# Free acapellas

> Free a cappella vocals for remixes and new tracks, mostly from Creative Commons remix communities, with tempo and key where known and a licence verdict on each.

24 samples from 2 sources (Openverse 12, Wikimedia Commons 12), updated 2026-10-23. Picked from a live search and refreshed daily.

- Same search in the browser: https://sound.shep.bot/search?q=acapella&category=vocals.acapella
- Same search over the API: `curl "https://sound.shep.bot/v1/search?q=acapella&category=vocals.acapella"`
- Details, files and the credit line: `GET https://sound.shep.bot/v1/samples/{id}` with an id from the table below.
- Licence verdicts: "Commercial use OK" (with or without credit) is cleared for a release; anything else must be checked or is non-commercial. See https://sound.shep.bot/docs/licences.md

## Working with an a cappella

An a cappella is a full vocal performance without the music, usually recorded to a fixed tempo. Match your project to its BPM first, then set the key: if the original key isn't listed, find the vocal's tonic by humming along with a bass note until it settles.

Most community vocals are dry, so you control the space with your own reverb and delay. Expect some breaths, clicks and room noise; a gate or gentle de-noising can clean them up without dulling the performance.

## Credit the singer

Most free a cappellas exist because singers want their voices used, and the usual price is a credit. The detail view gives you a ready-made credit line to paste into your release notes, and every download through Sound Server includes it in ATTRIBUTION.md.

## Samples

| Sample | id | What | Source | Licence | Commercial use | Direct download |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Acapella Himne F.C. Barcelona](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acapella_Himne_F.C._Barcelona.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Acapella_Himne_F.C._Barcelona.ogg` | A cappella, Phrase, 1:24 | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Occupy The Acapella .wav](https://freesound.org/people/Plaedo/sounds/177150) | `openverse:813e4610-7b81-4371-b8bb-87b5bdd7aa65` | A cappella, Phrase, 4:26 | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Aliens Exist Acapella](https://freesound.org/people/Plaedo/sounds/277318) | `openverse:261a3a71-bf5b-42d8-bd33-4565fd379bb5` | A cappella, Phrase, 1:12 | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [EternalFather USNavyBand acapella](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EternalFather_USNavyBand_acapella.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:EternalFather_USNavyBand_acapella.ogg` | A cappella, Phrase, 1:02 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [steklo - crushed (acapella)](https://freesound.org/people/steklovocals/sounds/141475) | `openverse:75b339a2-f478-41c1-abf8-a2ca44262433` | A cappella, Phrase, 38 s | Openverse | CC BY-NC 3.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [IMSLP206671-WIMA 8582-BWV1(II)Sco](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IMSLP206671-WIMA_8582-BWV1(II)Sco.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:IMSLP206671-WIMA_8582-BWV1(II)Sco.ogg` | A cappella, Phrase, 44 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Eternal Father - U.S. Navy Band](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eternal_Father_-_U.S._Navy_Band.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Eternal_Father_-_U.S._Navy_Band.ogg` | A cappella, Phrase, 1:02 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Hello Acapella](https://freesound.org/people/Dave_Girtsman/sounds/560625) | `openverse:12ad0ffd-a0ab-4869-9012-9862fac0f481` | A cappella, One-shot, 4.0 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Bright College Years](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bright_College_Years.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Bright_College_Years.ogg` | A cappella, Phrase, 1:44 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Random Acapella](https://freesound.org/people/dmz18_/sounds/711951) | `openverse:4491e745-dd99-40fe-bc17-bf2cc870c1de` | A cappella, Phrase, 6.7 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Angels We Have Heard on High](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Army_Band_-_Angels_We_Have_Heard_on_High.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:U.S._Army_Band_-_Angels_We_Have_Heard_on_High.ogg` | A cappella, Phrase, 44 s | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Warrior Soundz Acapella (NB) .wav](https://freesound.org/people/Plaedo/sounds/398994) | `openverse:8307825e-420c-4bc4-90ff-c6e21478cc1b` | A cappella, Phrase, 1:02 | Openverse | CC BY-NC 3.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Azerbaijani anthem a capella](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Azerbaijani_anthem_a_capella.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Azerbaijani_anthem_a_capella.ogg` | A cappella, Phrase, 1:24 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Tribal Revival Acapella (NB) .wav](https://freesound.org/people/Plaedo/sounds/398995) | `openverse:1954bdf9-f28b-431e-8690-3cabca5406bf` | A cappella, Phrase, 46 s | Openverse | CC BY-NC 3.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - sung with full lyrics](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Twinkle_Twinkle_Little_Star_-_sung_with_full_lyrics.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Twinkle_Twinkle_Little_Star_-_sung_with_full_lyrics.ogg` | A cappella, Phrase, 2:06 | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [The Beauty I See Acapella (NB) .wav](https://freesound.org/people/Plaedo/sounds/398996) | `openverse:2fe0a3e9-e352-4e19-ace4-b1ee157ba2f6` | A cappella, Phrase, 46 s | Openverse | CC BY-NC 3.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Deck the Halls - A Cappella Singers - United States Air Force Band of the Rockies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:It_Came_Upon_a_Midnight_Clear,_Deck_the_Halls_-_A_Cappella_Singers_-_United_States_Air_Force_Band_of_the_Rockies.mp3) | `wikimediacommons:It_Came_Upon_a_Midnight_Clear,_Deck_the_Halls_-_A_Cappella_Singers_-_United_States_Air_Force_Band_of_the_Rockies.mp3` | A cappella, Phrase, 2:15 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Bank acapella](https://freesound.org/people/grafezzy/sounds/672105) | `openverse:d6ab87ab-e384-454b-a65d-053d519f8f2d` | A cappella, Phrase, 49 s | Openverse | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Some acapella sort of thing](https://freesound.org/people/sonically_sound/sounds/651798) | `openverse:bf9d9f5b-8120-462a-8ed4-4a9f17762bad` | A cappella, MIDI, 25 s | Openverse | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Ievan Polkka short parody](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ievan_Polkka_short_parody.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Ievan_Polkka_short_parody.ogg` | A cappella, Phrase, 46 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [cap acapella](https://freesound.org/people/5ocrates/sounds/666081) | `openverse:ada74f21-4ff0-4881-aba2-4ad98b9dc776` | A cappella, Phrase, 1:47 | Openverse | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Tommy Wright III On Da Creep 2](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tommy_Wright_III_On_Da_Creep_2.wav) | `wikimediacommons:Tommy_Wright_III_On_Da_Creep_2.wav` | A cappella, Phrase, 7.1 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Plaedo is Like Water Acapella (NB) .wav](https://freesound.org/people/Plaedo/sounds/398997) | `openverse:4f9a0d83-650d-432b-af7d-a60d55d060a5` | A cappella, Phrase, 45 s | Openverse | CC BY-NC 3.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [ASEAN Way Anthem 2023 ASEAN Summit Rendition](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ASEAN_Way_Anthem_2023_ASEAN_Summit_Rendition.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:ASEAN_Way_Anthem_2023_ASEAN_Summit_Rendition.ogg` | A cappella, Phrase, 1:15 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |

## Questions

**Where do free acapellas come from?**

Mostly from communities such as ccMixter, where singers publish their vocal tracks under Creative Commons so others can remix them, and from archives of public-domain recordings. Commercial song acapellas found on random upload sites are rarely licensed for reuse.

**Can I release a remix that uses one of these?**

Check the verdict. CC BY acapellas are fine with a credit to the singer. Share-alike ones require your whole track to carry the same licence, and NC ones rule out a commercial release. Many ccMixter vocals are NC, so filter with Commercial-safe if you plan to sell.

## Related collections

- [Free vocal chops](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-vocal-chops.md): Free vocal chop samples for house, future bass and pop: short sung syllables, cuts and stutters with BPM and key where known, and a licence verdict on each.
- [Free piano samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-piano-samples.md): Free piano samples: single notes from grand and upright pianos for building an instrument, plus chords and loops, each with a preview and licence verdict.
- [Free riser sound effects](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-riser-sound-effects.md): Free riser and uplifter sound effects for build-ups before a drop: white noise sweeps, pitch risers and tension builds, each with a preview and licence verdict.
- [Free choir samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-choir-samples.md): Free choir samples: sustained choral notes, chants, ahh and ooh pads and real choirs for cinematic, ambient and gospel-tinged tracks, with licences.
- [Free spoken word samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-spoken-word-samples.md): Free spoken word and voice samples: narration, speeches, radio chatter and public-domain recordings for intros and breakdowns, with a licence verdict on each.
- [Free vocal shouts and ad-libs](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-vocal-shouts.md): Free vocal shouts, chants, hype phrases and ad-libs for drops, hooks and transitions in dance and hip hop, each with a preview and a commercial-use verdict.

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Source: https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-acapellas