musicianstabspodcasts

Podcast Theme Covers: Chords & Tabs for Easy Studio-Ready Versions (Ant & Dec Edition)

ssongslyrics

2026-01-29

9 min read

Practical chord charts, tabs, and studio-ready arrangement notes to create polished podcast theme covers — Ant & Dec’s Hanging Out edition.

Stop hunting for vague tabs — make a studio-ready podcast ID in an evening

If you’re a musician asked to produce a short, memorable cover of a podcast theme — for example Ant & Dec’s new Hanging Out ID — you need concise, reliable charts and an arrangement that fits modern podcast platforms. The problem: short themes must be instantly recognisable, technically clean for broadcast, and flexible enough to loop or morph into episode beds. This guide gives practical chord charts, guitar and bass tabs, piano voicings, and studio-ready production notes so you can craft polished podcast IDs fast.

The evolution of podcast themes in 2026 — why your arrangement matters now

Short-form audio branding exploded through late 2024–2025 and into 2026. Podcasts and their creators now expect micro‑IDs (4–18 seconds) that work across audio-only feeds, social video snippets, and spatial audio streams. Platforms have also made creator tools richer — more podcasts publish video versions, cross-post to social, and use automated dynamic ad insertion that demands concise beds. That means your cover must be sonically clean, mix-ready, and adaptable.

Two relevant trends you should keep in mind:

Micro-ID standardisation: IDs that work as 3–10 second hooks for short clips are preferred. Aim for a strong, memorable motif within that window.
Immersive audio adoption: Late 2025 saw wider interest in spatial audio for premium podcasts. Mixes that translate well to stereo and binaural (and, where possible, stems for Atmos) increase placement chances.

Quick checklist before you arrange

Target length: 4–18 seconds (have 2 variants: 6s promo and 12–18s full ID)
Key choice: choose one that suits the host vocal range if there’s a spoken-sting; otherwise pick a comfortable band key (C, G, D, A, E)
Tempo: 80–120 BPM for conversational shows; 120–140 BPM for upbeat, punchy IDs
Instrumentation palette: 2–4 elements max (lead motif, harmony, rhythm, bass)
Deliverables: stereo WAV stems (lead, pad/keys, rhythm, bass) + one mastered stereo file at -14 LUFS (for loud but podcast-friendly levels)

Case study (experience): Turning Ant & Dec’s Hanging Out into a 12‑second ID

What we did in a two‑hour turnaround for a client brief inspired by Ant & Dec’s Hanging Out: craft a warm, friendly ukulele/guitar lead, simple bassline, soft pad, and snappy clap/snare. The result: a 6s hook and a 12s full ID with a drop into a vocal bed. Below is a reproducible arrangement and the actual tabs/charts used.

Project scope & time plan

15 min: set key and tempo (G major, 98 BPM)
20 min: write 6s melodic motif on ukulele/guitar
25 min: create bassline and rhythm groove
25 min: record DI guitar, bass, and soft keys
35 min: rough mix, quick master, export stems

Core arrangement recipes (pick a style)

Below are three practical templates you can adapt for short podcast IDs. Each includes chord charts and a brief production roadmap.

1) Warm acoustic ID — friendly chat vibe (ideal for Ant & Dec)

Length options: 6s hook / 12s full. Key: G major. Tempo: 92 BPM. Instruments: nylon/acoustic guitar, upright bass or warm electric, shaker/clap, soft pad.

Chord progression (6s hook — loopable)

Two-bar progression repeated: | G | Em | C | D | (one chord per beat grouping)

Guitar voicings (simple strum)

Suggested rhythmic feel

Use a soft palm-muted strum on the first pass, then open it up on the repeat.
For 6s, play 2 bars of the progression: two chords per bar at 92 BPM with 16th note groove.

