Mastering AI Songwriting: A Beginner's Guide to Suno.ai

Suno.ai is an innovative AI-powered tool for music creation that has been gaining popularity among aspiring songwriters and music enthusiasts. This powerful platform offers two main modes of operation: Simple and Custom. While Simple mode is perfect for beginners to grasp the basics of AI-generated music, Custom mode provides more advanced features for those looking to create longer, more complex compositions. In this guide, we'll explore how to leverage Suno.ai's capabilities to create engaging and unique songs.

Simple mode in Suno.ai is designed for users who are just starting their AI songwriting journey. It allows you to input a brief description of up to 200 characters, including spaces, to define the style and theme of your desired song. While you can't directly reference specific artists or bands, you can describe the vocal style and musical elements you're aiming for. Simple mode typically generates two versions of a song, each up to 2 minutes in length, complete with automatically generated lyrics.

To create a song using Simple mode, start by crafting a detailed prompt that describes the musical style, mood, and lyrical themes you want. For example, you might input 'Energetic synth-pop, pulsing bass, retro '80s vibe, soaring silky male vocals, catchy melody, nostalgic feel, love and heartbreak themes, danceable beat, memorable chorus.' This prompt will guide Suno.ai in generating a song that matches your desired characteristics. Keep in mind that the AI may not always perfectly adhere to every aspect of your prompt, so you might need to experiment with different descriptions to achieve your desired result.

Custom mode in Suno.ai offers more control over your song's structure and content. To extend a song created in Simple mode, click the 'Extend' button, which will load your initial clip into Custom mode. Here, you can add new sections to your song, such as additional verses, bridges, and choruses. Custom mode allows you to input specific lyrics and song structure headers, giving you greater control over the composition. You can also set continuation points to determine where new sections should be stitched into the existing song.

To get the best results from Suno.ai, consider these tips: 1) Be specific in your style descriptions, focusing on musical elements rather than artist names. 2) Experiment with different prompts to find what works best for your desired outcome. 3) When extending songs, work in small sections (less than 60 seconds) for better quality and easier integration. 4) Pay attention to the continuation points when stitching new sections to ensure smooth transitions. 5) Don't be afraid to regenerate sections if you're not satisfied with the initial output.

Suno.ai can generate lyrics automatically, but you also have the option to input your own lyrics in Custom mode. Use section headers like [Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge], and [Outro] to guide the AI in structuring your song. You can even use headers like [Instrumental Break] to influence instrumental sections. Remember that as you extend your song through multiple parts, Suno.ai may deviate from the exact lyrics you've provided, sometimes producing unexpected but creative results.

Once you've generated all the parts of your song, listen carefully to each section and decide which versions work best together. You can right-click on a part and select 'Create Whole Song' to combine multiple sections into a cohesive piece. Don't hesitate to regenerate parts that don't quite fit or meet your expectations. The key to creating a polished AI-generated song is patience and willingness to experiment with different prompts and song structures until you achieve the desired result.