Preview & Download Background Music Tracks 1-23

Here are songs 1-23 in the Free Background music series. These songs can be used for free for non-commercial projects as long as they are properly credited (“music by longzijun”).

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Preview: Background music tracks 24-37
Preview: Short Instrumental Themes for Intros and Credits
Return to: Free Background Music Page

Background Music Songs

The link to the mp3 file is after each video. If you are having downloading problems, please refer to this page for possible solutions: Downloading Problems (Free Background Music Series).

Chillvolution (Background Music 23) 4:45, 90 bpm

Pop, & R&B. This laid-back jazzy hip hop groove is suitable for a wide range of uses. It is good for vlogs as the melody is barely noticeable and the music is quite upbeat and not distracting. If you keep the volume low in the mix, it will simply bubble away on the background. For MP3 and WAV file download links, go to Background Music 23 (Chillvolution).

As longs as a word remains unspoken (Background Music 22) 2:14, 65 bpm

New age, classical piano. The tempo is actually 130 bpm, but the feeling is more like 65 bpm.This is a very gentle piano instrumental with a slightly East-Asian feel to the melody. For MP3 and WAV file download links, go to Background Music 22: As longs as a word remains unspoken.

Rachmaninoff Prelude in E-flat Major, Op. 23, No. 6 (Background Music 21, 2:57)

Classical piano.

Crediting Information
Composer: Sergei Rachmaninoff (Date of Composition: 1901-1903); Performed by: Tong Chi-ling (2012); Producer: longzijun

For MP3 and WAV file download links, go to Background Music 21: Rachmaninoff Prelude in E-flat Major, Op. 23, No. 6. Please note that it is common to get false Content ID matches and copyright claims on original performances of public domain work. The linked page contains information on what you should do if you get such a claim.

Transect (Background Music 19) 6:55, 120 bpm

Techno, trance, rock & pop
This is a popular song. With its mix of electronic and rock styles and quickfire bassline, it’s a good choice if you want to add energy to your video. The use of tremolo guitar, rock riffs and jazz-drum-breaks makes it stand out from typical techno songs. You can also download an alternate version without the guitar solo at the end.

Download MP3:Transect (BGM 19a)
Download MP3 (no guitar solo): Transect (no solo) (BGM 19b)

Rock Funk Beast (Background Music 18) 3:33, 95 bpm

Rock
This is exactly what it says on the tin. A straightforward rock track with a touch of funk. This is a loop based composition

Download MP3: Rock Funk Beast (BGM 18)

Elegy (Background Music 17) 4:53, 77 bpm

Synth-piano Ballad
This is a slow and melancholy piano piece that was composed in memory of one of my former students who passed away suddenly a few weeks before. I didn’t want a really sad, heavy and depressing sound, however, as the girl was very sweet and cheerful. Therefore, the song was written in a major key and the arrangement is kept very light.

Download MP3: Elegy (BGM 17)

San (Background Music 16) 3:43, 112 bpm

Electropop
This is melodic electronica in a minor key. Bubbling synth sounds make up the bass and harmony creating a light and upbeat sound. Contrasting with this is a gentle melody.

Download MP3: San (BGM 16)

Arpology 2 (Ambient Synth version) (Background Music 14) 6:10, 71 bpm

Ambient (synthesizer)
This is a very peaceful song without much going on it in, so it is suitable to use if you want the music to stay out of the way and remain completely in the background. It is based on the same chords as Arpology 1

Download MP3: Arpology 2: Ambient Synth Version (BGM 14)

Dreams (Background Music 12) 10:40, 120 bpm

Minimalist (piano, synthesizer, drums)
This is the most popular song so far. The minimalist style is suitable for lots of different styles of videos, and though it is over ten minutes long there is enough variation to maintain the listener’s interest. The main melody is influence by Balinese gamelan music, giving the song a rather unique sound. The first three or four minutes strictly follow a pentatonic scale.

