These evocative, scene-setting royalty-free tracks will effortlessly add impact to your establishing shots.
Establishing shots are vital components of most video and film projects. They help to orient the audience by providing a wealth of information about the scene to come. For example, take a simple shot of a city skyline at night. In a single shot, the filmmakers introduce both location and time without a single line of dialogue. Beyond the basics, a well thought-out shot can also establish mood and atmosphere.
We’ve covered establishing shots on The Beat before. We’ve even created an in-depth guide on how to film your perfect one. But what we haven’t dived into yet is the importance of choosing appropriate music.
Whether your soundtrack operates on a subconscious level or is more in-your-face, music can help sell your opening scene. Try bringing your scene’s setting to life by using a musical style that’s rooted to your specific location. This can even mean using a track that incorporates subtle local textures too, like how the sound of a duduk can enhance a shot of a desert landscape.
Image via Shutterstock.
The type of the establishing music you choose can act as a form of story foreshadowing too. Think about the tone of your scene to come. Is it romantic, tense, fast-paced? Your music should give viewers a heads-up about what they can expect.
We asked our music experts to curate a selection of royalty free tracks specifically for opening scenes. It features a diverse mix of both location-specific and mood-setting tracks. And because establishing shots are often aerials, many of these selections make a perfect match for high-flying footage. Take a listen to the collection below and find the track to open your story.
And, if you ever need great establishing footage, check out this handpicked collection from Shutterstock.
- Epic Flight By Immersive Music
- Building and dramatic, featuring pulsing strings, bold brass and percussion that create a majestic mood.
- Sunset Hues By Swan Productions
- Warm and floating, featuring solemn piano that creates a reflective, heartfelt mood.
- Let's Shape the Future By Tiny Music
- Bright and adventurous, featuring building string textures that create a hopeful mood.
- Duduk in the Desert By Sergei Stern
- Smooth and warm, featuring atmospheric textures, floating drones, and Middle Eastern elements create a solemn and mournful mood.
- Nostalgie De Paris By Studio Le Bus
- Light and bouncy, featuring carefree acoustic guitar melody and accordion that create a cheerful and satisfied mood.
- Meadowlands By Big Score Audio
- Warm and flowing, featuring somber piano and building strings that create a longing, hopeful mood.
- Of Awe and Wonders By Lost Harmonies
- Bright and building, featuring warm electric guitar, Pop-Rock drums and smooth synth textures that creates optimism and enthusiasm.
- Time Lapse By Good News Tunes
- Building and pulsing, featuring bright synth textures and driving percussion that create a determined, proud mood.
- A Flow of Strings By Tiny Music
- Driving and solemn, featuring lush strings and gentle glockenspiel that create a hopeful, pensive mood.
- Glittering Landscape By Gentle Fire Studio
- Warm and bright, featuring light mandolin and a Bluegrass feel that creates a carefree and optimistic mood.
- Flying Through the Air By MVM Productions
- Pulsing and uplifting, featuring warm piano, guitars and synthesizers that create a hopeful, optimistic mood.
- The First Sunlight By Lost Harmonies
- Light and earthy, featuring warm acoustic guitar and electric guitar that creates a heartwarming yet longing mood.
- Sunrise Raging By Tonemassif
- Bright, with a building House groove, featuring pulsing synth textures that create a determined, enthusiastic mood.
- Our Land By Lost Harmonies
- Building and rhythmic with underlying smooth textures, featuring a peaceful Native Indian flute melody and chants that create a mystical mood.
- The City By Tonemassif
- Mellow and grooving, featuring processed trumpet samples, vocal samples and drums that create a chill, laid-back mood.