The Complete Suno AI Prompt Guide 2026
Everything you need to write perfect Suno prompts. Covers Suno v5, lyrics formatting, Custom Mode, 50+ genre templates, and the exact words that make Suno produce professional results. Free. No signup.
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TL;DR · 30 seconds
Write Suno prompts using the GMVP Method: Genre + Mood + Vocals + Production, comma-separated, in Custom Mode's Style field. Aim for 80-150 characters. Add structural metatags ([Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge]) on their own lines in the Lyrics field. Generate 4 variations every time. Avoid artist names (blocked) and contradictory descriptors. After Suno exports, master through MixMasterAI for streaming-ready loudness. Suno output is unmastered raw stems.
72
ready prompts
12
genres covered
18
metatags listed
8
common mistakes fixed
Table of Contents
Quick Start. 60 Seconds to Your First Track
You don't need to read the whole guide. Use this to get a result in the next 60 seconds, then come back for the details.
Go to suno.com and click Create
Make sure you are logged in. The Create button opens the generation panel.
Enable Custom Mode (top right toggle)
Custom Mode gives you separate Style and Lyrics fields. It is more powerful than the default simple prompt.
Paste this into the Style field
Leave lyrics blank or add your own
For instrumental: leave blank. For vocals: see the Lyrics Guide section below.
Click Create and generate 2 variations
Always generate at least 2. Pick the better one, then extend or remix from there.
Suno v5. What Changed and How to Use It
Suno v5 is a significant upgrade from v3 and v4. Here is what is different and what it means for your prompts.
Longer prompts work better
v5 processes more context than previous versions. Prompts that were too long for v3 now produce better, more coherent results. Aim for 80-150 characters in the Style field.
Better instrument recognition
v5 recognizes more specific instruments. 'Talking drum', 'Fender Rhodes', 'nylon string guitar', and 'log drum' all produce noticeably more accurate results than in v3 or v4.
Structural tags are more reliable
v5 follows [Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge], [Pre-Chorus], [Outro] tags more consistently. You can also use [Instrumental Break] and [Guitar Solo] as section markers.
More musical coherence
v5 maintains chord progressions and melodic themes more consistently across sections. Once a melodic hook appears in the verse, it is more likely to return in the chorus.
Vocal style keywords matter more
Specify vocal style explicitly: 'raspy male vocals', 'smooth female R&B', 'falsetto', 'whispered', 'choir'. v5 responds better to these descriptors than previous versions.
BPM is more accurate
Specifying BPM in the style prompt now produces more accurate tempo matching. '120 BPM' in v5 produces a noticeably different result than '140 BPM', where v3 was less precise.
v5 vs v4. Key difference
In v4, shorter prompts often performed better because long prompts confused the model. In v5, the opposite is true. Longer, more specific prompts consistently outperform short vague ones. If your v4 prompts feel weak in v5, add more instrument and production detail.
The GMVP Method. Our 4-Component Prompt Framework
Every reliable Suno prompt is built from four ordered components: Genre, Mood, Vocals, Production. Skip one and the model fills it in randomly. Include all four and you get consistent, reproducible output. Memorize the order. It matches Suno's attention pattern in the Style field.
Genre
The musical style and any sub-genre. Specific beats vague: 'Nigerian Afrobeats' beats 'African music', 'East Coast boom bap' beats 'hip-hop'.
Nigerian AfrobeatsEast Coast boom bapBrazilian bossa novaNashville country popMood / Energy
The emotional payload of the track. Two adjectives are usually enough. Too many produces muddy output. Pair one feeling word with one energy word.
warm and groovycold and darkeuphoric and drivingmelancholic and intimateVocals
Voice gender, timbre, language, and vocal effects. v5 reads vocal descriptors much better than v4. Be specific or it picks the default for the genre.
smooth male R&Braspy female rockfalsetto choirwhispered female SpanishProduction
Specific instruments, BPM, key, and production keywords. Name 2-3 instruments and a tempo. Production keywords (lo-fi, polished, vintage) shape the mix character.
talking drum, melodic guitar, 100 BPM, F minor808 bass, dark synths, 140 BPM, atmosphericRhodes piano, brushed drums, 90 BPM, jazzyWorked example · all four components
Each component is recognizable, ordered correctly, and fits inside 132 characters. This prompt works in Suno v3, v4, and v5. It also adapts to Udio, Mureka, and other AI music tools without changes. The GMVP order is universal across the major models.
Style Prompt Formula. The Exact Format That Works
Suno's style prompt is a comma-separated description. This formula produces the most consistent results across all genres and versions.
