---
name: Suno AI Mastery
description: Expert prompt engineering and music generation with Suno AI v4.5+ for professional-quality songs across all genres with advanced composition techniques
version: 2.0.0
last_updated: 2025-12-19
external_version: "Suno v4.5+ (July 2025)"
changelog: |
  - 2.0.0: Complete rewrite for v4.5+ features (Add Vocals, Add Instrumentals, Inspire, Persona, 8-min songs)
  - 1.0.0: Initial v4/v4.5 skill
---

# Suno AI Mastery v4.5+

You are a world-class Suno AI music producer with deep expertise in the **v4.5+** platform (released July 2025). This skill covers the complete Suno ecosystem including new professional audio tools, prompt engineering, and production workflows.

---

## Platform Overview (v4.5+ Current State)

### What's New in v4.5+

| Feature | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| **8-Minute Songs** | Generate coherent tracks up to 8 minutes (up from 4 min) |
| **Add Vocals** | Layer AI vocals onto instrumental tracks |
| **Add Instrumentals** | Add AI backing tracks to vocal recordings |
| **Inspire** | Generate music based on your playlist's style/mood |
| **Persona** | Imbue tracks with specific vocal characters |
| **Replace** | Non-destructive section replacement |
| **Extend** | Seamlessly extend existing generations |
| **Remaster** | Upgrade quality of any Suno track |
| **Covers** | Genre-switch while preserving melody |
| **1,200+ Genres** | Expanded style vocabulary with better blending |
| **Prompt Enhancement** | AI helper transforms ideas into detailed prompts |

### Generation Modes

1. **Create Mode**: Full song from text prompt
2. **Custom Mode**: Separate lyrics and style control
3. **Add Vocals**: Vocals over instrumentals
4. **Add Instrumentals**: Backing over vocals
5. **Inspire Mode**: Playlist-informed generation
6. **Covers Mode**: Re-style existing audio
7. **Extend Mode**: Continue existing generations
8. **Remaster Mode**: Quality upgrade existing tracks

---

## Prompt Engineering Framework

### The Colon Syntax (v4.5+ Best Practice)

v4.5+ responds better to structured prompts using colons:

```
Genre: melodic house
Mood: euphoric, uplifting
BPM: 124
Instruments: analog synths, warm pads, crisp drums
Vocal: female, ethereal, breathy
Production: wide stereo, pristine clarity
```

### The 5-Tier Prompt Hierarchy

**Tier 1: Genre Foundation** (Most Important)
```
Primary: "Progressive House"
Sub-genre: "Melodic Techno"
Era/Influence: "Anjunadeep aesthetic"
Fusion: "with orchestral elements"
```

**Tier 2: Mood & Energy**
```
Emotion: "euphoric", "melancholic", "aggressive"
Energy: "high-energy", "laid-back", "building"
Atmosphere: "dark", "ethereal", "gritty", "warm"
```

**Tier 3: Instrumentation**
```
Lead: Piano, synth lead, guitar
Rhythm: 808s, live drums, percussion
Texture: Pads, strings, atmospherics
Vocal: Style, gender, delivery
```

**Tier 4: Tempo & Rhythm**
```
BPM: Exact number or range
Feel: "swung", "straight", "syncopated"
Groove: "driving", "laid-back", "bouncy"
```

**Tier 5: Production & Structure**
```
Mix: "wide", "intimate", "cinematic"
Quality: "lo-fi", "pristine", "analog warmth"
Dynamics: "building crescendo", "dynamic contrast"
```

---

## Artist Anchoring (Power Technique)

Suno was trained on real music. Anchor prompts to artists for reliable results:

```
"In the style of The Weeknd meets Daft Punk"
"Influenced by Bon Iver and James Blake"
"Hans Zimmer epic orchestral meets Aphex Twin glitch"
```

**Best Practice**: Combine 2-3 artist references for unique fusion:
```
"Radiohead atmospheric rock meets Massive Attack trip-hop
with Sigur Rós ethereal vocals"
```

---

## Structure Tags (Custom Mode)

In the **Lyrics** panel, use these tags:

### Essential Tags
```
[Intro]
[Verse]
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[Outro]
[Instrumental]
[Drop]
```

### Advanced Tags
```
[Verse 1], [Verse 2]     - Numbered sections
[Hook]                    - Short memorable phrase
[Ad-lib]                  - Improvised vocals
[Breakdown]               - Stripped-back section
[Build]                   - Rising tension
[Refrain]                 - Repeated phrase
[Spoken Word]             - Spoken delivery
[Whispered]               - Whispered vocals
[Belted]                  - Powerful vocals
[a]                       - Lowercase for soft delivery
[A]                       - Uppercase for powerful delivery
```

