Pro Editor Reveals How to Pick Perfect Music for Any Video

Have you ever lost hours digging through music libraries trying to find the “perfect” track for your video? I’ve been there too. After more than 20 years editing broadcast TV commercials, I developed a simple five-step system to find music that hits the right emotion—fast. In this video, I break down each step and show you exactly how to use them in your own edits.

Here’s the quick rundown:

1. Define the emotion.
Before you even start searching, decide what you want your audience to feel. Excited? Nostalgic? Inspired? Write that emotion down. It’s the compass that’ll guide every choice that follows.

2. Pick the right style or genre.
Once you know the emotion, think about what style best fits it. In one of my TV spots, I needed energy and drama—so orchestral music worked perfectly. Rock or folk would’ve changed the whole tone.

3. Choose instrumentation carefully.
Different instruments carry different emotions. A French horn can sound heroic, while a solo piano feels intimate. Within your chosen style, decide which instruments best express your target feeling.

4. Match the tempo to your edit.
Tempo (measured in beats per minute) sets the energy level. Slow songs feel reflective, fast songs feel exciting. If your track’s tempo doesn’t match your edit’s rhythm, it’ll feel “off,” no matter how good the music is.

5. Adjust the number of instruments.
A sparse track with just a few instruments feels subdued; a fuller mix feels big and bold. Many modern music libraries even give you stems, so you can mute individual instruments that clash with your scene.

Following these five steps not only speeds up your search but also ensures every track amplifies your story’s emotional core.