A Beginners Guide to Suno and AI Music Production: Prompting, Tools, and Song Structure
A Comprehensive Guide to Creating Music with Suno AI
Posted July 19, 2024
-Updated 09.03.24 with new songs to fix the way some songs were structured using parenthesis instead of brackets. (thanks to user trentr for pointing this out!).
-Updated 11.16.24 Added Link to GPT 'how-to' guide (at bottom).
-Updated 03.10.25 removed hyperlinks to dead pages. An updated, more in-depth guide is long overdue and will be coming soon! It will be linked directly below when available!
Updated Guide: https://civitai.com/articles/14849/
As a musician myself, I had a hard time accepting that AI could create anything unique or truly creative. It wasn't until the first time I used Suno (and I mean literally the first song I made) that I realized how powerful Suno can be. I've been experimenting with Suno AI for a few months, and one challenge I faced was translating the song styles I envisioned into reality. After generating thousands of variations, I finally discovered a reliable workflow and the right tools. This article aims to share the insights and resources I've gathered, and I hope it will help you create some amazing songs! (This was created for suno, but some information is universal).
TLDR: For those of you who don't want to read a long how-to and who have access to ChatGPT, skip to the end for some resources and a custom GPT I built, that will turn an idea into fully structured lyrics.
For those interested to hear some of my music, (My most recent playlist): https://suno.com/playlist/82ba31e4-1ae3-4350-91b0-2d32361612ad
Music posted below was created solely for this guide.
Getting Started with Suno AI
Suno is a powerful tool that enables users to generate music by providing a combination of lyrics, styles, and structure tags. It doesn't matter if you have a paid plan or free account, at the time of writing this anybody can create amazing songs. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create music effectively. If you haven't already, head on over to Suno and make your account. (If you use my referral link, you and I will both get 250 credits after you make your first 10 songs! So in addition to helping me out, you get to make 50 additional free songs!)
https://suno.com/invite/@aestheticsace7
Step 1: Write Basic Lyrics
Start with a simple set of lyrics. Don't worry about the structure or style at this stage; just focus on the words and the message you want to convey.
Example:
Title: Gotham Possum
Lyrics:
In the shadows where the cold wind blows,
A creature stirs, where nobody knows,
With eyes like fire and a heart of stone,
He’s the Gotham Possum, all alone.
Ohhh yeah
From the darkened streets, he crawls each night,
A silent predator, just out of sight,
In the alleyways, he’s the one they fear,
The Gotham Possum, always near.
He walks the line between the dark and light,
The Gotham Possum, living in the night,
A soul so lost, in the shadows he’ll stay,
In the heart of the city, he hides away.
Step 2: Add Structure Tags
Structure tags help to organize and delineate the different sections of a song. Here are some common structure tags that you can use:
1. [intro]: The beginning of the song, setting the tone and introducing the musical theme.
2. [verse]: The main body of the song, telling the story or developing the theme.
3. [pre-chorus]: A transitional section that builds up to the chorus.
4. [chorus]: The central, repeating section, often the most memorable part of the song.
5. [bridge]: A contrasting section that offers a break from the repetition of verses and choruses.
6. [instrumental]: A section featuring instrumental music without vocals.
7. [solo]: A section where a particular instrument, like a guitar or keyboard, takes the lead with an improvised or pre-written solo.
8. [breakdown]: A section where the music drops in intensity, often featuring minimal instrumentation.
9. [outro]: The ending section, wrapping up the song.
10. [refrain]: A recurring line or phrase, often at the end of verses.
11. [hook]: A catchy part of the song, designed to grab the listener's attention, usually found in the chorus.
12. [ad-lib]: Spontaneous vocal or instrumental additions, often adding emotion or energy.
13. [finale]: The grand ending of the song, often powerful and climactic.
14. [big finish]: A dramatic, emphatic conclusion.
15. [post-chorus]: A section following the chorus that extends or echoes the chorus theme.
These tags can be mixed and matched to create a variety of song structures, allowing for creativity and diversity in musical compositions. For now, we will keep it simple and use Intro, Verse & Chorus.
Example:
Title: Gotham Possum
Lyrics:
[Intro]
In the shadows where the cold wind blows,
A creature stirs, where nobody knows,
With eyes like fire and a heart of stone,
He’s the Gotham Possum, all alone.
