How to Control a Song in Suno AI: Complete Metatags & Commands Guide

Updated: April 2026 · Covers Suno v5.5

Suno AI gives you powerful control over every aspect of your generated music through metatags — special keywords placed inside square brackets [ ] directly in the Lyrics field. These act as creative instructions, telling Suno exactly how to structure your song, how vocals should be delivered, which instruments to feature, and the mood of each section.

Without metatags, Suno improvises. With them, you get a structured, professional-sounding track where every section behaves exactly as you intend.

How Metatags Work — The Basics

There are two places where you give Suno instructions:

Style Prompt field — Describes the overall sound (genre, instruments, mood, tempo). Applies to the entire song.
Lyrics field — Holds your actual lyrics plus metatags in [brackets] that control structure and vocal delivery section by section.

⚠️ Important: Metatags always go in the Lyrics field, NOT the Style Prompt. Putting structure tags in the style prompt box will be ignored or misinterpreted.

Placement Rules

Place a metatag on its own line, directly before the section or lyric it controls.
Metatags are case-insensitive — [Verse], [VERSE], and [verse] all work the same.
You can stack multiple tags on the same line: [Chorus] [Belted] tells Suno this is the chorus AND the vocals should be powerful.
Place your most important tags in the first 20–30 words for maximum impact.
Keep it focused: aim for 1–2 genre tags, 2–3 instrument tags, and 1–2 mood/energy tags total.

Quick Example — Annotated Song Structure

[Intro]
(Soft guitar picking, establishing the mood...)

[Verse 1] [Whispered]
Walking down the quiet street at night
Every shadow holds a different light

[Pre-Chorus] [Build]
Something's pulling me, I feel it rise

[Chorus] [Belted] [Euphoric]
Let it burn, let it shine
This feeling's yours and mine

[Bridge] [Instrumental Break]

[Final Chorus] [Euphoric]
Let it burn, let it shine

[Outro] [Fade Out]

🎵 Structure Tags — Song Layout

Structure tags define the skeleton of your song. Place them on their own line before each section of your lyrics.

[Intro] — Opens the song. Usually instrumental or ambient. Sets the mood before vocals begin.
[Verse] — Standard verse section. Use alongside lyrics.
[Verse 1] — Explicitly the first verse. Helps Suno understand song progression.
[Verse 2] — Second verse, usually carrying a development of the story.
[Pre-Chorus] — Short build-up section before the chorus. Raises energy and anticipation.
[Chorus] — The main hook. Suno will make this the most memorable, repeated section.
[Post-Chorus] — Section after the chorus — often a cool-down or melodic extension.
[Hook] — Emphasizes the catchiest, most repeatable lyric or melody moment.
[Bridge] — Contrasting section that breaks up repetition. New chord progression or theme.
[Interlude] — Mid-song pause or transitional instrumental moment.
[Break] — A rhythmic or musical pause; drops some elements out momentarily.
[Instrumental] — Fully instrumental section — no vocals generated here.
[Instrumental Break] — A focused instrumental moment within the song, usually shorter.
[Solo] — Triggers a lead instrument solo (guitar, piano, synth, etc.).
[Guitar Solo] — Specifically prompts a guitar-led solo section.
[Build] — Rising tension section — energy and instrumentation intensify.
[Drop] — Sudden burst of energy, common in EDM and electronic music.
[Breakdown] — Strips back the instrumentation to create contrast before a big moment.
[Final Chorus] — Signals the last, often most powerful, chorus of the song.
[Outro] — Closes the song. Often fades or resolves musically.
[Fade Out] — Instructs Suno to gradually reduce volume at the end.
[Fade In] — Gradually increases volume from silence at the start of a section.
[End] — Explicitly marks the end of the song. Helps cut off cleanly.
[Silence] — Produces complete audio silence — useful for dramatic pauses.
[Refrain] — A recurring short lyric section, similar to but distinct from a chorus.
[Tag] — Short repeated phrase at the end of a song, often over a chord loop.
[Coda] — A final concluding section, typically after the main song has ended.