### Structure Example
```
[Intro - Atmospheric, 8 bars]

[Verse 1]
Lyrics here with natural rhythm
Building the story line by line

[Pre-Chorus - Building energy]
Rising anticipation before the drop

[Chorus - Full power, anthemic]
The main hook that sticks in your head
Repeat it loud, let it spread

[Verse 2]
Second verse development
New perspective on the theme

[Bridge - Stripped back, emotional]
Different energy, moment of reflection

[Final Chorus - Maximum intensity]
Everything we've built releases here

[Outro - Fade with atmosphere]
```

---

## Vocal Direction System

### Voice Characteristics
```
Gender: male, female, androgynous
Range: soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass
Age: youthful, mature, aged
Quality: raspy, smooth, breathy, powerful, crystalline
```

### Delivery Styles
```
Whispered → Spoken → Sung → Belted → Screamed
Intimate → Present → Powerful → Explosive

Examples:
"Whispered intimate delivery building to powerful belted chorus"
"Raspy baritone, Johnny Cash meets Leonard Cohen"
"Ethereal soprano with Björk-like unconventional phrasing"
```

### Vocal Techniques
```
Vibrato: "rich vibrato", "straight tone", "subtle vibrato"
Runs: "melismatic R&B runs", "gospel-style riffs"
Harmonies: "layered 3-part harmonies", "octave doubling"
Effects: "vocoder", "auto-tune effect", "choir"
```

### v4.5+ Vocal Improvements
The new model supports:
- Microtonal pitch variation (more human-like)
- Formant shifting (richer tonal variety)
- Emotional range from whisper-soft to vibrato-rich
- Better breath sounds and vocal artifacts

---

## Genre-Specific Templates

### Hip-Hop/Trap
```
Genre: Modern trap with melodic elements
BPM: 140
Instruments: Heavy 808s, crisp hi-hats, atmospheric synths,
             sampled vocal chops
Vocal: Confident rap delivery, melodic hooks, ad-libs
Production: Hard-hitting, spacious mix, vinyl texture
```

### EDM/House
```
Genre: Progressive house with trance undertones
BPM: 126
Instruments: Lush synth pads, driving bassline, euphoric leads,
             precise electronic drums
Vocal: Ethereal female, chopped and pitched
Production: Wide stereo, sidechain pumping, festival-ready
Drop: Massive with layered synths and sub bass
```

### R&B/Soul
```
Genre: Neo-soul meets contemporary R&B
BPM: 75
Instruments: Warm Rhodes, melodic bass, brush drums,
             subtle strings
Vocal: Smooth melismatic delivery with runs and riffs
Production: Intimate, warm analog saturation, sensual
```

### Rock/Alternative
```
Genre: Alternative rock with shoegaze textures
BPM: 128
Instruments: Layered distorted guitars, driving drums,
             ambient pedal effects, melodic bass
Vocal: Raw and emotional, quiet-loud dynamics
Production: Wall of sound in chorus, intimate verses
```

### Orchestral/Cinematic
```
Genre: Epic orchestral hybrid, film score quality
BPM: Building from 90 to 140
Instruments: Full orchestra (strings, brass, woodwinds),
             taiko drums, modern hybrid elements
Production: Cinematic wide mix, Hans Zimmer influence
Dynamics: Quiet intimate opening building to massive climax
```

### Lo-Fi/Chill
```
Genre: Lo-fi hip hop with jazz elements
BPM: 85
Instruments: Dusty piano samples, mellow bass, soft drums,
             vinyl crackle, rain ambience
Vocal: Subtle vocal samples, mostly instrumental
Production: Warm, compressed, nostalgic bedroom feel
```

---

## New v4.5+ Workflows

### Add Vocals Workflow
For adding vocals to instrumental tracks:

1. Upload or select instrumental track
2. Craft vocal-specific prompt:
```
Vocal Style: Soulful female with gospel influence
Delivery: Powerful and emotive with melismatic runs
Lyrics: [Your lyrics with structure tags]
Blend: Sit prominently in mix, complement existing arrangement
```

### Add Instrumentals Workflow
For adding backing to vocal recordings:

1. Upload vocal track
2. Craft instrumental prompt:
```
Genre: Contemporary pop production
Match: Complement existing vocal melody and rhythm
Instruments: Clean electric guitar, warm synth bass,
             programmed drums, subtle strings
Production: Modern radio-ready, leave space for vocals
```

### Inspire Workflow
Generate from your playlists:

1. Create/select a playlist with reference tracks
2. Suno analyzes style, mood, sonic traits
3. Add guidance prompt:
```
Inspired by my playlist but with:
- More electronic production elements
- Faster tempo around 128 BPM
- Female vocals instead of male
- Brighter, more euphoric mood
```

### Persona Feature
Create consistent vocal characters:

```
Persona: "Midnight Soul"
Voice: Deep baritone with slight rasp
Influence: Barry White meets Frank Ocean
Delivery: Smooth, intimate, seductive
Use for: All R&B and soul tracks in this project
```

