Instagram Reels Music: Choose the Best Tunes for IG Videos
Social media has been an absolute game-changer for music. Artists use Facebook and Instagram religiously to promote their craft. According to a TikTok study, their platform makes it significantly likely for users to discover new music while watching videos. People use silly sounds and funny Instagram Reels music clips that go viral overnight. Whichever way you look at it, social media and trending audio tracks simply go hand in hand.
On Instagram specifically, trending sounds in video content aren’t just a way to share music with your followers. It can also elevate your Reels and make them more entertaining, exciting, and engaging.
But how do you add these audio tracks to Reels? That’s what we’re breaking down in this guide. We’ll teach you how to add music to your Reels and edit it to match your video to a T. We’ve got tons of tips on what kind of music to use for your content. Keep scrolling to learn all this and more!

How To Add Music to Instagram Reels
Instagram music doesn’t just make your video content more entertaining and relevant to them. It helps you personalize your videos and form an emotional connection with your audience as well. It also catches people’s attention, potentially increasing your video view time. Depending on how you use it, you can also use music to enhance your video’s storytelling.
Luckily, Instagram boasts a huge music collection. So you can pick out the perfect song you have in mind for your video posts. It’s perfect through creative expression through music!
There are plenty of ways to incorporate music into your Instagram content. You can add your favorite songs and trending sounds to regular feed posts and even Stories. But today, we’ll teach you how to add music to Instagram Reels. Here’s exactly how to do it, step by step:
1. Open your Instagram app and click the plus sign at the bottom of the screen. Choose Reel at the bottom to create a new one.
2. Select the videos and photos you want to include in your Reel. Alternatively, use the camera to record a video from scratch.
3. While you’re editing your Reel, click the musical note icon at the top of the screen.
4. Browse Instagram’s collection of songs and audio clips. If you’re looking for a specific song, use the search bar to find the audio track.
5. When you see the song you want, click on it.
6. Slide the timeline from left to right to choose the section of the song you want to add. Then, click Done.
7. Edit your Reel however else you want. When you’re happy with how it looks, click the blue arrow at the top-right of the screen. Add the necessary details, then hit Share to post.

Using Original Audio: How To Add Your Own Music to Instagram Reels
You also have the option of using original audio on your Reel instead of an existing song in the library. This is awesome for musicians and artists promoting their music. Or maybe you just want to use a song that hasn’t yet found its way to the Instagram music library.
Fortunately, there’s a way to do that. It’s as simple as having the audio you want to use saved as a video in your phone’s camera roll. Here’s how to add your music to Instagram Reels with this technique:
1. After choosing a video to add to your Reel, click the music icon on the top of the screen. Alternatively, you can also click the Tap to add audio button on the editing screen.
2. Instead of choosing a song from the recommendations, click Import.
3. Choose any video in your gallery. The audio from this video will be imported into your video. Note that the video you choose must be at least five seconds long.
4. Slide the bar at the bottom of the screen to choose the section of the audio clip you want.
Do you want to use a song that isn’t in the library for this? We suggest downloading the music video of the song you want to use and keeping it in your gallery. Try to prepare this video content on your device in advance. That way, you can easily add it to your Reel!
Instagram considers voiceovers and sound mixes to be original audio. If you post a Reel with original audio, your name will be credited to having made it. The audio clip will have its very own audio page. There, you and anyone else on Instagram can see all the Reels made with that audio.
How To Trim Music on Instagram Reels
Trimming music is a huge part of adding soundbites to your Reels. By “trimming” an audio, you eliminate sections of the song that you don’t want in your Reel.
This editing allows you to choose which video clips will have which specific audio tracks. It’s perfect for playing around with multiple sounds or if you want the song to end at a certain point.
Trimming your music also allows you to make sure your video and audio lengths are aligned. That way, your Reel won’t have an awkward start or end where there’s music without a video or image playing.
Editing music sounds super intimidating. Luckily, it’s super easy to do on the platform. Anyone—even video editing newbies and first-timers—can easily grasp how to trim music on Instagram Reels. That’s because Instagram made it so easy and user-friendly.
You’ll see the audio clip of your video in the audio section of the Reel editing screen. When you select that sound, the system will highlight it with yellow. Two handles will appear on either end of the clip, too. All you have to do is tap on one of the handles—either the start or the end—and drag. This will trim the clip according to the length you want. Easy-peasy!
How To Adjust Music Volume on Instagram Reels
Another editing feature you might be wondering about is sound volume. Sometimes, the song you add might just be a little too loud, making it far from voiceover-friendly. But don’t worry. Much like trimming your music clip, adjusting its volume is also a super easy process.
Here’s how to adjust the music volume on Instagram Reels. On the Reel editor screen, select your audio clip by tapping it. At the bottom of the screen, click the “Volume” button. From there, all you have to do is drag the volume control bar to the level you prefer. And that’s it, you’re done!
How To Download Instagram Reels With Music: Is It Possible?
It’s happened to the best of us at least once. You scroll through the Reels tab, stopping to watch interesting videos. And then you hear—a Reel with a music clip you’ve never heard before. Maybe it’s an artist sharing their new track or someone doing the most alluring cover of your favorite song.
Or maybe you see a video that you find so funny, moving, or enthralling. It’s so interesting that you want a copy of it on your phone to view whenever you want.
Situations like this can be super frustrating. While Reels is a terrific way to come across new music and fun videos, there’s no way to download them.
Yup, right now, Instagram doesn’t offer methods for downloading Reels. But that doesn’t mean you cannot save a Reel on your phone. We have a few tricks up our sleeve to help you do it anyway!
First, you can always use a third-party website to download that track as a music file. Here’s how to download Instagram Reels with music from a third-party site, at least typically. Go to the Reel you want to download and find its unique Instagram link. Paste it into the downloader website and let it generate a download link for you. Download the video from there, and voila! You now have a copy of that Reel with music.
Another sneaky way to do it is by screen recording the video with your phone. However, this method will record not just the Reel but also the caption, original poster, and other Reel interface elements. It’s not perfect, but it’s a convenient way to save a Reel without downloading it from a third-party site.
Pro-Tip: Save Interesting Instagram Reel Music for Another Day
Have you ever seen a Reel and heard an audio you want to use for your videos later? Maybe it’s a song for a dance challenge or a funny soundbite from a viral meme. Don’t risk never coming across that audio clip again! “Bookmark” it by saving the audio.
Doing this is super easy. Here’s how to do it in a few simple steps:
1. Go to the Reel with the audio you want to save for later.
2. Click the name of the audio track below the handle of the Reel’s poster. Sometimes, it also appears on the bottom of the Reel. This will take you to the audio’s homepage, where you can see every Reel that has used that audio.
3. Then, simply click the bookmark icon on the top-right corner of the screen.
That’s it! Now, you’ll easily find the audio clip in your Saved folder, ready for you to use in the future.

