Atmospheric Music

[RogueWizard]

Hey, I've been looking to improve as a DM and one of the ways I'm looking to do that is to add thematically appropriate music or ambient soundtracks to my sessions. Do any of you have any suggestions as to where I could find music suitable for D&D sessions preferably either free soundtracks or that available on spotify?

[georgie_leech]

I'm one of the designated music guys for my group; is there a particular sort of music you were looking for, beyond "background?" Like, are you looking for something heroic sounding, creepy, stealthy, fight-y, something else?

[Starsinger]

My group tends to use video game music, because it's generally instrumental, great for ambient themes, and generally available for free listening to via youtube.

[Regwon]

I like running horror games, so I often use some dark ambient playlists by CryoChamber playing in the background. They are very atmospheric and can be unsettling, which is perfect. They are also available on youtube

[X3r4ph]

I have made a extensive list for my next campaign:
The Inn at Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYU6dPE84h8

The Assassination at Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BaKgJcv9MA

The Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKZjcoryA2E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5B6EQkg0F8

The Chase
http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=BBUf8nNTyAI#Tension_in_the_Air_-_Final_Fantasy_XIII_Music_Extended

Boaresky Bridge
http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=UUH5tadgc9U#Star_Wars%3A_KOTOR_Music-_Taris_Lower_City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBUtBrk7yzo

Cultist Showdown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rICzaVlDxBU

Boatride
http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=abfeSIqXHcg#Deep_Dark_Forest

Waterfall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmG8JYiYvgg

Marsh of Chelimber
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JI26KoBEqk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgx4BBPGefU

Marsh of Chelimber Alternative
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppiGTLqfaWc

The Sinking Chapel
http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=9N5FBsM2-yY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkaJFxYCnVQ

The Sinking Chapel Alternative
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmI_06wYgvA



Other

Mystic Ambient
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd_zyedMiVk

Piano, atmospheric, moody.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrWF1VjNq68

Chant of Babmhomet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WadLcqsI0Y

City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2zbAO5_jCE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESZdeCrnswE

[X3r4ph]

A lot of these can be played on repeat via various alternative websites that link to the YouTube clip. The Chant of Baphomet one is super short, but great for ambience when played on repeat. Mix it with thunderstorm ambience, old spooky house ambient or cave drips ambient for great effect.

[CoggieRagabash]

My group tends to use video game music, because it's generally instrumental, great for ambient themes, and generally available for free listening to via youtube.

Going to second this. Video game OSTs are ideal especially because most of the music is designed to be looped unless it's designed for a specific scripted scene, and is less likely to have action rising and falling too dramatically over the track (which of course could place it at odds with the tension and energy in your game).

Which soundtracks to recommend specifically depends on your setting, atmosphere and group.

[Gastronomie]

I'm currently thinking "Touhou Remix" stuff from YouTube.

Not famous outside Japan (as far as I know) and has lots of good theme songs.

[arrowstorm]

I just use pandora and shuffle the following: John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Two Steps from Hell, and Lindsey Stirling. I haven't found any issues so far.

[RogueWizard]

I'm one of the designated music guys for my group; is there a particular sort of music you were looking for, beyond "background?" Like, are you looking for something heroic sounding, creepy, stealthy, fight-y, something else?

Yes, all of the above. I'm looking to be able to pull out music in any and all of those situations. Add to that list mysterious, sad, triumphant. Cover the whole range of emotions the music might want to convey.

[JumboWheat01]

Might I suggest the Undertale OST? It has a wide variety of styles from light-hearted and quirky, fierce and determined, and subdued and creepy. Should handle just about any situation you have, from a hard battle, a spooky mine or castle, to the resident butt monkey villains that your party refuses to actually kill off for good despite repeated bumbling attacks by them.

[JakOfAllTirades]

I just use pandora and shuffle the following: John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Two Steps from Hell, and Lindsey Stirling. I haven't found any issues so far.

I was also going to suggest Pandora. I just start with E.S. Posthumus and let Pandora do the rest.

