TL;DR

Structure tags: [Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge], [Outro] control song sections
Vocal tags: [Female Vocal], [Male Vocal], [Whisper], [Spoken Word] control delivery
Production tags: [Guitar Solo], [Drum Fill], [Instrumental Break] add non-vocal elements

[Verse 1]
First verse lyrics here

[Pre-Chorus]
Building tension

[Chorus]
Your hook here

Suno Lyrics Formatting Guide: Every Tag That Works

Suno's lyrics field accepts more than just words — bracket tags, section markers, vocal directions, and formatting choices all affect your output. But not every tag works, and some combinations cause problems. Here's the definitive guide to lyrics formatting in Suno.

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Full Tag Structure Example

[Intro]
(Atmospheric synth build)

[Verse 1]
Your opening verse lyrics
More lyrics on next line

[Pre-Chorus]
Building tension lyrics

[Chorus]
Your hook — the catchiest part
Repeat the main idea

[Verse 2]
Second verse, new perspective

[Chorus]
Hook again

[Bridge]
Something different, a twist

[Chorus]
Final hook, biggest energy

[Outro]
(Fade out)

Vocal Direction Tags

[Verse 1 - Whispered]
Quiet intimate opening
Barely above a breath

[Chorus - Belted]
POWERFUL DELIVERY
Full voice, full emotion

[Verse 2 - Spoken Word]
Almost talking, rhythmic
Poetic delivery style

[Chorus - Group Vocals]
Everyone singing together

Production Direction Tags

[Intro - Piano Only]
(Gentle solo piano, 4 bars)

[Verse 1]
Lyrics with full band entering

[Guitar Solo]
(16 bars, emotional, building)

[Chorus]
Big hook with full production

[Drum Fill]

[Bridge - Stripped Back]
Just voice and acoustic guitar

[Final Chorus - Full Band]
Everything at maximum

Parenthetical Directions

[Verse 1]
(softly, almost whispering)
First line of lyrics
Second line building
(volume increasing gradually)
Third line stronger

[Chorus]
(full power, confident)
Hook lyrics at full volume
(ad-lib: yeah, oh)
More hook lyrics

Repeat and Ad-Lib Tags

[Chorus]
Main hook line here
Main hook line here (x2)

[Chorus - Final]
Main hook line here
(ad-lib: yeah, woah, come on)
Main hook line here
(ad-lib: one more time)
Main hook line here (x3, fading)

Common Mistakes

Tags not on their own line: [Chorus] My hook lyrics — this doesn't work. Put [Chorus] on one line, lyrics on the next line.
Using tags Suno doesn't recognize: [Dubstep Drop] or [Emotional Moment] aren't standard tags. Stick to recognized ones: [Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge], [Outro], [Intro], [Break].
Too many parenthetical directions: One or two (softly) or (building energy) hints work. Ten parenthetical directions clutter the lyrics and confuse Suno.
Writing stage directions instead of singable lyrics: "Now the singer walks to the edge of the stage" isn't a lyric. Suno will try to sing it literally. Keep parentheticals for vocal/production direction only.
Inconsistent formatting: Mixing [Chorus], (Chorus), and CHORUS confuses Suno. Always use [Square Brackets] for all tags, consistently.

Quick Fixes

Problem	Fix
`Tags being sung as lyrics`	Make sure tags are on their own line in [Square Brackets]. If Suno sings "[Verse 1]" as words, there's likely a formatting error.
`Song ignores structure tags`	Keep tags simple: [Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge]. Avoid complex descriptions in the tag itself. Put directions in parentheses on the next line.
`Parenthetical directions being sung`	Use standard parenthetical format: (softly), (whispered), (building). Avoid full sentences in parentheses — keep them to 1-3 words.
`Repeat (x2) not working`	Write the lyric line twice instead of using (x2) notation. Suno is more reliable when you physically repeat the line.
`Ad-libs not appearing`	Use (ad-lib: yeah, oh) format on its own line after the main lyric. Keep ad-libs short — 1-3 words maximum.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What bracket tags does Suno actually recognize?

Confirmed working tags: [Intro], [Verse], [Verse 1/2/3], [Pre-Chorus], [Chorus], [Hook], [Bridge], [Outro], [End], [Instrumental], [Instrumental Break], [Guitar Solo], [Break], [Interlude], [Drop], [Build-Up], [Breakdown], [Spoken Word], [Whisper], [Female Vocal], [Male Vocal], [Harmony], [Ad-lib]. Place each on its own line. Suno may interpret non-standard tags unpredictably.

How do I make Suno repeat a chorus line?

The most reliable method is to physically write the line multiple times under the [Chorus] tag. Suno doesn't consistently interpret (x2) or (repeat) notation. Writing the actual line twice or three times guarantees it gets repeated. For a slight variation on the repeat, change one word each time to keep it interesting.

Can I control dynamics with lyrics formatting?

Yes, use parenthetical vocal directions: (softly), (whispered), (building), (powerful), (belted), (screaming). Place these on their own line before the lyric section they apply to. You can also use capitalization for emphasis — ALL CAPS lines tend to be delivered with more energy, though this isn't guaranteed.

Should I use line breaks between every line?

Use single line breaks between lyric lines within a section, and double line breaks (blank line) between sections. This helps Suno understand phrasing. Short lines (4-8 words) tend to produce better vocal phrasing than long run-on lines. Think of each line as one breath.

How long can Suno lyrics be?

Suno accepts up to about 3,000 characters in the lyrics field, which is roughly 40-60 lines of lyrics. For a standard 3-4 minute song, aim for 200-300 words (about 30-40 lines). Too many lyrics and Suno may rush through them or cut sections. Too few and you'll get a short output or Suno will improvise filler.

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