Custom lyrics give you full control over your Suno generations. Instead of relying on AI-generated words, you write exactly what gets sung. This guide covers everything from basic structure tags to advanced techniques for professional-sounding results.
For a complete overview, see our complete guide to Suno prompts.
Structure Tags Reference
Structure tags tell Suno how to organize your song. They appear in square brackets and define sections like verses, choruses, and bridges.
Basic Section Tags
[Intro]
Opening section, often instrumental
[Verse]
Main storytelling section
[Verse 1], [Verse 2]
Numbered verses for clarity
[Pre-Chorus]
Build-up before chorus
[Chorus]
Main hook, repeated section
[Hook]
Alternative to chorus, catchy phrase
[Bridge]
Contrast section, different melody
[End]
Signals song should end
Instrumental & Break Tags
[Instrumental]
No vocals, just music
[Instrumental Break]
Short musical interlude
[Guitar Solo]
Featured guitar section
[Breakdown]
Stripped-down section
[Build]
Intensity increasing
[Drop]
Heavy beat hits (EDM)
Vocal Delivery Tags
[Whispered]
Soft, intimate delivery
[Spoken Word]
Talking, not singing
[Belted]
Powerful, full voice
[Soft]
Gentle, quiet vocals
[Raspy]
Rough, textured voice
[Harmonies]
Multiple vocal layers
Combined Tags
You can combine descriptors with section tags:
[Soft Verse]
Quiet, intimate verse
[Powerful Chorus]
Full-energy hook
[Whispered Bridge]
Soft contrast section
[Epic Outro]
Big, dramatic ending
Standard Song Structures
Here are common song structures with typical durations:
Pop/Rock Structure (2:30-3:30)
Intro
4-8 bars, sets the mood
Verse 1
8-16 bars, introduce story
Chorus
8 bars, main hook
Verse 2
8-16 bars, develop story
Chorus
8 bars, repeat hook
Bridge
4-8 bars, contrast
Chorus
8-16 bars, final hook
Outro
4-8 bars, fade or ending
Hip-Hop/Rap Structure (2:30-3:30)
Intro
4 bars, beat intro or hook tease
Hook/Chorus
8 bars, catchy repeated section
Verse 1
16 bars, first verse
Hook
8 bars
Verse 2
16 bars, second verse
Hook
8 bars
Outro
4-8 bars, fade or ad-libs
Complete Lyrics Examples
Example 1: Indie Pop Song
[Intro]
[Verse 1]
Walking down these empty streets
Shadows dancing at my feet
Every corner holds a memory
Of the way we used to be
[Pre-Chorus]
And I know, I know
You're not coming back this time
[Chorus]
But I'm still holding on
To every word you said
Playing like a song
Inside my head
I'm still holding on
[Verse 2]
Coffee shops and rainy days
Remind me of your quiet ways
I see your face in crowded rooms
Gone too fast, gone too soon
[Pre-Chorus]
And I know, I know
You're not coming back this time
[Chorus]
But I'm still holding on
To every word you said
Playing like a song
Inside my head
I'm still holding on
[Bridge]
Maybe someday I'll let go
Maybe someday I'll know
How to breathe without you here
[Chorus]
I'm still holding on
To every word you said
Playing like a song
Inside my head
I'm still holding on
[Outro]
Still holding on...
[End]
Example 2: Hip-Hop Track
[Intro]
Yeah, yeah
Let's go
[Hook]
Started from the bottom now we rise
Every night we chasing after bigger skies
They said we'd never make it, that's no surprise
Look at us now, look at us now
[Verse 1]
Came up with nothing but a dream and a pen
Wrote my story down again and again
Late nights grinding while they sleep in their beds
Now they asking how I got so ahead
Mama working double shifts just to pay rent
Every dollar that she made was heaven sent
Told her one day I'ma buy her a house
Now I'm signing deals they can't figure out
[Hook]
Started from the bottom now we rise
Every night we chasing after bigger skies
They said we'd never make it, that's no surprise
Look at us now, look at us now
[Verse 2]
Critics talking but they never seen the work
All the pain and all the struggles and the hurt
Every setback was a setup for the best
Now I'm standing on a stage feeling blessed
Used to count my change just to buy a meal
Now the only thing I'm counting is the deals
From the concrete to the penthouse view
Stayed true to the vision, see it through
[Hook]
Started from the bottom now we rise
Every night we chasing after bigger skies
They said we'd never make it, that's no surprise
Look at us now, look at us now
[Outro]
Yeah... look at us now
Look at us now
[End]
Syllable Counts & Rhythm
Matching syllable counts across lines creates natural rhythm. Suno handles lyrics better when corresponding lines have similar lengths.
| Line |
Text |
Syllables |
| Line 1 |
"Walking down these empty streets" |
7 |
| Line 2 |
"Shadows dancing at my feet" |
7 |
| Line 3 |
"Every corner holds a memory" |
9 |
| Line 4 |
"Of the way we used to be" |
7 |
Pro Tip: Aim for 6-10 syllables per line. Lines that are too long get rushed; lines that are too short may have awkward pauses.