[georgie_leech]

Yes, all of the above. I'm looking to be able to pull out music in any and all of those situations. Add to that list mysterious, sad, triumphant. Cover the whole range of emotions the music might want to convey.

Alright. I'm going to toss these links into a repeat thing for the sake of convenience. For Heroic sounding, I like to use this (http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=YHa9VUlMQoY#Nox_Soundtrack-_Wander_2) for a more subtle grandeur, and it's hard to go wrong with this (http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=byFkvbz2Za0#Swordland_-_Sword_Art_Online_Music_Extended) for dramatic rescues or last stands. For Creepy, pretty much anything from the Eternal Darkness soundtrack fits, but I'm especially fond of the Mansion (http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=1FpqvCI7eZQ#Eternal_Darkness_-_Roivas_Mansion_Music) and Cathedral (http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=b2sxSxdoFOI&ab_channel=Ahriman316) for general purposes. This (http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=pfdpfK6RKFE#Valkyrie_Profile_%3A_Lenneth_-_OST_-_The_Name_of_his_People_is_Fear) is great for the grand evil castle, and this (http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=9xW8sCRF8PI&list=PL3410309E74D97664&index=55&ab_channel=LinLockheart") is fantastic for ominous foreshadowing or "cutscenes" where you cut away to what the Shadowy Council of Evilness is up to. For sneaky, I'm a big fan of using this (http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=JODb-2t45mU#Baldur_s_Gate_II__Shadows_of_Amn___Nighttim e_in_the_Docks_music) for infiltrations or otherwise wandering around where discovery would be bad. In terms of battles, I've got a huge list, but I like to use this (http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=sk-9ihcy2R8#That_Person_s_Name_Is_-_Bravely_Default_OST_%5BAsterisk_Boss_Battle_Theme %5D(High_Quality_1080p_HD)) for the bigger clashes, this (https://www.listenonrepeat.com/watch?v=mLIIljSv9nk&ab_channel=punio7) for boss fights lacking other things I want to imply, and I'm a sucker for this old classic (http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=UUHjdq6SFkQ#Baldur_s_Gate_II_Dragonbattle_Music ) for dragons. For mysterious, I like to use this short little thing (http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=HDrJ1Uez2Wc#Lufia_II_-_Mysterious_Tone_(arranged)) for mystical areas, and this (http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=D2nWuGoRU0s#Best_VGM_601_-_Ecco_the_Dolphin_%3A_Defender_of_the_Future_-_Dolphin_s_Intrigue) for a more intrigue sort of feel. For sad... honestly I find that one depends a lot on what sort of sad you need, but as a generic placeholder this (http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=H5P-YURiRDc&index=55&list=PL8562AEE927859E04&ab_channel=SourJovis) works alright, but I have a hard time shaking off the context so YMMV. For triumphant, well, the FF Victory Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLWxyhIriZM&ab_channel=Dormanil) in all it's incarnations works pretty well for the "Battle Won!" bits.

If you ever need anything specific, feel free to drop me a PM; if you describe a scene and what sort of mood you want, I'll probably have something I can dig up from somewhere to fit.

[Madeiner]

This is also really good for generic music, sound effects, etc.

http://tabletopaudio.com/

Be sure to check out the Soundpad there, too. Some gems are hidden in there, especially music.

[JumboWheat01]

This is also really good for generic music, sound effects, etc.

http://tabletopaudio.com/

Be sure to check out the Soundpad there, too. Some gems are hidden in there, especially music.

This... this is awesome. Imma bookmark this and use it for my own nefarious needs.

[kraftcheese]

Might I suggest the Undertale OST? It has a wide variety of styles from light-hearted and quirky, fierce and determined, and subdued and creepy. Should handle just about any situation you have, from a hard battle, a spooky mine or castle, to the resident butt monkey villains that your party refuses to actually kill off for good despite repeated bumbling attacks by them.

Determined you say....

[p_johnston]

I second the idea of using Undertale music. I just purchased the soundtrack and am planning on playing spider dance every time my group encounters a spider enemy. Followed by playing spider dance in a old, web filled dungeon with absolutely no monstrous spiders.