We walk through 8 ideas for Instagram monetization in this detailed article. How to Find Trending TikTok Sounds While They’re Still Popular (+ 11 of the Best From 2024)

Funny, poignant, catchy — trending sounds are the backbone of TikTok virality and can often make or break a video’s success.

According to research by the short-form video platform, “sound is the anti-scroll on TikTok”. With their data, it’s not hard to see why. Eighty-eight percent of TikTok users said that “sound is essential to the TikTok experience,” while 73 percent admitted they would "stop and look" at ads on TikTok with audio — both stats significantly higher than other platforms, TikTok said (though they didn’t offer a comparison).

Of course, it’s not always easy to find the TikTok audio resonating with people at the peak of its popularity (and no one wants to use a sound that’s become boring and tired with a video clip that’s taken them ages to film).

In this article, I’ll dig into exactly how to source the best audio clips for your TikToks while they’re still popular, plus give you some examples of TikTok sounds with staying power: a selection of the best clips of 2024.

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Yes, you could spend hours scrolling through the platform (honestly, I wouldn’t complain), but if you’re a busy content creator, business owner, or social media manager, you probably just don’t have time for it.

Luckily, there are a few little shortcuts you can take to make this process a whole lot easier so you can get to the real work of content creation — filming and editing your short-form video.

TikTok’s Creative Center

If you haven't checked out TikTok’s Creative Center yet, the link is worth a bookmark. It's effectively a guide to the biggest trends on the platform within a time frame of your choice, from creators to hashtags and (you guessed it) songs. Another great feature? You can choose specific regions to pinpoint exactly what is resonating there.

How to Find Trending TikTok Sounds While They’re Still Popular (+ 11 of the Best From 2024)

Use TikTok’s search function

You may have heard about TikTok SEO or that TikTok is the new Google. According to The New York Times, it’s Gen Z’s search engine of choice.

It's not hard to see why. The platform has a pretty great search function — and it’s probably one of the simplest ways to discover trending sounds. Here’s how to do it.

Tap the magnifying glass icon on the top right of the app to open the search tool in the TikTok app
In the search bar, type a phrase like “viral sound”
Tap the ‘Sounds’ tab and scroll through, paying special attention to the ones labeled ‘popular’
When you find a sound you like, tap on the ‘Use this sound’ button on the bottom right to add sound to the editor
Record or add your clips, and you’re good to go!

Check out TikTok’s playlists

TikTok has curated a sound library of sorts based on genre, category, and what’s performing well in your area. To find them:

Tap the ‘+’ button on the bottom middle of your screen (don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you’re instantly adding a new video)
Tap the music note icon on the right
There you’ll find sounds recommended for you, plus a host of categories created by TikTok

In the screenshots below, you’ll notice TikTok’s picks for me are dominated by South African artists since that’s where I’m based.

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Pro tip: If you come across a video with a sound you like, you can save it for later by tapping the sound/artist name at the bottom of the screen and then ‘Add to favorites’. When you want to find that sound again, follow the instructions in the bulleted list above and tap the ‘Favorites’ tab.

Follow accounts devoted to viral sounds

You’ll notice that when you search for viral sounds on TikTok some profiles will pop up too: there are plenty of creators who cover this in their content. Of course, some are more consistent than others — here are some I’ve found to be helpful:

@brettwolkey

Brett covers music exclusively (no audio clips), but his videos are a great source of inspiration. Along with a series on trending TikTok songs, you’ll also find fun compilations like ‘Songs that hit a little harder on a rainy day’ that could be useful in your editing.

@brettwolkey I can’t be the only one who thinks this song is sooo catchy #makeba #viralsong #trendingsong ♬ Makeba – Jain

@im_mmxvii

Creator MMXVII regularly shares quick videos featuring sounds and music that are rising in popularity, plus weekly round-ups that feature a selection of the most popular songs and their stats. One commenter claimed this TikToker helped him grow his following by 8,000 people with one of his song recommendations.

@im_mmxvii 3 tiktok songs to use this week to boost your videos 💥🤞🏼 (Jul 10 – 16) #tiktoktrending #tiktoksounds #popularsong ♬ Makeba – Jain

Check out Tokchart and Tokboard

Websites like Tokchart and Tokboard are entirely devoted to tracking trending TikTok audio.