🎤 Vocal & Voice Tags

Singer Identity Tags

[Female Vocal] — Prompts a female lead vocalist.
[Male Vocal] — Prompts a male lead vocalist.
[Duet] — Two vocalists singing together.
[Solo] — Single lead vocalist only — no harmonies or backing vocals.
[Choir] — Multiple voices in a choral arrangement.
[Group Vocals] — Multiple voices singing together, less formal than a choir.
[Backing Vocals] — Adds layered harmonies or call-and-response backing.
[Harmonies] — Triggers multi-part harmonic vocal layers.
[Call and Response] — Lead voice sings a phrase, backing vocals respond.

Vocal Delivery Tags

[Whispered] — Soft, intimate, breathy vocals. Great for intros or emotional bridges.
[Whisper] — Alternate form of [Whispered].
[Belted] — Powerful, full-voiced singing. Use for chorus climaxes.
[Falsetto] — High, airy head-voice singing — emotional and delicate.
[Raspy] — Gritty, rough vocal texture. Good for rock and blues.
[Breathy] — Soft and airy delivery, slightly more vocal than a whisper.
[Melismatic] — Complex vocal runs — multiple notes per syllable (R&B style).
[Monotone] — Flat, expressionless delivery — good for spoken or experimental sections.
[Operatic] — Classical, trained vocal projection and vibrato.
[Shouting] — Intense, forceful vocal delivery. High energy.
[Spoken] — Spoken word (not sung). Useful for intros, bridges, or narration.
[Spoken Word] — Alternate form of [Spoken].
[Rap] — Rhythmic spoken-word rap delivery over the beat.
[Rap Verse] — Full rap section — rhythmic, percussive lyric delivery.
[Ad Libs] — Adds spontaneous vocal interjections, runs, and exclamations.
[Ad-libs] — Alternate form of [Ad Libs].
[Scat] — Jazz-style improvised vocal syllables (bop, doot, etc.).
[Spoken Intro] — A spoken passage at the start of the song before music begins.
[Narration] — Storytelling-style spoken vocal over the music.
[Chant] — Repeated rhythmic vocal phrase — ritualistic or crowd-style.
[Humming] — Non-lyrical hummed melody.
[Vocalizing] — Non-word vocal sounds — oohs, aahs, melismatic patterns.

Vocal Effects Tags

[Reverb] — Adds spacious echo effect to the vocals.
[Echo] — Repeating delay effect on vocal lines.
[Distorted Vocals] — Harsh, saturated, processed vocal sound.
[Auto-Tune] — Pitch correction effect — robotic or smooth depending on settings.
[Vocoder] — Classic robotic/synthesized voice effect.
[Phone Vocals] — Thin, telephone-quality filtered vocals.
[Lo-Fi Vocals] — Degraded, vintage-sounding vocal quality.

🎭 Mood & Energy Tags

[Euphoric] — Intensely joyful and uplifting — festival energy.
[Melancholic] — Sad, reflective, wistful emotional tone.
[Dramatic] — Heightened tension and emotional stakes.
[Mysterious] — Dark, curious, uncertain atmosphere.
[Romantic] — Warm, loving, intimate emotional quality.
[Angry] — Aggressive, tense, confrontational energy.
[Hopeful] — Optimistic, forward-looking, emotional warmth.
[Dark] — Heavy, shadowy, intense tonal quality.
[Playful] — Light, fun, bouncy and carefree energy.
[Nostalgic] — Warmly reminiscent, vintage emotional pull.
[Tense] — Unresolved, anxious musical tension.
[Triumphant] — Victory, power, uplifting resolution.
[Serene] — Calm, peaceful, gentle energy.
[Intense] — High-focused, driving, forceful energy.
[Dreamy] — Hazy, soft, ethereal quality.
[High Energy] — Fast-paced, loud, and dynamic — pushes intensity up.
[Low Energy] — Slow, quiet, relaxed pacing.
[Build Up] — Progressive increase in energy within a section.
[Explosive] — Sudden surge of intensity — big moment.

