Using Music to Describe Your RPG’s Setting: The Ultimate Game-Changer

Ever wonder why movies feel so much more intense with a good soundtrack? The same principle can work for your tabletop RPG sessions, but it’s not as simple as just hitting play on Spotify.

Music can definitely make your games more immersive, but it also comes with challenges that many guides don’t mention.

Let’s talk about what actually works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid the common mistakes that can make music more distracting than helpful.

Why Use Music in RPGs?

Music works in RPGs, and for the same reason, it works in movies. It helps set the emotional tone and keeps people engaged. When you describe a creepy dungeon and add some subtle, eerie background music, it reinforces that atmosphere in a way that words alone can’t match.

But here’s the thing: music doesn’t automatically make every game better. Some players find it distracting, especially during complex problem-solving or when they’re trying to concentrate on roleplay. The key is knowing when to use it and when to skip it.

What Music Actually Does

Sets emotional tone: The right background music can help your players feel the mood you’re trying to create, whether that’s tension in a haunted mansion or wonder in a magical forest.

Covers awkward silences: During those moments when you’re consulting notes or players are thinking through their next move, ambient music keeps the energy from completely dropping.

Signals scene changes: Switching from peaceful town music to dramatic battle music instantly tells players something important is happening.

What Music Doesn’t Do

It doesn’t fix boring descriptions. If your storytelling isn’t engaging, music won’t save it.

It doesn’t work for everyone. Some people (especially introverts, according to research) actually perform worse on complex tasks with background music.

It’s not always worth the hassle. If you’re already struggling to manage the game, adding music might be one thing too many.

Choosing the Right Music

The music selection advice you see online is mostly solid, but let me break down what actually matters:

The Golden Rules

No lyrics, ever. Seriously. Even if the lyrics are in a foreign language, they’ll compete with your narration and player conversations. Instrumental only.

Avoid instantly recognisable themes. Don’t use the Star Wars theme for your space campaign or the Lord of the Rings music for fantasy. Players will think about those movies instead of your game.

Length matters. Short tracks that loop every 2-3 minutes get annoying fast. Look for tracks that are at least 6-10 minutes long, or create playlists that flow smoothly.

Music Categories That Work

Ambient/Atmospheric: Perfect for exploration, towns, or any time you want a background mood without drama. Think gentle strings, soft piano, or nature sounds mixed with subtle music.

Tense/Mysterious: For dungeons, investigations, or when something’s wrong. Usually slower, with minor keys and subtle dissonance.

Action/Battle: High energy for combat. Drums, fast strings, dramatic brass. But don’t make it so intense that players can’t think or communicate.

Triumphant/Heroic: For victories, grand revelations, or epic moments. Think movie credits music.

Where to Find Music

Video game soundtracks are your best friend. They’re designed to loop, stay in the background, and match specific moods. Games like Skyrim, The Witcher, or Divinity: Original Sin have hours of perfect RPG music.

Movie soundtracks work too, but avoid the big memorable themes. Look for the background tracks labelled “underscore” or with names like “The Journey Begins” rather than main themes.

YouTube and Spotify have many “D&D ambient” playlists, but be careful about copyright if you’re recording or streaming your games (more on that later).

The Technical Stuff: Making It Actually Work

This is where most guides get overly optimistic. Let me give you the real story.

Using Roll20 (Online Play)

Roll20 has a built-in music player called the Jukebox. It’s free to use, but it has some serious limitations that guides often don’t mention:

File size limit: 20MB per file, regardless of your subscription level. That’s about 20-30 minutes of decent quality music.

Reliability issues: The Jukebox randomly stops working sometimes, especially in Chrome browsers. Songs might not play for some players, or the audio might cut out during long sessions.

Storage limits: Free accounts get 100MB total storage (about 5-6 long tracks). Paid accounts get more, but you’ll still hit limits faster than you’d expect.

Pro tip: Always test your music with all players before the session starts. Have a backup plan, like a shared Spotify playlist, if the Jukebox fails.

Playing Music In Person

Don’t use Bluetooth speakers unless they specifically support low-latency audio. Regular Bluetooth has a 200-300ms delay, so that the music won’t sync properly with your descriptions.

Wired speakers or wired headphones work best. You don’t need expensive equipment; a simple $50-100 speaker system will work great for most gaming tables.

