Many users encounter the same issue when using AI for music creation: Why do generated melodies often sound “formulaic” and fail to meet their unique creative needs? The answer lies in the crucial element of “prompts.” This guide will unlock advanced techniques for customizing melodies in MakeBestMusic by exploring the importance of prompts, core types, precise application strategies, and pitfalls to avoid—empowering you to craft your signature core melodies.
AI Music Prompts: Why Are They Central to Music Generation?
Many users are accustomed to AI music generation's “one-click” functionality. However, to create customized music that meets specific requirements, effectively utilizing prompts—the crucial bridge connecting user creativity to AI algorithms—is essential. MakeBestMusic's core technology precisely analyzes textual descriptions and translates them into melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic structures. Prompts serve as the “language” through which users convey creative intent to AI, enhancing the accuracy and uniqueness of generated results.
Specifically, the core value of prompts manifests in three dimensions:
- Breaking AI comprehension barriers: Enabling non-professional users without music theory knowledge to swiftly convey core demands like style and emotion, preventing AI from “winging it.”
- Enhancing creative control: Using precise instructions to align melody progression, section structure, instrumentation, and other details with expectations, solving the inefficiency of “generate-and-discard.”
- It sparks creative diversity by combining prompts to break stylistic limitations, generating original melodies that blend individuality with professional quality. As Grammy-winning producer David noted, a well-crafted prompt transforms AI into a “creative partner with perfect pitch,” precisely capturing the user's subconscious melodic inspiration.
Unlocking the Core Tool for Melody Customization: Prompt Words
In MakeBestMusic's creative process, prompt words aren't random descriptions—they operate with clear categorization and logical application. Mastering these three types of prompt words will elevate your workflow from passive reception to active customization.
Song Structure Prompts: Defining Melodic Frameworks, Building Creative Foundations
The core function of song structure prompts is to clarify the overall framework and flow logic of the melody for the AI. This determines the song's integrity and fluidity, serving as the “skeleton” of melody customization. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced creator, clear structure prompts prevent issues like disjointed melody sections and emotional disconnects.
Within MakeBestMusic, users can precisely define all song sections—including intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro—via prompts. Specifying each section's duration, emotional shifts, and instrumentation enables the AI to accurately match creative requirements. Specifically:
- The intro sets the tone and leads into the verse.
- The verse builds a narrative and emotional foundation.
- The chorus delivers the emotional peak and memorable hook.
- The bridge creates transitions and adds depth.
- The outro provides a natural conclusion, leaving a lingering resonance.
Song Style Prompts: Establishing Melodic Character, Precisely Matching Creative Needs
Style prompts are pivotal in defining a melody's “character,” requiring precise targeting of specific genres or stylistic fusions. Common precise style prompts include: “Neoclassical piano,” “lo-fi hip-hop,” “cyberpunk electronic,” “Midwest emo + neo-soul mashup,” “jazz-house fusion,” etc.
Avoid vague terms like “pleasant music,” “pop style,” or “gentle melody,” as these descriptions result in AI-generated melodies lacking distinctiveness and failing to meet precise requirements. Pair style references with detailed supplements, e.g., “Style reference: R&B, incorporate gentle drum beats, overall mood: tender and healing,” to significantly enhance generation accuracy.
Additionally, leverage MakeBestMusic's mood analysis feature by incorporating emotional prompts to strengthen expression. Examples include: “mood: Gentle and healing with a hint of nostalgia, featuring smooth melodic fluctuations”, “mood: Emotional progression from calm to climax, with maximum tension in the chorus”.This ensures the melody aligns closely with the core emotional intent of your composition.
