How to loop part of a YouTube video

YouTube can only loop a whole video. To repeat one section, like a chorus or a solo you're learning, you need a looper that lets you set a start and end point. This is often called A-B repeat.

Back On Repeat is a free web app that does this. It also counts how many times the section has played, and remembers the loop the next time you open the song.

Steps

1. Copy the YouTube video's link and paste it into the box on backonrepeat.com.
2. Drag the left handle under the video to where the loop should start.
3. Drag the right handle to where it should end. The video now repeats only that part.
4. For exact timing, type the start and end times, or nudge them by a tenth of a second with the - and + buttons.

On a keyboard, press [ to set the start to the current moment and ] to set the end. Press R to go back to looping the whole song.

Good for practice

Musicians use section loops to learn a riff or a solo a few bars at a time, and dancers use them to drill one part of a routine.

For either, the Slowed preset plays the video at 0.75x speed. You can also turn on Smooth loop, which fades the volume at the loop point so the jump back is less abrupt.

Questions

Can I do this on YouTube itself?

No. YouTube's own loop only repeats the whole video. You need a separate looper to repeat one section. Here's how YouTube's own loop works if that's all you need.

Can I share a loop with someone?

Yes. While a section is looping, the address in your browser includes the start and end times. Send that link and it opens with the same section looping.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. Open backonrepeat.com in your phone's browser and drag the handles with your finger, or type the times.

Is it free?

Yes. Back On Repeat is free, has no ads, and doesn't need an account.