Quick answer: Suno meta tags are short instructions in square brackets that you put in the lyrics box, such as [Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge], [Instrumental Break] and [End]. They tell Suno how to structure the song and, sometimes, how a section should sound — for example [Chorus: powerful female vocals]. Put each tag on its own line above the lyrics it controls, keep tags short, and use the Style field for the overall genre.
Tags are guidance, not strict commands. Suno follows structure tags very reliably, and style hints inside tags most of the time. This cheat sheet lists the tags that work best and shows how to combine them.
How meta tags work
Suno reads your lyrics from top to bottom. When it sees a tag in square brackets, it treats it as an instruction rather than words to sing. Anything in round brackets, like (ooh, yeah), is usually sung as backing vocals. Tags only work in Custom mode, where you can write your own lyrics. New to Custom mode? See how to use Suno AI.
Song structure tags
| Tag | What it does |
|---|---|
| [Intro] | Opening section, often instrumental |
| [Verse] / [Verse 1] | Storytelling section, lower energy |
| [Pre-Chorus] | Builds tension before the chorus |
| [Chorus] | Main hook, highest energy, repeated |
| [Post-Chorus] | Short hook or chant after the chorus |
| [Bridge] | Contrast section before the final chorus |
| [Hook] | Short catchy line, common in hip hop |
| [Breakdown] | Stripped-back moment, common in EDM and metal |
| [Drop] | Big beat moment in electronic music |
| [Instrumental Break] | No vocals for a few bars |
| [Solo] / [Guitar Solo] | Lead instrument feature |
| [Outro] | Closing section |
| [Fade Out] / [End] | Tells Suno to finish the song |
Vocal tags
You can describe the voice for a section by adding a short note after a colon, or with a separate tag.
| Tag | Effect |
|---|---|
| [Male Vocals] / [Female Vocals] | Sets the singer for the section |
| [Duet] | Two voices trading or singing together |
| [Choir] | Group or choir sound |
| [Rap] / [Spoken Word] | Rapped or spoken delivery |
| [Whispered] | Soft, close delivery |
| [Belting] / [Powerful Vocals] | Strong, high-energy singing |
| [Harmonies] | Layered backing harmonies |
| [Falsetto] | Light, high head voice |
| [Ad-libs] | Short improvised vocal lines |
Example: [Chorus: duet, soaring harmonies]. Want a consistent voice across songs? See Suno Voices and Personas.
Instrument and sound tags
- [Piano Intro], [Acoustic Guitar], [Strings], [Synth Lead]
- [808 Bass], [Heavy Drums], [Drum Fill], [Percussion Break]
- [Saxophone Solo], [Violin Solo], [Bass Drop]
- [Build Up], [Riser], [Silence]
Instrument tags work best when the instrument already fits your Style prompt. Asking for a violin solo in a trap song may be ignored.
Mood and energy tags
- [Soft], [Calm], [Intimate]
- [Building], [Rising Energy], [Climax]
- [Explosive], [High Energy], [Anthemic]
- [Sad], [Hopeful], [Dark], [Playful]
Use these sparingly. One mood tag per section is usually enough. You can also combine: [Bridge: soft, piano only] then [Final Chorus: explosive, full band].
A full example with tags
Style: emotional pop rock, male vocals, piano and electric guitars, 90 bpm
[Intro: soft piano] [Verse 1] Empty roads and a borrowed light I kept your number one more night [Pre-Chorus] And I know, I know [Chorus: powerful vocals, full band] Hold on to the sound of the morning Hold on when the world is falling [Verse 2] ... [Bridge: whispered, piano only] If you hear this, come back home [Final Chorus: choir, explosive] Hold on to the sound of the morning [Outro] (Hold on) [End]
More lyric-writing tips are in our Suno lyrics guide.
Tips that make tags work better
- One tag per line. Put the tag on its own line, then the lyrics underneath.
- Keep tags short. Two to five words is ideal. Long instructions inside brackets may be sung by mistake.