Optimization Tips for Lyrics: Enhance Artistic Quality and Achieve “Lyrics-Melody Harmony”
The compatibility between melody and lyrics directly determines a song's memorability. Integrating segmented prompts with lyrical structure enables AI-generated melodies to precisely match the rhythm, rhyme, and emotional expression of lyrics. MakeBestMusic supports direct lyric import, allowing users to assign dedicated segmented prompts for each verse to achieve “lyrics-melody harmony.” Key implementation points include:
- First, segment prompts by lyric sections (verses, choruses, etc.). Configure separate prompts for each verse, chorus, bridge, etc., ensuring each melody's tempo, pace, and rhythm perfectly align with the lyric count and pauses. Example: “Verse1: 8 words per line, relaxed tempo, 0.5-second pause after each line, light piano accompaniment supporting vocals.”
- Second, incorporate rhyme and rhythm cues into prompts. Clearly specify rhyme schemes and rhythmic patterns to guide AI in accurately capturing melodic flow. Example: “Verse 2: 7 syllables per line, rhymes with ‘a’, slightly slower tempo, 0.3-second pause between lines, light percussion accents.” “Chorus: 6 syllables per line, rhymes with ‘o’, rising tempo, emotional outburst, full band accompaniment to amplify tension.”
- Third, annotate key emotional lines with lyric patterns. For core emotional lines requiring emphasis, explicitly mark them in prompts to amplify the melody's emotional impact. For example: “Chorus: Emotional outburst, melody sharply ascends, emphasize ‘XXX (core lyric line)’, increase instrument volume, layer harmonies to enhance depth.”
Say goodbye to mediocre melodies! Ready-to-use prompt formula
To help you intuitively master combining prompts, the following example demonstrates crafting lyrics for a ballad by integrating three core elements: style, emotion, and detail.
From concept to melody: Logic and practical demonstration for writing pop ballad prompts
Core Requirement: Pure pop-ballad style, tailored for a smoky female vocal texture. Emotion progresses from calm to explosive—verses soft and delicate, choruses passionate and powerful. Incorporate piano, strings, etc., to enhance melody catchiness and emotional tension.
Lyrics prompt
[Intro 16bars]
[Verse 1：piano solo, female vocal]
Fill in the lyrics
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Fill in the lyrics
[Chorus 1：male vocal]
Fill in the lyrics
[Interlude：16bars]
[Verse 2]
Fill in the lyrics
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Fill in the lyrics
[Chorus 2]
Fill in the lyrics
[Outro, Fade out]
(Lyrics can be written by yourself or created using AI Lyrics)
Song Style Prompt
A pure pop ballad in C major, 4/4 time, 80 BPM.
[Intro] Soft piano arpeggios flow gently, gradually building a tender, tranquil atmosphere to seamlessly transition into the vocals, quickly immersing listeners in the song's emotion.
[Verse 1 + Pre-Chorus 1] Piano maintains softly played block chords with a smooth, unobtrusive rhythm. It gently envelops the vocals, highlighting their delicate texture while gradually building emotional intensity, leading naturally into the chorus.
[Chorus 1] The piano shifts to rapid arpeggiated chords, delivering a tight, powerful melody that propels the music toward its climax. This effectively amplifies the song's emotional weight while skillfully avoiding overpowering the vocals, creating a harmonious interplay.
[Interlude] Maintaining the gentle tone, piano and strings play together. The soft texture of the strings blends with the piano's clear tone, creating a soothing, healing atmosphere that allows emotions to settle briefly.
[Verse 2] Building upon the piano accompaniment, a gentle percussion section is introduced. Its steady, unobtrusive rhythm adds subtle movement to the song while seamlessly supporting the vocal progression, lending the melody greater dimensionality.
[Pre-Chorus 2] The overall volume of the music noticeably increases, elevating the accompaniment's intensity. While maintaining melodic continuity, the emotional energy gradually builds, laying solid groundwork for the subsequent climax.
[Chorus 2] Vocals layer with falsetto third harmonies, creating a fuller, more dimensional sound. Paired with full band accompaniment and rich instrumental layers, the melody instantly reaches its climax, fully unleashing the song's emotion and delivering a powerful auditory impact.
[Outro] After the climax, the music gradually returns to calm. The accompaniment simplifies to a gentle piano solo, the volume slowly diminishes, and the melody fades out softly. The ending is clean yet resonant, immersing the listener in the song's tender atmosphere.