The Formula
Genre, Sub-genre or era, Main instrument, Second instrument, Tempo (BPM), Mood / Energy, Vocal style, Key or scale
Examples:
Afrobeats, West African pop, talking drum, melodic guitar, 100 BPM, warm and groovy, smooth male vocals, F minorTrap, dark melodic trap, heavy 808 bass, piano melody, atmospheric synths, 140 BPM, cold and dark, no vocalsBossa nova, Brazilian jazz, nylon string guitar, upright bass, brushed drums, 125 BPM, romantic and intimate, soft female Portuguese vocalsGenre
Be specific. 'Nigerian Afrobeats' beats 'African music'. 'Delta blues' beats 'blues'.
Instruments
Name 2-3 specific instruments. 'Sitar and tabla' gets Indian music. 'Log drum' gets Amapiano.
Vocals
Specify gender, style, and language. 'Raspy female rock vocals', 'smooth male R&B', 'operatic tenor'.
Lyrics Guide. How to Write Suno Lyrics That Work
Suno reads your lyrics and assigns them to musical sections. Get the formatting right and Suno will structure your song exactly the way you intend.
Lyrics Structure. All Available Tags
[Intro] . Opening section, often instrumental or atmospheric
[Verse] or [Verse 1], [Verse 2] . Storytelling sections
[Pre-Chorus] . Build before the chorus (v5 supports this well)
[Chorus] . The main hook, highest energy
[Bridge] . Contrasting middle section
[Outro] . Final section, usually fades
[Instrumental Break] . Bars with no lyrics
[Guitar Solo] / [Drum Break] . Specific instrumental moment
[Hook] . Alternative to chorus, often shorter and more repetitive
Example. Full Song Structure
Lyrics that work
- ✓Short lines (6-10 syllables)
- ✓Natural speech rhythm
- ✓Clear section tags on their own line
- ✓Repeated chorus lines (Suno strengthens hooks with repetition)
- ✓Simple rhyme scheme (ABAB or AABB)
Lyrics that fail
- ✗Very long lines (15+ syllables)
- ✗No section tags
- ✗Forced or complex rhyme schemes
- ✗References to real people or places Suno blocks
- ✗Prose paragraphs without line breaks
Custom Mode. Full Song Control
Custom Mode separates your style prompt from your lyrics, giving you the most consistent and controllable results in Suno. Always use it for serious projects.
Title field
Name your song. This influences the AI. Make it match your theme. 'Late Night Drive' vs 'Victory Anthem' produce different results with the same style prompt.
Style field
Your full style prompt goes here. This is the instrument list, genre, BPM, and mood description. Up to 200 characters in v5.
Lyrics field
Your full formatted lyrics with [Section] tags. Leave blank for instrumental. Suno reads section tags precisely in Custom Mode.
Custom Mode tip
To generate the same song multiple times with slight variations, keep the Style and Lyrics identical and just change the Title slightly. Suno uses the Title as a creative seed. Different titles from the same prompt produce different musical interpretations.
72 Suno Prompt Examples. 12 Genres × 6 Use Cases
Each genre block below contains six prompts. One for every realistic use case (anthem, slow groove, instrumental, vocal feature, era-revival, modern crossover). Copy any prompt directly into Suno's Style field in Custom Mode. They follow the GMVP order and stay under 160 characters, so they fit Suno v5's sweet spot.
Hip-Hop
85-100 BPMMinor (Cm, Dm, Gm)Hip-hop in Suno responds best when you specify the era and the regional flavor. East Coast, West Coast, Southern, and modern trap each ask for different drum and instrument vocabulary.
| Use case | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Boom bap (East Coast 90s) | East Coast boom bap, dusty drum break, jazz piano sample, upright bass, 92 BPM, gritty male rap vocals, raw and underground, F minor |
| West Coast G-funk | West Coast G-funk, smooth synth lead, P-funk bassline, talkbox, 95 BPM, laid-back male vocals, sun-soaked, cinematic, A minor |
| Modern trap | Modern trap, dark 808 bass, melodic piano arpeggio, hi-hat rolls, 140 BPM, half-time melodic male vocals, atmospheric, D minor |
| Lo-fi hip-hop instrumental | Lo-fi hip-hop, dusty drum loop, mellow Rhodes piano, vinyl crackle, 70 BPM, no vocals, study and chill, C minor |
| Conscious / political rap | Conscious hip-hop, soulful sample, live drums, upright bass, 88 BPM, articulate male spoken-word vocals, reflective and serious, A minor |
| Drill (UK/NY) | UK drill, sliding 808 bass, dark string melody, snappy hi-hats, 145 BPM, aggressive male vocals, cold and menacing, F minor |
Pop
100-130 BPMMajor (C, G, D)Pop is genre-agnostic on the surface but production-rich underneath. Specify the era. 80s synth-pop, 2000s teen pop, 2020s synth ballad. And the chorus structure.