Volume is crucial. The music should never force anyone to raise their voice. If players have to talk louder to be heard over the music, it’s too loud.

Simple Setup That Works

1. Create 4 playlists maximum: Ambient, Tense, Action, Triumphant. Don’t overcomplicate it.
2. Queue up music before the session. Scrambling for the right track mid-game kills the flow.
3. Practice your transitions. Know how to quickly switch between playlists or pause the music when needed.
4. Have volume controls easily accessible. You’ll need to adjust levels throughout the session.

Legal Stuff You Need to Know

Here’s where a lot of guides give dangerous advice. Let me set the record straight:

Spotify and YouTube subscriptions DO NOT give you the right to use music in recorded or streamed games. This is a common misconception that could get you in legal trouble.

For private, unrecorded sessions, you’re probably fine using whatever music you want. Nobody’s going to come after you for playing Spotify during your home game.

For streaming or recording, you need royalty-free music or proper licenses. Services like Epidemic Sound ($11/month) specialise in gaming-friendly music, or you can find free options at sites like FreePD.com.

The bottom line: If you’re just playing at home with friends, don’t worry about it. If you’re putting it online, you need legal music.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Making it too complex: Don’t create 15 different playlists for every possible mood. You’ll spend more time managing music than running the game.

Playing music constantly: Sometimes silence is better. Don’t be afraid to turn off the music during important conversations or complex planning.

Ignoring player preferences: If someone in your group hates background music or finds it distracting, respect that. The music should enhance the experience for everyone, not just you.

Using recognisable songs: That cool cover of a popular song might sound perfect for your tavern scene, but it’ll remind players of the original and break immersion.

Wrong volume levels: Too loud drowns out conversation. Too quiet makes it pointless. Find the sweet spot where it’s noticeable but not intrusive.

Does It Actually Help?

Research on background music and cognitive performance shows mixed results. Some people concentrate better with music, others perform worse, especially introverts working on complex tasks.

In RPG terms, this means music might help some players get into character and feel the mood, while others might find it harder to focus on problem-solving or complex roleplay.

The solution: Start with simple ambient music at low volumes and check in with your players. Suppose it’s working, great. If not, don’t force it.

My Honest Take

I’ve been using music in RPGs for years, and here’s what I’ve learned: it’s a nice enhancement, not a necessity.

When it works well, music can create some truly memorable moments. That perfectly-timed dramatic music when the villain reveals themselves, or the peaceful melody that helps players relax during downtime, these moments stick with people.

But I’ve also had sessions where I spent more time fiddling with playlists than actually running the game, or where the music failed completely and everyone had to pretend it wasn’t awkward.

Start simple: One ambient playlist for background mood, one action playlist for combat. Get comfortable with that before adding more complexity.

Focus on your players, not the technology. If the music enhances their experience, great. If it’s becoming a distraction for you or them, drop it.

Practical Steps to Get Started

1. Pick a simple music app you’re comfortable with. Spotify, YouTube Music, or even just MP3 files work fine.
2. Create two playlists: “RPG Background” (calm ambient music) and “RPG Action” (battle music). Each should be at least 2-3 hours long.
3. Test your setup before your next session. Make sure you know how to adjust volume and switch playlists quickly.
4. Start with just background music during exploration or downtime. Don’t try to match every single moment with perfect music.
5. Ask for feedback. Check in with your players after a few sessions to see if the music is helping or hindering their experience.
6. Be ready to adapt. If something isn’t working, change it. The goal is to enhance the game, not stick rigidly to your playlist.

The Bottom Line

Music can definitely improve your RPG sessions, but it’s not magic. It requires some technical setup, ongoing management during play, and consideration for all your players’ preferences.

If you’re already comfortable running your games and want to add another layer of immersion, music is worth trying.

If you’re still working on your basic GM skills, focus on those first; good storytelling and smooth game flow matter more than the perfect soundtrack.

When in doubt, remember: a great RPG session with no music is better than a mediocre session where you spent too much time worrying about the audio.

