How to Upload Music to YouTube: From Song to Video

Learning how to upload music to YouTube is not just about clicking the upload button. For independent musicians and DIY guitar players, it’s a process that starts long before the video goes live and continues after it’s published.

This post describes the exact workflow I use to upload original guitar songs to YouTube — the same process I follow for my Bible Blues Studio channel. It’s practical, repeatable, and focused on finishing and publishing music without overcomplicating things.

Start With the Song, Not the Platform

When people ask how to upload music to YouTube, they often jump straight to video settings and metadata. I do the opposite.

Everything starts with:

• a clear musical idea
• a defined style (often Delta blues or acoustic)
• a mood and tempo that match the message

At this stage, YouTube doesn’t matter yet. The song comes first.

Write and Shape the Music Before Thinking About Video

Lyrics and structure are worked out before anything visual is created. I usually write a full narrative version of the song, even if it’s longer than a standard format.

Only after the song feels complete do I decide:

• whether to tighten it into a 12-bar structure
• whether a chorus or bridge adds value
• how the song should end naturally

Many songs published on Bible Blues Studio keep their longer form because the story matters more than strict formatting.

Lock the Sound With a Clean Style Definition

Before generating or finalizing audio, I prepare a style-only description:

• instruments and playing style
• tempo and feel
• vocal character
• production limits

Lyrics are kept separate from this step. That separation keeps the sound consistent across uploads and avoids unwanted stylistic drift.

Once the audio is done, I treat it as finished.

Create a Visual That Supports the Music

A big part of how to upload music to YouTube successfully is understanding that visuals should support, not compete with, the song.

My visual rules are simple:

• 16:9 for full YouTube videos
• 9:16 for Shorts
• no text overlays
• no modern objects or distractions

The visuals used for Bible Blues Studio are intentionally minimal — light, shadow, a single figure, or a symbolic setting that matches the song’s mood.

Upload the Full Video First

The full video is always uploaded before any Shorts are created.

During upload, I keep things straightforward:

• a descriptive, non-clickbait title
• a short narrative description
• a pinned comment reinforcing the theme

This step is the core of how to upload music to YouTube in a way that builds a consistent channel rather than isolated uploads.

Use Shorts as Entry Points

Shorts come after the full video is live.

Each Short:

• uses the vertical (9:16) visual
• keeps text minimal or absent
• points viewers to the full song

On Bible Blues Studio, Shorts are not replacements — they’re invitations.

What I No Longer Overthink

Over time, I stopped worrying about:

• perfect optimization
• chasing trends
• endless revisions

Instead, I focus on:

• finishing songs
• consistent visuals
• publishing regularly

That mindset shift made the biggest difference.

Why This Workflow Works

This approach to how to upload music to YouTube works because it:

• separates creative and technical steps
• stays repeatable from song to song
• supports both long videos and Shorts
• keeps the focus on music, not algorithms

It’s flexible enough to experiment, but stable enough to rely on.

Final Thoughts

If you’re trying to figure out how to upload music to YouTube as a guitarist or independent musician, you don’t need a complicated system.

Write the song.
Support it visually.
Upload it cleanly.

That’s the process I use for Bible Blues Studio