How to Choose the Right Music for Your Videos (Beginner Guide Using Premiere Pro)

veditor work
Jun 15, 2025
3 min read

A content creator working at a desk with audio equipment, including a laptop, keyboard, and sound devices, representing professional video editing and music selection.

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? Introduction: Why Music Matters in Video Editing

Imagine a workout reel without bass, a travel vlog with no rhythm, or a promo video with awkward background music. 😬

Music is not just background — it's what gives your video:

Emotion 😍
Energy ⚡
Flow 🎶
Identity 🧠

But as a beginner, you might ask:“How do I choose the right music for my video?”

Don’t worry. In this blog, I’ll break down how to choose perfect music — whether you’re editing Instagram reels, YouTube intros, promos, or client videos — all using Premiere Pro.

🎯 Step 1: Understand the Purpose of Your Video

Different video types need different vibes.

Type of Video	Music Style
Fitness Reels	Upbeat, bass-heavy, energetic
Vlogs	Chill, lo-fi, indie
YouTube Intros	Short, punchy, brand-driven
Business Promos	Inspiring, corporate, light electronic
Travel Videos	Cinematic, world music, instrumental
Emotional Stories	Piano, slow strings, soft acoustic

🎧 Choose music that supports the emotion and message of your video.

🔍 Step 2: Know Your Audience

Ask these questions:

Are they young and active? → Use trending beats or pop
Are they business professionals? → Use clean and minimal corporate tones
Are they creators/influencers? → Use modern, energetic sounds

📌 Pro Tip: Watch what music similar creators use on their Reels or YouTube intros.

🌐 Step 3: Where to Find Royalty-Free Music

Never use copyrighted music unless you have a license — it can get your content flagged or muted.

Here are safe, royalty-free sites I recommend:

YouTube Audio Library – Free + safe
Mixkit (mixkit.co) – Free, no sign-up
Artlist – Paid, premium quality
Epidemic Sound – Paid, huge library
Bensound – Free with credit
Pixabay Music – Free + good selection

💡 Download .mp3 or .wav files and import into Premiere Pro.

🎞️ Step 4: Match Music to Video Pace (Beat Matching)

Don’t just throw music into the timeline — sync your cuts to the beat!

In Premiere Pro:

Drag your music track to the timeline
Zoom in on the audio waveform
Add cuts or transitions on music beats (where the wave spikes)

🎯 This makes your video feel more natural and rhythmic — especially for Reels.

🔊 Step 5: Balance the Volume Correctly

Music should support your content, not overpower it.

Audio Element	Suggested Volume
Background music	-20 dB to -12 dB
Voiceover	-6 dB to -3 dB
Sound effects	-12 dB to -6 dB

Use the "Essential Sound" panel in Premiere Pro:

Tag music as Background Music
Use the ducking feature to automatically lower music when voice starts

🎨 Step 6: Fade In and Out for Professional Feel

A sudden music start or stop can feel unpolished.

In Premiere Pro:

Use Constant Power or Exponential Fade audio transitions at beginning and end of your music track
This gives it a smooth entry and exit, especially for YouTube and promo videos

📦 Step 7: Create a Personal Music Library

When editing frequently, it helps to have a folder ready with:

High-energy music
Chill background music
Dramatic/cinematic pieces
Voiceover-safe soft tracks

🎧 Organize music by mood, tempo, or use case. This saves time for future projects.

🚫 What NOT to Do

Don’t use trending copyrighted songs unless it’s directly on platforms like Instagram (which license it)
Don’t use random music just because it “sounds cool”
Don’t let music overpower your message or voiceover
Don’t use multiple music tracks in one short video — it feels messy

📌 Real Example: Choosing Music for a Fitness Reel

👟 Client: Fitness Influencer🎯 Goal: Motivating 30-sec workout reel🎵 Music Chosen: Fast beat, 130–150 BPM, electronic bass🎬 Edit: Cut on every beat drop, added sound whooshes, volume -18 dB, voiceover layered on top

🎯 Result: Over 75K views in 2 days

✅ The right music made the difference.

🔚 Final Words

Choosing the right music can completely change how your video feels and performs. Whether you're editing for yourself or for a client, use this process to select music that: