Need background music ideas please.

[newbDM]

Thanks to some advice I had found on this forum, I have been using background music in my games for about two months now.

I use iTunes on my Macbook for this, and I connect some old computer speakers to it. I have all the playlist folders set on Repeat One so I can choose one song, and that song will repeat until I choose another one.

Here are the "playlists" I have to breakdown and organize whet music to use when:

• Anime + Sci-Fiish music
• Battle Music
• Boss Battle Music (Just added this one while making this thread, so surrently empty)
• City/Town/Village music
• Conversation music
• Dungeon Music
• Forest music (A lot of open untouched lands in my homebrew setting)
• Inn/Tavern music (Could really use some more of this! Only have one.)
• Items (Currently only have a music box music in here.)
• Preludes
• Shop/Store music
• Sound Effects (Have a few sounds in here, but since it cuts off the background music I ahve not used them.)
• Special Cases music (I have a Sad Song from an FF gave for when someone dies, a Danger! song from FF5, a Hurry Hurry! sing from a FF game.)
• Traveling music
• Victory Songs!

Currently I have mostly Snes music from games like the Final Fantasy series and Kirby.

I would prefer songs without lyrics, since they are less of a distraction, and along with playing D&D keeps people form noticing that/when they loop.


Please let me know what songs you use, or think would work well as gaming background music. I know sites where I can get songs from video games of different systems, so if you know any good video game songs please let me know!


edit:
Oh!

And if you have any ideas for other playlist categories please let me know.

[AslanCross]

I've posted in some similar threads before:
Here
Here
Here
and here.

Great suggestions in all of them.

The Neverwinter Nights 2 main theme is pretty good for a town.
CHAOS is excellent for a big boss battle. I'm going to use it for an upcoming dragon battle.

[Skjaldbakka]

I use the Grand Fonic Hymn from Tales of the Abyss. I play it when the NPC bard is using bardic music.

I actually had battle of the bards last session. The PCs fought a fiendish grig, and I used "Those who fight further " from the Advent Children soundtrack for his 'fiddle'.

If the bard's perform for countersong succeeded, I played the fonic hymn for that round, but if it failed, I played those who fight further.

It was entertaining. Who would have thought a grig and three zombies would be so hard for a level 2 party to beat?

[Flashlight]

Instrumentals of Jedi Mind Tricks / Army of the Pharaos / Outerspace are amazing for fantasy games. I like listening to them (the lyrics don't distract me that much) when playing some CRPG

[Yukitsu]

The .hack game series has a lot of great music sans lyrics that would fit well in most fantasy style adventures.

NGE has some good non-lyrical ones as well.

Some songs from Atlus games, like Persona, or digital devil saga also work well for background music.

[afroakuma]

FFXII, FFT and Vagrant Story had decent orchestral-sounding soundtracks that would serve your needs.

[Thane of Fife]

Golden Sun generally has some excellent music. I've also used the music from the CD included in the Savage Coast set for 2e. There was some good music there.

I also really like the intro to Lufia: The Legend Returns.

[Nerd-o-rama]

Search for "every second thread by Leliel". Seriously, these things need to be consolidated.

[afroakuma]

Consolidation? That sounds like a project.

I volunteer to do so tonight sometime.

[Yukitsu]

My picks from my playlist, with youtube links.

Anime + Sci-Fiish music
Just communication instrumental http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKJUDy39HQg
Battle Music
Apoplexi [urlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GksJOctYLU&feature=related[/url]
Boss Battle Music
A song of storm and fire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2VSf...eature=related
City/Town/Village music
For a quiet, sophisticated town, pachabels kanon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR8FG...eature=related
For a more rowdy town, lively step http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy5nSHzU1rI
Ominous town, shadow of doubt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbnWW8uU1XI
Conversation music
Good or don't be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehAjJXg7WlY
Dungeon Music
immoral cascade http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm4WyzhPt3k
Forest music
Mai http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HFz45K8Zy4
Inn/Tavern music
The old black rum. Has lyrics, but a bard could sing it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD0XihILQzk
For depressed drinking, thanatos instrumental http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooBS4...eature=related
Items (Currently only have a music box music in here.)
Have an item that sings this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_moia-oVI
Preludes
Intro music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouYfx...eature=related
Shop/Store music
Barefoot in the park http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AQQ8...eature=related

Sound Effects (Have a few sounds in here, but since it cuts off the background music I ahve not used them.)

