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WRITE YOUR OWN SONG
YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A MUSICIAN TO USE AI TOOLS, WRITE YOUR OWN SONG AND EXPRESS YOURSELF
Make Your First Suno Song - A Guided Project for Telling Your Story
You’re about to create a complete, release-ready song using Suno.com - even if you don’t play an instrument. This is a structured, step-by-step project designed to help you add a meaningful piece to your body of work, especially if you’re writing about mental health or big life events (grief, recovery, coming out, surgery, sobriety anniversaries, divorce, moving, new beginnings).
We’ll use a simple “tags in the lyrics” approach to steer Suno’s structure, vocals, and mood, and we’ll iterate like a pro.
Friendly heads-up: Suno reads natural language and responds best to clear structure. Using square-bracket “meta tags” like [Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge], and voice/instrument cues helps the model follow your intent more reliably. Suno’s own guidance and community tutorials encourage this practice, including putting more context directly in the Lyrics box and using tags like [Verse], [Chorus], and voice indicators.
Project Outcome
By the end of this guide you will have:
• A 2–3 minute original song generated in Suno (with your own lyrics and guided structure).
• A saved set of reusable prompt tags for future songs on similar themes.
• A versioned workflow that lets you extend, refine, and release with confidence.
Step 0 — Set Your Creative Intent (5 minutes)
Pick one theme and one feeling arc:
• Theme (pick one): Anxiety relief, depression recovery, grief ritual, coming out narrative, post-surgery resilience, sobriety milestone, relationship closure, new city, new job, new chapter.
• Emotional arc (one-line): “From panic to peace”, “From numb to present”, “From closeted to radiant”, “From broken to rebuilding.”
Write a one-sentence brief you can paste into Suno’s Style of Music field later:
“Introspective alt-electronic ballad about learning to breathe through panic; hushed male vocal, warm pads, soft piano, steady lo-fi drums, 90 BPM, minor key; hopeful, not saccharine.”
Step 1 — Create/Sign in and Choose Your Plan (2 minutes)
• Basic (free): personal, non-commercial use.
• Pro/Premier (paid): includes commercial use rights for songs generated while subscribed. This matters if you want to sell, distribute, or monetise your track. Suno’s Rights & Ownership pages outline the differences and note that Pro/Premier songs include commercial use; Basic songs are personal only.
Legal reality check: Copyright law for AI outputs is evolving. Human-written lyrics are yours; full AI-generated compositions may face protection limits in some jurisdictions. If you plan to distribute, read Suno’s rights pages and (if in doubt) get legal advice.
Step 2 — Set Up Your Workspace (3 minutes)
1. Go to Create in Suno.
2. Choose Custom mode (recommended) so you can add structured lyrics and tags. Suno v4/v4.5 improved how the Lyrics box handles prompts and structure, and you can also use “Write with Suno” if you want AI help drafting lyrics.
3. (Optional) If you have a riff/voice note you own, use Upload Audio (6–60s for most accounts; longer on paid tiers) and generate from it; you can also Extend songs to go past standard lengths.
Step 3 — Understand “Tags in Lyrics” (the Control Surface)
Suno responds to square-bracket tags that describe sections, voices, mood, tempo, key, and instruments.
You’ll put most of these in the Lyrics field so the model aligns structure and singing with your words.
Common section tags
[Intro] [Verse] [Chorus] [Bridge] [Outro] [Break] [Drop]
Voice tags
[Male Vocal] [Female Vocal] [Duet] [Choir] [Whisper] [Spoken]
Feel/detail tags (lightly!)
[Tempo: 90 BPM] [Key: A minor] [Mood: reflective] [Instruments: piano, warm pads, lo-fi drums]
Creators and Suno guides show these working patterns; start simple (2–3 tags) and layer gradually.
Pro tip: Put style/genre phrases in the Style of Music field, and put structure tags (sections, vocal notes) in the Lyrics field for better control.
Step 4 — Build Your Reusable Tag Scaffold
Copy this into your notes. You’ll adapt it for each song.