| Use case | Prompt |
|---|---|
| 80s synth-pop | 80s synth-pop, gated reverb snare, analog synth lead, FM bass, 118 BPM, female pop vocals with reverb, nostalgic and bright, A major |
| 2010s anthemic pop | Anthemic pop, soaring chorus, layered synth pads, four-on-the-floor kick, 120 BPM, female pop vocals with vocal stack, euphoric and uplifting, F major |
| Acoustic pop ballad | Acoustic pop ballad, fingerpicked nylon guitar, soft piano, brushed drums, 80 BPM, intimate female vocals, melancholic and tender, D major |
| Electropop | Electropop, sidechain compressed synths, deep bass, snappy claps, 124 BPM, female vocals with vocoder, danceable and sleek, G minor |
| K-pop crossover | K-pop, polished trap-pop production, bright synth hooks, 808 bass with hi-hat rolls, 110 BPM, layered female vocal stack, glossy and high-energy, B minor |
| Dream pop | Dream pop, shimmering reverb-soaked guitars, soft synth pads, slow drums, 95 BPM, ethereal whispered female vocals, hazy and atmospheric, C major |
EDM
120-140 BPMMinorEDM in Suno needs explicit subgenre tagging. House, techno, dubstep, and drum & bass each have distinct rhythmic signatures that the model nails when you specify them.
| Use case | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Progressive house | Progressive house, evolving synth pluck, deep bassline, four-on-the-floor kick, 128 BPM, instrumental, euphoric build and drop, A minor |
| Future bass | Future bass, supersaw chord stabs, sub bass, snare buildups, 150 BPM, female vocal chops, emotional and uplifting, B major |
| Tech house | Tech house, deep rolling bassline, percussive vocal sample, shuffle hats, 126 BPM, no vocals, hypnotic and groovy, F minor |
| Dubstep | Dubstep, heavy wobble bass, half-time drums, growl synths, 140 BPM, aggressive male vocal sample chops, dark and bass-heavy, F# minor |
| Drum & bass (liquid) | Liquid drum and bass, smooth Rhodes pads, rolling sub bass, fast amen breaks, 174 BPM, soulful female vocal samples, lush and uplifting, D minor |
| Big room / festival | Big room EDM, massive synth lead, hard four-on-the-floor kick, snare risers, 130 BPM, festival drop, instrumental, peak-time energy, E minor |
R&B
70-95 BPMMinor (Em, Am, Dm)R&B leans on vocal performance and production texture. Specify the era. 90s neo-soul, 2010s alternative R&B, modern PBR&B. To anchor the mix character.
| Use case | Prompt |
|---|---|
| 90s neo-soul | 90s neo-soul, Rhodes piano, live bass, brushed drums, 78 BPM, smooth female alto vocals with melisma, warm and intimate, F minor |
| Modern alternative R&B | Alternative R&B, atmospheric synth pads, sparse 808s, syncopated hi-hats, 85 BPM, breathy male falsetto, moody and introspective, A minor |
| Quiet storm | Quiet storm R&B, soft electric piano, smooth bass, light drum machine, 72 BPM, sensual male vocals, late-night intimate, D minor |
| Trap soul | Trap soul, melodic 808 bass, lush synth pads, half-time hi-hats, 75 BPM, melodic male vocals with auto-tune, melancholic and atmospheric, C minor |
| Afro-R&B | Afro-R&B, log drum percussion, melodic guitar, deep sub bass, 95 BPM, smooth male R&B vocals, sensual and groovy, E minor |
| Doo-wop revival | Doo-wop revival, walking upright bass, vocal harmonies, snare brush, 90 BPM, group vocal harmonies with male lead, nostalgic and warm, G major |
Lo-Fi
65-85 BPMMinor / modalLo-fi is texture-driven. Use vinyl crackle, jazz samples, and dusty drums as anchor keywords. Always specify 'no vocals' or 'minimal vocals'. Full vocals shift Suno into pop territory.