Bass tab (simple root motion)

  G|----------------|----------------|
  D|----------------|----------------|
  A|--2-------------|--3-------------|
  E|-----3--2-------|-----0--2-------|
    (G)   (Em)     (C)   (D)

Arrangement notes

Record guitar DI and mic for warmth (SM57 on the bridge + small condenser at 10–12" for body) — for gear and mic picks see our field review of microphones & cameras for memory-driven streams.
Keep bass supportive — no heavy fills; the ID must not compete with spoken voice over the top.
Use a slow pad to glue chords; EQ out low mids at 300–500Hz to avoid mud.

2) Synth-pop radio ID — punchy and modern

Length options: 4s stinger / 10s ID. Key: C minor. Tempo: 120 BPM. Instruments: saw lead, pulsating synth pad, electronic percussion, sub-bass.

Chord motif (compact)

  Cm  x35543
  Ab  466544
  Bb  x13331

Lead riff (example MIDI motif)

  e|----------------|----------------|
  B|--4-6-4---3-4---|----------------|
  G|----------------|----------------|

Production notes

Sidechain the pad to a subtle 1/4 kick duck so spoken words can sit above if needed.
Make a 4s version that hits on the downbeat with a bright transient (pulse + top-end boost).
Export a version with and without transient for different platform needs (social vs podcast host intro).

3) Minimal cinematic stinger — dramatic, short (<6s)

Key: E minor. Tempo: 70 BPM (half-time feel). Instruments: bowed synth/strings stab, soft sub bass hit, woodblock or processed clap.

Two‑chord hit

  Em   022000
  D/F# 200232

Arrangement notes

Use a low transient followed by a pad swell. Keep the attack tight so a narrator can cut in immediately after.
Add a short riser of 150–300ms if you need a quick build before the voice.

Practical guitar & bass tabs for short themes

Here are ready-to-play lines you can copy into your DAW or hand to session players. Tabs are intentionally simple — the catchiness comes from rhythm and tone, not complexity.

Acoustic lead riff (G major, 6s)

  e|---3-2-0---0-----3-2-0---0----|
  B|---------3---3-----------3----|
  G|-------------------------------|
  D|-------------------------------|
  A|-------------------------------|
  E|-------------------------------|

Play with light fingerstyle or soft pick; leave space for vocal overlap.

Electric pop riff (C minor, 4s stinger)

  e|----------------|
  B|--4-6-4---------|
  G|--------5-4-----|
  D|----------------|
  A|----------------|
  E|----------------|

Bass pocket for loopable ID

  G|----------------|----------------|
  D|----------------|----------------|
  A|--3-----3---1---|----------------|
  E|------1-----3---|--3-------------|

Simplify to quarter notes for spoken beds, add a tiny slide on repeats if you need character.

Studio-ready production checklist

Treat podcast IDs like broadcast jingles. That means clean recordings, clear mixes, and proper deliverables.

Deliver stems: Lead, harmony, rhythm, bass, percussion. 24-bit WAV, 48kHz standard for video cross-posting; provide 44.1kHz if requested. For best practices on stems and template handoffs see click-to-video workflow templates and studio handoff guides.
Loudness: Aim for -14 LUFS integrated for podcast delivery (many platforms normalise to ~-14). For promo clips or social uploads, you can push to -9 to -11 LUFS but provide both options.
Dynamics: Light compression on lead (2:1, 3–5ms attack, 50–100ms release) to keep it forward. Use bus compression on the rhythm group for cohesion.
EQ: High-pass instruments below 40–50Hz; cut 300–500Hz slightly on pads/guitar to avoid masking; boost presence at 3–6kHz for clarity but tame harshness at 8–12kHz.
Reverb & space: Short plates and room verbs work well. Keep reverb tails short (<=1.2s) for IDs so spoken words are not obscured.
Stereo image: Keep bass elements mono; widen pads/texture but keep lead fairly centered for podcast clarity.
Master: Gentle multiband compression and a limiter to keep peaks under -1dBFS. Avoid over-limiting — preserve transient for radio punch.

