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Suno Metatags: The Complete Reference
Last updated: February 2026
Metatags are special markers you add to your Suno lyrics to control song structure, vocal delivery, and musical elements. They're enclosed in square brackets like [Verse] or [Chorus]. This reference covers every tag that works in Suno v5.
Place these in your lyrics field to define song sections. Each tag should be on its own line.
Core Structure
| Tag |
Purpose |
Notes |
[Intro] |
Opening instrumental section |
Usually no vocals, sets the mood |
[Verse] or [Verse 1] |
Main storytelling section |
Number verses for clarity: [Verse 1], [Verse 2] |
[Pre-Chorus] |
Build before chorus |
Creates anticipation, shorter than verse |
[Chorus] |
Main hook, repeated section |
Most memorable part of the song |
[Post-Chorus] |
Extension after chorus |
Maintains energy before dropping |
[Bridge] |
Contrasting section |
Different melody/chords, usually once |
[Outro] |
Closing section |
Winds down the song |
[End] |
Signals song ending |
More abrupt than [Outro] |
Special Sections
| Tag |
Purpose |
[Instrumental] |
No vocals, just music |
[Interlude] |
Short musical break between sections |
[Break] |
Stripped-down moment, minimal instruments |
[Drop] |
EDM-style drop after build |
[Build] |
Rising intensity leading to drop or chorus |
[Hook] |
Short, catchy repeated phrase |
[Refrain] |
Repeated line or phrase (shorter than chorus) |
[Solo] |
Instrumental solo section |
[Guitar Solo] |
Specifically guitar instrumental |
[Breakdown] |
Deconstructed version of the beat |
Example: Complete Song Structure
[Intro]
[Verse 1]
Walking through the city lights
Everything feels so right tonight
[Pre-Chorus]
And I know, I know
[Chorus]
We're alive, we're alive
Nothing's gonna bring us down
[Verse 2]
Stars are shining up above
This is what I'm dreaming of
[Chorus]
We're alive, we're alive
Nothing's gonna bring us down
[Bridge]
When the world gets heavy
I'll be right here, ready
[Chorus]
We're alive, we're alive
Nothing's gonna bring us down
[Outro]
Control how vocals are performed. These can be placed before sections or inline with lyrics.
Volume & Intensity
[Whispered]
[Soft]
[Gentle]
[Quiet]
[Spoken]
[Spoken Word]
[Powerful]
[Belted]
[Shouted]
[Screamed]
[Growled]
[Intense]
Vocal Style
[Falsetto]
[Head Voice]
[Chest Voice]
[Breathy]
[Raspy]
[Smooth]
[Soulful]
[Operatic]
[Nasal]
[Airy]
Vocal Techniques
[Harmonies]
[Ad-libs]
[Vocal Run]
[Melisma]
[Vibrato]
[Staccato]
[Legato]
[Call and Response]
[Chant]
[Choir]
Rap & Hip Hop Delivery
[Rapped]
[Fast Rap]
[Slow Flow]
[Melodic Rap]
[Trap Flow]
[Boom Bap Flow]
[Mumble Rap]
[Double Time]
Example: Using Vocal Delivery Tags
[Verse 1]
[Whispered] In the silence of the night
[Building] I feel you close to me
[Belted] AND I CAN'T LET GO!
[Chorus]
[Powerful]
We rise together
Through any weather
Use these in your style prompt to specify instrumentation.
Guitars
acoustic guitar
electric guitar
distorted guitar
clean guitar
jangly guitar
fingerpicked guitar
slide guitar
12-string guitar
classical guitar
power chords
arpeggiated guitar
palm muted
Keys & Piano
piano
grand piano
upright piano
electric piano
Rhodes
Wurlitzer
organ
Hammond organ
church organ
harpsichord
clavinet
accordion
Synths & Electronic
synthesizer
analog synth
digital synth
modular synth
synth pads
synth leads
arpeggiated synth
supersaw
synth bass
808
sub bass
wobble bass
Drums & Percussion
drums
acoustic drums
electronic drums
drum machine
808 drums
trap hi-hats
brushed drums
live drums
percussion
bongos
congas
tambourine
shaker
claps
Bass
bass guitar
electric bass
upright bass
slap bass
fretless bass
synth bass
808 bass
deep bass
Strings & Orchestra
strings
orchestra
violin
viola
cello
double bass
string quartet
string section
pizzicato
harp
Brass & Woodwinds
brass
trumpet
trombone
french horn
tuba
saxophone
alto sax
tenor sax
flute
clarinet
oboe
Primary genres and subgenres for your style prompt.
