Instruments — prompt my music

🎹 Try it — play notes

Click or tap keys to hear notes (C4–C6). Use in Suno prompts: e.g. piano melody in C major, simple chord progression.

🎻 Strings

🎹 Keys & Synths

🎺 Brass & Winds

🎸 Guitar Family

🥁 Drums & Percussion

💻 Electronic

🎤 Voice

🎻

Concert Violin (Orchestral)

Bowed String · Soprano

Common models: Stradivarius-style copy (student), Scott Cao STV-850, Guadagnini shape
Strings: 4 strings (G-D-A-E), gut-core or Dominant synthetic
Features: Spruce top, maple back/sides, rosin-bowed, highest string in orchestra

Classical Cinematic Folk/Celtic

Where used: Orchestral sections (1st + 2nd violin), solo concertos, film scores, Irish folk (fiddle), tango, gypsy jazz.

Emotional role: Carries melody at the top. Bright and cutting. Crying solos. Swelling string sections.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Schindler's List Theme" — John Williams (solo violin)
"Kashmir" — Led Zeppelin (orchestral violins)
"Viva la Vida" — Coldplay (string section)

suno: "solo concert violin, legato, emotional" suno: "soaring violin section, cinematic orchestral"

🎻

Cello (Violoncello)

Bowed String · Bass-Tenor

Body: ~75cm body length, much larger than violin
Strings: 4 strings (C-G-D-A), heavy gut-core or Larsen strings
Features: Played seated, end-pin for floor support, deep resonance chamber

Classical Cinematic Neo-classical

Where used: Low end of string orchestra, solo pieces, film scores. Closest instrument to the human voice range. Warm, dark, emotional.

🎵 Listen for it in

"The Scientist" — Coldplay (string intro)
"Bach Cello Suites" — Yo-Yo Ma (pure solo cello)
"Fix You" — Coldplay (cello in outro)

suno: "deep resonant cello, slow adagio" suno: "solo cello, intimate neo-classical"

🪕

Double Bass (Upright Bass)

Bowed/Plucked String · Bass

Size: Largest bowed string, ~6 feet tall
Strings: 4 strings (E-A-D-G), very thick gut or steel
Techniques: Arco (bowed) = deep hum; Pizzicato (plucked) = jazz "thump"

Jazz Classical Rockabilly

Where used: Jazz combos (pizzicato walking bass), orchestra (arco), rockabilly slap bass. The harmonic + rhythmic foundation of jazz.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Take Five" — Dave Brubeck (walking pizzicato bass)
"Hound Dog" — Elvis (slap upright bass)

suno: "upright bass, jazz walking bass" suno: "pizzicato double bass, swing jazz"

🎻

Viola

Bowed String · Alto Register

Size: Slightly larger than violin, usually 15.5" to 16.5" body length
Strings: 4 strings (C-G-D-A), lower and darker than violin
Character: Smoky, woody, human, less brilliant than violin but richer in the middle register

Orchestral Chamber Cinematic

Where used: Middle of the string section, chamber music, melancholy cinematic writing. Great when violin feels too bright and cello too heavy.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Harold in Italy" — Berlioz (solo viola)
Modern film-score inner string writing for warmth and tension

suno: "warm solo viola, introspective chamber music" suno: "dark viola section, cinematic inner strings"

🪉

Concert Harp

Plucked String · Orchestral / New Age

Model: Pedal harp, typically 47 strings with seven pedals for key changes
Range: Cb1 to G#7 depending on pedal setup
Character: Sparkling plucks, glissandos, angelic arpeggios, shimmering high-end texture

Orchestral Fantasy New Age

Where used: Orchestral glissandos, dreamy intros, fantasy scores, ambient/new-age arrangements. Perfect for delicate arpeggios and transitions.

🎵 Listen for it in

Tchaikovsky and Debussy orchestral harp glissandi
Fantasy soundtrack textures and Celtic arrangements

suno: "concert harp arpeggios, sparkling and delicate" suno: "harp glissando, fantasy soundtrack transition"

🎹

Grand Piano (Acoustic)

Keyboard · Percussion-String Hybrid

Models: Steinway Model D (9ft concert), Yamaha CFX, Bösendorfer 290
Range: 88 keys, A0 to C8
Mechanism: Hammers strike steel strings when keys pressed. Sustain pedal lifts dampers.