- Match the Style. Tags refine the sound; the Style field sets it. Keep them consistent.
- Number your verses. [Verse 1] and [Verse 2] help Suno keep sections in order.
- Leave a blank line between sections. It makes the structure clearer.
- Use [End] to stop rambling. Without it, songs sometimes repeat or trail off.
- Use round brackets for backing vocals. Example: I’m alive (alive).
- Test, then reuse. When a tag combination works, save it as a template.
Tags that often don’t work
- Exact timings like [30 seconds] — Suno doesn’t follow clock times reliably.
- Exact keys or chord names — results vary.
- Artist names in tags — usually ignored or blocked.
- Very long sentences in brackets — may be sung as lyrics.
Tags for instrumentals
For music without vocals, leave the lyrics mostly empty or use only structure tags such as [Intro], [Build Up], [Drop], [Breakdown] and [Outro], and turn on the Instrumental option. You can add instrument tags to shape each part, for example [Drop: heavy bass, punchy drums]. Full guide: Suno instrumental prompts.
Tags when extending songs
When you extend a song, start the new lyrics with the tag for the section you want next, like [Bridge] or [Final Chorus], so Suno continues in the right place. Use [End] in the last extension to finish cleanly. See how to extend a song in Suno.
Printable cheat sheet
| Goal | Use |
|---|---|
| Clear structure | [Intro] [Verse 1] [Pre-Chorus] [Chorus] [Verse 2] [Bridge] [Final Chorus] [Outro] [End] |
| Bigger chorus | [Chorus: powerful vocals, full band] |
| Quiet contrast | [Bridge: soft, piano only] |
| Rap section | [Verse 2: rap] |
| Instrumental moment | [Instrumental Break] or [Guitar Solo] |
| Clean ending | [Outro] [Fade Out] [End] |
Tag templates by genre
Different genres need different shapes. Use these as starting points and change them to suit your song.
- Pop: [Intro] [Verse 1] [Pre-Chorus] [Chorus] [Verse 2] [Pre-Chorus] [Chorus] [Bridge: soft] [Final Chorus: full band] [Outro] [End]
- Hip hop: [Intro] [Hook] [Verse 1: rap] [Hook] [Verse 2: rap] [Hook] [Outro] [End]
- EDM: [Intro] [Verse] [Build Up] [Drop] [Breakdown] [Build Up] [Drop] [Outro] [End]
- Rock: [Intro: guitar riff] [Verse 1] [Chorus] [Verse 2] [Chorus] [Guitar Solo] [Final Chorus] [End]
- Worship: [Intro: soft piano] [Verse 1] [Chorus] [Verse 2] [Chorus] [Bridge: building] [Bridge] [Final Chorus: choir] [Outro]
Pair these with a matching Style prompt from our Suno style prompts guide. A clear structure plus a clear style gives the most predictable results.
How to test a new tag
Not every tag behaves the same way in every model. To test one, make a short song with a single verse and chorus, add the new tag to just one section and compare the two results Suno gives you. If the tag clearly changes that section, keep it in your template. If nothing changes, the tag may be too vague, so try a simpler word. Testing like this costs only a few credits and quickly builds a set of tags you can trust for your own style.
FAQ
Do Suno meta tags work in Simple mode?
No. Use Custom mode to add your own lyrics and tags.
Why is Suno singing my tags?
The tag may be too long or missing square brackets. Shorten it and put it on its own line.
Is there an official list of Suno meta tags?
Suno shares tips in its official help centre, but most tags in this list come from widespread community testing. Suno treats them as hints, not strict rules.
Can I control BPM with tags?
Put tempo or BPM in the Style field instead. It’s more reliable.
How many tags can I use?
As many as you need for structure, but keep style tags to one per section so they don’t conflict.
SunoMusicAI Guide is an independent website and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Suno, Inc. Features, prices and policies change often, so always check Suno’s official website for the latest details.
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