Tokchart seems to be updated more frequently, but Tokboard does offer a bit more info on the audio, including countries in which the sound is trending, plus hashtags most used in videos that feature it.

Try CapCut templates

The CapCut video editing app is one of the best ways to identify emerging trends (our Social Media Manager Mitra Mehvar highly recommends it).

To do so:

Search for posts tagged #capcut or just ‘capcut template’
Find a recent post you like and then tap the ‘CapCut – Try this template’ button
You’ll be prompted to download the CapCut app if you haven’t already
In CapCut, add your clips to the templates, and make some tweaks if you need to
Download the clip to share on TikTok (or use Buffer to repurpose it for Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, too)

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Pro tip: You know how you’ll often see trending GIFs playing atop trending videos, like this one Mitra created? CapCut is a great place to edit these, fuss-free.

Check out Spotify

There are a plethora of Spotify playlists that curate trending songs TikTok music. A simple search for ‘TikTok’ on the music streaming platform will help you find them.

You could also go straight to the source: TikTok has its own Spotify profile where you’ll find several playlists curated according to the songs trending in a specific region.

No one knows more about trending audio at Buffer than Mitra — in fact, she picks one a week to feature in our social media newsletter. If you’d like to have her recommendations sent straight to your inbox, sign up here. She covers Instagram Reels audio, too!

Bonus tip: Know how the sound is being used

Finding the TikTok sound or audio is half the battle. It’s important to know how they’re being used to tap into the trend.

To make sure you’re not missing out on important context, use TikTok’s search function to find the audio. Hit the magnifying glass on the top right of the screen, type in the name of the song, tap the ‘Sounds’ tab at the top of the screen, then tap on the sound to see how other users have used it in their videos.

Using a combination of all the methods above (and many recommendations from Mitra), I’ve pulled together a list of TikTok sounds that, as Brett Wolkey would say, hit hard. Here’s a list, plus examples of how to use them.

1. Golden Hour: Piano Version

This song is magical and calming, and it’s the perfect audio to add a little bit of sparkle to your videos. You can use it for a timelapse video or as background music while you do a voiceover.

Check out how @carolinagelen used it in a video about a dessert they couldn’t stop eating recently.

@carolinagelen @Frankie Gaw ‘s fruit shaved ice with peaches and cream #desserts #shavedice #sweettreats ♬ Golden Hour: Piano Version – Andy Morris

2. What You Won’t Do for Love

This audio has taken over TikTok after it was used in a viral video showing off some chocolate-covered strawberries. Since then, it’s been used in over 5 million videos with varying trends.

That's no surprise, given how versatile this audio is. You can use it as background music for a cooking video, or to show off something or someone you adore — don't forget to move your camera around to the beat of the music.

Check out this cheeky version from @kouorem where they reference the original viral strawberries video:

@kouorem does this look as good as the chocolate covered strawberries though #chocolatecoveredstrawberries #koreanfood #koreanbbq #kouorem ♬ What You Won't Do for Love – Bobby Caldwell

3. Funny (Gold-Tiger)

This audio is the perfect sound to use for any sneaky, suspicious, or silly situations. It’s been around TikTok for a while, but it’s one of those evergreen sounds that will always be on trend to use.

Check out how @skoneclone used this audio in a carousel post showing the funny email signoffs they’ve used at work.

Here's another hilarious take by @lindseygurk, showing the, er, precious antics of her toddler.

@lindseygurk She’s been very vocal about being “mad” lately. 😆It takes everything I have not to laugh when this little girl, who’s no taller than my knee cap, grunts and stomps her tiny feet. 🤦🏻‍♀️ #toddlermom #toddlermomlife #toddlermomsoftiktok #parenthood #momlife #momlifeisthebest #momhumor ♬ Funny – Gold-Tiger

4. Espresso

At this point it feels like Sabrina Carpenter is the queen of TikTok — all of her hits always go viral on TikTok.

Her new song, “Espresso,” is a really fun track that can be used as background music for your latest vlog. In classic TikTok fashion, the sped-up version has been taking over my FYP.

Check out TikTok influencer @annaxsitar’s fun video using this audio. Remember: it's all about those transitions.

