TL;DR
Genre fix formula: [specific subgenre], [genre-specific instruments], [genre-appropriate mood], [matching production style]
Genre mismatches in Suno happen when prompts are vague, conflicting, or missing genre-defining elements. The AI tries to satisfy all your descriptors, but when they point in different directions, it picks an unexpected compromise. The fix is specificity and consistency.
[primary genre + subgenre], [genre-defining instruments], [genre-appropriate mood], [matching vocal style], [genre production]
rock, electric guitars, driving drums, raw energy - NOT synth, NOT electronic, NOT pop polish
electronic, synthesizers, programmed drums, digital production - NOT acoustic, NOT organic, NOT band sound
hip-hop, 808s, sampled beats, rap vocals - NOT singing, NOT rock guitars, NOT organic drums
country, acoustic guitar, steel guitar, twangy vocals - NOT urban, NOT electronic, NOT synth
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
Getting pop instead of rock |
Add: distorted guitars, raw, gritty. Remove: polished, radio-ready, catchy hooks |
Getting rock instead of electronic |
Add: synthesizers, programmed drums, digital. Remove: guitar, organic, live band |
Getting pop instead of hip-hop |
Add: 808s, trap beats, rap flow. Remove: singing, melodic, pop chorus |
Getting generic instead of specific |
Use subgenre: 'grunge' not 'rock', 'trap' not 'hip-hop', 'synthwave' not 'electronic' |
Unwanted genre fusion |
Remove secondary genre tags. State only one clear genre direction. |
Your genre tag may be undermined by conflicting descriptors elsewhere in the prompt. Check for production, instrument, or mood tags that point to a different genre. Put your genre first and ensure all other tags are genre-consistent.
Use only one genre tag. Remove any secondary genre references. Make sure instruments, mood, and production all match your target genre. For example, do not mix 'rock' with 'synth pads' or 'country' with '808s'.
Always use the most specific subgenre available. 'Grunge' is better than 'rock'. 'Trap' is better than 'hip-hop'. 'Synthwave' is better than 'electronic'. Subgenres give Suno clearer direction and more consistent results.
Yes, heavily. Certain instruments define genres: steel guitar equals country, 808s equal hip-hop, distorted guitar equals rock. Including genre-defining instruments reinforces your genre tag. Missing them weakens genre consistency.
Rewrite your prompt from scratch with genre-first approach. List only genre-consistent descriptors. Generate 3-5 versions - sometimes randomness causes one-off mismatches. If still wrong, your descriptors likely still contain hidden conflicts.
HookGenius generates optimized prompts and lyrics automatically.