Suno v6 released September 9, 2026 with three models—v6, v6-wild, and v6-mini—and a new approach to style prompts. You get 800 characters to describe your song. Most people waste them. Here's what works.
The 800-Character Limit and How to Use It
Suno v6 gives you 800 characters for your style prompt. That's roughly 120–150 words. The limit includes everything: genre tags, instrumentation, mood, tempo, production notes, and any structural cues.
The prompt isn't a creative writing exercise. It's a spec sheet. Suno's training on a licensed catalogue from Warner Music Group, BMG, and Believe means it recognizes specific production language, genre markers, and instrumentation terms.
Structure your prompt in layers:
- Layer 1: Genre foundation — Primary genre, subgenre, or hybrid (e.g., "melodic trap," "indie folk," "90s boom bap")
- Layer 2: Instrumentation — Specific instruments, not vague descriptions ("808 bass, crisp hi-hats, Rhodes piano" not "smooth vibes")
- Layer 3: Production style — Mix characteristics, effects, spatial qualities ("reverb-drenched vocals," "dry drum mix," "analog warmth")
- Layer 4: Tempo and energy — BPM range or descriptor, dynamic arc ("110 BPM, laid-back groove" or "uptempo, driving energy")
- Layer 5: Reference era or artist style — Optional but useful ("early 2000s R&B production," "Laurel Canyon sound")
Example prompt for melodic trap:
Melodic trap, 140 BPM, minor key. 808 bass with long decay, crisp hi-hat rolls, atmospheric synth pads. Auto-tuned lead vocal with reverb, doubled ad-libs. Dark, moody production with space in the mix. Influenced by 2016–2018 Atlanta trap sound. Kick and 808 locked tight, snare on 3.
That's 318 characters. You have room to add vocal delivery notes, bridge treatment, or outro instructions.
Tags Suno v6 Actually Follows
Not all tags carry equal weight. Suno v6 responds most reliably to:
Genre tags: Primary genre names and established subgenres. "Trap," "indie rock," "Afrobeats," "country," "lo-fi hip-hop," "drill," "singer-songwriter," "alternative R&B." Hybrid genres work when both elements are clear: "jazz-hop," "folk-pop," "trap soul."
Instrumentation tags: Specific instrument names. "808," "Rhodes," "acoustic guitar," "Moog bass," "live drums," "orchestral strings," "brass section," "wurlitzer," "analog synth." Suno recognizes production-specific terms like "sidechain compression," "tape saturation," "vinyl crackle."
Tempo and rhythm tags: BPM numbers or descriptors. "140 BPM," "slow tempo," "uptempo," "half-time feel," "double-time hi-hats," "boom bap drums," "four-on-the-floor."
Vocal style tags: Delivery and processing. "Auto-tuned," "raw vocal," "harmonized," "spoken word," "melodic rap," "belted chorus," "whispered verse," "doubled vocal."
Production era tags: Decade or era references tied to production techniques. "90s production," "80s drum sound," "modern mix," "vintage recording," "lo-fi aesthetic."
Tags that rarely help: vague mood words ("emotional," "powerful," "epic"), abstract concepts ("journey," "storytelling"), or overly specific artist names without production context.
Layered Style Prompts: Genre DNA in Action
The best Suno prompts mirror genre DNA—the structural rules and production signatures that define a sound. When you write a style prompt, you're coding those rules into 800 characters.
For trap, that means 808 bass, hi-hat patterns, tempo range (130–150 BPM), minor tonality, and vocal processing. For Afrobeats, it's the clave rhythm, log drums, shekere, 100–128 BPM, and polyrhythmic percussion. For country, it's acoustic guitar, steel guitar, storytelling vocal, 80–120 BPM, and major-key progressions.
Example prompt for 90s boom bap:
90s boom bap, 85–95 BPM. Sampled jazz loop, kick and snare punchy and dry, vinyl crackle, warm bass. Raw, unprocessed vocal delivery. Minimal reverb, no auto-tune. Kick on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4. Scratches and vocal samples as accents. SP-1200 aesthetic, gritty mix.
That's 327 characters. The prompt names the genre, tempo, drum pattern, sample source, vocal style, and production reference. Every tag maps to a recognizable sonic element.