Classical Jazz Pop Ballad Film Score

Where used: Concert halls, pop ballads, jazz standards, film scores. Most versatile — can play melody, harmony, and bass simultaneously.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Clocks" — Coldplay (arpeggiated Steinway)
"Für Elise" — Beethoven (classical solo)
"Piano Man" — Billy Joel

suno: "Steinway grand piano, concert hall reverb" suno: "arpeggiated piano, solo, introspective"

🎹

Rhodes Electric Piano

Electromechanical Keyboard

Model: Fender Rhodes Mark I / Mark II (1970s), Suitcase model
Mechanism: Metal tines struck by hammers, picked up by magnetic pickups
Sound: Bell-like, warm, slightly glassy. Often tremolo-modulated.

Soul R&B Jazz-Fusion Funk

Where used: 1970s soul/R&B, jazz fusion (Herbie Hancock), neo-soul (D'Angelo). The warm keyboard sound.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Isn't She Lovely" — Stevie Wonder
"Chameleon" — Herbie Hancock
"Brown Sugar" — D'Angelo

suno: "vintage Rhodes electric piano, neo-soul" suno: "Rhodes with tremolo, warm 70s soul"

🎛️

Moog / Analog Synth Lead

Analog Synthesizer

Models: Minimoog Model D (1970), Moog Subsequent 37, Roland Juno-106, Korg MS-20
Mechanism: Voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) + analog filters. No samples — pure electronics.
Sound: Fat, warm, buzzy. The classic "synth" sound you know from every 80s track.

Synthwave Prog Rock Electronic EDM

Where used: Lead melodies in rock (Keith Emerson), EDM bass drops, synthwave retro sounds, hip-hop bass (808 is analog-derived).

🎵 Listen for it in

"Lucky Star" — Madonna (Roland Juno synth)
"Jump" — Van Halen (Oberheim OB-Xa synth)
"Midnight City" — M83 (analog lead + sax)

suno: "Moog analog synth lead, warm and buzzy" suno: "Juno-106 pad, lush 80s synthwave"

💻

Software Synth (Serum / Drift)

Virtual Analog · Wavetable Plugin

Models: Xfer Serum, Ableton Drift, Native Instruments Massive X, u-he Diva
Mechanism: Digital modeling of analog circuits + wavetable scanning. Infinite sound design possibilities.
Sound: Can mimic any analog sound + go beyond — sub bass to screaming leads to alien textures.

EDM Future Bass Trap Modern Pop

Where used: Every modern pop/EDM record made after 2000. Bass lines, pad textures, lead melodies, sound effects.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Blinding Lights" — The Weeknd (Serum-style synths)
"Lean On" — Major Lazer (wavetable bass)

suno: "analog-modeled synth bass (Serum-style), deep sub" suno: "wavetable lead synth, evolving texture"

🎛️

Hammond B3 Organ

Tonewheel Organ · Electromechanical Keyboard

Classic rig: Hammond B3 + Leslie rotating speaker
Mechanism: Tonewheels generate harmonics; drawbars shape brightness and body
Character: Swirly, gospel-rich, warm, gritty when pushed, iconic rotary movement

Gospel Soul Rock Jazz

Where used: Gospel swells, soul chords, classic rock intros, jazz organ trios. Great when piano feels too percussive and synth too synthetic.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Green Onions" — Booker T. & the M.G.'s
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" — Procol Harum

suno: "Hammond B3 organ, gospel swells, Leslie speaker" suno: "soul organ chords, warm vintage groove"

🎹

Rhodes Electric Piano

Electro-Mechanical Keyboard · Warm Bell Tone

Classic models: Fender Rhodes Mark I / Mark II
Mechanism: Hammers strike metal tines, then pickups amplify the sound
Character: Warm, mellow, bell-like attack with smooth sustain; perfect for lush chords

Neo-Soul Jazz Lo-fi R&B

Where used: Soul ballads, chill hip-hop, lo-fi instrumentals, and jazz harmony beds when you want warmth without the full brightness of an acoustic piano.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Just the Two of Us" — Grover Washington Jr. / Bill Withers
Classic neo-soul keyboard textures and lo-fi beat chords

suno: "warm Rhodes electric piano chords, neo-soul groove" suno: "mellow Rhodes keys, lo-fi jazz atmosphere"

🎛️

Mellotron Strings

Tape Keyboard · Vintage Orchestral Texture

Classic unit: Mellotron M400 tape keyboard
Mechanism: Each key triggers a short tape recording of real instruments
Character: Dusty, nostalgic, slightly unstable orchestral sound with cinematic mood

