> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://musicwave.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://musicwave.gitbook.io/docs/ai-music-generation/generate-first-song.md). # Generate Your First AI Song This tutorial walks you through generating your first AI song with MusicWave, from logging in to downloading a finished track. ## Before you start You'll need: * A free MusicWave account ([sign up here](https://www.musicwave.ai)) * A song idea or genre in mind * About 5 minutes No music theory or production experience required. ## Step 1: Open the music generator After logging in, you'll land on your dashboard. Click **Generate Music** to open the main creation interface. You'll see: * A large prompt input field * Generation options on the side * A history of your previous generations (empty for first-time users) ## Step 2: Plan your prompt Before typing, think about what you want. Answer these questions: 1. **What genre?** Pop, rock, lo-fi, EDM, classical, jazz, hip-hop? 2. **What mood?** Happy, sad, energetic, calm, mysterious, romantic? 3. **What instruments?** Piano, guitar, drums, synth, strings? 4. **Vocals or instrumental?** 5. **How long?** 30 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes? 6. **What's the use case?** Background music, a song to listen to, a video soundtrack? Writing answers down before prompting helps avoid vague results. ## Step 3: Write your prompt Combine your answers into a single descriptive sentence. ### Beginner template ``` [Mood] [genre] song with [instruments] for [use case] ``` Example: "Upbeat lo-fi song with piano and soft drums for studying" ### Intermediate template ``` [Genre] track in [tempo] BPM, [mood] mood, featuring [instrument list], [structural notes] ``` Example: "Indie pop track at 110 BPM, melancholic mood, featuring acoustic guitar and gentle vocals, builds up at the chorus" ### Advanced template ``` [Detailed style reference], [key], [tempo], [vocal description], [instrumentation], [arrangement notes], [mood evolution] ``` Example: "90s alternative rock in E minor at 120 BPM, raspy male vocals, distorted guitars and pounding drums, quiet verse loud chorus dynamic, melancholic but defiant mood" ## Step 4: Configure options In the side panel, set: * **Duration:** Start with 1-2 minutes for testing * **Vocals:** On (to hear the AI sing) or Off (instrumental only) * **Quality:** Standard (faster, fewer credits) or High (slower, better) * **Variations:** 1 (faster) or 2-4 (more options to choose from) ## Step 5: Click Generate Press the **Generate** button. You'll see a progress indicator. Generation time depends on: * **Duration** — longer songs take longer * **Quality setting** — High quality takes 2-3x longer * **Server load** — busy times add a few seconds Typical times: * 30 seconds, standard: 20-30 seconds * 1 minute, standard: 30-60 seconds * 3 minutes, high quality: 90-150 seconds ## Step 6: Listen to the result Once generated, the track appears in your history with a play button. Click play. Listen for: * Does the genre match what you asked for? * Is the mood right? * Are the instruments present? * Does the structure feel complete? If something is off, that's normal for first attempts. Don't get discouraged. ## Step 7: Refine if needed If the result isn't quite right, try one of these approaches: ### A. Regenerate with the same prompt Sometimes the same prompt produces better results on a second try. Click **Regenerate** to try again. ### B. Edit the prompt Add or change details. For example: * If too slow → "...at faster tempo, 130 BPM" * If wrong instruments → "...remove the drums, add piano" * If wrong mood → "...more uplifting, less melancholic" ### C. Try a different prompt entirely If the results are way off, sometimes starting fresh works better than tweaking. ## Step 8: Download the track Once you have a result you like: 1. Click the **download** icon next to the track 2. Choose format: * **MP3** — smaller file, good for sharing * **WAV** — larger file, best for video editing or further production 3. The file saves to your device's downloads folder ## Common first-time experiences ### "It sounds generic" Your prompt was probably too vague. Add specific details about mood, instruments, and reference styles. ### "The vocals are weird" AI vocals are improving but not always perfect. Try generating instrumental versions, or add more specific vocal descriptions like "raspy male vocals" or "smooth female alto." ### "The genre is wrong" Be more explicit about subgenre. Instead of "rock," try "90s grunge rock" or "modern indie rock." ### "It cuts off abruptly" Increase the duration setting, or include "ends with a fade out" in your prompt. ## What's next? Now that you've generated your first song: * [Best Prompts for AI Music](/docs/ai-music-generation/best-prompts.md) — Learn advanced prompting techniques * [Genre-Specific Prompting](/docs/ai-music-generation/genre-specific-prompting.md) — Templates for specific genres * [Stem Splitter Guide](/docs/tools-documentation/stem-splitter.md) — Separate your generated track into instruments [Try MusicWave free →](https://www.musicwave.ai) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. 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