[Intro][Tempo: 88 BPM][Key: A minor][Mood: reflective]
[Instruments: soft piano, analog pads, subtle 808, vinyl crackle]
[Verse 1] [Male Vocal] [Intimate]
[Chorus] [Lift energy 10–15%] [Hook repeats] [Singalong]
[Verse 2] [Story develops] [Add texture: backing ooohs]
[Bridge] [Contrast: rhythmic shift or spoken word] [Optional duet line]
[Chorus x2] [Bigger harmonies] [Resolution]
[Outro] [Instrumental 8 bars] [Breath]
Step 5 — Lyric Templates for Mental Health & Life Events
A) Panic → Peace (Anxiety Regulation)
• Imagery: breath, ocean tide, streetlights at 2am, kettle steam, heartbeat as metronome.
• Hook seed: “In… two… out… four… I’m here for one more day.”
[Verse 1]
Streetlights count my breathing
Kettle hum holds the floor
I name the shapes in shadows
Till the room is mine once more
[Chorus]
In two, out four
I’m here for one more day
In two, out four
Fear loosens, fades away
[Verse 2]
Hands learn softer language
Heart keeps time, not score
I anchor in the present
What I need is at the door
[Bridge]
If the wave keeps rising
I’ll surf it to the shore
B) Grief Ritual (Remembering & Re-membering)
• Imagery: empty chair, steam on glass, their jumper, river stones, star you point at.
• Hook seed: “I carry you kindly.”
[Chorus]
I carry you kindly
Not heavy, not light
I carry you kindly
Through morning to night
C) Coming Out / Becoming
• Imagery: unlocked window, neon reflections, borrowed jacket, dawn over rooftops.
• Hook seed: “Light fits me now.”
Use the same structure, but shift the Bridge to a spoken confession: [Spoken] I was waiting to be chosen; turns out it was me.
D) Surgery & Recovery
• Imagery: hospital clock, stitches = constellations, tube trains = veins, scar = river map.
• Hook seed: “This body is my home.”
E) Sobriety Milestone
• Imagery: clear glass of water, morning light, unshaking keys, first laugh.
• Hook seed: “Today is loud with life.”
Step 6 — Enter It in Suno (the Practical Bit)
2. Style of Music: Paste your brief (genre + instruments + vibe + BPM/key). Keep it plain-English.
3. Lyrics: Paste your structured tags + lyrics as above.
4. Generate (make 2–4 versions). Audition end-to-end.
5. Iterate: Change one thing at a time—tempo, a single instrument tag, or [Duet] in the bridge. Community best practice and third-party guides emphasise small, controlled changes.
If the model drifts, increase clarity: add [Lift energy] on the chorus, or [Whisper] on Verse 1, or specify [Chorus hook repeats 2x]. Suno v4.5 specifically improved “prompts in the Lyrics box,” so don’t be shy about guiding it there.
Step 7 — Extend, Refine, and Version Like a Pro
• Upload Audio: Have a motif you love? Upload a short clip (longer on paid tiers) and build around it. This is powerful for turning diary-voice-notes into finished songs.
• Duets: Add [Duet] or alternate [Male Vocal] / [Female Vocal] by section; genre choice matters for duets to “stick.”
Versioning workflow
Step 8 — A Mini Tag Library for Mental Health & Milestones
Energy & Feel
[Mood: reflective] [Mood: defiant] [Mood: tender] [Lift energy +15% on Chorus] [Sp
Vocals
Instruments
[Instruments: nylon guitar, brush kit, upright bass]
[Instruments: strings (low), ticking percussion, reverse swells]
Structure
Tempo/Key
FX (gentle)
[Vinyl crackle] [Tape delay on vocal ad-libs] [Sidechain pad to kick]
These conventions mirror the way Suno creators successfully steer structure and timbre using square-bracket meta tags in the Lyrics field. Suno+1
Step 9 — Three Complete Suno Examples to Paste
1) “Panic into Peace” — Alt-Electronic Ballad
Style of Music
Intimate alt-electronic ballad; soft piano, analog pads, lo-fi drums, gentle sidechain; 90 BPM; A minor; reference feelings of James Blake-like hush without naming artists.