Art Rock Psychedelic Ambient Cinematic

Where used: Vintage progressive rock intros, eerie film cues, dream-pop layers, and retro string pads where you want character over perfection.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Strawberry Fields Forever" — The Beatles (famous Mellotron opening)
Many modern retro/ambient productions with tape-string textures

suno: "vintage Mellotron strings, nostalgic psychedelic mood" suno: "dusty tape choir and string pad, dreamy cinematic intro"

✨

Celesta

Keyboard Percussion · Bell-Like Orchestral Color

Mechanism: Piano-style keys strike metal plates, producing a chiming tone
Range: High and delicate, usually used for melodic ornament and sparkle
Character: Magical, twinkling, childlike, crystalline and light

Orchestral Holiday Fantasy Film Score

Where used: Fairytale intros, magical transitions, winter/holiday arrangements, and high-end sparkle over strings and piano.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" — Tchaikovsky (iconic celesta part)
Fantasy film and animation scores for magical highlights

suno: "celesta melody, magical sparkling orchestral intro" suno: "twinkling celesta over soft strings, dreamy fantasy"

🎺

B♭ Trumpet

Brass · Aerophone

Models: Bach Stradivarius 37, Yamaha YTR-8335, Vincent Bach 180ML
Range: F#3 to D6. With Harmon mute = intimate Miles Davis sound.
Features: 3 piston valves, brass bell (lacquer or silver plate), bore size affects brightness vs warmth

Jazz Classical Mariachi Funk/Soul

Where used: Jazz leads (Miles Davis, Chet Baker), orchestral fanfares, mariachi, funk horn sections. Cuts through any mix.

🎵 Listen for it in

"So What" — Miles Davis (Harmon-muted trumpet)
"Careless Whisper" — George Michael (brass intro)

suno: "Harmon-muted trumpet, late night jazz" suno: "bright trumpet fanfare, orchestral brass"

🎷

Tenor & Alto Saxophone

Woodwind (brass body, reed mouthpiece)

Most famous model: Selmer Paris Mark VI (1950s-70s, most sought-after saxophone ever made)
Modern options: Yamaha YAS-62 (alto), Keilwerth SX90R (tenor), Conn-Selmer 62J
Types: Soprano (high, straight), Alto (E♭, bright), Tenor (B♭, warm/breathy), Baritone (low, fat)

Jazz R&B Pop Rock

Where used: Jazz solos (Charlie Parker on alto, Coltrane on tenor), pop/rock fills, R&B sections. Tenor = most human-voice-like instrument in music.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Baker Street" — Gerry Rafferty (iconic tenor sax riff)
"Careless Whisper" — George Michael (Selmer alto sax)
"My Favorite Things" — Coltrane (soprano sax)

suno: "Selmer tenor saxophone solo, smoky jazz bar" suno: "alto sax, breathy, soul ballad"

🎵

French Horn

Brass · Aerophone

Models: Alexander 103, Conn 8D, Holton H179
Range: B1 to F5 (widest range of any brass instrument)
Features: Coiled tubing (≈3.7m long), right hand placed inside bell for tonal control. Warm, noble, round sound.

Orchestral Film Score Romantic Era

Where used: Orchestral harmony, cinematic scores (John Williams uses them constantly), hunting fanfares, epic "noble" moments.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Duel of the Fates" — John Williams (French horns)
"Inception" OST — Hans Zimmer (horn braams)

suno: "warm French horns, epic orchestral, noble"

🪈

Concert Flute

Woodwind · Air Jet Aerophone

Models: Yamaha 677H, Muramatsu EX, Powell Sonare
Range: C4 to C7+ with bright, airy upper register
Character: Breath-led, agile, light, pastoral, sometimes mystical or delicate

Orchestral Folk Ambient

Where used: Orchestral melodies, folk colour, ambient textures, breathy intros. Useful when you want something lighter and more airy than sax or clarinet.

🎵 Listen for it in

Debussy orchestral writing and pastoral flute lines
Jethro Tull tracks that bring flute into rock

suno: "breathy concert flute, pastoral melody" suno: "soft flute lead, cinematic forest atmosphere"

🎺

Tenor Trombone

Brass · Slide Aerophone

Models: Bach 42BO, Conn 88H, Yamaha YSL-882O
Mechanism: Slide positions instead of valves, allowing glissandos and smooth smears
Character: Brassy but broad, punchy in sections, comic or menacing depending on register

Big Band Funk Orchestral

Where used: Big-band brass sections, cinematic low brass, ska/funk horn arrangements. Great for stabs, swells, and bold lower-mid brass weight.