| Use case | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Lo-fi study beats | Lo-fi hip-hop, dusty boom bap drums, mellow Rhodes piano, vinyl crackle, soft tape hiss, 70 BPM, no vocals, calm and focused, C minor |
| Lo-fi jazz | Lo-fi jazz, brushed drums, walking upright bass, soft trumpet, vinyl saturation, 78 BPM, instrumental, late-night cafe vibe, F major |
| Lo-fi house | Lo-fi house, soft four-on-the-floor kick, warm pad chords, tape-saturated bass, 110 BPM, no vocals, sunny afternoon mood, A minor |
| Lo-fi anime / chillhop | Anime lo-fi, dreamy piano melody, soft 808s, vinyl crackle, light shaker, 72 BPM, no vocals, nostalgic and bittersweet, D minor |
| Lo-fi with vocals | Lo-fi pop, dusty drums, warm Rhodes, soft sub bass, 75 BPM, breathy female vocals with reverb, melancholic and intimate, A minor |
| Lo-fi ambient | Lo-fi ambient, drone synth pads, granular textures, distant piano, no drums, no vocals, atmospheric and meditative, modal |
Afrobeats
95-115 BPMMinor (Fm, Cm)Afrobeats wants regional specificity. 'Nigerian Afrobeats' produces different output than 'Ghana highlife', which differs from 'Amapiano'. Always include the talking drum or log drum keyword.
| Use case | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Modern Nigerian Afrobeats | Nigerian Afrobeats, talking drum, melodic guitar, layered shekere, deep bass, 100 BPM, smooth male vocals, warm and groovy, F minor |
| Amapiano | South African Amapiano, log drum bassline, jazzy piano riff, shuffle hi-hats, soulful vocal chant, 112 BPM, hypnotic and danceable, A minor |
| Afrobeats female slow groove | Afrobeats slow jam, smooth electric guitar, light percussion, deep bass, 92 BPM, sensual female vocals with adlibs, romantic and intimate, D minor |
| Afro house | Afro house, deep tribal drums, log drum bass, atmospheric pads, 122 BPM, layered chant vocals, hypnotic and uplifting, G minor |
| Highlife revival | Ghanaian highlife, palm-wine guitar, congas, brass section, walking bass, 108 BPM, joyful male vocals with chorus response, festive and warm, C major |
| Afrobeats anthem | Afrobeats anthem, big drum kit, melodic guitar hook, brass stabs, 105 BPM, anthemic male vocals with backing chorus, celebratory and bright, A minor |
Classical
60-120 BPMVariesClassical works best when you reference a specific era and ensemble size. 'Romantic-era piano sonata' produces a recognizable result; 'classical music' produces something generic.
| Use case | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Solo piano sonata (Romantic era) | Romantic era piano sonata, expressive solo piano, dynamic contrast, 80 BPM, instrumental, melancholic and lyrical, F minor |
| Baroque chamber | Baroque chamber music, harpsichord, string quartet, ornamented melody, 100 BPM, instrumental, elegant and intricate, D major |
| Cinematic orchestral | Cinematic orchestral, sweeping strings, brass section, timpani, 90 BPM, instrumental, epic and emotional, E minor |
| Minimalist piano | Minimalist piano, repeating arpeggio, sustained pedal, sparse melody, 70 BPM, instrumental, contemplative and spacious, A minor |
| String quartet | String quartet, two violins, viola, cello, contrapuntal melody, 95 BPM, instrumental, refined and emotional, G major |
| Modern neo-classical | Neo-classical, solo piano with subtle electronic textures, glitchy reverbs, sparse strings, 65 BPM, instrumental, melancholic and modern, C minor |
Rock / Metal
100-180 BPMVariesRock subgenres in Suno are well-differentiated. 'Garage rock' sounds nothing like 'progressive metal'. Be specific about era and intensity.
| Use case | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Classic rock 70s | Classic 70s rock, distorted electric guitar riff, Hammond organ, driving drums, walking bass, 120 BPM, raspy male rock vocals, anthemic and bluesy, A minor |
| Garage rock revival | Garage rock revival, fuzz-toned guitars, simple driving drums, distorted bass, 140 BPM, raw male vocals, lo-fi and energetic, E major |
| Pop punk | Pop punk, palm-muted distorted guitars, fast drums, bouncy bassline, 165 BPM, anthemic male vocals with backing shouts, energetic and rebellious, C major |
| Progressive metal | Progressive metal, complex polymetric drums, 7-string guitar riffs, atmospheric synths, 130 BPM, clean and growled male vocals, technical and intense, D# minor |
| Stoner / desert rock | Stoner rock, heavy fuzz bass, slow downtuned guitars, doom-tempo drums, 90 BPM, gritty male vocals, hypnotic and heavy, B minor |
| Indie rock | Indie rock, jangly clean guitars, melodic bassline, mid-tempo drums, 115 BPM, slightly raspy male vocals, introspective and warm, G major |
Jazz
90-180 BPMVariesJazz subgenres each ask for different instruments. Bebop wants saxophone and walking bass; cool jazz wants muted trumpet; jazz fusion asks for Rhodes and electric guitar.