🎸 Instrument Tags

String & Acoustic Instruments

[Acoustic Guitar] — Warm fingerpicked or strummed acoustic sound.
[Electric Guitar] — Standard electric guitar — clean or overdriven.
[Distorted Guitar] — Heavy, saturated guitar tone for rock/metal.
[Bass Guitar] — Low-end bass line prominence.
[Classical Guitar] — Nylon-string, fingerstyle classical tone.
[Violin] — Orchestral string sound, expressive or dramatic.
[Cello] — Deep, rich, emotional bowed string instrument.
[Banjo] — Twangy plucked string — country, folk, bluegrass.
[Ukulele] — Small, bright, cheerful Hawaiian sound.
[Harp] — Sweeping, ethereal plucked string texture.

Keys & Electronic Instruments

[Piano] — Classical or pop acoustic piano.
[Electric Piano] — Fender Rhodes-style warm, vintage keys sound.
[Synth] — Synthesizer — flexible for many electronic genres.
[Synth Lead] — Prominent melodic synthesizer line.
[Synth Bass] — Electronic low-end synthesizer bass.
[Synth Pad] — Atmospheric, sustained synthesizer chords.
[808] / [808s] — Classic Roland 808 drum machine bass — essential for hip-hop and trap.
[Organ] — Hammond organ or church organ tone.
[Accordion] — Folk/world music bellows instrument.

Percussion & Drums

[Drums] — Standard drum kit — kick, snare, hi-hat.
[Electronic Drums] — Programmed, sampled, or synthesized drum sounds.
[Trap Drums] — Trap-style hi-hats, 808s, snare rolls.
[Drum Machine] — Classic programmed beat textures.
[Percussion] — General rhythmic percussion beyond the standard kit.
[Bongos] — Afro-Cuban hand drums.
[Congas] — Tall Afro-Latin percussion.

Wind & Brass Instruments

[Saxophone] — Expressive woodwind — jazz, blues, soul.
[Trumpet] — Bright brass — jazz, funk, mariachi.
[Trombone] — Warm, deep brass texture.
[Flute] — Light, airy woodwind — orchestral or world music.
[Clarinet] — Warm woodwind — jazz and classical feel.
[Horn Section] — Multiple brass instruments together — funk/soul energy.

🎛️ Production & Sound Effect Tags

Production Tags

[Reverb] — Adds room/hall echo to the mix.
[Heavy Reverb] — Expansive, cathedral-like reverb wash.
[Delay] — Echo-repeat effect on instruments or vocals.
[Lo-Fi] — Degraded, vintage, tape-saturated quality.
[Ambient] — Spacious, atmospheric, texturally rich sound.
[Cinematic] — Film-score quality — orchestral, sweeping.
[Minimal] — Sparse arrangement — few elements, lots of space.
[Layered] — Rich, dense multi-track arrangement.
[Distortion] — Harmonic saturation applied to instruments.
[Vinyl Crackle] — Retro record noise texture.
[Tape Hiss] — Analog cassette-era background noise.

Sound Effect (SFX) Tags

[Crowd Noise] — Background audience or crowd sound.
[Applause] — Crowd clapping — useful for endings or intros.
[Rain] — Ambient rainfall sound effect.
[Birds] — Outdoor ambient birdsong.
[Thunder] — Dramatic storm sound effect.
[Ocean Waves] — Relaxing beach/water ambience.
[City Sounds] — Urban ambient environment.
[Silence] — Complete audio silence — dramatic pause.

🎼 Genre & Style Tags

Genre tags anchor the overall musical direction. Use 1–2 for best results. These work in both the Style Prompt field and the Lyrics field.