Ohhh yeah
[Verse]
From the darkened streets, he crawls each night,
A silent predator, just out of sight,
In the alleyways, he’s the one they fear,
The Gotham Possum, always near.
[Chorus]
He walks the line between the dark and light,
The Gotham Possum, living in the night,
A soul so lost, in the shadows he’ll stay,
In the heart of the city, he hides away.
Step 3: Choose a Style
Selecting a style helps shape the musical elements that accompany your lyrics. Suno supports a variety of styles, from pop and rock to jazz and electronic, and basically every structure you can imagine and more. Use comma-separated format to specify multiple styles. You can experiment with random tags here too to see how it effects your song.
Some of the styles that are available can be found here: https://suno.com/explore
Example:
Title: Gotham Possum
Style of Music: 80s Metal, Dark and Sinister, High Wailing and Nasally Tenor Male Vocals, Atmospheric, Haunting Echoes, Evil, Emotional
Lyrics:
[Intro]
In the shadows where the cold wind blows,
A creature stirs, where nobody knows,
With eyes like fire and a heart of stone,
He’s the Gotham Possum, all alone.
Ohhh yeah
[Verse]
From the darkened streets, he crawls each night,
A silent predator, just out of sight,
In the alleyways, he’s the one they fear,
The Gotham Possum, always near.
[Chorus]
He walks the line between the dark and light,
The Gotham Possum, living in the night,
A soul so lost, in the shadows he’ll stay,
In the heart of the city, he hides away.
Here is what is created with what we have so far: https://suno.com/song/bac07ddf-57a6-4070-a26a-de4708d0e6e0
Step 4: Incorporate Detailed Tags
Now to add more depth and variety to the song, we will use additional tags such as [Bridge], [Outro], [Break], and others. These tags help to further structure your song and create a more dynamic listening experience.
Example:
Title: Gotham Possum
Style of Music: 80s Metal, Dark and Sinister, High Wailing and Nasally Tenor Male Vocals, Atmospheric, Haunting Echoes, Evil, Emotional
Lyrics:
[Intro]
In the shadows where the cold wind blows,
A creature stirs, where nobody knows,
With eyes like fire and a heart of stone,
He’s the Gotham Possum, all alone.
Ohhh yeah
[Verse 1]
From the darkened streets, he crawls each night,
A silent predator, just out of sight,
In the alleyways, he’s the one they fear,
The Gotham Possum, always near.
[Chorus]
He walks the line between the dark and light,
The Gotham Possum, living in the night,
A soul so lost, in the shadows he’ll stay,
In the heart of the city, he hides away.
[Verse 2]
Through the trash and the dirt, he makes his way,
A master of the night, never sees the day,
In the depths of the dark, he’ll find his prey,
The Gotham Possum, won’t be led astray.
[Bridge]
Beware the night when the streets run cold,
For the Possum’s near, and his tale unfolds,
He’s the lord of the dark, with a heart so grim,
In the shadows of Gotham, it’s sink or swim.
[Chorus]
He walks the line between the dark and light,
The Gotham Possum, living in the night,
A soul so lost, in the shadows he’ll stay,
In the heart of the city, he hides away.
[Outro]
When the darkness falls, and the moon is high,
The Gotham Possum prowls, under Gotham’s sky,
In the dead of night, where the shadows play,
He’s the master of the dark, he’s here to stay.
[End]
Although Every song will sound different, even if you use the same parameters, adding more tags and lyrics gives you more control over the output. Here is what was created after adding the above tags: https://suno.com/song/e84f5e39-bbb1-47f1-be84-3c52572af123
Full Example with Detailed Tags and Style
Here is a complete example with detailed tags, structure, and style, demonstrating how these elements come together to create a polished song.
Example:
Title: Feel The Fire
Style of Music: High Energy, EDM, Pounding Beat, pop edm
Lyrics:
[Intro][Heavy synth build-up, rising energy]
Feel the beat, let it rise
We’re burning up, set the night on fire
Electric pulse, shaking the ground
We’re about to explode, don’t turn down
[verse 1]
The bass is pounding, hear it roar (woah)
Sweat is dripping, we want more (more)
Lights are flashing, bodies in sync
We’re on the edge, no time to think
[chorus]
Feel the fire, burning bright (yeah, yeah)
We’re unstoppable tonight (woah, woah)
Heat it up, take it higher
Let’s ignite this wild desire (hey!)
