AI Music Prompt Syntax Guide
Master the art of crafting prompts for AI music generation. This guide covers all valid tags, modifiers, and techniques based on real-world testing and best practices.
Overview
Understanding AI Music Generation
AI music generation uses specific tags to break songs into sections that the model understands. To create great music, you need to prompt the model correctly using these tags.
Use Valid Tags Only
Stick to the recognized base tags. Made-up tags will be ignored or cause unexpected results.
Modifiers: Emotion + Pace
The best modifiers are concrete adjectives about speed, emotion, and intensity. Abstract or genre-specific modifiers often don't work.
Less is Often More
The system fills in gaps intelligently. Over-specifying can conflict with the AI's natural choices.
Lyrics Matter More Than Tags
For vocals, the content and punctuation of your lyrics often have more impact than the tag modifiers.
These are the ONLY valid tags. Each can be modified with adjectives, but these are the base forms:
The intro tag should generally only be used at the beginning and is strictly instrumental. It can be modified with several adjectives.
Generally not necessary unless you modify it. More or less treated like an intro.
This is a strictly vocal tag often used at the beginning of songs to introduce the story or narrative. It may or may not be sung (could be spoken).
This is about what you'd expect for any song construction. This tag is one of the prime workhorses.
This tag is the other primary workhorse and is used pretty much identically to [Chorus]. It is not strictly necessary to modify it.
This is one of the main workhorses of the instrumental tags. Many modifiers don't seem to impact this tag, but a few tend to be more reliable.
Break is strictly instrumental, often defaults to one measure or phrase, and can be used quite frequently.
This is an experimental tag that might help the engine transition to a new movement.
General purpose tag to break up a song. Can be used on its own, unmodified.
This tag is pretty much exactly what you'd expect. It pairs well with [Interlude] and does best when you specify the instrument, pace, and energy.
This tag is often less effective than interlude or solo, and is often treated like a break.
The system doesn't seem to know what to do with bridges. It often just treats them like a verse or a chorus, sometimes a refrain.
This tag works if it's either instrumental or vocal, and can be treated pretty flexibly.
This generally tells the system to end the song.
Generally speaking, the style of the music will dictate the voice, which is generated automatically. However, in songs where the vocals change significantly, the song will honor these tags.
Best Practice:
[Spoken Word Narration][Telephone Call][Female Opera Singer][Swanky Crooning Male][Ethereal Female Whisper][Primal Scream][Whispered][Growling]Vocal tags work especially well for dramatic effects:
[Spoken Word Narration] *static* ...final log... coordinates unknown... ...oxygen critical... systems failing... ...tell earth we made it... we saw such beautiful things... ...orion spur expedition... signing off... *static*
You can specify instruments directly. This can serve in lieu of solo or as part of a solo.
Best Practice:
[Sad Trombone] waah-Waaah-WAAH
[Chugging Guitar] chuka-chuka-chuka-chuka
[Overblown Flute]
[Trilling Pennywhistle]
Lyrics Writing Tips
Use punctuation and formatting to control delivery
💡 Tip:
Makes the system approach it more slowly, particularly if used... multiple times... in the line...
we drift... through endless... space...Tells the system to emphasize a line. Doesn't often have a huge impact but can help.
We will rise! We will fight! We are one!Works really well for call-and-response or antiphonal effects.
I am the light
(You are the shadow)
I am the day
(You are the night)The system will NOT render non-word vocalizations without being explicitly told. Add them to amp up emotional sections.
High Energy
Oooooohhh whoaaa ahhhh!Amps up a chorus
Gentle
mmmmmmmmmmm oh...Dampening, calming effect
Call & Response Example
I am the void between stars (Beyond the veil of forms...) I am the death of light (Where your deepest terrors remain...)
Use dots and exclamations to shape instrumental rhythm. This works on interludes and sometimes solos.
Arrange . and ! in any pattern to convey the rhythm you want.
Melodic (Slower)
[Melodic Interlude] . . . ! . . . ! . . . !
Intense (Faster)
[Intense Interlude] !! . ! !! ! !! !! ! !!
Style Guide
Craft the perfect style prompt
⚠️ Warning:
The system accepts a comma-separated list of genres and modifiers. Commas are not strictly necessary and you can get interesting hybrid styles without them.
Without Commas (Hybrid Style)
stoner space rock shoegaze slow build epic crescendos psychedelic riffing soaring solos
With Commas (Distinct Styles)
space rock, stoner rock, slow build, epic crescendos, psychedelic riffing, shoegaze
💡 Tip:
Simply creating a list of genres works extremely well, almost like a taxonomy. The FIRST genre provides the most influence, with each subsequent modifier having less and less influence.
space rock, psychedelic rock, desert rock, stoner rock, shoegaze
In this example, 'space rock' has the strongest influence.
One or more genres in sequence
space rockfolk metalwitchpopneofolkOne or more vibes to go with
eeriemysteriousdreamycelebratorysadEspecially if not obvious from genre
violinhurdy-gurdypianofluteorchestraHow the singing should sound
operagrowlingwhisperedethereal female vocalsclean vocalswitchpop, electro swing, eerieSimple and effectivewitchpop, house, hypnotic, dreamy, eerieMore emotional modifiersHurdy-gurdy, dark, scary, otherworldlyInstrument-focusedwitchpop, witchrock, folk, violin, acoustic, eerie, mysterious, clean vocals, classically trainedComprehensive styleneofolk, celtic, dance, celebratory, orchestralUpbeat folkElectronic, sweet female voice, eerie, swing, dreamy, melodic, electro, sad, emotionalElectronic with emotionNew Age, Celtic, Slow, Celtic Harp, Piano, Flute, ethereal female vocals, atmosphericAmbient/meditationMedieval Folk, Neofolk, Pagan Folk, German Folk, neoclassical music, ethereal music, darkwaveSounds like Faun or Celtic WomanComplete Song Examples
Learn from real working examples
💡 Tip:
Minimalist approach - the system will fill in gaps. You really don't need much if the STYLE is well defined.
[Verse] Sun beats down hard dry road Dust devils dance shadows long Heat waves twist in gold Mirages fade now gone [Chorus] Lost in the wasteland void Echoes of time destroy Lost in the desert sand Seeking the promised land [Verse 2] Cactus stands alone silent guard Hawks circling overhead far Bleached bones in the arid yard Searching for a falling star [Bridge] Time drips slow never ends Mind's eye bends and bends Vultures fly high in the sky Dreams of rain make me cry [Chorus] Lost in the wasteland void Echoes of time destroy Lost in the desert sand Seeking the promised land [Verse 3] Night falls cool winds rise Stars blaze across the skies Desert whispers truth and lies In the silence spirit flies