[Pop] — Contemporary mainstream pop production.
[Indie Pop] — Melodic, guitar-forward indie pop sound.
[Rock] — Guitar-driven, energetic rock.
[Classic Rock] — 70s/80s guitar rock feel.
[Hard Rock] — Heavy guitar-driven rock with power chords.
[Metal] — Heavy, distorted, intense sound.
[Punk] — Fast, raw, energetic stripped-down rock.
[Hip-Hop] — Beat-driven rap and R&B influenced sound.
[Trap] — 808s, hi-hat rolls, dark atmospheric beats.
[Boom Bap] — Classic 90s hip-hop drum pattern and sound.
[Drill] — Dark, sliding bass lines and rapid hi-hats.
[R&B] — Soulful, melodic rhythm and blues.
[Neo-Soul] — Modern, organic, jazzy soul music.
[Jazz] — Complex chords, improvisation, swing feel.
[Blues] — Expressive, minor-pentatonic guitar and vocals.
[Soul] — Deeply emotional, gospel-influenced pop.
[Gospel] — Uplifting, choir-heavy spiritual music.
[Country] — Twangy guitar, storytelling vocals, American roots.
[Americana] — Roots-rock blend of country, blues, and folk.
[Folk] — Acoustic, storytelling, intimate production.
[Electronic] — Broad synthesizer-based music category.
[EDM] — Electronic dance music — builds, drops, four-on-the-floor beat.
[House] — 4/4 dance beat, soulful vocals, Chicago/NY influence.
[Techno] — Minimal, repetitive, industrial electronic.
[Synthwave] — 80s-inspired synth-heavy retro-futurist sound.
[Lo-Fi Hip-Hop] — Chill, relaxed, imperfect hip-hop production.
[Reggae] — Offbeat guitar skank, bass-heavy Caribbean rhythm.
[Latin] — Rhythmic Latin percussion and melody.
[Classical] — Orchestral and compositionally formal music.
[Orchestral] — Full orchestra arrangement.
[Ambient] — Texturally atmospheric, minimal melody.
[Afrobeats] — West African polyrhythmic dance music.
[K-Pop] — Polished Korean pop production style.

🔀 Advanced Techniques: Stacking Tags

You can stack multiple tags on the same line to layer creative instructions. Here are powerful combinations:

[Chorus] [Female Vocal] [Belted] [Euphoric] → A euphoric, powerfully sung female chorus
[Verse 1] [Male Vocal] [Whispered] [Acoustic Guitar] → Intimate, whispered male verse with acoustic guitar
[Bridge] [Melancholic] [Cello] [Reverb] → A sad, orchestral bridge with cello and reverb
[Chorus] [Choir] [Gospel] [Triumphant] → A triumphant gospel choir chorus
[Instrumental Break] [Guitar Solo] [Distorted Guitar] → Heavy distorted guitar solo breakdown
[Outro] [Piano] [Fade Out] [Melancholic] → A quiet, sad piano-led fade-out ending
[Drop] [Synth Lead] [808s] [EDM] [Explosive] → A massive EDM drop
[Verse] [Rap] [808s] [Trap] → A trap-style rap verse

Using Parentheses for Softer Directions

Beyond square brackets, you can use parentheses ( ) for descriptive stage directions — softer suggestions for mood, texture, or atmosphere:

(gentle fingerpicked guitar, soft breeze ambience)
(driving beat intensifies, drums enter)
(solo piano, echoing in an empty hall)

🆕 What’s New in Suno v5.5 (Released March 26, 2026)

Suno v5.5 represents a major shift: from “generate a song” to “generate a song that sounds like you.” The update introduces three landmark new features focused on personalization and creative control.

🎙️ Feature 1: Voices — Sing in Your Own Voice

Available to: Pro and Premier subscribers only

Voices lets you upload or record your own singing voice, which Suno uses to generate songs that sound like you singing them — not a generic AI vocalist. It was the most-requested feature in Suno’s history.