Feel the fire, feel the fire (oh)
Take us higher, take us higher
[Break] [Percussion break with deep bass drop, intense build]
Boom, boom, we rise! (boom)
Boom, boom, no compromise! (boom)
[verse 2]
The rhythm pulls us closer now
No escape, we’re breaking out
Hearts are racing, feet can’t stop
We’re locked in this endless drop
[chorus]
Feel the fire, burning bright (yeah, yeah)
We’re unstoppable tonight (woah, woah)
Heat it up, take it higher
Let’s ignite this wild desire (hey!)
Feel the fire, feel the fire (oh)
Take us higher, take us higher
[Bridge] [Pause, melodic synth interlude, then build]
We’re the flames that never fade
In the heat, we elevate
All around us, energy
We’re the spark of ecstasy
[Big Finish]
Feel the fire, burning bright
We’re unstoppable tonight
Feel the fire, burning high
Let it blaze into the sky!
Feel the fire, feel the fire (woah)
Take us higher, take us higher (woah)
[Outro]
[Echoing synths, gradual fade out]
Feel the fire, feel the fire, take us higher…
Here's what we get with the above inputs:
song 1: https://suno.com/song/3fd7d669-86e7-46b8-bd9a-3e68071c4ebf
song 2: https://suno.com/song/40c42494-4789-45a7-a64f-528c9f557683
Tips for Using Suno AI
1. Experiment with Styles: Don't hesitate to mix and match different styles. Combining genres like pop and rock or jazz and electronic can lead to unique and captivating music.
2. Use Tags Creatively: Incorporate tags like [Percussion Break] or [Melodic Interlude] to add interesting breaks and transitions within your song.
3. Iterate and Refine: Generate multiple versions of your song and refine the lyrics and structure based on what works best.
Putting It All Together: Creating Your Song
To illustrate how to build a song from scratch using Suno, let’s take another example and build it step-by-step.
Initial Lyrics:
Title: Lost in the Machine
Lyrics:
Echoes in the dark, we’re chasing light
Flashing signals guide us through the night
Wires hum, the system’s on the rise
We’re locked inside, hypnotized
No control, we’re part of the code
Riding the rhythm, never slowing down
Lost in the machine (yeah)
We’re caught in the stream (oh)
In this endless dream (woah)
Lost in the machine (hey)
Turn it up, let it spin
Feel the pulse deep within (within)
Lost in the machine
Adding Structure Tags:
Title: Lost in the Machine
Lyrics:
[intro]
Echoes in the dark, we’re chasing light
Flashing signals guide us through the night
Wires hum, the system’s on the rise
We’re locked inside, hypnotized
[Pre-Chorus]
No control, we’re part of the code
Riding the rhythm, never slowing down
[chorus]
Lost in the machine (yeah)
We’re caught in the stream (oh)
In this endless dream (woah)
Lost in the machine (hey)
Turn it up, let it spin
Feel the pulse deep within (within)
Lost in the machine
Choosing a Style:
Title: Lost In the Machine
Style of Music: Techno, 90s Rave, Mechanical Beats
[lyrics...]
Incorporating Detailed Tags:
Title: Lost in the Machine
Style of Music: Techno, 90s Rave, Mechanical Beats
Lyrics:
[Short Instrumental Intro]
[Dark, robotic synths, repetitive beat]
[Mechanical hums, pulsing rhythm begins]
[verse 1]
Echoes in the dark, we’re chasing light
Flashing signals guide us through the night
Wires hum, the system’s on the rise
We’re locked inside, hypnotized
[Pre-Chorus]
(Feel the current running through our veins)
(We’re electric, breaking from the chains)
No control, we’re part of the code
Riding the rhythm, never slowing down
[chorus]
Lost in the machine (yeah)
We’re caught in the stream (oh)
In this endless dream (woah)
Lost in the machine (hey)
Turn it up, let it spin
Feel the pulse deep within (within)
Lost in the machine
[Break]
[Syncopated beats, heavy mechanical sounds]
[Beat drops, robotic voice echoes "Lost in the machine"]
[verse 2]
Circuit boards light up, the dance floor’s alive
In the maze of signals, we thrive
Every beat pulls us deeper in
Where we end, the machine begins
[Pre-Chorus]
(Feel the current running through our veins)
(We’re electric, breaking from the chains)
No control, we’re part of the code
Riding the rhythm, never slowing down
[chorus]
Lost in the machine (yeah)
We’re caught in the stream (oh)
In this endless dream (woah)
Lost in the machine (hey)
Turn it up, let it spin
Feel the pulse deep within (within)
Lost in the machine
[Bridge]
[Mechanical interlude with distorted synths]
Data flows like rivers through the air
We’re connected everywhere
No escape, no retreat
We’re one with the digital beat
[Finale]
Lost in the machine, feel it take control
Let the wires bind us, let the rhythm roll
Lost in the machine, never looking back
We’re the heart of this endless track
[Fade to End]
[The beat slows, glitchy sounds fade out]
(Lost in the machine…)
[Echoes fade out]
I've added another layer of complexity, but we will get into that. Using the above inputs, here is what we get:
song 1: https://suno.com/song/24c0e429-39ad-4647-8308-ae06a7c565ca
song2: https://suno.com/song/882ac2b6-e3da-49d3-bf00-745995c36e63
Advanced Techniques for Song Creation
Once you are comfortable with the basics, you can start exploring advanced techniques to make your songs even more compelling. Here are some ideas:
Dynamic Song Structures
Adding variations to your song structure can make it more engaging. For example, you may have noticed in the songs above, you can introduce more tags such as [Pre-Chorus] or [Break] to catch the listener’s attention.