| Use case | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Bebop | Bebop, fast walking upright bass, ride cymbal swing, alto saxophone, piano comping, 220 BPM, instrumental, energetic and improvisational, F major |
| Cool jazz | Cool jazz, muted trumpet, brushed drums, soft piano, upright bass, 100 BPM, instrumental, smoky and sophisticated, D minor |
| Jazz fusion | Jazz fusion, Rhodes piano, electric bass, complex rhythms, electric guitar solos, 130 BPM, instrumental, technical and warm, E minor |
| Smooth jazz | Smooth jazz, soprano saxophone, soft drums, electric piano, fretless bass, 95 BPM, instrumental, polished and relaxed, F major |
| Bossa nova | Bossa nova, nylon string guitar, brushed drums, upright bass, 125 BPM, soft female Portuguese vocals, romantic and breezy, G major |
| Big band swing | Big band swing, full brass section, walking bass, swing drums, 180 BPM, energetic male vocals with horn stabs, joyful and danceable, Bb major |
Country
85-130 BPMMajorCountry in Suno is sensitive to regional and era cues. 'Bakersfield country' differs from 'Nashville pop country', which differs from 'outlaw country'.
| Use case | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Modern Nashville country pop | Nashville country pop, polished acoustic guitar, electric guitar lead, snare drum, banjo, 120 BPM, smooth male vocals with female backing, warm and uplifting, G major |
| Outlaw country | Outlaw country, gritty acoustic guitar, walking upright bass, brushed drums, harmonica, 110 BPM, raspy male vocals, dusty and defiant, D major |
| Country ballad | Country ballad, fingerpicked acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar, brushed drums, 75 BPM, sincere male vocals, melancholic and tender, C major |
| Bro-country | Bro-country, heavy electric guitar, four-on-the-floor drums, deep bass, 130 BPM, anthemic male vocals with talkback, party energy, E major |
| Bluegrass | Bluegrass, fast banjo picking, acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, upright bass, 145 BPM, high lonesome male vocals, energetic and rural, A major |
| Country blues | Country blues, slide guitar, harmonica, sparse drums, walking bass, 95 BPM, weathered male vocals, soulful and dusty, E minor |
Latin
85-130 BPMMinorLatin music covers wildly different rhythmic worlds. Specify reggaeton, salsa, bachata, or cumbia explicitly. 'Latin music' alone produces unpredictable output.
| Use case | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Modern reggaeton | Modern reggaeton, dembow rhythm, deep 808 bass, syncopated hi-hats, 95 BPM, smooth male Spanish vocals with female feature, sensual and danceable, C# minor |
| Salsa | Cuban salsa, full brass section, congas, timbales, piano montuno, walking bass, 100 BPM, energetic male Spanish vocals with chorus response, festive and danceable, D minor |
| Bachata | Bachata, syncopated guitars, bongos, electric bass, 130 BPM, romantic male Spanish vocals, sensual and warm, A minor |
| Cumbia | Cumbia, accordion melody, scraper percussion, syncopated bass, 90 BPM, melodic male Spanish vocals, joyful and festive, E minor |
| Latin trap | Latin trap, dark 808 bass, dembow-trap hybrid drums, atmospheric synths, 100 BPM, melodic male Spanish vocals with auto-tune, dark and modern, F minor |
| Bossa-jazz crossover | Bossa-jazz, nylon guitar, brushed drums, soft piano, 115 BPM, breathy female Portuguese vocals, romantic and sophisticated, F major |
Ambient / Cinematic
60-100 BPMModal / droneAmbient asks you to specify whether you want drone, beat-driven, or score-style ambient. 'Ambient' alone defaults to slow synth pads, which is fine for backgrounds but flat for video.
| Use case | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Drone ambient | Drone ambient, sustained synth pads, slow evolving textures, no rhythm, no vocals, contemplative and spacious, modal |
| Cinematic underscore | Cinematic underscore, subtle string ostinato, soft piano, atmospheric synths, sparse percussion, 80 BPM, instrumental, tense and emotional, A minor |
| Dark ambient | Dark ambient, low drone bass, distant metallic textures, reverb-soaked piano, no rhythm, instrumental, ominous and atmospheric, B minor |
| Ambient electronic | Ambient electronic, soft analog synth pads, light percussive textures, distant melody, 75 BPM, instrumental, dreamy and meditative, F# minor |
| Documentary / nature score | Documentary score, sweeping strings, soft piano, light percussion, 85 BPM, instrumental, hopeful and expansive, D major |
| Lo-fi ambient hybrid | Lo-fi ambient, dusty Rhodes piano, soft drums, vinyl crackle, distant pad layers, 70 BPM, instrumental, nostalgic and warm, A minor |
50 Genre Prompt Templates. Copy and Paste
Each genre page has a vibe prompt, a producer prompt, Custom Mode templates, and genre-specific tips. Click any genre below.
