Genre-Specific Prompting

Different genres need different prompting strategies. This guide provides proven templates for each major genre, with the specific descriptors that produce the best results in MusicWave.

Lo-fi Hip Hop

Lo-fi is one of the easiest genres to generate well. The genre's chill, repetitive nature plays to AI strengths.

Template

Lo-fi hip hop instrumental, [mood] mood, [main instrument] sample, brushed drums, vinyl crackle texture, [BPM 70-90] BPM, no vocals, [use case]

Working examples

Lo-fi hip hop instrumental, mellow mood, jazz piano sample, brushed drums, vinyl crackle texture, 75 BPM, no vocals, perfect for studying

Lo-fi hip hop, sleepy mood, soft Rhodes piano, gentle drums, rain sounds in background, 70 BPM, late night vibe

Key descriptors that work

• "vinyl crackle"

• "tape hiss"

• "brushed drums"

• "Rhodes piano" or "jazz piano"

• "sample-based"

• "chillhop"

Pop

Pop generation works best with clear structure cues and specific vocal direction.

Template

[Subgenre] pop song in [key] at [100-130] BPM, [vocal style] vocals, [instrument list], drums kick in at the chorus, [theme] theme, [mood] mood

Working examples

Indie pop song in C major at 115 BPM, female vocals with reverb, acoustic guitar and synth pads, drums kick in at the chorus, summer love theme, upbeat and nostalgic

Synthpop song at 120 BPM, male vocals with autotune, retro synths and drum machine, energetic 80s vibe, drives forward throughout

Electronic / EDM

Electronic genres benefit from BPM specificity and structural cues.

Template

[Subgenre] track at [BPM] BPM, [bass description], [synth description], [drop or build description], [mood] mood

Working examples

House track at 125 BPM, deep bassline, warm analog synths, build at 0:30 with drop at 1:00, uplifting and groovy

Future bass at 140 BPM, heavy bass drops, lush chord stabs, vocal chops, energetic and emotional

Subgenres to try

• House, deep house, tech house

• Techno, minimal techno

• Future bass, dubstep, drum and bass

• Trance, progressive trance

• Synthwave, retrowave

• Tropical house

Rock

Rock benefits from era references and instrument specificity.

Template

[Era] [subgenre] in [key] at [tempo] BPM, [vocal style], [guitar description], [drum description], [structural notes], [mood]

Working examples

90s grunge rock in E minor at 120 BPM, raspy male vocals, distorted guitars and pounding drums, quiet verse loud chorus dynamic, melancholic but defiant

Classic rock at 110 BPM, blues-rock guitar riffs, powerful male vocals, tight drums and bass, anthemic chorus, energetic and confident

Cinematic / Orchestral

Cinematic music needs detailed structure and emotional arc descriptions.

Template

Cinematic orchestral piece in [key], starts with [opening instrument], [instruments] enter at [time], full orchestra by [time], [climax description], [mood evolution]

Working examples

Cinematic orchestral piece in D minor, starts with solo piano at 0:00, strings enter at 0:30, full orchestra by 1:00, dramatic climax with brass at 1:45, melancholic but hopeful

Epic film score, percussion-driven, taiko drums and brass, builds intensity throughout, triumphant climax, heroic and powerful

Jazz

Jazz prompts work best with subgenre and instrumentation specificity.

Template

[Subgenre] jazz, [tempo description], featuring [instrument list], [mood], [solo instrument] solos

Working examples

Smooth jazz, slow tempo, featuring saxophone and Rhodes piano with brushed drums and upright bass, late-night mood, sax takes the lead

Bebop jazz at fast tempo, featuring trumpet and piano with walking bass, energetic and complex, trumpet solos throughout

Classical

Classical needs era and form specifications.

Template

[Era] classical piece in [form], [key] key, featuring [instruments], [tempo marking], [mood]

Working examples

Baroque chamber music in sonata form, A minor key, featuring solo violin with harpsichord accompaniment, allegro tempo, energetic and ornate

Romantic era piano piece in nocturne form, E-flat major, solo piano, slow and expressive tempo, dreamy and melancholic

Hip Hop / Trap

Modern hip hop benefits from beat description and vocal style.

Template

[Subgenre] beat at [80-100] BPM, [bass description], [drum description], [melodic element], [vocal style if applicable], [mood]

Working examples

Trap beat at 140 BPM (half time feel), 808 bass, hi-hat rolls and snares, dark piano melody, no vocals, ominous and atmospheric

Boom bap hip hop at 90 BPM, vinyl drum samples, jazz sample, no vocals, nostalgic 90s vibe

Country / Folk

Country and folk benefit from regional descriptors and instrumentation specificity.

Template

[Subgenre] in [tempo description], featuring [acoustic instruments], [vocal style], [theme], [mood]

Working examples

Modern country ballad at 75 BPM, acoustic guitar and pedal steel, male vocals with slight twang, heartbreak theme, melancholic and sincere

Indie folk at 90 BPM, fingerpicked acoustic guitar with light banjo, soft female vocals, nature theme, peaceful and reflective

Ambient

Ambient music needs texture and atmosphere descriptions over melody.

Template

Ambient [subgenre], [texture description], [drone or pad description], [field recording elements], very slow evolution, [mood]

Working examples

Ambient drone, lush warm pads, slow evolving textures, distant field recordings of rain, very slow tempo, peaceful and meditative

Dark ambient, deep bass drones, scraping metallic textures, no melody, foreboding and mysterious

R&B / Soul

R&B benefits from production era references and vocal direction.

Template

[Era] R&B at [70-100] BPM, smooth [vocal description] vocals, [instrument list], [groove description], [mood]

Working examples

90s R&B at 85 BPM, smooth female vocals with harmonies, electric piano and warm bass, gentle drum machine, romantic and intimate

Modern neo-soul at 80 BPM, soulful male vocals, vintage Rhodes piano, live drums and bass, jazzy chords, contemplative and warm

Quick reference table

Genre	Critical descriptors
Lo-fi	vinyl crackle, brushed drums, jazz piano, no vocals
Pop	structure cues, vocal style, era reference
EDM	exact BPM, drop timing, subgenre
Rock	era, vocal style, guitar tone, drum dynamics
Cinematic	opening instrument, build timeline, climax point
Jazz	subgenre, instrument list, solo instrument
Classical	era, form, key, instrumentation
Hip Hop	BPM, beat type, sample style
Folk	acoustic instruments, theme, vocal warmth
Ambient	texture, atmosphere, very slow evolution
R&B	production era, vocal smoothness, groove

Next steps

• Best Prompts for AI Music — General prompting strategy

• Generate Your First AI Song — Step-by-step tutorial

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