Common Mistakes & Fixes
Mistake 1: Lines Too Long
Too Long
I've been walking through this city every single night wondering if you'll ever come back to me again
25 syllables - will be rushed
Just Right
Walking through this city
Every single night
Wondering if you'll come back
Come back to me tonight
6-7 syllables per line
Mistake 2: No Structure Tags
No Tags
This is my verse about life
And now this is my chorus
Back to another verse
Chorus again here
Suno doesn't know what's what
With Tags
[Verse 1]
This is my verse about life
[Chorus]
Now this is my chorus
[Verse 2]
Another verse right here
[Chorus]
Chorus again here
Clear structure
Mistake 3: Too Many Words
Overcrowded
[Verse]
I remember all the times we spent together
Every moment every second every day
You and me against the world forever
Nothing could ever get in our way
We would talk for hours about nothing
Laughing at jokes that no one else got
Those were the days I'll never forget...
Too dense for one verse
Balanced
[Verse]
I remember all those times
You and me against the world
Talking late into the night
Those days I'll never forget
[Instrumental Break]
Room to breathe
Mistake 4: Unsingable Words
Awkward
Entrepreneurship and cryptocurrency
Revolutionizing infrastructure
Too many syllables, hard to sing
Singable
Building up my empire
Changing up the game
Same meaning, easier to sing
Formatting Best Practices
- One line = one phrase — Break lyrics at natural pause points
- Blank lines between sections — Helps Suno parse structure
- Avoid special characters — No &, @, #, or unusual punctuation
- Spell out numbers — "twenty-one" not "21"
- Use simple punctuation — Commas and periods are fine; avoid semicolons
- Skip quotation marks — They can confuse the AI
- Consistent capitalization — Title case or sentence case, pick one
Avoid These:
- Parentheses around lyrics (save for stage directions only)
- ALL CAPS (implies shouting, often sounds unnatural)
- Emoji (they get ignored or cause issues)
- URLs or email addresses
- Foreign language mixed with English (unless intentional)
Advanced Techniques
Controlling Repetition
Want the exact same chorus every time? Copy-paste it identically. Want variation? Write slightly different versions.
[Chorus]
We are the ones who shine
We are the ones who rise
[Chorus]
We are the ones who shine
We are the ones who rise
[Chorus]
We are the ones who shine
We are the ones who rise
[Final Chorus]
We were the ones who shined
We were the ones who rose
Ad-Libs and Background Vocals
Use parentheses sparingly for background elements:
[Chorus]
Rise up (rise up)
Stand tall (stand tall)
We won't fall tonight
(No, we won't fall)
Forcing Instrumental Sections
To ensure instrumental breaks, use explicit tags with optional descriptions:
[Instrumental Break - Guitar Solo]
[Instrumental - Soft Piano]
[Breakdown - Drums Only]
Dynamic Changes
Control energy shifts with descriptive tags:
[Soft Verse]
In the quiet of the morning
When the world is still asleep
[Building Pre-Chorus]
But I can feel it rising
Something deep inside of me
[Explosive Chorus]
I'M ALIVE, I'M AWAKE
NOTHING'S GONNA HOLD ME BACK
Lyrics Templates
Pop Ballad Template
[Intro]
[Verse 1]
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[Soft Chorus]
[Final Chorus]
[Outro]
[End]
Upbeat Pop Template
[Intro - Energetic]
[Verse 1]
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus - Drop]
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 2]
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Bridge - Breakdown]
[Final Chorus - Big Drop]
[Outro]
[End]
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Frequently Asked Questions
What structure tags does Suno recognize?
Suno recognizes [Intro], [Verse], [Verse 1], [Verse 2], [Pre-Chorus], [Chorus], [Hook], [Bridge], [Breakdown], [Instrumental], [Outro], [End], and variations like [Soft Verse] or [Powerful Chorus]. You can also combine descriptors like [Whispered Bridge] or [Epic Outro].
How long should lyrics be for a Suno song?
For a standard 2-3 minute song, aim for 150-250 words. For Suno's 4-minute maximum, you can use up to 350-400 words. Generally, fewer words with strategic repetition sounds more natural than cramming in too much text.
Why do my lyrics get cut off or rushed?
This usually happens when you have too many words per section or uneven syllable counts. Solutions: shorten your lines to 6-8 syllables, add [Instrumental Break] tags between sections, reduce total word count, or split long verses into verse 1 and verse 2.
How do I make Suno repeat the chorus?
Write out the chorus each time you want it sung, or use the [Chorus] tag multiple times. For exact repetition, copy-paste the identical lyrics. For variation, write slightly different versions labeled [Chorus] and [Final Chorus].
Can I control vocal delivery with lyrics?
Yes! Use descriptive tags before sections: [Whispered Verse], [Belted Chorus], [Spoken Word], [Raspy Bridge], [Soft and Tender], [Powerful and Emotional]. These influence how Suno performs the vocals.
How do I add harmonies or backing vocals?
Use parentheses for background vocals: "Rise up (rise up)" or add a [Harmonies] tag before sections. You can also specify in your style prompt: "layered harmonies, backing vocals."
Go Deeper
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61 genre deep-dives, 150+ tags + 80-term glossary, 41 artist profiles, v5.5 walkthrough, monetization playbook. 371 pages + 25 HookGenius credits.
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