A Quick Guide to Selecting Trailer Music

A Quick Guide to Selecting Trailer Music

  1. Understand the purpose and tone of your video

Before you begin searching for music, take some time to really understand the purpose and tone of your video. What is the message you are trying to convey? What emotions do you want your audience to feel? Is your video meant to be serious or lighthearted? The answers to these questions will help guide your music choices.

Here are some examples of trailer music choices for different video tones:

  • Action: For an action-packed trailer, you might want to choose music with a fast tempo, strong percussion, and a driving beat to match the energy of the visuals.
  • Horror: For a horror trailer, you might want to choose music with a tense, unsettling sound to create a sense of suspense and fear.
  • Sci-Fi: For a sci-fi trailer that explores the wonders of space and the unknown, you may want to choose music that is atmospheric and ethereal, with futuristic elements like electronic sounds and synthesizers. Think of music that creates a sense of awe and adventure.
  • Epic: For an epic trailer that depicts a hero’s journey or an epic battle, you may want to choose music that is grandiose and majestic, with a strong emphasis on orchestral instruments like strings, brass, and percussion. Think of music that evokes a sense of triumph and victory.
  1. Look for music that fits the pacing and rhythm of your video

The pacing and rhythm of your video can also impact your music choices. If your video has a lot of quick cuts and fast action scenes, you may want to choose music with a fast tempo and a driving beat to match the visuals. On the other hand, if your video is more contemplative and slower-paced, you may want to choose music that is more mellow and introspective.

It’s important to choose music that matches the overall pacing and rhythm of your video. This can help create a sense of cohesion and flow throughout the trailer, and ensure that the music enhances the visuals rather than detracting from them.

  1. Think about licensing and copyright

When selecting music for your video trailer, it’s important to keep in mind the legal aspect of using music. Make sure to choose music that is licensed for commercial use, or obtain the necessary licenses if you plan on using copyrighted music.

Epikton’s music store offers stock music in a variety of categories that can be used for commercial purposes.

  1. Consider working with a composer

If you have a specific vision for your trailer music that you can’t find in existing music libraries, consider working with a composer to create custom music for your trailer. This can be a great option if you have a unique vision for your trailer music, or if you want to ensure that your music is truly original.

Working with a composer can be more expensive than licensing pre-existing music, but it can also give you more control over the final product and ensure that the music is truly tailored to your specific needs.

You can contact Epikton for custom music requests.

  1. Get feedback

Once you’ve selected a few potential music options, it’s a good idea to get feedback from others. Show your trailer to a group of friends or colleagues and ask for their thoughts on the music. This can help you get an outside perspective and ensure that the music resonates with your target audience.

Additionally, if you have access to a focus group or test audience, consider showing them different versions of your trailer with different music choices. This can help you get a better sense of which music resonates most with your target audience and can help guide your final music selection.

In conclusion, choosing the right music for your video trailer is a crucial step in creating a successful and impactful video. By considering the purpose and tone of your video, the pacing and rhythm, licensing and copyright, and getting feedback from others, you can select music that complements your visuals and resonates with your audience.