Lyrics (paste as-is and customise)
[Intro][Tempo: 90 BPM][Key: A minor][Mood: reflective]
[Instruments: soft piano, warm pads, lo-fi drums]
[Verse 1][Male Vocal][Intimate]
[Chorus][Lift energy 10%][Hook repeats 2x]
In two, out four
I’m here for one more day
[Verse 2][Add backing oohs]
[Bridge][Spoken][Delay]
If the wave keeps rising, I will ride it to the shore
[Chorus x2][Choir “oohs”][Bigger drums]
[Outro][Instrumental 8 bars]
2) “Light Fits Me Now” — Coming-Out Indie-Pop
Style of Music
Upbeat indie-pop with 80s shimmer; jangly guitar, synth bass, live kit; 108 BPM; C major; radiant, celebratory.
Lyrics
[Intro][Guitar riff lead][Tempo: 108 BPM][Key: C major]
[Verse 1][Male Vocal]
[Chorus][Anthemic][Gang vocal]
Light fits me now
Light fits me now
[Verse 2][Add claps, brighter synth]
[Bridge][Call-and-response][Duet]
You’re allowed / I’m allowed / We are loud
[Chorus x2][Choir “yeah” ad-libs]
[Outro][Guitar + crowd claps]
3) “Scar Map” — Post-Surgery Resilience (Cinematic Pop)
Style of Music
Cinematic pop; piano + strings, heartbeat kick, airy vocal; 80 BPM; D minor; determined, tender.
Lyrics
[Intro][Tempo: 80 BPM][Key: D minor][Strings swell]
[Verse 1][Female Vocal]
[Chorus][Lift energy][Hook repeats]
This body is my home
[Verse 2][Add low strings]
[Bridge][Spoken → sung][Build]
I learned to love the map I wear
[Chorus x2][Choir][Drums bigger]
[Outro][Piano alone][Breath]
Step 10 — Polish, Artwork, and Metadata
• Cover art: Keep a consistent visual language for your body of work (colour palette, typography, a recurring symbol).
• File naming: YYYY-MM-DD_theme_v03.wav and lyrics_theme_v03.txt.
• Notes: Keep the exact tags and style text you used—future-you will thank you.
Step 11 — Export & Release Considerations
• Copyright protection of fully AI-generated music can be limited in some jurisdictions; your human-written lyrics are yours, and some registrars may accept AI-assisted works depending on human contribution. Read the latest Suno guidance and local rules before distributing. Suno Help
• The broader legal landscape around AI-generated music is in motion; stay informed about ongoing industry debates and lawsuits to make wise choices for redistribution and monetisation. Financial Times+1
Troubleshooting & Iteration Cheatsheet
• Vocal tone feels wrong. Use [Whisper], [Breathy], [Stronger belt], or switch male ↔ female in a section. Community lists of “voice tags” can help vocabulary, but keep it minimal. howtopromptsuno.com
• Structure collapsed. Spell out sections explicitly and keep lyrics succinct. Suno v4.5 is better at honouring Lyrics-box prompts, but clarity wins. Suno Help
• Song too short. Use Extend; you can chain extensions past standard limits. Suno Help
• I have a killer voice note. Use Upload Audio and build around it (great for authenticity in life-event songs). Suno
Ethos: Writing Honestly About Mental Health
• Concrete > abstract. “Three a.m. dishes in the sink” often lands harder than “I feel empty.”
• Agency verbs. Choose, breathe, return, reach, rebuild, call, carry.
• Boundaries. Share what serves you; keep what must remain private.
• Hope without gloss. “Better, not perfect” is both real and singable (and your audience will feel seen).
Your Reusable Project Checklist
1. Pick theme + emotional arc.
2. Draft Style of Music brief (genre + instruments + vibe + BPM/key).
3. Build Lyrics with Tags (sections, voice, subtle instructions).
4. Generate 4 takes, shortlist 1, Extend, repeat. Reddit
5. Save artwork, export WAV/MP3, archive tags & prompts.
6. Confirm rights fit your plan (Basic vs Pro/Premier) and your jurisdiction’s copyright rules. Suno Help+1
Final Word
If you’d like, tell me your theme and a one-line arc, and I’ll draft a ready-to-paste tag scaffold and a first verse/chorus in your voice.