Combining Tags
Build stronger prompts by layering genre, mood, instruments, vocals, structure, and production tags.
Strong prompts are built in layers. Each layer answers a different musical question.
The Layering Model
| Layer | Question | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | What style is this? | rock, house, indie folk |
| Emotion | What should it feel like? | [Nostalgic], [Euphoric], [Melancholic] |
| Instrumentation | What should lead the sound? | [Piano], [Electric Guitar], [Synth Lead] |
| Vocal | Who sings and how? | [Female Vocals], [Rap Verse], [Harmonies] |
| Production | What texture should it have? | [Tape Delay], [Wide Stereo], [Raw Production] |
| Structure | Where does each idea happen? | [Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge] |
Dynamic Progression
Change tags by section to make the song evolve:
[Intro]
[Atmospheric] [Mysterious] [Clean Electric Guitar]
[Verse]
[Introspective] [Gentle] [Acoustic Guitar]
[Chorus]
[Energetic] [Powerful] [Distorted Electric Guitar]
[Bridge]
[Dramatic] [String Section] [Building Energy]
[Outro]
[Peaceful] [Fade Out]
Creative Contrasts
Contrast can work when each side has a role:
| Contrast | Possible result |
|---|---|
[Whispered Vocals] + [Heavy Guitar] | Intimate but intense rock |
vintage + modern production | Retro song with current polish |
acoustic + electronic drums | Organic/digital hybrid |
dark + uplifting chorus | Bittersweet emotional lift |
Ready-to-Use Templates
Pop Ballad
pop ballad, emotional, gentle, piano, string section,
female vocal, vulnerable vocals, hall reverb, I-V-vi-IV
EDM Anthem
progressive house, energetic, explosive, synth lead,
synth bass, electronic drums, vocal chops, sidechain compression,
wide stereo, crowd noise
Indie Folk
indie folk, peaceful, contemplative, acoustic guitar,
fingerpicking, harmonica, male vocal, gentle vocals,
natural reverb, field recording
Dark Electronic
dark electronic, mysterious, atmospheric, synthesizer,
minor key, heavy reverb, delay, ambient pads,
no vocals, cinematic tension, building energy
Common Mistakes
- Too many tags in one section.
- Contradictory instructions in the same line.
- Vague tags where specific ones would help.
- Structure missing from the lyrics.
- Changing genre, mood, tempo, and instruments all at once during testing.