For a study-with-me video, use instrumental music with a steady tempo, like lofi, played quietly under the session, and use changes in the sound to mark your breaks. Make sure you have permission for every track: long videos use a lot of music, so they're the most likely to be claimed. Our lofi is free for study-with-me videos with a credit line, and if YouTube ever claims one, send it to us and we'll help you answer it.
Music, rain or silence?
Your viewers are trying to concentrate, so the sound should help them, not entertain them.
- Lofi instrumentals are the most popular choice. No lyrics, steady tempo, calm mood. A 2023 study found students did about as well with lofi as in silence. The research, in plain words.
- Rain or café noise alone suits viewers who find any music distracting. Some creators offer a "no music" version.
- Rain under lofi is the cozy middle ground. Why the two work together.
- Your own ambient sound (keyboard, pages, a pen) is part of the appeal for many viewers. Keep it audible under the music.
Use the music to mark time
Study-with-me sessions usually run in blocks, like 25 minutes on and 5 off, or 50 and 10. Sound is the easiest way to tell viewers where they are without making them look up:
- Focus blocks: steady lofi, no changes.
- Breaks: a different room, a little brighter, or just rain.
- A soft chime at each switch.
Our player's sleep timer (the moon icon) fades the music out after 30, 45 or 60 minutes if you're recording live.
Getting the level right
Viewers will mostly listen at low volume, often on earbuds. Mix the music quieter than you think, so a pen scratch or a page turn still comes through. If you talk at the breaks, keep your voice clearly above the music.
The licensing part
Long videos need a lot of music, and each track is a chance to be claimed.
- A streaming subscription doesn't give you rights. Neither does finding a mix on someone else's channel.
- Use music whose owner says you can, in writing, for monetized videos.
- Credit every track in the description, with timestamps if you use several. Copy-paste credit formats.
- Expect a claim now and then if the music is in Content ID, and know how to answer it. Our songs are not registered there, so we never claim a video. If a claim still shows up, send the video link to our claim form. We'll look at who is claiming and help you answer it. If your use is covered by the free terms, we'll also give you a short note that you have permission to use the song. We can't promise timing or success.
Our general guide covers the rest: how to use our lofi in YouTube videos.
What to use from our catalog
The Study Session room was put together for exactly this: over an hour and a half of instrumental tracks with nothing that jumps out. For evening sessions, Late Night Coding is steadier and darker. Every track can be downloaded from the free music page.
Written by Suman Kumar with AI help and checked before publishing. Numbers about our own music come from our Spotify for Artists and DistroKid exports; other sources are linked in the post.