Learning Objectives

• Write lyrics that Suno can sing cleanly (without drift, cutoffs, or rushed phrasing).
• Match syllables to groove so your verses feel “in pocket.”
• Fix mispronunciations using text-level control (not wishful prompting).
• Design hooks that repeat naturally without sounding robotic.
• Use advanced techniques for duets, storytelling, and brand continuity.

Back to top ↑

Why custom lyrics matter

Default lyrics can be fun, but custom lyrics give you three things Suno can’t guess for you: meaning, brand voice, and repeatability.

Back to top ↑

What Suno v5 tends to respect (your leverage points)

• Clear section markers: brackets signal structure and reduce “lyric wandering.”
• Consistent line lengths: similar syllable counts help phrasing stay stable.
• Repetition with intent: short repeated hooks usually sing better than long novel choruses.
• Simple punctuation: commas and dashes can shape phrasing; heavy punctuation can confuse cadence.
• Whitespace: blank lines between sections make parsing cleaner.

Back to top ↑

Formatting that prevents drift

Rule: format like a lyric sheet, not like a paragraph.

Use section markers consistently

[VERSE 1]
Line
Line
Line
Line

[CHORUS]
Line
Line
Line
Line

Keep verses compact

• Best starting point: 4 lines per verse, 2–4 lines per chorus.
• When you go longer: keep line length consistent, and repeat key phrases to anchor.

Use performance cues sparingly

Cues like [whisper] or [rap] can help, but stacking many cues can reduce clarity. Use one cue per section at most.

Back to top ↑

Syllables & pacing (the “in pocket” method)

You don’t need to count perfectly. You just need lines that match each other. If line 1 has 8–10 syllables, line 2 should be in that neighborhood too.

Quick rewrite trick (beginner-friendly)

1. Read each line out loud.
2. If you run out of breath, it’s too long.
3. If it feels empty, repeat a keyword.

Cadence anchors (advanced)

• Use the same stress pattern on line endings (end on the same kind of word).
• Keep rhyme simple: rhyme every 2nd line or every 4th line.
• Reserve dense lyric writing for rap/spoken sections, not melodic choruses.

Back to top ↑

Pronunciation control (what to do when it says the wrong word)

v5 is better than earlier models, but mispronunciation still happens. Your best control is spelling choices and clarifying the intended word.

Text-level fixes table

Back to top ↑

Hooks that land (and don’t sound robotic)

Robotic choruses usually happen when you ask for a long chorus lyric that’s too complex to repeat cleanly. Fix it by making the hook short and giving it room.

Hook formulas

• Repeat hook: one line, repeated twice
• Call & response: short question + short answer
• Tagline hook: brand phrase + one meaning line

Examples (copy/paste patterns)

[CHORUS]
Righteous love, righteous love
Lift me up, rise above

[CHORUS]
Who will stand? (Who will stand?)
I will stand (I will stand)

[CHORUS]
Get Jacked — build it right
Own the sound — claim the light

If your chorus is longer than your verse, shorten it. In most genres, the chorus is simpler, not denser.

Back to top ↑

Common pitfalls (and fixes)

• Overstuffed lines: shorten, or split into two lines.
• Forced rhyme every line: rhyme every 2nd line (or 4th) instead.
• Too many section cues: one cue per section max.
• Ambiguous words: use safe spellings or rewrite the phrase.
• Long verses with no anchors: repeat a motif line at the end of each verse.

Back to top ↑

Debug flow (use this before you regenerate everything)

Lyrics cut off?
  → Reduce verse length (4 lines)
  → Shorten each line
  → Add blank line between sections

Pronunciation wrong?
  → Replace the word with safer spelling or synonym
  → If it must be exact, apply methods in:
    /blogs/guides-using-suno-ai-music-creation/suno-v5-multilingual-english-pronunciation-guide

Chorus sounds robotic?
  → Make chorus shorter
  → Add repetition
  → Remove dense internal rhymes

Timing feels rushed?
  → Cut filler words
  → Keep line lengths consistent
  → Prefer simple chorus, dense verse if needed

Back to top ↑

Advanced techniques

1) Duets / group vocals (role tags)

[VERSE 2]
[male vocal] I walked through fire
[female vocal] And I held the line
[both] We rise together, every time

2) Storytelling songs (motifs)

• Use one recurring phrase each verse.
• Keep chorus as “thesis statement.”
• Bridge reveals twist, chorus returns with new meaning.

3) Branding continuity across songs

• Keep a recurring phrase (tagline) and a consistent chorus cadence.
• Reuse a short hook line across an EP (like a signature).

4) Controlled intensity (lyric density shifts)

• Verse: more words, more detail
• Chorus: fewer words, bigger emotion
• Bridge: one new image, then return

Back to top ↑

Templates you can reuse

Template A: clean pop / worship

[VERSE 1]
Line (8–10 syllables)
Line
Line
Anchor line (repeat this in every verse)

[CHORUS]
Hook line (repeat)
Hook line (repeat)
Support line

[VERSE 2]
Line
Line
Line
Anchor line

[BRIDGE]
Short contrast image
Short prayer / vow
Return to hook

Template B: rap verse + sung hook

[VERSE] [rap]
Short lines, punchy phrases
Internal rhymes optional
End with a setup line

[CHORUS] [sung]
Short hook
Repeat hook
One meaning line

Back to top ↑