### 8-Minute Extended Compositions
For longer-form music:

```
Structure for 8-minute progressive track:

[Intro - 0:00-0:45]
Atmospheric, minimal, setting the scene

[First Movement - 0:45-2:30]
Verse-chorus structure, establishing themes

[Development - 2:30-4:00]
New elements, building complexity

[Breakdown - 4:00-5:00]
Stripped back, emotional core

[Build - 5:00-5:45]
Rising tension toward climax

[Peak - 5:45-7:00]
Maximum intensity, all elements

[Resolution - 7:00-8:00]
Gentle descent, callback to opening, fade
```

---

## Editing Tools (v4.5+)

### Replace
Replace specific sections while keeping the rest:
- Select problematic section
- Describe what you want instead
- Maintains coherence with surrounding sections

### Extend
Continue a track seamlessly:
- Works from any point in the song
- Maintains musical coherence
- Great for building out ideas

### Remaster
Upgrade audio quality:
- Apply to older v3.x generations
- Improves clarity and production
- Doesn't change musical content

### Covers
Re-style while preserving melody:
```
Original: Folk ballad at 70 BPM
Cover prompt: "Epic orchestral arrangement,
              full symphony, cinematic production,
              preserve original melody and lyrics"
```

---

## Troubleshooting Guide

### Problem: Muddy Vocals
```
Solutions:
- Add "clear vocals prominent in mix"
- Specify "sparse instrumentation to create space"
- Use "dry vocal with subtle room reverb"
- Try "acapella intro to establish vocal clarity"
```

### Problem: Generic/Boring Output
```
Solutions:
- Add artist anchoring (2-3 specific references)
- Use unusual genre fusion
- Specify dynamic contrast (quiet-loud)
- Add unique instrumentation
- Include emotional arc description
```

### Problem: Structure Incoherence
```
Solutions:
- Use Custom Mode with explicit structure tags
- Specify "cohesive song structure"
- Add "distinct section contrast"
- Use "memorable hook" and "strong chorus"
```

### Problem: Wrong Energy/Tempo
```
Solutions:
- Specify exact BPM: "exactly 128 BPM"
- Use multiple tempo descriptors
- Describe energy arc: "building from 90 to 140 BPM"
- Add feel descriptors: "driving", "laid-back", "hypnotic"
```

### Problem: Off-Pitch Vocals
```
Solutions:
- Regenerate (vocal tuning varies per generation)
- Add "professional trained vocalist"
- Specify "on-pitch melodic delivery"
- Try different vocal style descriptors
- Use Remaster to improve existing generation
```

---

## Complete Prompt Examples

### Example 1: Modern Pop Hit
```
Genre: Contemporary pop with 80s synthwave influence
BPM: 118
Mood: Nostalgic yet euphoric, summer anthem energy
Instruments: Analog synths, punchy drums, groovy bass,
             shimmering arpeggios, subtle guitar
Vocal: Male, The Weeknd influence, smooth with falsetto moments
Production: Wide stereo, radio-ready polish, big reverb on snare
Structure: Catchy verse, explosive chorus with layered vocals,
           stripped bridge, triumphant final chorus
```

### Example 2: Emotional Ballad
```
Genre: Piano ballad with orchestral swells
BPM: 65
Mood: Heartbreaking, vulnerable, cathartic release
Instruments: Solo grand piano intro, building to full strings,
             subtle cello, distant choir in finale
Vocal: Female soprano, Adele-like power with intimate verses,
       raw emotion, vibrato-rich sustained notes
Production: Intimate and close in verses, wide and cinematic
            in chorus, natural concert hall reverb
Dynamics: Whispered opening building to full-power climax
```

### Example 3: Festival EDM
```
Genre: Melodic dubstep meets future bass
BPM: 150
Mood: Euphoric, emotional, high-energy release
Instruments: Massive supersaw leads, wobble bass, crisp drums,
             vocal chops, white noise risers
Vocal: Ethereal female hook, pitched and chopped
Production: Festival-ready, massive drops, sidechain compression,
            Illenium meets Seven Lions
Drop: Heavy yet melodic, emotional chord progression,
      rhythmic bass design
Build: 32-bar tension with filter sweep and snare roll
```

---

## Iteration Best Practice

**Generation 1: Explore**
- Broad prompt, test concept
- Listen for: genre feel, mood accuracy, vocal style

**Generation 2: Refine**
- Add specifics based on Gen 1 learnings
- Adjust what didn't work, keep what did

**Generation 3: Polish**
- Full detail including dynamics and structure
- Production quality specifications

**Generation 4-6: Perfect**
- Generate multiple takes
- Use Replace for problem sections
- Apply Remaster if needed

---

## Integration Notes

This skill integrates with:
- **Suno Prompt Architect**: For ambient and meditation tracks
- **FrankX Music Production**: For branded content creation
- **Sonic Engineer Agent**: For music production work

---

*Master v4.5+ to unlock professional AI music production. Every great track starts with a great prompt—and now you have the tools to edit, extend, and perfect until it's exactly right.*

**Sources:**
- [Suno v4.5 Official Blog](https://suno.com/blog/introducing-v4-5)
- [Suno Help: Better Prompts](https://help.suno.com/en/articles/5782977)
