Suno AI Tutorial: How to Make Songs with the AI Music Generator
Step-by-step Suno AI tutorial covering Simple Mode, Custom Mode, metatags, and tips to create better AI-generated music in minutes.
Making music used to require years of training, expensive equipment, and a recording studio. Not anymore. AI music generators like Suno AI let anyone create original tracks in minutes, no instruments or music theory required.
In this tutorial, I'll walk you through everything you need to know about Suno AI: setting up your account, using Simple Mode and Custom Mode, working with metatags, and getting results that actually sound good.
What Is Suno AI?#
Suno AI is an AI-powered music generator that creates full songs from text prompts. You describe the genre, mood, and style you want, and it builds a complete track with vocals, instruments, and structure. It's surprisingly good, and it's getting better fast.
Whether you want a catchy hook for a project or a full song for fun, Suno gives you the tools to make it happen without touching a single instrument.
Video Tutorial: How to Use Suno AI#
If you'd rather see the whole process in action, here's my full walkthrough:
- Navigating Suno AI's interface
- Creating a song in Simple Mode
- Tips for using Custom Mode
- Using metatags and the Extend feature
- Real examples of songs I created with Suno AI
How to Set Up Your Suno AI Account#
Before you start creating, you need an account:
- Visit suno.com and click "Sign Up"
- Create an account using Google or any email. Takes about two minutes.
- Pick your plan. The free tier lets you create up to 10 songs per day. Paid plans unlock more features and higher quality output.
Quick note: I'm not sponsored by Suno. I just genuinely enjoy using the tool.
How to Use Simple Mode#
Simple Mode is the fastest way to make a song. You describe what you want, hit Create, and Suno does the rest. Here's the process:
Step 1: Open Simple Mode#
Log in, go to the "Create" tab, and select Simple Mode.
Step 2: Write Your Prompt#
Give Suno a short, specific description of the song you want. The more detail you include, the better the output.
Example prompt: "Uplifting hip-hop with catchy hooks, motivational lyrics about perseverance, and a modern pop sound."
Step 3: Generate Your Song#
Click "Create." Suno will generate two versions of your song in under a minute.
Step 4: Listen and Pick#
Play both versions. If neither hits the mark, tweak your prompt and try again. Small changes to wording can produce very different results.
Simple Mode Example#
Here's what Suno generated from the prompt: "Energetic synth-pop with pulsing bass, retro '80s vibe, and uplifting lyrics about chasing dreams."
[Verse]
Lights flashing
Heart racing Chasing dreams
No time for pacing
Neon signs In the city at night
Gonna shine so bright
Gonna take flight
Drive all night
To the horizon we go
The music's pumping
The energy's flowin'
We're on a high
Can't stop
Won't quit
Gonna make it big
We're gonna be legit
[Verse 2]
Breakin' free
Like a lightning bolt
We'll keep pushin'
We won't revoke
Retro vibes
In every beat we drop
It's a love affair
It can't be stopped
From one sentence, Suno built a full song structure with verses and a chorus. That's the power of Simple Mode.
How to Use Custom Mode#
Custom Mode gives you more control. You write the lyrics yourself and define the musical style in detail.
Step 1: Open Custom Mode#
In the "Create" tab, select Custom Mode. This opens fields for lyrics and style.
Step 2: Write Your Lyrics#
Write your own lyrics or use a tool like ChatGPT or Claude to help. Format them with section tags like [Verse], [Chorus], and [Bridge] so Suno knows the structure.
Example lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Chasing dreams under the neon lights
Our hearts are racing, it feels so right
Together we can conquer the night
With you by my side, it's pure delight
[Chorus]
Oh, neon dreams, take us higher
Burning bright, we're on fire
In this moment, we're alive
With our love, we'll survive
[Bridge]
City lights reflecting in your eyes
We're unstoppable, no goodbyes
Holding on to this endless ride
With you, the world's a better side
Step 3: Define the Style#
Specify the musical style. You can also add voice tags for vocal preferences.
Style: "Energetic synth-pop with retro '80s vibes, sultry female vocals"
Step 4: Generate#
Click "Create" and Suno builds your song using your exact lyrics and style preferences.
Advanced Features#
Once you're comfortable with the basics, these features help you get more out of Suno.
Metatags and Ad Libs#
Metatags guide the AI on song structure. Ad libs add vocal flair.
- Metatags use brackets: [Instrumental Break], [Guitar Solo], [Outro]
- Ad libs use parentheses: (yeah), (uh-huh)
Example with metatags and ad libs:
[Verse 1]
Chasing dreams under the neon lights
Our hearts are racing, it feels so right (feels so right)
Together we can conquer the night
With you by my side, it's pure delight
[Chorus]
Oh, neon dreams, take us higher
Burning bright, we're on fire
In this moment, we're alive
With our love, we'll survive (we'll survive, survive)
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 2]
City lights reflecting in your eyes
We're unstoppable, no goodbyes (yeah)
Holding on to this endless ride
With you, the world's a better side
Creating Longer Songs#
Suno songs default to about two minutes. To make them longer, use the Extend feature:
- Click "Extend" on your generated song
- Choose where the new section starts (end of a verse or chorus)
- Add new lyrics and define the style for the extension
Example extension lyrics:
[Verse 3]
Shadows on the wall, echoes of our call
Searching for a sign, together we'll stand tall
In this journey, we'll never fall
With our love, we'll conquer all
[Bridge]
In the depths of the night, holding on tight
To memories we made, and the love we shared
In this electric air, I'm reaching for you
Hoping you'll be there, to see this through
[Outro]
Tips for Better Suno AI Results#
Use Clear, Specific Descriptions#
Vague prompts get vague results. Be specific about genre, mood, instruments, and vocal style.
- Good prompt: "Uplifting hip-hop with catchy hooks, motivational lyrics about perseverance, and a modern pop sound."
- Bad prompt: "Make a good song."
Experiment with Song Structure#
Try different arrangements to find what works best:
[Intro]
[Verse 1]
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[Chorus]
[Outro]
Tweak and Regenerate#
If your first output isn't right, make small changes and try again. Swapping "Energetic synth-pop" for "Energetic synth-pop with a catchy melody, emotional male singer" can produce a completely different song.
Use Voice and Instrumental Tags#
These let you customize the sound further:
Voice tags: "Upbeat male singer," "Sultry female vocals"
Instrumental tags: [Guitar Solo], [Percussion Break]
Use the Extend Feature#
If a song feels short or incomplete, extend it with new verses, bridges, or an outro.
Get the Suno AI Lyric and Prompt GPT (Free)#
I built a custom GPT specifically for Suno AI. It generates tailored prompts and well-structured, rhyming lyrics formatted perfectly for Suno.
What it does:
- Generates genre-specific prompts for better results
- Creates structured, rhyming lyrics
- Formats everything for direct use in Suno AI
You can grab it free on Gumroad.
Advanced Suno AI Prompt and Lyric Guide#
If you want to go deeper, I put together a paid guide with more tips, tricks, examples, and use cases for making great music with AI. You can get the guide here with 40% off using code MOESBLOG (limited time).
What's Next#
Now you've got everything you need to start making AI-generated music with Suno. Whether it's a custom song for a friend, background music for a video, or just creative experimentation, Suno makes it fast and fun once you know how the tool works.
If you're interested in other AI tools that can save you time, check out my roundup of the best AI tools for solopreneurs.