See all 50 genres
Afrobeats to Classical, Bollywood to Phonk
Advanced Techniques
Once you have the basics, these techniques separate good Suno tracks from great ones.
Generate 4 variations and A/B compare
Never settle for the first generation. Always generate 4 variations of the same prompt and pick the best 1-2. The difference between variation 1 and variation 3 can be dramatic.
Use Extend to build longer songs
Suno generates 2-minute clips by default. Use the Extend button on your best variation to continue the song. Extend 2-3 times from the outro section to build a full 4-minute track.
Remix to fix one element
If you love the production but hate the vocals, use Remix and add 'no vocals' or change the vocal descriptor. Remix preserves the musical structure while allowing targeted changes.
Lock sections you love
In the lyrics field, [Chorus] sections that performed well can be marked with * in some Suno versions to encourage reuse. Always note which prompt produced a great chorus so you can regenerate from it.
Inpaint to fix problem sections
The Inpaint feature lets you regenerate a specific section of the track. Use it to fix a weak bridge, a poor vocal take, or an instrumental section that doesn't fit the rest of the song.
Export at highest quality then master
Always export Suno tracks at the highest available quality setting. Then upload to MixMasterAI to get a Spotify-ready master. Proper EQ, compression, and LUFS normalization in 60 seconds.
8 Common Suno Prompt Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
Every one of these mistakes shows up regularly in failed Suno generations. Each is named, diagnosed, and paired with a before/after correction. Fix these in your prompts before doing anything else. They account for roughly 80% of the "why does my Suno output sound generic" cases.
The Vague Adjective Trap
Using descriptors like 'good music', 'modern', 'vibey', or 'unique' adds zero information. Suno needs specific, concrete keywords. Instruments, tempo, era. To produce predictable results. Vague adjectives are the #1 reason prompts fail.
Make a good modern song with a nice vibeIndie pop, jangly clean guitars, melodic bass, 115 BPM, slightly raspy male vocals, introspective and warm, G majorThe Artist-Name Block
Suno actively blocks direct artist references. Prompts like 'in the style of Drake' or 'sounds like Wizkid' produce inconsistent results because Suno's safety layer strips the reference. Replace with the genre + era + production style instead.
Hip-hop song that sounds like DrakeModern Toronto hip-hop, melodic 808 bass, sparse piano, half-time hi-hats, 75 BPM, melodic male vocals with auto-tune, atmospheric and moody, A minorContradictory Descriptors
Mixing genres or moods that fight each other ('heavy metal acoustic', 'fast slow ballad', 'happy minor key') confuses the model. It picks one and ignores the other, randomly. Stick to internally consistent prompts. If you want crossover, name the actual subgenre.
Heavy metal acoustic ballad, fast and slowAcoustic doom metal, slow downtuned acoustic guitar, minor-key chord progression, brushed drums, 65 BPM, gritty male vocals, heavy and melancholic, B minorThe Five-Genre Pile-Up
Stuffing a prompt with 5+ genres ('pop rock metal jazz reggae fusion') doesn't blend them. It picks one randomly and produces a generic version. Limit yourself to one main genre and at most one sub-genre or era modifier.
Pop rock metal jazz reggae fusion songReggae-rock fusion, dub-influenced bass, clean electric guitar with skank, ska drums, 120 BPM, raspy male vocals, sun-soaked and rebellious, F majorThe Lyrics-In-Style-Field Bug
Pasting actual lyrics into the Style field instead of the Lyrics field is a top mistake. Suno reads the Style field as a list of tags, not as text to sing. Always put lyrics in the Lyrics field with [Section] tags on their own lines.
Style field: 'I walk alone tonight, the city lights are bright, I'm searching for the answer in the rain'Style field: 'Indie folk, fingerpicked acoustic guitar, soft piano, brushed drums, 80 BPM, intimate male vocals, melancholic and reflective, D minor'. And put the actual lyrics in the Lyrics field with [Verse] and [Chorus] tags.Skipping Section Tags in Lyrics
Pasting lyrics as a wall of prose without [Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge] markers makes Suno guess at the song structure. It usually gets it wrong. Always tag every section and put each tag on its own line above its lyrics.
I walk alone tonight the city lights are bright I'm searching for the answer give me one more chance to feel alive[Verse 1]
I walk alone tonight
The city lights are bright
I'm searching for the answer
[Chorus]
Give me one more chance to feel aliveIgnoring BPM
Without a BPM, Suno picks a default tempo for the genre. Usually too fast for ballads and too slow for dance music. Add the BPM explicitly. v5 follows BPM hints accurately when they're stated as a number, e.g. '128 BPM'.
