next time we'll learn how to professionally produce YouTube channel intro music!

---

TIP: When creating BGM, always specify "no vocals" or "instrumental." Vocals can conflict with main content. Also, create multiple versions and actually put them in videos before choosing the best fit!