Learning Objectives

• Explain negative prompting and why it matters in Suno v5.
• Recognize v4.5 vs v5 exclusion behavior.
• Apply recipes for instrumentals, arrangement control, and mix clarity.
• Troubleshoot failed prompts with a simple flow.
• Use advanced exclusion strategies in real projects.

Why Negative Prompts Matter

Negative prompting tells Suno what to exclude. In v4.5, exclusions were inconsistent. In v5, exclusions execute more reliably due to improved parsing, rendering precision, and broader training coverage.

v4.5 vs v5: Behavior Shift

Exclusion Syntax

Effective phrasing

• “Instrumental only, no vocals.”
• “Upbeat pop with drums and bass, no guitars.”
• “Trap beat with piano and synths, no 808s.”

Ineffective phrasing

• “Without singing unless background only.”
• “No sounds that are bad.”
• “Not like rock.”

Recipes with Before/After Notes

1) Pure Instrumentals

Prompt: “Cinematic orchestral build, no vocals, wide reverb.”

• v4.5: Occasional oohs/ahhs.
• v5: Clean, lyric-free scores for karaoke or sync.

2) Remove a Problem Instrument

Prompt: “Reggae groove with bass and percussion, no electric guitar.”

• v4.5: Bass sometimes lost with guitar.
• v5: Bass/percussion remain; strums removed.

3) Clear a Muddy Mix

Prompt: “Lo-fi hip hop with piano and vinyl crackle, no synth pads.”

• v4.5: Pads bled into background.
• v5: More space; piano forward.

Advanced Strategies

1. Layer negatives with positives: “Acoustic guitar focus, no distortion, clear vocals.”
2. Precision stacking: “No lead guitar solo” (keeps rhythm guitars).
3. Genre-aware exclusions: EDM “no hi-hats”; Rock “no distortion”; Hip hop “no 808s.”

Troubleshooting Flow

Still hearing vocals?
  → Try "instrumental only"
     → If persists → Export stems
        → Remove vocals in DAW

Mix feels too empty?
  → Reduce exclusions (1–2 max)
     → Add clear positives (what you DO want)

Creative Applications

• Custom karaoke tracks.
• Remix layers (swap drums/bass).
• Minimal scoring for film/game cues.
• Instrumental beds for lyric writing.

Glossary

Negative Prompting

Instructions specifying what not to include.

Lyric Suppression

“No vocals” or “instrumental only.”

Mode Exclusion

Removing entire content modes (vocals, solos).

Exclusion Syntax

Wording used to trigger negatives.