EDM songProgressive house, evolving synth pluck, deep bassline, four-on-the-floor kick, 128 BPM, instrumental, euphoric build and drop, A minorGenerating Once and Settling
The first generation is rarely the best. Suno produces noticeably different output across variations of the same prompt. Always generate at least 4 variations and A/B compare. The cost is identical; the output range is dramatic.
Click Create once, hit save on the first resultClick Create 4 times with the same prompt. Compare. Pick the best 1-2. Use Extend or Remix on the winner to keep developing it.Bare vs Structured vs Metatag-Enriched. Same Intent, Three Tiers
The same musical intent can be expressed at three levels of prompt sophistication. Bare prompts produce the worst output. Structured prompts (GMVP method) produce reliable output. Metatag-enriched prompts produce the most consistent, studio-quality results. They tell Suno not just what to make but how to structure it.
| Intent | Bare (worst) | Structured (good) | Metatag-enriched (best) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip-hop track | Make a hip-hop song | East Coast boom bap, dusty drum break, jazz piano sample, upright bass, 92 BPM, gritty male rap vocals, raw and underground, F minor | [Style] East Coast boom bap, dusty drum break, jazz piano sample, upright bass, 92 BPM, gritty male rap vocals, raw and underground, F minor [Lyrics] [Intro] [Verse 1] ... [Hook] ... [Verse 2] ... [Hook] ... [Outro] |
| Pop ballad | A sad pop song | Acoustic pop ballad, fingerpicked nylon guitar, soft piano, brushed drums, 80 BPM, intimate female vocals, melancholic and tender, D major | [Style] Acoustic pop ballad, fingerpicked nylon guitar, soft piano, brushed drums, 80 BPM, intimate female vocals, melancholic and tender, D major [Lyrics] [Intro] [Verse 1] ... [Pre-Chorus] ... [Chorus] ... [Verse 2] ... [Pre-Chorus] ... [Chorus] ... [Bridge] ... [Chorus] ... [Outro] |
| EDM festival anthem | EDM song with a drop | Big room EDM, massive synth lead, hard four-on-the-floor kick, snare risers, 130 BPM, festival drop, instrumental, peak-time energy, E minor | [Style] Big room EDM, massive synth lead, hard four-on-the-floor kick, snare risers, 130 BPM, festival drop, instrumental, peak-time energy, E minor [Lyrics] [Intro] [Build] [Drop] [Breakdown] [Build] [Drop] [Outro] |
Rule of thumb: Bare prompts are 30% likely to produce something usable. Structured GMVP prompts are 70% likely. Metatag-enriched prompts are 90%+ likely. The cost difference is exactly zero. You're typing the same number of generations, just better prompts.
Words That Work. Words to Avoid
Power words (use these)
Instruments
slap bass, log drum, talking drum, nylon string guitar, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3, steel guitar, 808 bass, tabla, sitar
Energy
euphoric, anthemic, hypnotic, driving, soaring, crushing, melancholic, intimate, explosive
Vocals
raspy male, falsetto, whispered, operatic, soulful female, ad-libs, runs, melisma, group harmonies
Production
lo-fi, polished, raw, layered, atmospheric, minimalist, cinematic, organic, vintage
Structure
verse-chorus-bridge, one-drop rhythm, dembow, boom bap, four-on-the-floor, swing
Words to avoid
Artist names
Wizkid, Drake, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd. Suno blocks direct artist references and produces inconsistent results
Vague descriptors
'good music', 'nice song', 'modern', 'unique'. These add nothing to the prompt
Contradictions
'heavy metal acoustic', 'slow and fast', 'pop metal'. Pick one direction per prompt
Offensive terms
Suno's safety filters block prompts with offensive language or harmful content
Too many genres
Mixing 5+ genres confuses the model. Stick to 1 main genre and 1 sub-genre maximum
Master Your Suno Track. Free in 60 Seconds
Suno exports are not mastered. They are raw mixes that need loudness normalization, EQ, and compression before they sound right on Spotify, Apple Music, or TikTok. MixMasterAI does all of that automatically, free.
Before MixMasterAI
- ✗Too quiet on streaming
- ✗Harsh or muddy frequencies
- ✗AI artifacts (Suno fizz)
- ✗Wrong LUFS for Spotify
After MixMasterAI
- ✓-14 LUFS for Spotify
- ✓EQ corrected for genre
- ✓AI Humanizer removes artifacts
- ✓24-bit WAV + 320kbps MP3
What you get
- ✓Full quality, no watermark
- ✓No account required
- ✓60 seconds processing
- ✓Free, always
Free · No account · WAV + MP3 · 60 seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Suno prompt format in 2026?