1812 overture. It has cannons in it. Seriously. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-vQKZFF-9s
Special Cases music (I have a Sad Song from an FF gave for when someone dies, a Danger! song from FF5, a Hurry Hurry! sing from a FF game.)
For when a character is overwhelmed with tragedy that isn't player death, a stray child http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrrXO...eature=related
Traveling music
young knight and priestess http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JKzil1qGCQ
Victory Songs!
This suggestion is wrong on many levels. It's a joke. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=felQf...eature=related

[Bonecrusher Doc]

TitanQuest the computer game has a soundtrack CD available that could be very convenient for you.

Other than that, can't go wrong with some soundtracks of LOTR, Pirates of the Caribbean, Gladiator, Braveheart, Zorro, etc...

[Ravens_cry]

For a duel, some things are just traditional.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyhhFzE5O5U

[AngelSword]

Here is my tip (since I can't seem to find any of my old posts on the subject): Do NOT pick something that's easily recognizable. Once someone picks up on it, you could easily lose 10 to 15 minutes of game time as people discuss the source material.

[monty]

Here is my tip (since I can't seem to find any of my old posts on the subject): Do NOT pick something that's easily recognizable. Once someone picks up on it, you could easily lose 10 to 15 minutes of game time as people discuss the source material.

This is why we use '80s music. Worst case, somebody starts singing along for a few seconds, then we move on.

[Greengiant]

A must-have triumphant victory song is the National Anthem of the Soviet Union.

Chorus Lyrics:
Славься, Отечество наше свободное,
Дружбы народов надёжный оплот!
Партия Ленина — сила народная
Нас к торжеству коммунизма ведёт!

Translation :
Sing to the Motherland, home of the free,
Bulwark of people, in brotherhood strong!
Oh! Party of Lenin! The strength of the people.
To Communism's triumph lead us on!

EDIT: A Link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMYkxszXe9s

[Vagnarok]

I cannot stress enough how perfect the Myst III and V soundtracks are. Myst: Uru is also excellent.
Do yourself a favor and GET THIS MUSIC. Please.

I couldn't find a decent representation of it online, so I'll have to describe it:
It's pretty ambient. I'd recommend Myst IV for more Asian themed adventures, Myst III for epic happenings and Myst V for all around badassery. Myst I & II are really good as well, but you'll have to sift through them more to get a good feel for the adventure that you want to run with them in the background. Lastly, Myst: Uru is the coolest deserty sounding music ever. Use it for traversing unending sands and travelling through middle eastern like areas.

If you take me seriously you won't regret it! I promise. Heck, I'll paypal you 5 bucks if you think your time was wasted by looking up these soundtracks.

[Artanis]

My suggestions:

Duel of the Fates, by John Williams
--Boss Battle

The Klendathu Drop theme from Starship Troopers
--Battle

Duck and Run, by Three Doors Down
--Battle or Boss Battle

The Mortal Kombat theme
--Boss Battle

Invincible, by Pat Benetar
--Battle or Prelude

The Chrono Cross opening theme
--Prelude or Boss Battle

Bossman, by Lucky Boys Confusion
--Prelude (namely to a boss battle)

Sandstorm, by Darude
--Battle and/or Sci-Fi

Come Sail Away, by Styx
--Travel

Born to be Wild, by Steppenwolf
--Travel

Fly Away, by Lenny Kravitz
--Travel

The Devil Went Down to Georgia, by The Charlie Daniels Band
--Travel or Inn/Tavern (namely if one of the characters is a Bard)

Tank! (The Cowboy Bebop opening theme), by Yoko Kanno
--Inn/Tavern

Cantina Band (from Star Wars), by John Williams
--Inn/Tavern

Xristosphan, by Torley Wong
--Sci Fi

Techno Jedi Master, by Torley Wong
--Sci Fi

[Vagnarok]

Here's an awesome solo that my friend showed me yesterday. It's got a good fantasy feel to it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQXn5ba0aT8