Using Music

Anybody can queue up few songs on their iPod, load a few albums into WinAmp or throw some CDs in their 5-disc changer, but what’s a more effective way to use music in your sessions and enhance the atmosphere for your players?

This page offers some suggestion for various events and activities that you can associate music with to give your game a cinematic feel.  The examples given are specific to D&D but the advice can be applied to a game of any genre, be it fantasy, sci-fi, horror, spy, western or whatever your group’s taste might be.

Theme Song

One easy way to add a little excitement and anticipation to your game is by having a theme song for your campaign.  You can have this queued up and ready to go at the beginning of the session.  Once everyone has arrived and has finished discussing the latest movie or video game for a little bit, you can help kick start the session by playing a campaign theme song.

The theme song should be a piece with a distinct, memorable melody that starts early in the song.  This way when players hear it they will realize the session is starting and it’s time to get into roleplaying mode - much like the theme song to your favorite TV show gets you in the mood to watch it.

The song could be something the players choose as a group or that the DM picks for them.  The style and instrumentation of the theme song should reflect the overall style of the campaign.  Consider using a song that’s not the theme to a popular movie or tv show and find something that’s unique for your group - unless of course you’re running something like Star Wars or Lord of the Ring campaign.

Recap Song

If your group likes to recap the previous session before diving into the adventure for the day, you might consider having a song for recapping.  The recap music should be more lowkey and as undistracting as possible.  Like the theme song this helps set the mood and stage for the game.

Environmental Music

Most adventures take a party through a number of environments, each with their own distinct atmosphere.  You can enhance that atmosphere by creating a playlist for each type of environment, choosing music that reflects the attributes of that environment.  For a temple or crypt you could pick slow, somber music that uses subtle choir parts and low pitched bells.  A playlist for wilderness exploration might feature more upbeat songs using wind instruments and harps.  A dungeon playlist should have low pitched instruments like cellos and the occasional creepy sound effect.

Battle Music

When combat kicks in the players need a boost in their adrenaline to stay alert.  It’s good to try and find longer pieces for combat.  Since it tends to take more time than other activities, it’s good to have lengthy songs that won’t repeat so often.

Songs featuring drums and horns make for a good playlist during D&D combat.  They should be dramatic and have a pulsing beat.  Just be careful because after a while a little too much pulsing can get annoying.

Tavern Music

Another common activities in most any roleplaying game is getting drunk and startng a fight… I mean, heading to the tavern or canteena to hear some of the latest rumors in town and rest a bit.  And since taverns generally have some kind of entertainment going on they are another excellent place to feature some music.

The instrumentation on tavern music should be smaller than your cinematic battle pieces.  You’ll want something that represents just a few people performing for a small audience.  Guitars and other stringed instruments are good to feature.  You might even consider a few songs with vocals if they are in a style that fits the world of your campaign.

Special Event Songs

If there’s nothing interesting going on in your game then you’re probably losing players left and right.  Special events in your game can be accented with specific songs you’ve chosen ahead of time.  Is an important NPC going to be killed?  Is there a wonderous city they party might discover?  Is their a recurring drunkard that the players are constantly running into?  These are perfect opportunities for choice songs!

It’s a good idea to make sure that the songs you’re using for special events aren’t on your playlists.  You want them to be emotional and unique.  If the player’s have already heard them a million times during battle then it’s not going to have the same impact.  Make sure the emotion of the song matches the emotion of the situation.

Experience Song

Much like the theme song and recap music, having a song you play consistently when handing out XP at the end of a session can help give closure to the session and wind people down - giving them something nice to discuss the highlights of the evening and ponder what might happen in the next session.  As with the Recap Music, the song should be something the players can easily hear you over.  They’re anxious for every last point of XP!

General Advice

• Avoid songs with lyrics - Some DM’s and players like to rock out to their favorite alternative or death metal band, but you want players focused on the game.  Lyrics and vocals can just be distracting.
• Keep your playlists randomized - This helps avoid hearing the same songs in the same order over and over again and potentially never hearing songs at the end of the playlist.
• Have some quite time - The absence of music can be just as effective as the use of music.  Your combat won’t seem as intense if you’ve got battle music playing the entire game.  Sometimes it’s good to bring the mood down with a soft song or no music at all.

What else?

So there’s just a few ideas to help raise the bar in your game.  How do you use music in your games?  Feel free to add a comment listing some of your own ideas and suggestions!