A good ringtone is a short, recognizable slice of a song that you can hear over background noise. Here is how to pick one and, if you want, use stems to make it stronger.
Step 1: Choose the right section
You only need 20 to 30 seconds. A few things make a section work as a ringtone:
A strong hook. The chorus or a memorable riff is easier to recognize than a verse.
A clear start. Pick a point where the sound begins on a beat, so the ringtone starts right away instead of fading in slowly.
Not too quiet. A soft intro will get lost in a pocket or a busy room.
Step 2: Decide what should play
This is where stems help. Instead of using the whole song as-is, you can shape what you hear.
Instrumental only. Mute the vocals if you want something less intrusive, especially for a work phone.
Drums and bass. A rhythmic ringtone that is punchy and easy to notice without any melody.
Vocal hook on its own. Solo the vocals to pull out one memorable line for a ringtone that is instantly recognizable.
Drop what is distracting. If a section has a busy guitar part you do not like, mute that stem and keep the rest.
To get these stems, upload the song and let it separate. Our guide to removing vocals from a song walks through the basics.
Step 3: Trim it to length
Once you have the mix you like, export it and trim it in any audio editor. Some points to keep in mind:
iPhone ringtones are limited to 40 seconds. Android phones are more flexible, but 20 to 30 seconds is plenty for any phone.
Cut at a natural boundary, such as the end of a phrase, so the loop does not sound chopped.
Add a very short fade at the start and a longer one at the end to avoid clicks and an abrupt cutoff.
Step 4: Set it on your phone
The exact steps depend on your phone and software version, so check your phone's own help pages if the menus look different.
iPhone: ringtones use the .m4r format. You can convert and add the file with the Music app or Finder, or create one in GarageBand, then choose it under Settings, Sounds & Haptics, Ringtone.
Android: most phones accept MP3 files. Copy the file into your phone's Ringtones folder, then choose it under Settings, Sound, Phone ringtone.
Tips for a ringtone you will not get sick of
Test it in a noisy place. Something that sounds great with headphones can disappear in a car or a crowded room.
Avoid very bass-heavy mixes, since small phone speakers cannot reproduce low frequencies.
Keep the volume consistent. If you boost a quiet section, listen for distortion.
A note on rights
Making a ringtone for your own phone from music you own is a very common personal use. Selling or distributing ringtones made from other people's recordings is a different matter and may require permission.