Suno AI Masterclass Part 2: Advanced Techniques & Custom Mode

Welcome back to the Suno AI Masterclass! In Part 1, we covered the fundamentals. Now it's time to unlock Suno's full potential with Custom Mode and advanced techniques.

What We'll Cover

• Mastering Custom Mode for precise control
• Writing lyrics that work with AI vocals
• Advanced prompt engineering strategies
• Vocal optimization techniques
• Style blending and genre fusion

Understanding Custom Mode

While Automatic Mode is great for quick ideas, Custom Mode gives you precise control over:

1. Exact lyrics (write or paste your own)
2. Specific style descriptions (detailed genre + mood)
3. Song title (helps set context)

When to Use Custom Mode

Use Custom Mode when:

• You have specific lyrics written
• You need precise genre control
• You're creating a series of songs in the same style
• You want consistent results

Use Automatic Mode when:

• You want quick inspiration
• You don't have specific lyrics
• You're exploring random ideas
• You're learning the basics

Lyric Writing for AI Vocals

Writing lyrics for AI vocals requires a different approach than human singers. Here's what works:

The AI Vocal Formula

AI vocals work best with:

• Clear rhythm - syllables match the beat
• Simple vocabulary - avoid obscure words
• Predictable rhyme schemes - AABB or ABAB work best
• Short phrases - easier for AI to parse

Structure Templates

Verse-Chorus Structure:

[Verse 1]
4 lines setting the scene
Rhyme scheme: AABB or ABAB
Simple, storytelling language

[Chorus]
4 lines with the hook
Memorable, repetitive
Emotional peak

[Verse 2]
4 lines developing the story
Same rhyme scheme as Verse 1

[Chorus]
Repeat the hook

[Bridge]
2-4 lines
Different perspective or twist

[Final Chorus]
The hook one last time

Rhythm and Flow

Test Your Lyrics:

1. Speak your lyrics aloud
2. Clap or tap along with the rhythm
3. Check that stressed syllables fall on beats

Example - Good Rhythm:

The NIGHT is YOUNG and WE're on FIRE (8 syllables)
Our HEARTS beat LOUD with SWEET deSIRE (8 syllables)

Example - Poor Rhythm:

Incomprehensibility surrounds us completely (too many syllables)
The juxtaposition of our circumstances (awkward word stress)

Effective Rhyme Schemes

AABB (Couplets):

Walking down this empty street (A)
The sound of my own heartbeat (A)
Looking up at starry skies (B)
Trying to forget the lies (B)

ABAB (Alternating):

The sun goes down on another day (A)
And I'm still thinking of you (B)
The colors fade to shades of grey (A)
Don't know what I'm gonna do (B)

AAAA (Monorhyme):

I want to dance (A)
Give me a chance (A)
Lost in a trance (A)
This sweet romance (A)

What to Avoid in AI Lyrics

❌ Complex vocabulary:

• "Serendipitous," "incomprehensible," "juxtaposition"
• Use simple words: "lucky," "confusing," "contrast"

❌ Unclear rhythm:

• Uneven syllable counts
• Unpredictable word stress

❌ Obscure references:

• Niche cultural references
• Complex metaphors

✅ What works:

• Simple, direct language
• Clear, predictable rhythms
• Universal themes (love, loss, celebration)

Advanced Style Descriptions

The Anatomy of a Great Style Description

Break your style description into components:

[Genre] + [Subgenre] + [Era] + [Mood] + [Vocal Style] + [Instrumentation] + [Production Quality]

Example Breakdown:

Genre: Electronic
Subgenre: Melodic Progressive House
Era: 2020s
Mood: Euphoric, uplifting, festival energy
Vocal Style: Female vocals, ethereal, layered harmonies
Instrumentation: Piano chords, sawtooth synth leads, punchy kick drum
Production Quality: Polished, radio-ready, wide stereo field

Combined:

2020s melodic progressive house, euphoric and uplifting festival anthem, 
ethereal female vocals with layered harmonies, featuring piano chords 
and sawtooth synth leads, polished radio-ready production with 
punchy kick drum and wide stereo field

Genre-Specific Keywords

House Music:

• "Four-on-the-floor kick"
• "Off-beat hi-hats"
• "Sidechain compression pumping"
• "Soulful vocals"
• "Funky bassline"

Techno:

• "Industrial percussion"
• "Dark atmosphere"
• "Driving, repetitive"
• "Minimal arrangement"
• "Warehouse energy"

Trance:

• "Arpeggiated synths"
• "Supersaw leads"
• "Build-up and breakdown"
• "Euphoric drop"
• "144 BPM"

Pop:

• "Catchy hook"
• "Radio-friendly"
• "Polished production"
• "Verse-chorus structure"
• "Commercial appeal"

Vocal Style Keywords

Gender and Tone:

• Male vocals, deep voice
• Female vocals, ethereal
• Androgynous vocals
• Raspy, soulful
• Clean, polished

Style:

• Crooning
• Rapping
• Singing with vibrato
• Falsetto
• Chanting

Processing:

• Auto-tuned
• Raw and natural
• Heavy reverb
• Intimate, close-mic'd
• Distorted

Advanced Prompt Techniques

1. Reference Artist Blending

Reference specific artists to capture their style:

Melodic house in the style of Avicii and Swedish House Mafia,
with emotional piano melodies and festival-ready energy

Best Practices:

• Reference 1-2 artists max (more gets confusing)
• Combine artists with similar styles
• Add specific elements you want from each

2. Temporal Context

Specify era for authentic sound:

1980s synthwave with analog synthesizers and drum machines

Early 2010s progressive house, EDM festival anthem style

3. Production Techniques

Mention specific production approaches:

Lo-fi hip hop with vinyl crackle, pitched down samples, 
and relaxed boom-bap drums

Hyperpop with extreme pitch-shifting, glitchy effects, 
and maximalist production

4. Arrangement Hints

Guide the structure:

Epic orchestral trailer music with building strings, 
huge percussion hits, and a climactic final section

Minimal techno with gradual 8-minute buildup, 
stripped-down percussion, evolving textures

Vocal Optimization

Getting Better Vocal Results

1. Specify Vocal Style Explicitly

Female vocals: ethereal, breathy, with slight reverb
Male vocals: soulful, raspy, emotional delivery

2. Guide the Melody

While you can't control exact notes, you can suggest:

Catchy, singable melody with an anthemic chorus
Intimate, spoken-word style verses with soaring sung chorus

3. Layering and Harmonies

Main vocal with layered harmonies and backing vocals
Call-and-response between lead and backing vocals

Fixing Common Vocal Issues

Problem: Off-key vocals

• Add: "melodic vocals, on-pitch singing"
• Try specifying the key: "in the key of C major"

Problem: Generic-sounding vocals

• Add specific descriptors: "distinctive, characterful vocals"
• Mention an artist reference: "vocal style like Halsey"

Problem: Wrong language pronunciation

• Be explicit: "clear English vocals" or specify language
• Try different spellings for non-English words

Style Blending and Genre Fusion

Creating Hybrid Genres

Combine elements from multiple genres:

Acoustic folk meets electronic production - fingerpicked guitar 
with synth bass and electronic drums, organic meets synthetic

Classical piano with trap beats - elegant melodies over 
808s and hi-hats, sophisticated yet modern

The Fusion Formula

[Genre A elements] + [Genre B elements] + [Unifying element]

Example:

Jazz chord progressions + hip hop beats + smooth Rhodes piano

Successful Combinations

• Acoustic + Electronic: Organic instruments with electronic production
• Classical + Modern: Orchestral elements with contemporary beats
• World Music + Pop: Ethnic instruments with pop song structures
• Vintage + Futuristic: Retro sounds with modern processing

Troubleshooting Guide

Problem: Results Don't Match Description

Solutions:

1. Be more specific - break down elements
2. Use genre-specific terminology
3. Reference specific songs or artists
4. Remove conflicting descriptors

Problem: Vocals Sound Robotic

Solutions:

1. Add: "natural, human-sounding vocals"
2. Try: "raw vocals without heavy processing"
3. Specify: "soulful, emotional delivery"

Problem: Arrangement Is Messy

Solutions:

1. Add structure hints: "clear verse-chorus arrangement"
2. Specify: "sparse arrangement, not overcrowded"
3. Try: "minimal instrumentation, focused mix"

Problem: Consistency Across Multiple Songs

Solutions:

1. Use Custom Mode with the same style description
2. Create a "style template" you copy and paste
3. Reference the same artists each time
4. Keep vocal specifications consistent

Building Your Prompt Library

Create a Personal Database

Save successful prompts with notes:

Prompt: "Melodic house, euphoric, piano, 128 BPM, festival"
Results: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Notes: Perfect for main stage energy

Categories to Build

1. Genre Prompts: One for each genre you use
2. Mood Prompts: Happy, sad, energetic, relaxed
3. Vocal Prompts: Different vocal styles
4. Fusion Prompts: Your signature hybrid sounds

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Lyric Writing

Write lyrics for a 3-minute pop song:

• Verse 1 (4 lines)
• Chorus (4 lines)
• Verse 2 (4 lines)
• Chorus (4 lines)
• Bridge (2 lines)
• Final Chorus (4 lines)

Check: Do the syllables create a clear rhythm?

Exercise 2: Style Description

Describe your favorite song's style in detail. Include:

• Genre and subgenre
• Mood and energy
• Instrumentation
• Vocal style
• Production quality

Generate in Suno and compare to the original.

Exercise 3: Genre Fusion

Pick two genres and create a hybrid:

1. List 3 elements from Genre A
2. List 3 elements from Genre B
3. Write a prompt combining them
4. Generate and evaluate

Ready for Part 3?

In the final part of this masterclass, you'll learn:

• Exporting and file management
• Editing Suno tracks in FL Studio
• Mixing and mastering AI-generated music
• Creating a professional workflow

Continue to Part 3: Professional Workflow →

Resources

Download These Free Guides

• Music Production Checklist - 47-point workflow guide
• FL Studio Template - Professional project template
• Avicii Production Secrets - Sound design guide

Watch Video Tutorials

Subscribe to my YouTube channel for video demonstrations of these techniques:

Subscribe @livvux

Questions?

What advanced techniques are you struggling with? Let me know in the comments or reach out on social media!

Next up: Part 3: Professional Workflow