Resources That Actually Work

For Free Music:

• FreePD.com (public domain music)
• YouTube channels like “Cryo Chamber” for ambient tracks
• Video game soundtrack rips (for private use only)

For Legal Streaming/Recording:

• Epidemic Sound (paid, gaming-friendly)
• Incompetech.com (free with attribution)
• Zapsplat.com (sound effects and music)

For Easy Playlists:

• Search “RPG ambient” or “D&D background music” on your preferred platform
• Look for 8+ hour compilations so you don’t have to manage track changes

Remember: the best music setup is the one that actually works for your table, not the most technically impressive one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to be a music expert to use background music in my RPG?

A: Not at all. You just need to understand basic volume control and playlist management. The most important skill is knowing when music helps vs. when it gets in the way. Start simple with pre-made playlists and adjust based on what works for your group.

Q: How loud should the music be?

A: If anyone has to raise their voice to be heard over the music, it’s too loud. The music should sit in the background, noticeable when you pay attention to it, but not competing with conversation. Test this with your quietest player’s speaking voice.

Q: What if my players don’t like background music?

A: Respect their preferences. Some people find any background music distracting, especially when trying to focus on complex problem-solving or roleplay. You can try very quiet ambient sounds instead, or just skip music entirely. A good game doesn’t require a soundtrack.

Q: Can I use Spotify or YouTube music if I’m streaming my game on Twitch?

A: No, absolutely not. This will likely result in copyright strikes, muted audio, or your stream being taken down. You need royalty-free music or proper licenses for any public broadcast. Services like Epidemic Sound or Incompetech provide stream-safe alternatives.

Q: My Roll20 Jukebox keeps cutting out. What’s wrong?

A: This is a known issue with Roll20, especially in Chrome browsers. Try switching to Firefox, clearing your browser cache, or using smaller audio files. Always have a backup plan, like a shared Spotify playlist that players can listen to on their own devices.

Q: How many different playlists do I need?

A: Start with just 2-4: Background/Ambient, Tense/Mystery, Action/Combat, and maybe Triumphant/Victory. Don’t create a playlist for every possible situation; you’ll spend more time managing music than running the game. Simple systems work better during actual play.

Q: Should I try to match music to every single scene?

A: No. Constantly switching tracks becomes distracting and takes your attention away from running the game. Pick music that fits the general mood of longer scenes (exploration, combat, social encounters) rather than trying to soundtrack every individual moment.

Q: What’s wrong with using recognisable movie themes?

A: They break immersion by making players think about the original movie instead of your game world. When you play the Imperial March, players think “Star Wars,” not “evil empire in my fantasy campaign.” Use background/underscore tracks from movies instead of the main themes.

Q: Is using video game music in my private RPG session legal?

A: For truly private, unrecorded sessions, you’re practically fine; no one’s going to sue you for playing Skyrim music during your home D&D game. Technically, it’s still copyright infringement, but enforcement is essentially non-existent for private use. Just don’t record or stream it.

Q: How do I handle music during combat without it being distracting?

A: Keep combat music at lower volumes than you might expect players need to communicate tactical information clearly. Choose music with a steady rhythm rather than dramatic crescendos that might interfere with concentration. Some groups prefer no music during complex tactical combat.

Q: Can I just leave one playlist running for the entire session?

A: Yes, and this often works better than trying to constantly switch tracks. A good 3-4 hour ambient/fantasy playlist can provide a consistent mood without requiring management. Save the dramatic music switches for truly important moments.

Q: What if I can’t afford paid music services?

A: There are plenty of free options. YouTube has thousands of hours of “RPG ambient music,” FreePD.com offers public domain tracks, and many video game soundtracks are available for free (though check usage rights). You don’t need expensive services to get started.

Q: Should I ask my players what kind of music they like?

A: It’s worth checking if anyone has strong dislikes (some people hate certain instruments or musical styles), but don’t try accommodating everyone’s personal music taste. Focus on functional background music that serves the game rather than music people would choose to listen to recreationally.

Q: How do I know if the music actually helps my game?

A: Pay attention to player engagement and feedback. Are they more immersed in scenes? Do they comment positively on the atmosphere? Or are they asking you to repeat things because they couldn’t hear over the music? When in doubt, ask directly. Most players will give you honest feedback if you ask.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake new GMs make with music?

A: Making it too complicated and spending more time managing playlists than running the game. Start simple, use longer tracks or playlists, and focus on your players rather than getting the “perfect” musical moment. Technical difficulties with music have ruined more game moments than the lack of music ever has.