Example:
Title: Feel the Thunder
Style of Music: EDM, High Energy, Big Room, Bass-heavy
Lyrics:
[Intro]
(Heavy synth build-up, pounding beat)
Feel it in the air, the storm is on its way
Gonna take us higher, no time to delay
Lightning in our veins, we’re ready to explode
Feel the thunder rolling, lose control
[Verse 1]
Pulse is rising, can you feel the heat?
Feet hit the floor, bodies moving to the beat
Every second ticking louder, heartbeats sync
Caught up in the rhythm, we don’t need to think
[Pre-Chorus]
We’re flying, chasing stars tonight
No slowing down, no end in sight
Hold on tight, it's do or die
As the music lifts us to the sky
[Chorus] [Massive drop, earth-shaking bass]
Feel the thunder, let it roar (oh-oh)
Bass is pounding, hit the floor (oh-oh)
Electric energy, we soar (oh-oh)
We’re unstoppable, we want more (oh-oh)
[Verse 2]
Waves of sound crash into our souls
Lost in the night, letting go of control
Bass hits harder, bodies intertwine
No escape, we’re caught in the design
[Bridge]
Feel it breaking, the walls fall apart
The sound takes over, ignites the spark
Hands up high, we’re ready to ignite
A million volts, dancing through the night
[Chorus] [Repeat with pounding drop]
Feel the thunder, let it roar (oh-oh)
Bass is pounding, hit the floor (oh-oh)
Electric energy, we soar (oh-oh)
We’re unstoppable, we want more (oh-oh)
[Break] [Percussion break, high tension]
(Rolling snare build, crowd chant: “Let it drop!”)
[Big Finish]
Thunder's crashing, no turning back
We ride the wave, on a sonic attack
This is our moment, the night is alive
With every beat, we’ll survive
[Finale]
Feel the thunder, feel it roar
Feel the bass drop, we want more
(Thunder, roar)
We’re unstoppable, hear us soar
(Thunder, roar)
[end]
Using the above inputs, here is what we get:
song 1: https://suno.com/song/8df25303-a66b-4597-a264-a89174b4b2d6
Emphasizing Emotions with Tags
Use tags to highlight emotional transitions within your song. For instance, a [Percussion Break] can add intensity, while a [Melodic Interlude] can create a soothing effect.