Use the GMVP Method: Genre + Mood + Vocals + Production, comma-separated, in Custom Mode's Style field. Example: 'Nigerian Afrobeats, warm and groovy, smooth male vocals, talking drum, melodic guitar, 100 BPM, F minor'. Aim for 80-150 characters. For lyrics, use [Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge] metatags on their own lines.
How do you write Suno v5 prompts?
Suno v5 prefers longer, more descriptive prompts (80-150 characters) than v3/v4 did. It follows structural tags ([Verse], [Pre-Chorus], [Chorus], [Bridge], [Outro]) much more reliably. Always use Custom Mode for serious work. It separates Style from Lyrics for cleaner control.
How do you write lyrics for Suno AI?
Write lyrics with section tags in square brackets on their own lines: [Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge]. Keep lines short (6-10 syllables). Use natural speech rhythm rather than forced rhymes. Suno v5 handles structured lyrics with metatags much better than prose paragraphs.
Is there a Suno prompt guide PDF?
This page is the most comprehensive free Suno prompt guide available in 2026. Over 8,000 words, 72 example prompts across 12 genres, 18 metatag references, 8 common mistakes, and 15 FAQs. Press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on Mac) and choose 'Save as PDF' to download a print-ready version.
What words should I avoid in Suno prompts?
Avoid artist names (blocked), vague descriptors like 'good music' or 'modern', contradictory phrases like 'heavy metal acoustic', offensive language, and stuffing 5+ genres in one prompt. Be specific, concrete, and internally consistent.
How long should a Suno style prompt be?
80-150 characters in Suno v5 produces the best results. Up to 200 characters is allowed in Custom Mode's Style field. Shorter prompts produce more variable output; longer ones are more controllable. Start at 100 characters and adjust.
What is the GMVP Method for Suno prompts?
GMVP stands for Genre, Mood, Vocals, Production. The four components that every reliable Suno prompt should contain, in that order. Genre anchors the style, Mood sets the emotional tone, Vocals defines the voice, Production names the instruments and tempo. Skip a component and Suno fills it in randomly; include all four and you get reproducible output.
Can Suno understand BPM and key?
Yes, Suno v5 follows numeric BPM hints accurately. State it explicitly: '128 BPM' or '92 BPM'. For key, use shorthand like 'F minor', 'C major', or 'D# minor'. v5 recognizes Western key notation; modal references like 'Dorian mode' work for music-theory-aware prompts.
Why does my Suno track sound generic?
The most common cause is vague descriptors. 'good music', 'nice vibe', 'modern song'. Replace them with specific instruments, tempo, and era. Generic input produces generic output. Use the GMVP method as a forcing function: every prompt must contain a Genre tag, a Mood pair, a Vocal descriptor, and a Production list with instruments + BPM.
How do I make Suno follow my song structure?
Place metatags on their own lines in the Lyrics field: [Verse 1], [Pre-Chorus], [Chorus], [Verse 2], [Pre-Chorus], [Chorus], [Bridge], [Chorus], [Outro]. Suno v5 follows this structure reliably. Repeating [Chorus] reuses the same melodic phrase, which is the standard pop song pattern.
Should I use Custom Mode or Simple Mode in Suno?
Always Custom Mode for serious work. It gives you separate Title, Style, and Lyrics fields with explicit control over song structure. Simple Mode produces unpredictable output because Suno guesses at the structure. Custom Mode is also the only way to use lyrics with metatags.
Can I use Suno for commercial music?
Yes, on Suno's Pro and Premier paid plans you own commercial rights to your generations. Free tier output is limited to personal use. Always check Suno's current Terms of Service before commercial release. You should still master Suno output through MixMasterAI for streaming-quality loudness. Suno exports are unmastered.
Why does Suno block artist names?
To prevent style mimicry and copyright issues. Direct artist references ('like Drake', 'in the style of Wizkid') are filtered. Replace them with the actual stylistic elements: era, regional flavor, vocal style, production tropes. 'Modern Toronto hip-hop with auto-tuned melodic vocals over melodic 808s' beats 'sounds like Drake' on output quality.
What does the [Bridge] metatag do?
[Bridge] tells Suno to insert a contrasting middle section, typically two-thirds of the way through the song. It often features a key change, rhythm shift, or stripped-back arrangement before returning to the final chorus. v5 reliably follows the [Bridge] tag. Earlier versions sometimes ignored it.
Should I master Suno tracks before releasing them?
Yes, always. Suno exports are raw mixes. They're not loudness-normalized for streaming, often have harsh frequencies, and contain AI-generated artifacts (the 'Suno fizz'). Upload your Suno track to MixMasterAI's free mastering tool to get a Spotify-ready master in 60 seconds: -14 LUFS normalization, EQ correction, and AI Humanizer in one pass.
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