How to Use a Sound on YouTube Shorts

Using the right sound on your YouTube Short can be the difference between getting a handful of views and going viral. A trending audio clip acts as a shortcut to discovery, placing your content directly in front of people already engaging with that sound. This guide will walk you through exactly how to find, add, and strategically use audio to make your Shorts stand out and reach the massive audience on the platform.

Why Sounds are a Game-Changer on YouTube Shorts

On platforms like YouTube Shorts and TikTok, audio is much more than background music - it's a core part of the content experience. Sounds are the foundation for memes, challenges, jokes, and widespread trends. When a user watches a Short with a specific sound, the YouTube algorithm understands they might like other videos using that same audio. Tapping into popular sounds gives your content a built-in distribution channel.

Think of each sound as its own discovery page. When someone enjoys a clip, they can tap on the sound credit to see a feed of every other Short that has used it. By using a trending sound, you essentially add your video to that feed, giving it an opportunity to be seen by a new, highly engaged audience that you might not have reached otherwise.

The Difference Between Sounds, Music, and Original Audio

You'll often hear these terms used interchangeably, but it's helpful to know the distinction:

• Music: This refers to commercially released songs from artists that are available in YouTube's audio library. Think of the latest pop hit or a classic rock anthem.
• Sounds: This is a broader category that includes snippets of music but also clips from movies, viral commentary, user-created sound effects, or funny bits of dialogue.
• Original Audio: This is sound that you create and upload with your video. It could be your voice talking to the camera, a product demo, or a musician sharing their own composition. If your original audio gets popular, other users can then reuse it, turning it into a new trend.

For growth, tapping into the existing library of popular music and sounds is your fastest path to getting seen.

How to Find Trending Sounds on YouTube Shorts

Finding the right sound is half the battle. You want to find something that is climbing in popularity but isn't completely saturated yet. Luckily, there are a few simple ways to discover an endless stream of potential audio clips.

1. Browse Your Shorts Feed

The most straightforward way to find popular sounds is to simply spend a few minutes scrolling through the YouTube Shorts feed. This is your firsthand research portal. As you scroll, pay attention to which sounds or songs you hear repeatedly within a short span of time. If you hear a particular audio clip three or four times in a 10-minute session, that's a strong signal it's trending.

When you find a sound you like, look at the bottom of the screen. You'll see the sound's title or artist name scrolling. Tap on it. This will take you to the official Audio Page for that sound, which shows the original video and a feed of Shorts created with it. This page is a goldmine. You can see how many Shorts have been made with the sound, and you can get instant inspiration from seeing how other creators are using it.

2. Use the Shorts Audio Library

YouTube has a built-in library of licensed music and sounds that you can access directly within the Shorts creation tool.

To access it:

1. Open the YouTube app and tap the "+" icon at the bottom of the screen.
2. Select "Create a Short".
3. At the very top of the camera screen, you'll see a button that says "Add sound". Tap this.

Here you'll see curated playlists like "Top sounds," "Remix recommendations," and sections organized by genre. This is a great starting point if you don't already have a sound in mind. You can use the search bar to look for a specific song, artist, or vibe (e.g., "upbeat acoustic" or "cinematic score").

3. Look at What Top Creators in Your Niche Are Using

Don't just watch random videos - pay attention to the biggest creators in your specific niche. What sounds are they using? A successful fitness influencer probably knows which audio clips resonate best with an audience interested in workouts and healthy lifestyles. A finance expert might be using sounds that are popular within a community focused on investing and saving money.

Observing your peers and competitors is smart reconnaissance. It allows you to see what’s working with an audience that you want to attract.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a Sound to Your Short

There are two primary ways to add audio to a Short: starting with a sound you've found or adding audio to a video you've already recorded.

Method 1: Starting with a Sound You Found in the Feed

This workflow is great for when a sound inspires an idea. You find an audio clip you love and decide to build a video around it.