What Kind of Instagram Reels Music Should You Use?
You can be as creative as you want with the type of music you include in your Reels. You can use anything from a fun, upbeat track to something more mellow to a hilarious soundbite. The key is making sure it lines up with your video content and matches its vibe.
Are you unsure what kind of music you should use in the background of your Reel? Here are just some of the options you should consider. Pick and choose which one would fit seamlessly into your video content, and edit away!
Trending Instagram Songs That Fit Your Video’s Vibe
Catch people’s attention by using a song in your Reel that everyone is currently blasting on their headphones. Using popular, trending Instagram songs doesn’t just increase your Reel’s relevance. It could also boost reach and engagement since everyone’s probably checking out videos using this song. Here are some groovy tracks you might want to consider for your Reel:
- “Dance the Night Away” by Dua Lipa
- “Water” by Tyla
- “Lil’ Boo Thang” by Paul Russell
- “Paint the Town Red” by Doja Cat
- “yes, and?” by Ariana Grande

Instagram Reels Copyright Free Music
Are you worried about infringing on copyright when using music—especially original audio—for your video? Maybe you should think about using Instagram Reels for copyright-free music. You can download these audio clips from any royalty-free music archive online. They’re perfect for things like travel vlogs, how-to-videos, tutorials, video montages, and more.

Songs That Fit the Season, Like the Best Songs for Summer Reels
You can also choose songs that fit the season. For example, during the holiday season, use Christmas songs. On your birthday, choose your favorite rendition of the classic “Happy Birthday.” And if you’re posting about pool parties and beach vacations, use iconic summer tracks.
With summer right around the corner, it’s imperative to know the most memorable audio to use for summer content. Here are some of the best songs for summer Reels:
- “Island in the Sun” by Weezer
- “California Gurls” by Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg
- “Walkin’ on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves
- “Summer of ‘69” by Bryan Adams
- “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift

Funny Meme Audio Clips
Lastly, you can jump on silly video memes on Instagram and use hilarious audio clips for your Reels. These can be music clips that people use for memes or funny dialogue that you can dub for a skit.
Not only do funny audio bites make your Reel more entertaining, but they also boost shareability and relatability. This makes it more likely for your video to go viral! Who doesn’t want to share a good laugh with a friend via DM, right?
An Instagram Reels Song Can Make or Break Your Reel, So Choose Wisely!
Adding music to your Reels can spell the difference between a dull, boring, skippable video and super engaging content. What makes it fun is that Instagram has an extensive audio collection you can use to enhance your post. Make sure the audio track you choose matches your Reel’s vibe, whether you go for trending songs or funny soundbites.
Do you want more people to see and appreciate your video and the Instagram Reels music you paired it with? Work with Path Social to ensure your Reels reach the right people.
With our proprietary targeting algorithm and the power of AI, we push out your content to your specific niche audience. That means more eyeballs on your content and more users who resonate with your brand are discovering your page. Before you know it, you’ll have a solid, engaged fanbase that loves your content and interacts with it every time. Grow your Instagram community with real, genuine followers today!


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