How to set up Voices:

Go to your profile/settings and find the Voices section.
Record directly into your phone or laptop microphone, or upload an existing audio file.
You can submit: a clean acapella, a fully produced track (Suno isolates your voice), or a raw recording.
Minimum length: 30 seconds. Maximum: 4 minutes. More material = better quality clone.
Complete the verification step: speak a random phrase Suno gives you aloud to confirm your voice identity and prevent misuse.
Your voice profile is private — only you can use it.

🎛️ Feature 2: Custom Models — Train Your Sound

Available to: Pro and Premier subscribers only

Custom Models let you fine-tune a version of v5.5 on your own musical catalog, creating a personal AI model that understands and replicates your artistic style.

How to build a Custom Model:

Navigate to the Custom Models section in your dashboard.
Upload a minimum of 6 original tracks that you own the rights to.
More tracks = more accurate stylistic training. Aim for 10–20 for best results.
Suno fine-tunes a version of v5.5 specifically on your patterns. Build time: 2–5 minutes.
Pro and Premier users can maintain up to 3 custom models simultaneously.
Once trained, select your custom model before generating — it influences how v5.5 responds to all your prompts.
⚠️ You must own the rights to all uploaded tracks.

✨ Feature 3: My Taste — Personalized AI Suggestions

Available to: All users including free tier

My Taste runs silently in the background on every account. It learns what you create and listen to, building a preference profile that powers smarter, more personalized suggestions over time.

How My Taste works:

Automatically tracks: genres you generate, moods you select, artists you reference, and songs you replay or like.
Builds a unique preference profile for your account.
When you use the Magic Wand (auto-style generator), My Taste influences the suggested genres, moods, and instruments.
No setup required — activates and improves automatically as you use Suno.
Rate songs, replay favorites, and explore styles to train it faster.

Other v5.5 Improvements

Vocal expressiveness — More nuanced emotional delivery, especially for belted and whispered sections.
Lyric adherence — The model more reliably follows the exact lyrics you provide.
Structure consistency — Metatags are more reliably honored across the full song, including [Bridge] and [Outro].
Instrumental quality — Solos and instrumental breaks are more musically coherent.
Studio Timeline integration — Improved clip-level control for editing, region fades, tempo lock, and exports.

✅ Best Practices & Common Mistakes

Best Practices

Keep it focused: 1–2 genre tags, 2–3 instrument tags, 1–2 mood/energy tags maximum.
Front-load your most important tags in the first 20–30 words.
Use numbered verses ([Verse 1], [Verse 2]) to help Suno understand song progression.
Combine structure + delivery tags: [Chorus] [Belted] [Euphoric].
Use parentheses for softer directional hints when you don’t need a hard command.
Generate multiple versions with slight tag variations to find what works best.
For clean endings, combine [Outro] with [Fade Out] or [End].

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Don’t put structure metatags in the Style Prompt box — they belong in the Lyrics field only.
❌ Don’t invent custom tags — Suno only reliably recognizes established tags.
❌ Don’t over-stack tags — 6+ tags on one line creates competing instructions and unpredictable results.
❌ Don’t forget to label sections — without [Verse], [Chorus], etc., Suno may not create proper song structure.
❌ Don’t use [Silence] unless you intentionally want complete audio silence.

⚡ Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

Powerful chorus: [Chorus] [Belted] [High Energy] [Euphoric]
Sad, quiet bridge: [Bridge] [Whispered] [Piano] [Melancholic]
Epic ending: [Final Chorus] [Choir] [Orchestral] [Triumphant]
Rap section: [Verse] [Rap] [808s] [Trap]
Emotional intro: [Intro] [Spoken] [Piano] [Melancholic]
Guitar solo: [Instrumental Break] [Guitar Solo] [Distorted Guitar]
Smooth R&B verse: [Verse] [Female Vocal] [Falsetto] [Neo-Soul]
Electronic drop: [Drop] [Synth Lead] [808s] [EDM] [Explosive]
Clean song ending: [Outro] [Fade Out] [End]
Dramatic pause: [Silence]

Guide compiled April 2026. For the latest Suno updates, visit suno.com.