For those who have stumbled upon the online world of ASMR, it can be kind of hard to explain to those who don’t know the spine-tingling goodness of ASMR videos. Yet, even if it’s not a “mainstream” genre of video, per se, it’s still one of the most popular types of videos across pretty much all social media platforms.
But what makes an ASMR video really stand out? And, even if its focus is obviously on the sounds of a voice and other small, precise auditory stimulants, how do you elevate your ASMR videos against the rest?
Let’s look at how royalty free asmr music can actually be one of the core components of your ASMR videos and provide some curated track selections to give your videos that extra level of relaxation, focus, and euphoric ASMR sensation.
What is ASMR?
First, for those who might not be familiar with this genre of video, let’s define ASMR and go over some of its core tenets. ASMR stands for “autonomous sensory meridian response” (aka ASMR), which is the scientific term for the tingling sensation that can often move from the scalp down the back of the neck and into the upper spine.
It’s a pleasant form of paresthesia, akin to “low-grade euphoria,” which can provide the very real feeling of a tingling sensation on your skin and deep into your brain. It’s different for everyone, though, and depending on the quality of your videos, it can be quite minor to very relaxing and fun.
ASMR videos usually follow a similar formula for achieving this effect. We have a host (or subject) on camera, usually whispering directly into a microphone and often slowly and softly, using different auditory stimuli that can elicit these euphoric sensations.
And, believe it or not, music can often be a key part of this experience.
10 top royalty free songs for ASMR videos
We’ll discuss the details of picking and using music in your ASMR videos below. But if you’re looking for curated suggestions for music tracks to add to your ASMR videos, here are some of our top picks.
These tracks have all been selected for their low tempo, chill mood, and overall relaxed energy. They should help lull your viewers into a calm and relaxed state so that your ASMR videos can perform at their best.
- Description: A very low-energy, ambient song best described as reflective and sad. Piano and ambient tones are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 75
- Key: G Minor
- Description: This is a very low-energy, ambient song that is best described as reflective and calm. Ambient tones and synth are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 100
- Key: Bb/A# Major
- Description: This is a very low-energy, electronic song that is best described as chill and reflective. Strings and harp are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 65
- Key: G Major
- Description: This is a very low-energy electronic song that is best described as chill and reflective. Synths and drums are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 75
- Key: G Major
- Description: This is a very low-energy, ambient song that is best described as chill and reflective. Ambient tones and bass are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 70
- Key: C Major
- Description: This is a very low-energy, ambient song that is best described as chill and reflective. Samples and synths are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 77
- Key: Gb/F# Minor
- Description: This is a very low-energy, indie song that is best described as reflective and sad. Piano and synth are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 90
- Key: F Major
- Description: This is a very low-energy underscore song that is best described as reflective and calm. Synth and ambient tones are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 80
- Key: D Major
- Description: This is a very low-energy, ambient song that is best described as reflective and sad. Piano and strings are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 120
- Key: G Minor
- Description: This is a very low-energy hip-hop song that is best described as chill and calm. Bass and synth bass are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 67
- Key: B Major
How to use music in your ASMR videos
Now that we’ve shared some of our favorite tracks, we can address the elephant in the room that we’re sure many of you are asking yourself. Do ASMR videos actually need music? Or isn’t the whole point of ASMR to just focus on the sounds of voice and stimuli?
To be honest, the answer really comes down to personal preference. Yes, many ASMR videos do not have any music at all. By the nature of the genre, they just have a subject talking directly to the camera and providing specific auditory stimuli to get maximum response.
However, there are ASMR videos that do use music. And the ones that use music in just the right way actually are going to be even better for it. Here are three ways in which you can experiment with using music in your ASMR videos:
- Add music as a subtle background track
- Use music for intro and outro bumpers
- Bring in music at strategic points of your video
Of course, you’re free to try using music or sound effects in different areas or ways as well. But those are just some recommendations for you to try out in your own videos. The next question you should be asking yourself isn’t about where you should use music though, it’s about what type of music you can use.
What is royalty free music?
Whether you’re creating ASMR videos or any other type of content for social platforms or even for broadcast abroad, you can’t just use any song or track in your videos.
That’s because copyrights and the wide and fascinating world of music licensing dictate how and where music can be used. At its heart, you’ll discover that royalty free music is most always going to be your best bet for the type of music to license for your videos.
If you’re curious about royalty free music, here’s a great primer on what it is (and is not). Stated simply, royalty free music is music that has been fully licensed by a company that compensates the artists who created the music and provides full protection and coverage for creators to use the music on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, etc.…
The best way to use music in your ASMR videos
At the end of the day, the safest and easiest way to add royalty free asmr music to your videos is to license tracks with royalty free music platforms like Soundstripe. This will ensure that the music is 100% covered for any use, that the musicians have been fairly compensated for their work, and that you’ll have the best—and most chill, relaxing, and ASMR-y—music for your videos.