@annaxsitar

left right OH MY. THE BRIDGE. 😭💛 MOST ICONIC TRANSITION YET 👀✨💛

♬ espresso sped up – kai

5. End of Beginning

The best way to describe this audio by Djo is “vibey.” Many people are using the clip with the lyrics, “and when I’m back in Chicago, I feel it” and are using this part to show a thing or place that is special to them.

Another fun trend that has come out of this clip is a carousel trend where people say: “If I won the lottery no one would know, but there would be signs,” and they share either a person they’re with that makes them feel like they won the lottery, or a silly version where they share something funny that they would buy.

This example from @cuckooobananas took the silly route with their extravagant purchase of cheese.

6. "I’m actually very fun, relaxed, and easygoing"

This clip of Nathan Felder saying, “In reality, I’m actually very fun, relaxed, and easygoing,” is an audio (and CapCut template!) that you can use to poke fun at yourself a little bit.

A couple of specific examples for this audio would be something like “me after telling my friends to refer to the Google doc of our travel plans” or showing how you label your label maker.

@lilly Why am i like this? #neatfreak #typeA ♬ original sound – Thrifty girl

7. "Look at this"

This clip features audio from the Kardashians television show where Kris Jenner says, “Look at this,” followed by lots of sounds of amazement. It’s the perfect audio to use to make an entrance or do a big reveal.

Many people are using this audio as a chance to show off their products, like this example from @stitched_by_shari.

@stitched_by_shari

Tic tac toe to go?!

♬ original sound – kardashianshulu

8. Walking Around — Instrumental

This song by Eldar Kedem is the perfect audio to create an upbeat vibe for your videos! You can use it for behind-the-scenes clips, recaps, or a vlog.

If you’re into organization hacks, check out how @mikaylamcn used this audio for a kitchen restock video.

@mikaylamcn Restock with me because nothing in this house stays in the container it came in 🤭🫠👏🏼 #restock #asmr #satisfying #kitchen #kitchenhacks #cleaninghacks #cleantok #lifehacks #organization #organizedhome #organizingtips #clean #thatgirl #aesthetic #home #homeorganization #hack #refresh ♬ Walking Around – Instrumental Version – Eldar Kedem

9. Luminary

This spellbinding song from musician Joel Sunny is BookTok's bestie — how could it not be, with the epic build-up? Norwegian creator @byhelgam uses the song in all her fantasy cosplay clips.

@byhelgam Replying to @Brianna Taylor hope you like it ✨💙🌙🌃 #acotar #acourtofthornsandroses #acomaf #feyre #feyrearcheron #feyrecosplay #whatreadinglookslikevswhatitfeelslike #fantasybooktok #fantasytok ♬ Luminary – Joel Sunny

However, this beautiful audio will work for any climactic moment and is great for dramatic scenery. Check out how @tom_juenemann used it to showcase this aerial footage of Luxembourg.

@tom_juenemann A little paradise in the middle of nowhere 😱 #fyp #travel #europe #dronevideo ♬ Luminary – Joel Sunny

10. More passion, more energy

There are so many ways to use this hilarious audio, which sounds a lot like a photographer giving instructions to a model during a photoshoot (though to be completely honest, I was unable to track down the original sound).

It’s often used with clips of animals, but also works to illustrate how excited you are about something or, conversely, how you have to hype yourself up for something.

I’ve watched Mitra’s clip below way more times than I care to admit and crack up every time.

@bufferapp Always making sure the captions are top tier #socialmediamanagerlife #socialmediamanagerproblems #socialmediamanager #contentcreator #creatorproblems #marketingproblems #socialmediacaptions #socialmediacaptiontips #buffer #marketingtips #captionideas ♬ original sound – MORE ENERGY 😎

11. Aesthetic

This soothing song by Tollan Kim has made daily appearances on my For You page and I’m still not tired of it. It’s another super-versatile track, great for everything from showing off weekend highlight vlogs to your latest product offering.

@hotelsdotcom Ever heard of an Eco-Concierge? There's one on staff at #ElSilencioLodge to help you plan wellness excursions that bring in the healing power of the rainforest. Link in bio. 📸 @Get Lost More 🛩️ ♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim

If you’re new to the joys of TikTok audio, or just TikTok in general, we have a few handy resources that will help get you started. Here’s our Ultimate TikTok Marketing Guide and How to Use TikTok for Business: A Beginners Guide. Happy editing!