Example:
Title: Echoes of the Heart
Style of Music: Acoustic, Emotional, Ballad
Lyrics:
[intro]
[Gentle guitar intro]
[verse 1]
Every word you said, lingers in my head
Echoes of your love, in the silence spread
[pre-chorus]
But now you're gone, and I'm here alone
In this empty space, you once called home
[chorus]
Echoes of the heart, in the still of night
Whispered memories, fading out of sight
[percussion break]
[Soft drum beats build]
[verse 2]
In the morning light, shadows start to fade
Yet your voice remains, in this serenade
[melodic interlude]
[Instrumental interlude with violin]
[bridge]
Though time moves on, your touch is here
In every note, I feel you near
[chorus]
Echoes of the heart, in the still of night
Whispered memories, fading out of sight
[outro] [fade out]
[Guitar and violin fade]
The above output gives us the following songs:
song 1: https://suno.com/song/3aaaafad-3edf-4a48-aab3-ee28695a8854
Song 2: https://suno.com/song/0135b13c-3e32-44a8-bf52-57b8e73083ed
And a rock song with a bit more lyrics and complexity
Title: Gotham Possum (Stylized)
Style of Music: 80s Metal, Dark and Sinister, High Wailing and Nasally Tenor Male Vocals, Atmospheric, Haunting Echoes, Evil, Emotional
Lyrics:
[Intro] [Clean guitar arpeggios with a dark tone, atmospheric synths, haunting echoes, High Wailing and Nasally Tenor Male Vocals]
In the shadows where the cold wind blows,
A creature stirs, where nobody knows,
With eyes like fire and a heart of stone,
He’s the Gotham Possum, all alone.
[instrumental pause, High Wailing and Nasally Tenor sounding vocals]
Ohhh yeah
[Verse 1] [Clean, melodic riff, strong nasally tenor vocal delivery]
From the darkened streets, he crawls each night,
A silent predator, just out of sight,
In the alleyways, he’s the one they fear,
The Gotham Possum, always near. (So near…)
[Chorus] [Rich, emotional nasally tenor vocals, melodic and haunting]
He walks the line between the dark and light,
The Gotham Possum, living in the night,
A soul so lost, in the shadows he’ll stay,
In the heart of the city, he hides away. (Ohhh…)
[Verse 2] [Build-up with a heavier riff, eerie synths in the background]
Through the trash and the dirt, he makes his way,
A master of the night, never sees the day,
In the depths of the dark, he’ll find his prey,
The Gotham Possum, won’t be led astray. (Won't stray…)
[Bridge] [Melodic, with an emotional rise, layered vocals, atmospheric
Beware the night when the streets run cold,
For the Possum’s near, and his tale unfolds,
He’s the lord of the dark, with a heart so grim,
In the shadows of Gotham, it’s sink or swim. (Ohhh…)
[Guitar Solo] [Melodic, soulful, with echoes of haunting feedback]
[Chorus] [Repeated with more intensity, layered vocals, emotional delivery]
He walks the line between the dark and light,
The Gotham Possum, living in the night,
A soul so lost, in the shadows he’ll stay,
In the heart of the city, he hides away. (Hides away…)
[Outro] [Final clean riff, atmospheric fade, echoed whispers]
When the darkness falls, and the moon is high,
The Gotham Possum prowls, under Gotham’s sky,
In the dead of night, where the shadows play,
He’s the master of the dark, he’s here to stay. (Fade to black…)
[End] [Echoing vocals fade into eerie silence]
Song 1: https://suno.com/song/569ef464-780d-49ff-99c4-28b3cd20ae94
Conclusion
Creating music with Suno is an exciting journey of creativity and experimentation. By starting with simple lyrics, adding structure tags, choosing appropriate styles, and using detailed tags, you can craft songs that resonate with listeners. Whether you're aiming for a pop hit, a rock anthem, or an emotional ballad, Suno provides the tools you need to bring your musical vision to life. If you have a background in music already, the world is yours!
Resources:
First, this article wouldn't be possible without the knowledge available at https://www.suno.wiki/ which is where I learned most of what I know about Suno. There is a wealth of knowledge available there about song structure and style tags.
An incomplete list of styles and genres: https://www.suno.wiki/faq/style-and-lyrics/styles-and-genres/
A comprehensive PDF containing Style tags, Tempo tags, Genre tags, example prompts, and much more (This is a gold mine if you are creating music using suno! Shout out to mista.lewys for making this!): https://www.suno.wiki/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PROMPTS-FOR-AI-DANCE-MUSIC-%F0%9F%99%8Fmista.lewys_.pdf
Finally, for those of you using ChatGPT, it can basically do everything for you if you simply have an idea. I created a custom GPT which can currently be accessed at: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-tUtJKyA3N
This GPT does a wonderful job creating songs (Be aware of the typical buzzwords that will be present). All the songs in the article were created using this GPT. I Will release a guide on using that GPT soon. 11.16.24-GPT HOW-TO GUIDE: https://civitai.com/articles/8920
If you found this article helpful please be sure to give a thumbs up! Buzz tips are always appreciated but never expected, as is feedback.
Thanks for reading, and good luck making some killer songs!