How to Make a Lyric Video in CapCut

Before opening CapCut, decide which song you want to use and what background you want to display behind the lyrics. There are three main options for backgrounds. The first is a simple solid color — black is the most classic choice for lyric videos because it makes text easy to read. The second is a looping video clip — nature footage, abstract animations, or any visual that matches the mood of the song. The third is a series of photos that change throughout the video. Have your song file saved to your phone and your background media ready before you start editing.

Open CapCut and tap the plus button to start a new project. Import your background video or photo. If you are using a solid color background, import any short clip first — you will replace it with a color later. Before doing anything else, set the aspect ratio. For TikTok or Instagram Reels, use 9:16 vertical. For YouTube, use 16:9 horizontal. For a square format suitable for Instagram feed posts, use 1:1. Tap the ratio button at the top of the editor and select your preferred format. Setting this correctly from the start saves you from reformatting everything later.

Tap the Audio button at the bottom of the screen, then select My Music to choose a track from your phone's storage. Find your song and tap the plus button to add it to the timeline. The song will appear as a colored bar below your background clip. Drag the edges of your background clip so it matches the full length of the song. If your song is longer than your background clip, extend the clip by dragging its right edge or by duplicating it. The background should run for the entire duration of the song without cutting off.

If you want a plain color background instead of a video or photo, tap your background clip in the timeline to select it. Look for the Canvas or Background option in the editing panel at the bottom. From there you can set a solid color background. Black, deep navy, or dark purple work well for most lyric video styles because they create strong contrast with white or brightly colored text. If you prefer a more artistic look, a blurred version of a photo also works well as a lyric video background — tap Canvas Blur to apply it automatically.

Tap the Text button at the bottom of the screen and select Add Text. Type the first line of the song. Choose a font that matches the mood — a bold sans-serif font for energetic pop music, an elegant script for romantic or emotional songs, or a clean modern font for hip hop or R&B. Set the font color to white or a color that contrasts clearly with your background. Position the text in the center of the screen or wherever it looks best with your background. For more control over text styling and animation, the CapCut text and subtitles guide covers all the available options.

Static text works but animated text looks far better in a lyric video. Tap on your text element and look for the Animation option in the bottom panel. CapCut offers entry animations, exit animations, and loop animations. For lyric videos, a simple fade-in or typewriter entry animation is effective and easy to read. A fade-out exit animation makes the transition to the next line feel smooth. Apply the same animation style to every line of lyrics for consistency throughout the video.

This is the most important and time-consuming step. In the timeline, drag the text element to start exactly when that line is sung. Play the video with sound and watch carefully to check the timing. The text should appear just as the singer starts each line and disappear just before the next line begins. Precise timing makes the lyric video feel professional and satisfying to watch. Use headphones while timing to hear the lyrics clearly. Take your time on this step — getting the sync right is what separates a good lyric video from a great one. Understanding how the CapCut audio timeline works will help you position text elements accurately.

Add a new text element for each line of the song and sync it to the correct moment in the timeline. Keep the font, size, and animation consistent across all lines. If the song has a chorus that repeats, you can copy an existing text element and paste it at the new position in the timeline rather than creating each one from scratch. CapCut allows you to copy and paste text elements which saves significant time on longer songs. Work through the entire song section by section — verse, chorus, bridge — until all lyrics are covered.

If you are using a video background, apply a color filter to create a mood that matches the song. For a sad or emotional song, a desaturated or cool-toned filter works well. For an upbeat or romantic song, warmer filters add energy and warmth. Tap your background clip, select Filter, and browse the options. Apply the filter and adjust the intensity until the background feels right without overpowering the text. The complete CapCut color grading guide shows how to use filters and manual adjustments together for the best visual result.

Watch the full video from start to finish and check every line of text for timing accuracy. Fix any lines that appear too early or too late. When you are satisfied, tap the Export button and select 1080p at 30fps. This gives you sharp, high-quality output suitable for all platforms. After export, share your lyric video to YouTube, TikTok, Instagram Reels, or wherever your audience is. For platform-specific tips on getting the most views, check the guides on CapCut tips for TikTok and the YouTube Shorts guide.