Pop & Mainstream
pop
synth-pop
electropop
dance-pop
indie pop
art pop
power pop
bedroom pop
dream pop
k-pop
j-pop
city pop
Rock
rock
indie rock
alternative rock
classic rock
hard rock
soft rock
punk rock
post-punk
grunge
shoegaze
prog rock
psychedelic rock
garage rock
surf rock
blues rock
southern rock
Electronic & Dance
electronic
EDM
house
deep house
tech house
progressive house
techno
trance
dubstep
drum and bass
jungle
ambient
downtempo
chillwave
synthwave
vaporwave
future bass
garage
breakbeat
IDM
Hip Hop & R&B
hip hop
rap
trap
boom bap
drill
lo-fi hip hop
conscious hip hop
gangsta rap
R&B
neo-soul
contemporary R&B
alternative R&B
soul
motown
funk
Metal
metal
heavy metal
thrash metal
death metal
black metal
doom metal
power metal
nu metal
metalcore
progressive metal
symphonic metal
Folk & Country
folk
indie folk
folk rock
americana
country
country pop
outlaw country
bluegrass
celtic
irish folk
appalachian
Jazz & Blues
jazz
smooth jazz
bebop
cool jazz
fusion
acid jazz
jazz hop
blues
delta blues
chicago blues
electric blues
World & Latin
latin
reggaeton
salsa
bossa nova
afrobeat
reggae
dub
dancehall
flamenco
bollywood
k-pop
Positive Moods
happy
uplifting
euphoric
joyful
cheerful
optimistic
hopeful
triumphant
victorious
celebratory
playful
fun
carefree
Melancholic Moods
sad
melancholic
somber
wistful
nostalgic
bittersweet
longing
heartbroken
mournful
reflective
contemplative
Dark & Intense Moods
dark
brooding
ominous
menacing
aggressive
angry
intense
dramatic
epic
powerful
fierce
Calm & Peaceful Moods
calm
peaceful
serene
relaxing
tranquil
meditative
dreamy
ethereal
atmospheric
ambient
soothing
Energy Levels
high energy
energetic
driving
pumping
moderate energy
mid-tempo
low energy
laid-back
chill
mellow
building intensity
Mix Quality
polished
radio-ready
professional mix
crisp
clean
punchy
lo-fi
raw
rough
unpolished
garage recording
Texture & Character
warm
analog warmth
tape saturation
vinyl crackle
dusty
vintage
retro
modern
futuristic
digital
compressed
dynamic
Space & Reverb
reverb
heavy reverb
no reverb
dry
wet
spacious
wide stereo
intimate
room sound
hall reverb
cathedral
Specific BPM
60 BPM
80 BPM
90 BPM
100 BPM
120 BPM
128 BPM
140 BPM
160 BPM
180 BPM
Tempo Descriptors
slow
slow tempo
mid-tempo
moderate tempo
uptempo
fast
very fast
breakneck speed
Rhythm Patterns
four on the floor
syncopated
swung
straight
shuffle
triplet feel
half-time
double-time
breakbeat
polyrhythmic
These tags work best in Suno v5 and may have limited effect in earlier versions.
Negative Prompting
no vocals
no autotune
no reverb
no falsetto
no choir
no drums
no synths
no distortion
no electronic elements
v5-Specific Structure
[Build]
[Drop]
[Fade In]
[Fade Out]
[Swell]
[Crescendo]
[Decrescendo]
v5 Tip: Negative prompts work best when placed at the END of your style prompt. Suno processes positive descriptors first, then applies exclusions.
To understand the fundamentals, read our guide on how Suno prompts work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Suno metatags?
Suno metatags are special tags you add to your lyrics to control song structure and vocal delivery. Structure tags like [Verse], [Chorus], and [Bridge] tell Suno how to organize the song. Delivery tags like [Whispered] or [Belted] control how vocals are performed.
Where do I put metatags in Suno?
Place metatags in the lyrics field on their own line, before the section they describe. For example, put [Verse] on a line by itself, then your verse lyrics below. Structure tags go at the start of sections; delivery tags can go inline or before lines.
What's the difference between metatags and style prompts?
Metatags go in the lyrics field and control structure and vocal delivery. Style prompts go in the style field and describe the overall sound (genre, mood, instruments). Both work together: style sets the sound, metatags set the structure.
Do metatags work in Suno v5?
Yes, Suno v5 respects metatags more consistently than previous versions. V5 also added new tags like [Build], [Drop], and enhanced vocal delivery tags. Structure tags are essential for controlling song flow in v5.
Can I combine multiple tags?
Yes! You can combine structure and delivery tags. For example: "[Chorus] [Belted]" tells Suno this is the chorus section AND the vocals should be powerful. In style prompts, you can combine many genre, mood, and instrument tags.
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