1. Find Your Sound: Scroll through the Shorts feed until you find an audio clip you want to use.
2. Go to the Audio Page: Tap the sound title at the bottom of the video.
3. Use the Sound: On the audio page, you'll see a big red button that says "Use this sound". Tap it.
4. Record Your Short: This will open the Shorts camera with the chosen audio pre-loaded. The sound will play as you record, making it easy to time your actions or lip-sync. You can use the timer feature in the right-hand menu to record hands-free.
5. Edit and Post: After recording, trim your clips, add text or filters, and post your Short. The audio is already perfectly synced.

Method 2: Adding a Sound to a Pre-Recorded Video Clip

This is the most common method for creators who prefer to shoot their content first and add audio in post-production.

1. Start a New Short: Tap the "+" icon and select "Create a Short".
2. Upload Your Video: Instead of recording, tap the little square in the bottom left corner to open your phone's camera roll. Select the video clip you want to use and trim it to your desired length (up to 60 seconds). Tap "Done."
3. Add Your Sound: You'll now be in the main editing interface. At the top of the screen, tap "Add sound". This opens the audio library.
4. Find and Select Your Audio: Search for a song or sound. Tap on a sound to preview it. Once you find one you like, tap the blue arrow button next to its name to add it to your video.
5. Adjust the Timing: Use the waveform slider at the bottom of the screen to choose which part of the song you want to play during your Short. Drag the box to scrub through the track. Tap "Done" when you're happy with the selection.
6. Mix Your Audio (Pro Tip!): On the main editor screen, find and tap the "Volume" button in the right-hand menu. This opens the audio mixer. Here you'll see two sliders: "Original sound" and the music you just added. If your original video has you talking, you can lower the music's volume so it doesn't overpower your voice. This is perfect for voiceovers. If your original video has no important audio, you can slide "Original sound" all the way to 0%.
7. Finalize and Post: Add text, captions, or filters, then write your title and hit "Upload Short".

Best Practices for Using Sounds to Maximize Your Reach

Just adding a trending sound isn't enough. How you use it matters.

1. Reinterpret Trends for Your Niche

Don't just copy the trend exactly as you see it. The most successful creators apply trending sounds to their area of expertise. For example, if there's a trending audio clip where someone says, "Here are three things I just don't understand," a book reviewer could use it to talk about confusing plot holes, a tech reviewer could discuss frustrating software features, and a personal trainer could highlight common gym mistakes. This makes the trend relevant to your audience.

2. Sync Your Video Cuts to the Beat

Professional-feeling content often comes down to small details. A simple but highly effective technique is to time the cuts and transitions in your video to the beat of the music. When a scene changes right as the beat drops or a new lyric begins, it's instantly more satisfying for the viewer to watch. This keeps people's attention and makes your video feel polished and high-effort.

3. Use Sound to Set an Immediate Mood

You only have a fraction of a second to hook a viewer. The right audio choice immediately communicates the tone of your video. An inspiring, orchestral track tells the viewer to expect something epic or emotional. A funky, upbeat pop song signals something fun and energetic. Use sound as a storytelling shortcut to set the mood before you've even shown your main subject.

4. Don't Be Afraid of Original Audio

While using trending sounds is great for growth, building a brand also involves showing your unique voice and personality. Don't be afraid to create Shorts where the primary audio is you talking directly to the camera. If you have a powerful insight, a hilarious observation, or a compelling story, your own voice can become the star. After all, every trending conversational sound started as someone's original audio.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to use sounds on YouTube Shorts is one of the most powerful organic marketing skills you can develop right now. It connects your content to ongoing cultural conversations, helps the algorithm understand who to show your video to, and gives your content a professional gloss that grabs and holds viewer attention.

Of course, after you've mastered creating Shorts, keeping a full and consistent content calendar is the next big challenge. We created Postbase because we knew creators needed a modern tool built for short-form video from the ground up, not one where Shorts and Reels feel like an afterthought. Being able to visually plan your entire content schedule in one beautiful calendar, and then trust that it will reliably publish, gives you back the critical time and mental space to focus on making great Shorts.