Download MP3: Dreams (BGM 12)

Dreams Outtake (Background Music 12b) 2:16, 120 bpm

Minimalist (piano, guitar,synthesizer, drums)
This is a first draft of Background Music 12 (Dreams). It has a heavier beat and uses more guitar-like synthesizer sounds

Download MP3: Dreams Outtake (1st draft) (BGM 12b)

Safe Harbour (Background Music 11) 5:12, 80/160 bpm

Minimalist (piano, cello, acoustic bass, harp, flute, French horn. clarinet, drums)
In this song the piano lines propel the song forward, the wind instruments add colour and the cello adds a touch of melancholy. The drums come in around two-thirds of the way through the song to add a dramatic flourish.

When used in YouTube videos, this song sometimes gets false Content ID claims because the piano loops have been used in other songs. If you get a copyright claim, it is a false match and should be disputed. You can refer to this page for instructions: Disputing Copyright Claims on My Songs
Download MP3: Safe Harbour (BGM 11a)

Safe Harbor (without drums) (Background Music 11b) 3:48, 80/160 bpm

Minimalist (piano, cello, acoustic bass, harp, flute, French horn. clarinet. Basically the same as the original version, but this one does not have drums and is shorter

Download MP3: Safe Harbor (Drumless Version) (BGM 11b)

Little Ape (Background Music 10) 3:00, 135 bpm

Electronica/pop (synthesizer)
This song has an retro lo-fi sound and, despite being in a minor key, a cheerful, upbeat feel. It was written to accompany lo-fi video shot with a toy camera.

Download MP3: Little Ape (BGM 10)

GIS (Background Music 09) 3:00, 109 bpm

Electronica, chill-out (synthesizer, drums, percussion, bass)
This is a gentle song. The drums and bass provide an upbeat rhythm, that contrasts with the a wistful East Asian-style melody.

Download MP3: GIS (BGM 09)

Mime This (Background Music 05) 2:27, 140 bpm

Alt-rock groove (electric guitar, bass, synthesizer, drums, percussion)

Download MP3: Mime This (BGM 05)

Cool Jazz Vamp in D Minor (Background Music 05) 1:42 (6-minute version also available for download), 120 bpm

A cool jazz vamp (120 bpm) with a walking bass line, gentle drums and congas, a sparse piano and simple guitar chords. The 16 bar progression repeats three times in the short version and nine times in the long version.

Download MP3: app.box.com/s/3kfycjgqqj4tip9varzw
Download MP3 (6-minute version): app.box.com/s/j5q8rk819g4gf4ox2sy7

Snacks and Watches – Short Version (Background Music 04b) 4:42, 120 bpm

Chill-out, rhythmic but mellow (synthesizer, piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, acoustic bass. electric bass, Asian fiddle, drums, percussion)

Download MP3: Snacks and Watches (BGM 04b)

Snacks and Watches (Background Music 04) 7:21, 120 bpm

This is basically the same as the shorter version but has an extended intro with a clockwork-like feel and a longer coda at the end

Download MP3: Snacks and Watches (BGM 04a)

Versatile (Background Music 02) 3:28, 120 bpm

Upbeat & lively with funk. jazz, pop and reggae influences (electric guitar, horn section, synthesizer, drums, percussion).

Download MP3: Versatile (BGM 02)

SD SFX (Chill) (Background Music 01) 2:20, 100 bpm

Minimalist, quite calm but with a beat (piano, flute, English horn, Asian fiddle, drums, percussion)

Download MP3: SD SFX (Chill) (BGM 01)

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Most of the above compositions were created as soundtracks for video projects, animation or computer games. Some songs (especially the earlier ones) were created mainly using loops while other songs are mainly played using a Korg MicroX or M50 syntheszier. Most of the songs were put together using Cakewalk’s Sonars Home Studio 7.

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Background Music 24-37

Short Themes for Intros & Outros

Free Background Music Page

My Musc Homepage

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