For Afrobeats:
Afrobeats, 110 BPM, major key. Log drums, shekere, clave rhythm, 808 bass with bounce. Layered percussion, synth stabs, bright keys. Call-and-response vocal, melodic hook, ad-libs. Upbeat, danceable groove. Modern Lagos production, clean mix with space for percussion.
That's 301 characters. The clave rhythm and log drums are non-negotiable markers. If you want to write an Afrobeats song with intention, learn the structure and groove first, then translate it into your prompt.
How the Variety Setting Rewrites Your Prompt
Suno v6 includes a Variety setting. When set above 0, it rewrites your style prompt to introduce variation. When set to 0, it keeps your prompt exactly as written.
If you've spent time crafting a layered style prompt, set Variety to 0. Otherwise, Suno will reinterpret your tags and you'll lose control over instrumentation, tempo, or production details.
Variety is useful when you want Suno to explore within a genre or when your prompt is intentionally loose. For precise work—sync briefs, genre-specific placements, or songs that need to match a reference—keep it at 0.
Section Editing and Plain-Language Prompts
Suno v6 added section editing in plain language. You can isolate a verse, chorus, or bridge and rewrite it without regenerating the entire song. This changes how you think about prompts.
Your initial style prompt sets the foundation. Section edits let you adjust one part: "Make the second verse more aggressive," "Add a guitar solo in the bridge," "Strip the chorus to vocals and bass."
Section edits work best when your original prompt is specific. If your foundation is vague, section edits compound the problem. Start with a tight prompt, then refine.
If you're using SONIQ, the platform includes v6 edit shortcuts on every variant and the Coach's v6 section edits, so you can iterate without leaving your workflow.
Prompts for v6, v6-wild, and v6-mini
Suno v6 is the flagship model: reliable, precise, polished across genres. Your prompt will be interpreted consistently. v6-wild is built for exploration—less predictable, more varied. Early testers report many takes are unusable, but when it works, it produces unexpected results. v6-mini is faster and more efficient; it's the free-tier model.
For v6-wild, loosen your prompt. Give it genre boundaries and a few key elements, then let it explore. For v6 and v6-mini, tighten your prompt. Specificity gets better results.
Example loose prompt for v6-wild:
Experimental electronic, 120 BPM. Glitchy drums, detuned synths, vocal chops. Unpredictable arrangement, heavy effects.
Example tight prompt for v6:
Deep house, 122 BPM, minor key. Four-on-the-floor kick, filtered disco sample, warm bass, shaker loop. Soulful vocal hook, reverb and delay. Breakdown at 2:00 with filtered pads, build back with claps and synth stabs. Ibiza sunset vibe, polished club mix.
If you're deciding which model to use, read the full breakdown: Suno v6 Explained: v6 vs v6-wild vs v6-mini for Songwriters.
Common Prompt Mistakes
Most Suno prompts fail because they're either too vague or too cluttered.
Too vague: "Sad song with guitar." Suno has no tempo, key, genre, production style, or vocal direction. You'll get a generic result.
Too cluttered: Listing every instrument, effect, and mood descriptor without hierarchy. Suno can't prioritize. Pick the 5–7 elements that define the song, then layer them.
Ignoring genre rules: Asking for "trap with live drums and no 808." That's not trap. If you want a hybrid, name both genres and clarify the balance.
Overusing artist names: "Make it sound like [artist]." Suno doesn't train on artist likenesses. Reference production era, region, or style instead.
FAQ
What's the character limit for Suno v6 style prompts?
800 characters. That includes genre, instrumentation, tempo, production notes, and any structural cues. Use it to layer specific details, not to write paragraphs.
Does Suno v6 follow BPM tags in prompts?
Yes. Suno recognizes BPM numbers and tempo descriptors like "uptempo," "slow," or "mid-tempo." Specific BPM ranges (e.g., "140 BPM") work better than vague terms.
Should I set Variety to 0 or let Suno rewrite my prompt?
Set Variety to 0 if you want Suno to use your exact prompt. Above 0, Suno rewrites your style tags to introduce variation. For precise work, keep it at 0.
SONIQ pairs with Suno v6 through features like Sample Flip, Vocal Cast, and v6 edit shortcuts—try it at mysoniq.com/app.