Delivery formats & stems — what producers expect in 2026

Producers want options. Here’s a minimal deliverable set that increases reuse across platforms:

Mastered stereo WAV (48kHz/24-bit), -14 LUFS
Promo stereo WAV (louder) for social, -9 LUFS
Stems (lead, pad, rhythm, bass, percussion) 24-bit WAV
Instrumental and vocal-ready clean bed (if the host records intro atop the ID)
A small PDF chord chart and a 6–12s MP3 preview

Licensing and copyright basics (practical, not legal advice)

One frequent pain point: are you allowed to make and deliver a cover of a podcast theme? The short answer: it depends. Podcast themes are musical works subject to copyright. If you’re producing a cover for internal use by the podcast (their intro), they typically handle licensing with the rights holders or commission an original piece from you. If you’re releasing a cover publicly (streaming your version), mechanical and sync considerations arise.

For UK creators: PRS for Music and PPL manage performance and recording rights in many cases.
For US creators: ASCAP/BMI handle performance rights; for mechanical rights, look to the publisher or services such as Harry Fox (HFA).
Practical tip: if a client wants a cover for their podcast, get written confirmation that they’ve cleared rights or ask them to commission an original composition inspired by the theme — easier to clear.

When in doubt, create something “inspired by” rather than a note‑for‑note cover — it’s faster to clear and often more original.

Studio workflow: from session to handoff

Pre‑session: agree key, tempo, length, deliverables, and licensing responsibilities in writing.
tracking: use direct inputs for bass/guitar (plus one amp mic if desired), capture at 48k/24-bit, keep takes short and labeled.
Editing: comp a tight 6–12s section; create two versions (short and full) by trimming/looping intelligently.
Mix: aim for clarity and space; check with mid/side to ensure mono compatibility.
Export: stems, masters, PDF chart, and a one-page usage license if you’re delivering work-for-hire.

Advanced tips (2026 tech & creative strategies)

Leverage modern tools without losing musical judgement:

AI-assisted stem separation: Tools matured through 2025 let you isolate parts from reference tracks to study arrangement without infringing distribution — useful for learning motif placement; see on-device AI integration and analysis workflows for ingest and processing patterns.
Adaptive stems: Provide stems with a “talk-friendly” mix (lower mid energy) so hosts can record vocals without re-mixing.
Spatial-ready stems: Offer optional Atmos-ready stems if the show has premium spatial editions — producers are increasingly asking for this since late 2025; for hybrid radio and venue-level spatial strategies see independent venues & hybrid radio case studies.
Template banks: Keep DAW templates tuned to standard podcast delivery (48k/24, -14 LUFS preset, stem export macros) to save time — read about click-to-video and DAW template economies at From Click to Camera.

Actionable next steps — make a polished Ant & Dec style ID tonight

Choose one recipe above (acoustic recommended for Ant & Dec’s Hanging Out).
Set your DAW to 48k/24-bit and 92–98 BPM.
Record a two-bar motif and loop it to 12s. Keep instrumentation to 3 tracks initially.
Mix cleanly, export stems, and deliver a mastered -14 LUFS WAV plus a louder social promo version.

Closing notes — why this matters for your career

Short podcast themes are a recurring revenue and portfolio opportunity. A well-produced ID can lead to recurring studio work, sync placements, and creative collaborations with creators branching into audio-first brands. In 2026, sound branding is a quick route to visibility — make your cover both distinctive and utility-first. For broader creator monetization strategies including micro-subscriptions and component sales, see monetization for component creators.

Call to action

Ready to produce a studio-ready podcast ID? Download our free 1-page PDF chord chart (Acoustic + Synth templates) and a DAW template preset that exports stems at -14 LUFS. Or send us your brief (show name, length, vibe) and we’ll provide a mockup arrangement within 48 hours. Click to get the template and start your Ant & Dec-inspired ID today.

songslyrics

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.