Guide · Updated
How to write AI music prompts, genre by genre
Short answer
A good AI music prompt names the genre, the era or scene, the tempo and mood, the lead instruments, the vocal type and the structure — in short phrases, not sentences. Put the style in the style or prompt box and your lyrics, with section labels such as verse and chorus, in the lyrics box. Leave out real artists’ names; describe their sound instead.
What every good prompt has
Most AI song generators give you two places to type: one for the style and one for the lyrics. Treat the style box as a short list, not a story. Six things do most of the work:
- Genre and sub-genre. "Synth-pop" says more than "pop".
- Era or scene. "1980s", "UK garage", "Nashville".
- Tempo and energy. "Slow 70 bpm", "driving", "half-time".
- Mood. "Bittersweet", "triumphant", "late-night".
- Lead instruments. "Warm Rhodes, brushed drums, upright bass".
- Vocals. "Breathy female vocal", "male baritone", "choir", or "instrumental".
Write them as short phrases separated by commas. Long sentences tend to blur the result.
Structure goes in the lyrics
Generators follow section labels in the lyrics box. Mark them in square brackets:
- [Intro], [Verse], [Pre-Chorus], [Chorus], [Bridge], [Outro]
- [Instrumental] or [Guitar Solo] for a break without vocals
Keep verses to four to eight short lines and repeat the chorus word for word: repetition is what makes it a chorus. If a line keeps being sung wrong, simplify it or spell it the way it sounds.
Leave real artists out
Do not name real singers or bands to copy their voice or sound. Platforms refuse songs that impersonate real artists (see AI music on Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer), and many generators block artist names anyway. Describe the sound instead: "raspy soul vocal with gospel runs" rather than a name.
Examples by genre
These are starting points. Change one thing at a time and keep what works.
Pop
"Bright synth-pop, 118 bpm, catchy hook, punchy drums, female lead vocal, big chorus, summer feeling." Listen to AI pop on Tunami.ai.
Hip hop
"Boom bap, dusty vinyl samples, 90 bpm, confident male rap, sparse piano loop, heavy kick." For trap: "dark trap, rolling hi-hats, 808 bass, melodic hook." AI hip hop.
Lo-fi
"Lo-fi hip hop, 75 bpm, warm tape hiss, mellow jazz chords, soft drums, instrumental, rainy night." Lo-fi tracks.
Cinematic
"Epic orchestral, slow build, strings and brass, taiko drums, choir swells, heroic, instrumental." Cinematic music.
Rock
"Indie rock, jangly guitars, live drums, 130 bpm, earnest male vocal, anthemic chorus." For heavier: "alternative rock, fuzz guitars, loud-quiet dynamics." AI rock.
Electronic and house
"Deep house, 122 bpm, four-on-the-floor, warm bassline, chopped vocal sample, late-night club." Electronic.
Jazz
"Smoky late-night jazz trio, upright bass, brushed drums, piano solo, slow swing, instrumental." AI jazz.
Country
"Modern country, acoustic and electric guitars, pedal steel, storytelling male vocal, 100 bpm, heartfelt." AI country.
Devotional
"Gentle devotional song, harmonium and tabla, soft female vocal, slow and peaceful, call and response chorus." Many generators handle languages other than English; write the lyrics in the language you want sung. Devotional music.
Ambient
"Ambient, slow evolving pads, field recordings, no drums, calm, spacious, instrumental." Ambient.
When the result is not right
- Too generic? Add an era and two instruments.
- Wrong vocal? State it first in the style box.
- Song too busy? Ask for "sparse" or "minimal" and fewer instruments.
- Lyrics garbled? Shorter lines, simpler words, fewer syllables.
- Ending abruptly? Add an [Outro] section.
When you have a take you love, publish it on Tunami.ai with the right genre and a description of what you were going for. Suno and Mureka creators can browse what others made with the same tool.
On Tunami.ai
Written by the Tunami.ai team. Published .
