SUNO V5 FEATURE

Suno Negative Prompting: The Complete Guide

Exclude unwanted vocals, instruments, and styles for precise AI music control

Negative prompting is the art of telling Suno what you don't want in your music. Instead of hoping certain elements won't appear, you explicitly exclude them. This guide covers 50+ negative prompt examples to help you create cleaner, more focused AI music.

For the full picture, explore our master Suno prompts guide.

Understanding Negative Prompts

When you generate music in Suno, your style prompt tells the AI what to create. But sometimes you get unwanted elements—random vocals in your instrumental, drums in your ambient piece, or autotune when you wanted raw vocals. Negative prompts solve this by explicitly excluding elements.

Negative Prompt Syntax

Use any of these formats in your style prompt:

no [element]
without [element]
exclude [element]
avoid [element]

All formats work, but "no" is most reliable and character-efficient.

Excluding Vocals

The most common use of negative prompts is creating true instrumentals without vocal artifacts or background voices.

Vocal Exclusion Prompts

Remove all vocals
no vocals, instrumental only
No singing
no singing, no voice
No background vocals
no backing vocals, no harmonies
No vocal effects
no vocal samples, no chants
No humming
no humming, no wordless vocals
No rap/spoken word
no rapping, no spoken word
Complete Instrumental Prompt
cinematic orchestral, epic strings, brass fanfare, no vocals, no humming, no choirs, instrumental only

Excluding Instruments

Remove specific instruments that don't fit your vision or that keep appearing when unwanted.

Percussion Exclusions

No drums at all
no drums, no percussion
No electronic drums
no 808s, no drum machines
No hi-hats
no hi-hats, no cymbals
Acoustic only
no electronic percussion

String Instrument Exclusions

No electric guitar
no electric guitar, no distortion
No bass guitar
no bass guitar, no slap bass
No acoustic guitar
no acoustic guitar, no strumming
No strings
no violins, no orchestral strings

Electronic/Synth Exclusions

No synths
no synthesizers, no synth pads
No bass drops
no bass drops, no wobble bass
No arpeggios
no synth arpeggios, no sequencers
No electronic elements
no electronic sounds, fully acoustic

Other Instruments

No piano
no piano, no keys
No brass
no brass, no horns, no trumpet
No woodwinds
no flute, no saxophone, no clarinet
No organ
no organ, no church organ

Excluding Production Styles

Control the production approach by excluding certain mixing or mastering characteristics.

Production Exclusions

No autotune
no autotune, no pitch correction
No reverb
no reverb, dry mix
No heavy compression
no overcompression, dynamic range
No distortion
no distortion, no clipping, clean
No lo-fi effects
no vinyl crackle, no tape hiss
No sidechain
no sidechain pumping, no ducking

Excluding Genres & Styles

Keep your generation focused by excluding genre elements that might creep in.

Genre Exclusions

No EDM
no EDM, no drops, no buildup
No hip-hop
no hip-hop, no trap, no rap
No metal
no metal, no screaming, no heavy
No jazz
no jazz, no swing, no improvisation
No country
no country, no twang, no banjo
No classical
no classical, no orchestral swells

Excluding Mood & Energy

Control the emotional direction by excluding certain moods or energy levels.

Mood Exclusions

Not sad
no sad, no melancholic, no minor key
Not aggressive
no aggressive, no intense, calm
Not cheesy
no cheesy, no corny, sophisticated
Not dark
no dark, no ominous, bright
Not slow
no slow tempo, no ballad, upbeat
Not chaotic
no chaos, no dissonance, clean

Complete Prompt Examples

Here are full prompts combining positive descriptors with strategic negative prompts:

Ambient Background Music
ambient, atmospheric, ethereal pads, soft textures, peaceful, flowing, no drums, no percussion, no vocals, no sudden changes
Clean Acoustic Folk
acoustic folk, fingerpicked guitar, warm, intimate, singer-songwriter, no drums, no bass, no electric instruments, no production effects
Modern Pop Without Autotune
pop, catchy, female vocalist, natural voice, emotional, radio-ready, no autotune, no pitch correction, no robotic effects
Epic Trailer Music
epic orchestral, cinematic, brass, strings, powerful, building intensity, no vocals, no choir, no electronic elements, instrumental only
Lo-Fi Beats (No Vocals)
lo-fi hip-hop, chill beats, jazzy piano, vinyl warmth, mellow, no vocals, no rapping, no singing, no voice samples
Acoustic Piano Solo
solo piano, classical, emotional, dynamic, expressive, concert hall, no other instruments, no strings, no vocals, piano only

Best Practices

Pro Tips for Negative Prompting:
  • Be specific — "no electric guitar" works better than just "no guitar"
  • Prioritize — Put your most important exclusions first
  • Balance — Don't use more negatives than positives
  • Combine related exclusions — "no vocals, no humming, no choirs" is thorough
  • Use positive reinforcement — Add "instrumental only" alongside "no vocals"
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
  • Over-excluding — Too many negatives confuse the AI
  • Contradictions — Don't ask for "jazz piano, no piano"
  • Vague exclusions — "no bad sounds" won't work
  • Expecting 100% reliability — Regenerate if needed

Negative Prompts by Use Case

Use Case Recommended Negative Prompts
YouTube Background no vocals, no sudden changes, no drops
Podcast Intro no lyrics, no singing, instrumental
Meditation Music no drums, no percussion, no tempo changes
Corporate Video no vocals, no heavy bass, no distortion
Game Background no lyrics, loopable, no abrupt endings
Acoustic Cover no drums, no electric, no production effects
Film Score no pop elements, no modern beats, cinematic

Troubleshooting

Excluded Element Still Appearing?

Try these fixes:

  1. Be more specific — Instead of "no guitar," try "no acoustic guitar, no electric guitar, no guitar of any kind"
  2. Add positive reinforcement — Add what you want instead: "piano only, no other instruments"
  3. Regenerate — Results vary; try 3-5 generations
  4. Check for conflicts — Make sure your positive prompts don't imply the excluded element
  5. Use structure tags — [Instrumental Break] in lyrics can help enforce no vocals

Generation Sounds Empty or Thin?

You may have excluded too much. Reduce your negatives and add more positive descriptors for what you do want.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove vocals from Suno generations?

Use negative prompts like "no vocals", "instrumental only", "without singing", or "no voice". For best results, combine with positive instrumental descriptors like "orchestral" or "electronic instrumental".

What's the syntax for negative prompts in Suno?

Use "no [element]", "without [element]", "exclude [element]", or "avoid [element]". Examples: "no drums", "without autotune", "exclude bass drops". The "no" format is most character-efficient.

Can I exclude specific genres in Suno?

Yes, use phrases like "no EDM elements", "without hip-hop influences", "avoid metal sounds". This helps keep your generation focused on your intended style without unwanted genre bleeding.

How many negative prompts can I use at once?

You can use multiple negative prompts, but keep the total style prompt under 200 characters. Prioritize your 2-3 most important exclusions for best results. Too many negatives can confuse the model.

Why does Suno still include elements I excluded?

Negative prompts are influential but not absolute. Try being more specific (e.g., "no electric guitar" instead of just "no guitar"), add positive reinforcement ("piano only"), or regenerate several times as results vary.

Do negative prompts work differently in Suno v5?

Suno v5 has improved prompt adherence, making negative prompts more reliable than previous versions. However, results still vary between generations, so expect to regenerate occasionally.

Generate Perfect Prompts Automatically

HookGenius creates optimized prompts with built-in exclusions based on your target style. No more trial and error.

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