Avoid Vague Prompts: Help AI Precisely Understand Your Creative Intent
Many user-generated melodies fall short of expectations, primarily because vague or general prompts prevent AI from accurately interpreting creative intent. Below are common types of ambiguous terms and their alternatives to help you avoid common pitfalls.
- Style Ambiguities: Avoid vague terms like “pleasant,” “trendy,” or “feel-good.” Replace them with specific genres + reference examples. For instance, change ‘trendy’ to “pop rock, inspired by Coldplay's style.”
- Emotional Ambiguity: Avoid vague terms like “touching,” “soothing,” or “atmospheric.” Replace them with specific emotions + details. For example, change ‘touching’ to “gentle and healing, with a hint of melancholy, featuring smooth melodic fluctuations.”
- Structure Ambiguities: Avoid phrases like “clear structure” or “good rhythm.” Replace with specific section lengths and tempo parameters. For example, replace “good rhythm” with “Tempo: 110 BPM, verses with a relaxed rhythm, choruses with a tight rhythm.”
- Instrument Vagueness: Avoid phrases like “various instruments” or “appropriate instruments.” Replace them with specific instruments + playing techniques. For example, change “various instruments” to “electric guitar (distorted tone), drum kit (strong drum beats), bass (low-frequency foundation).”
- Core Principle: The more specific the prompt, the better the AI-generated melody aligns with your needs. Prioritize a “style + emotion + structure + instruments + reference details” combination to minimize AI interpretation and maximize creative efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why does the generated melody still differ from my expectations despite following the prompt?
A1: First, check if the prompt contains ambiguous wording. Add specific reference examples or detailed parameters. Second, try adjusting the phrase length and tempo. For instance, change “make the chorus melody ascend” to “make the melody ascend by 20%, raising pitch by 5 semitones.” Finally, if the gap persists, use MakeBestMusic's melody editing feature to manually modify unsatisfactory notes or chord progressions.
Q2: How can beginners quickly craft precise prompts?
A2: Use a “template + customization” approach. Start with a base template: “Song Type + Time Signature + BPM.” Then specify details for the intro, verses, chorus, etc. Additionally, reference the platform's built-in style templates and add personalized requirements.
Q3: When blending multiple genres, how should prompts be written to avoid stylistic confusion?
A3: Use a “primary genre + secondary genre” format, clearly defining each genre's proportion and fusion points. Example: “genre: Pop + Hip-hop, primary genre Pop (70%), secondary genre Hip-hop (30%), bass elements only in verses, chorus retains pop-rock texture.”
Q4: Can generated melodies be used for commercial purposes?
A4: MakeBestMusic offers commercial licensing options. Melodies generated by free users are restricted to non-commercial use; for commercial applications such as advertising, gaming, or short-form video promotions, paid membership and commercial licensing are required to prevent copyright disputes.
Conclusion
MakeBestMusic's melody generation feature operates as a collaborative creation between “user creativity and AI algorithms,” with prompts serving as the core link that enables this synergy. From defining foundational styles to advanced detail customization, from controlling overall paragraph structure to precisely matching lyrics with melodies, high-quality prompts empower AI to truly function as a creative assistant. This helps users overcome professional barriers and generate unique core melodies.
For creators, there's no need to pursue complex music theory knowledge. Simply master the principles of writing precise, detailed, and contextual prompts. Combined with core tools like paragraph prompts and style prompts, you can achieve advanced breakthroughs in melody customization. Whether it's background music for short videos, game sound effects, or complete original songs, MakeBestMusic can transform your creativity into warm, personalized musical works through precise prompt instructions.
Looking ahead, as AI music technology continues to evolve, MakeBestMusic's prompt system will grow smarter and more user-friendly. Yet its core logic remains unchanged: well-crafted prompts are the key to unlocking truly unique melodies. Start with the examples and techniques in this article, experiment boldly, and let your creative inspiration shine brighter with AI's support.
