
Suno AI v5 Playbook: Complete Guide (Free & Pro)
Gary Whittaker
Suno AI v5 Playbook: From First Prompt to Professional Workflow
A practical training guide for creators on Free and Pro plans.
Module 1: Getting Started
Learning Objective: Create an account, understand modes, and generate a first track.
Steps
- Sign up: Free = daily credits. Pro/Premier = monthly credit pools, priority queue, commercial rights.
- Modes: Simple (one prompt box). Custom (separate Lyrics and Style of Music, Instrumental toggle, Upload Audio - Pro).
- First Generation: Describe genre + mood + vocal. Click Create. Review previews. Save or extend.
Module 2: Prompt Engineering
Learning Objective: Write precise prompts that steer output.
Prompt Taxonomy
Component | Examples | Notes |
---|---|---|
Genre/Style | pop-punk; 90s boom-bap | 1–2 max; avoid overload |
Mood/Emotion | triumphant; dreamy; somber | Shapes tempo and harmony |
Instruments | palm-muted guitars; strings | Call out 2–3 key ones |
Vocals | female alto; baritone rap | Lead type or character |
Lyrics Theme | summer road trip; faith under fire | Guides auto-lyrics |
Production | clean mix; high fidelity | Use sparingly for polish |
Case Study: Iteration
- Prompt 1: “Techno song.” → Generic loop.
- Prompt 2: “High-energy techno, 4/4 kick, dark bassline, robotic female hook.” → Clear hook.
- Prompt 3: Add “clean mix, no harsh distortion.” → Fewer artifacts.
Negative Prompting
Use exclusions like “instrumental only” or “no vocals”.
Copy-Ready Structures
Genre / Era + Mood + 2–3 Instruments + Vocal Type + Topic
“Cinematic orchestral, somber; strings + low brass + sparse piano; no vocals; trailer cue that builds to a hit at 0:40.”
Module 3: Styles, Genres, Moods
Learning Objective: Direct the musical feel with concise style inputs.
- One genre or a logical fusion (e.g., folk-rock; reggae + afrobeat).
- Add mood words (uplifting, aggressive, haunting) and era tags (80s synthwave; 90s R&B).
- Prefer eras/traits to specific artists. If used, keep generic (“Motown funk”).
- If a blend sounds muddy, split across generations and combine later.
Module 4: Lyrics
Learning Objective: Choose auto-lyrics, supply your own, or go instrumental.
- Auto-lyrics (Simple Mode): Topic-driven; fast iteration.
- Custom lyrics (Custom Mode): Paste verse/chorus; keep structure clear.
- Instrumental: Toggle vocals off for beds, cues, or later toplining.
- Tip: Phonetic spell difficult words to aid pronunciation.
Module 5: Pro Features
Learning Objective: Pick the right feature for audio-guided creation.
Decision Tree
Do you have original audio?
└─ Yes → Upload Audio
├─ Vocal line? → Cover Song (AI accompaniment)
├─ Riff/Loop? → Extend / Style Transfer
└─ Full track? → Add Vocals or Add Instrumentals
└─ No → Generate from text prompt
Upload Audio
- Record mic or upload WAV/MP3 (use content you own).
- Good inputs: clear melody, clean riff, simple loop.
Cover Song
- Arrange around your sung or hummed melody.
- Works best with solo, clean vocals.
Extend
- Create a new section inspired by a saved track.
- Use for bridges/outros; expect variation, not a splice.
Add Vocals / Add Instrumentals
- Layer the missing part onto an existing song.
- Useful for finishing without re-prompting.
Module 6: Building Full Songs
Learning Objective: Assemble multiple clips into a coherent track.
3-Stage Pipeline
- Plan: V1 → CH → V2 → CH → BR → CH (target ~2:30–3:30).
- Generate: Prompt sections separately or use Custom Mode with clear [Verse]/[Chorus] tags.
- Assemble: Use Extend for transitions; stitch in DAW.
Consistency Tips
- Keep style constants: same genre, tempo feel, vocal type.
- Reuse motifs or a line in each chorus.
- Use Personas (Pro) for vocal consistency across songsPro.
Module 7: Export, Stems, and Editing
Learning Objective: Export files, use stems, and finish in a DAW.
Stems Matrix
Plan | Export Options |
---|---|
Free | MP3 full mix |
Pro | 2-stem (vocals + instrumental) |
Premier | Up to 12 stems (vocals + instrument groups) |
DAW Workflow
- Import stems into Audacity, GarageBand, or Reaper.
- Trim and crossfade between sections.
- Balance vocal/instrument levels.
- Light EQ and reverb as needed.
- Export final WAV/MP3.
Module 8: Troubleshooting
Learning Objective: Resolve common issues quickly.
- Missed instrument/mood: Simplify prompt; regenerate 2–3 times.
- Artifacts/“dirty” audio: Add “clean mix, high fidelity”; try again.
- Sections don’t join: Crossfade in DAW; extend earlier for overlap.
- Slow queue: Normal on Free; Pro has priority.
Module 9: Legal & Ethics (FAQ)
Learning Objective: Apply correct usage policies.
- Can Free users release commercially?
- No. Free is personal/non-commercial; attribution required.
- Do Pro/Premier users own outputs?
- Yes. Rights are assigned for commercial use while subscribed.
- Can I upload copyrighted material?
- No. Upload only audio you own or have rights to.
- Is AI music copyrightable?
- Often not by itself; add human contributions for stronger claims.
Follow platform guidelines. Avoid impersonation and disallowed content.
Module 10: Glossary
- Simple Mode
- Single text box prompting.
- Custom Mode
- Separate lyrics/style inputs with more control.
- Extend
- New section inspired by an existing track.
- Cover Song
- AI accompaniment around your recorded melody.
- Stems
- Separated vocal/instrument exports.
- Persona
- Saved vocal/style profile for consistency (Pro).
Copy-Ready Style Snippets
Gospel-soul ballad; warm Rhodes + soft organ; minimal brushes; expressive alto lead; gentle choir in chorus; intimate, hopeful; clean mix, high fidelity.
Reggae–Afrobeat fusion; offbeat skank guitar, tight afrobeat drums, deep bass; baritone lead; call-and-response hook; triumphant; crisp low-end, no harsh highs.
Lo-fi hip-hop; relaxed 78–86 bpm feel; dusty drums, warm vibraphone, vinyl crackle; instrumental only; cozy, mellow; soft tape saturation, light sidechain.
2000s pop-punk; fast 4/4; palm-muted verses; big octave chorus guitars; punchy live drums; raw tenor lead with gang shouts; energetic; radio-clean mix.
Suno v5 Series — Full List
- Suno v5 Playbook — Complete Guide
- Suno v5 vs v4/4.5/4.5 Plus — Upgrade Guide
- Inside Suno v5 — Model Architecture & Technical Mechanics
- Negative Prompting in Suno v5 — The Missing Manual
- Suno v5 Multilingual & English Pronunciation Guide
- Custom Lyrics in Suno v5 — Precision & Control
- Instrumentation & Arrangement in Suno v5
- Audio Uploads & Hybrid Workflow in Suno v5
- Creative Control Sliders in Suno v5 — Practical Manual
- Song Editor in Suno v5 — Composer’s Workflow
- Suno Studio (v5) — Complete Guide & Workflows
- Suno v5 to Release: Mixing Inside Suno — Best-Practices Playbook