Genre-Specific Prompting Guide

Different genres have distinct sonic signatures, structural conventions, and production aesthetics. This guide provides prompt strategies optimized for specific genres to help you get better, more authentic-sounding AI music generations.

Electronic Dance Music (EDM)

House

Key characteristics: 4-on-the-floor kick, 120–130 BPM, groove-driven, repetitive but evolving.

Prompt template:

[subgenre] house, [BPM] BPM, four-on-the-floor kick, [bass type],
[pad/synth texture], [vocal element], [structure],
[mix character]

Example prompts by subgenre:

Subgenre	Example Prompt
Deep House	Deep house, 122 BPM, warm sub bass, lush chord stabs, filtered vocal chop, hypnotic groove, intro → build → drop → breakdown → drop → outro, warm dark mix, subtle reverb
Tech House	Tech house, 126 BPM, punchy kick, rolling bassline, clicky percussion, minimal vocal sample, driving groove, sparse arrangement, dry tight mix
Progressive House	Progressive house, 128 BPM, layered synth pads, arpeggiated melody, slow build, emotional breakdown, epic drop, wide stereo, long reverb tails

Techno

Key characteristics: 125–150 BPM, repetitive, industrial or atmospheric, minimal vocals.

Effective descriptors:

• Bass: acid 303 bass, distorted kick, rumbling sub
• Texture: industrial, hypnotic, dark, atmospheric, mechanical
• Structure: long intro, slow build, peak time, driving

Melodic techno, 132 BPM, rolling analog bass, atmospheric pads,
arpeggiated synth melody, driving percussion, hi-hat groove,
intro → long build → peak drop → breakdown → outro,
dark wide stereo mix, plate reverb

Drum and Bass

Key characteristics: 170–180 BPM, breakbeat patterns, heavy bass, fast-paced.

Liquid drum and bass, 174 BPM, deep reese bass, chopped amen break,
atmospheric pads, ethereal female vocal, melodic lead synth,
intro → build → drop → breakdown → second drop → outro,
crisp highs, warm low end, medium reverb

Hip-Hop and R&B

Trap

Key characteristics: 130–170 BPM (half-time feel), 808 bass, hi-hat rolls, dark atmosphere.

Dark trap, 145 BPM, heavy 808 bass, crisp snare, rapid hi-hat rolls,
dark piano melody, atmospheric pads, hard-hitting,
verse → chorus → verse → chorus → outro,
low end heavy mix, subtle room reverb

Boom Bap

Key characteristics: 85–100 BPM, sampled drums, vinyl texture, head-nodding groove.

Classic boom bap, 92 BPM, vinyl crackle, punchy boom bap drums,
jazzy piano sample, warm bass, mellow atmosphere,
intro → verse → chorus → verse → chorus → outro,
warm analog mix, slight saturation

R&B / Neo-Soul

Modern R&B, 78 BPM, smooth Rhodes piano, warm bass guitar,
gentle drums, silky vocal harmonies, intimate production,
verse → pre-chorus → chorus → verse → bridge → chorus,
warm close mix, subtle plate reverb

Rock and Metal

Rock

Key characteristics: Guitar-driven, 100–140 BPM, strong drums, clear structure.

Alternative rock, 128 BPM, overdriven electric guitar, punchy drums,
melodic bass, raw male vocal, anthemic chorus,
intro → verse → chorus → verse → chorus → bridge → final chorus → outro,
loud dynamic mix, room reverb on drums

Metal

Progressive metal, 140 BPM, heavily distorted guitars, double kick drums,
aggressive riffing, technical rhythm changes, growling vocal,
intense energy, tight palm-muted riffs,
intro → verse → pre-chorus → heavy chorus → breakdown → solo → final chorus,
aggressive loud mix, tight low end

Pop

Key characteristics: Catchy hooks, 100–130 BPM, polished production, clear vocals.

Modern pop, 118 BPM, bright synth chords, plucked lead melody,
four-on-the-floor kick, clap snare, catchy vocal hook,
polished production, radio-ready,
intro → verse → pre-chorus → chorus → verse → chorus → bridge → final chorus,
bright wide mix, clean and polished

Jazz

Key characteristics: Complex harmony, swing rhythm, improvisation feel, acoustic instruments.

Smooth jazz, 110 BPM, walking upright bass, brushed drums with swing,
warm jazz piano comping, mellow saxophone melody, intimate club feel,
head → solo section → head → outro,
warm natural mix, room ambience

Important: AI models have less jazz training data, so results are less consistent. Use specific instrument and harmony descriptors.

Classical and Orchestral

Cinematic orchestral, 72 BPM, sweeping string ensemble,
French horn melody, timpani accents, building intensity,
piano introduction → strings enter → full orchestra crescendo → quiet resolution,
concert hall reverb, wide dynamic range, spacious mix

Ambient and Experimental

Dark ambient, 60 BPM, evolving drone textures, granular synthesis,
distant metallic resonance, sub-bass rumble, no clear rhythm,
slow evolution over time, vast empty space,
deep dark mix, long ethereal reverb, wide stereo

Lo-Fi

Lo-fi hip hop, 80 BPM, vinyl crackle, muted jazzy piano chords,
warm tape-saturated bass, relaxed boom bap drums, gentle rain ambience,
chill study vibes, nostalgic warm feel,
warm muffled mix, tape hiss, low-pass filter

General Genre Prompting Rules

DO

1. Use genre-specific terminology — every genre has its own vocabulary
2. Specify BPM accurately — wrong tempo instantly breaks genre authenticity
3. Name specific instruments — "reese bass" is more useful than "bass"
4. Include production style — clean vs. dirty, compressed vs. dynamic
5. Match structure to genre — EDM drops ≠ pop choruses ≠ jazz heads
6. Set consistent mood — all descriptors should reinforce the same emotion

DON'T

1. Mix conflicting genres without intent (e.g., "jazz trap classical")
2. Use vague descriptors ("cool", "nice", "good")
3. Forget structural landmarks
4. Specify impossible combinations ("140 BPM slow ballad")
5. Overload with too many instruments (muddy results)
6. Ignore production/mix direction

Tempo Reference Chart

Genre	Typical BPM Range
Ambient	40–80
Hip-Hop / Boom Bap	85–100
R&B	70–100
Reggaeton	90–100
Pop	100–130
House	118–132
Techno	125–150
Trance	130–145
Dubstep	140 (half-time)
Drum & Bass	170–180
Hardstyle	150–160