🎵 Listen for it in

Tower of Power-style horn arrangements
Modern action-score low brass swells

suno: "tenor trombone stabs, funky horn section" suno: "low brass trombone swell, cinematic tension"

🎸

Fender Stratocaster

Solid-body Electric Guitar

Model: Fender American Professional II Stratocaster (current), 1959 Strat (vintage ideal)
Strings: 6 strings (E-A-D-G-B-E), light gauge 0.009"–0.042" common
Features: 3 single-coil pickups (bright, glassy), tremolo "whammy bar", 25.5" scale. Alder body.

Rock Blues Funk Pop

Where used: Lead guitar solos (Hendrix, SRV, Clapton), funk rhythms (Nile Rodgers), clean pop chords. The most versatile electric guitar ever made.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Little Wing" — Jimi Hendrix (Strat through Marshall)
"Le Freak" — Chic (Nile Rodgers funk Strat, clean)
"Comfortably Numb" — Pink Floyd (Strat solo)

suno: "Stratocaster clean tone, funk rhythm guitar" suno: "blues Strat lead, heavy vibrato, overdriven"

🎸

Gibson Les Paul

Solid-body Electric Guitar

Model: Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s, 1959 Les Paul (most valuable guitar in history)
Strings: 6 strings, heavier gauge 0.010"–0.046" (warmer, more sustain)
Features: 2 PAF humbucker pickups (warm, low hum), mahogany body + maple cap, 24.75" scale. Much thicker than Strat.

Hard Rock Metal Classic Rock

Where used: Heavy rock solos, power chords, thick rhythms. Slash (Guns N' Roses), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Eric Clapton (Cream).

🎵 Listen for it in

"Sweet Child O' Mine" — Guns N' Roses (Slash Les Paul)
"Whole Lotta Love" — Led Zeppelin (Page Les Paul)

suno: "Les Paul PAF humbucker, heavy rock riff" suno: "warm Gibson tone, classic rock lead, Marshall amp"

🎸

Martin D-28 (Acoustic)

Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Models: Martin D-28 (most iconic), Gibson J-45, Taylor 814ce (with electronics)
Strings: 6 strings, phosphor-bronze wound, 0.012"–0.053" gauge
Features: Sitka spruce top, Indian rosewood back/sides, X-bracing, all-natural resonance

Folk Country Singer-Songwriter

Where used: Singer-songwriter ballads, campfire folk, country strumming, indie pop. Warm, woody, honest — no electricity needed.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Blackbird" — The Beatles (fingerpicked acoustic)
"Fast Car" — Tracy Chapman (strummed dreadnought)
"Wonderwall" — Oasis (acoustic rhythm)

suno: "fingerpicked acoustic guitar (Martin D-28), folk ballad" suno: "strummed dreadnought acoustic, country-folk"

🎸

Nylon-String Classical Guitar

Classical / Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar

Models: Cordoba C10, Yamaha CG192, Ramirez concert models
Strings: Nylon trebles + silver-wound basses, softer attack than steel-string acoustic
Character: Round, intimate, warm, articulate fingerpicking, less bright and less percussive than dreadnought acoustics

Bossa Nova Classical Latin Flamenco

Where used: Classical guitar repertoire, bossa nova comping, fingerstyle ballads, flamenco-adjacent textures. Ideal when you want softness and intimacy over steel-string brightness.

🎵 Listen for it in

"The Girl from Ipanema" — João Gilberto
Classical guitar repertoire by Francisco Tárrega

suno: "nylon-string guitar, bossa nova rhythm, intimate" suno: "classical guitar fingerstyle, warm and delicate"

🎸

Fender Precision Bass (P-Bass)

Electric Bass Guitar

Models: Fender American Professional II P-Bass, Player Series P-Bass
Strings: 4 strings (E-A-D-G), 0.045"–0.100" gauge. Roundwound = bright; Flatwound = dark/vintage.
Features: Split single-coil pickup = thick and thumpy. Jazz Bass (J-Bass) = two pickups = brighter growl.

Rock Funk Pop R&B

Where used: The backbone of every rock/pop band. Carries the low end, locks with drums. P-Bass = thump. J-Bass = growl. Slap bass = funk.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Another One Bites the Dust" — Queen (John Deacon P-Bass riff)
"What Is Hip" — Tower of Power (slap bass)

suno: "Fender P-Bass, punchy rock groove" suno: "slap bass funk groove, tight, J-Bass"

🥁

Acoustic Drum Kit

Percussion · Rhythm Foundation

Kits: DW Collector's, Gretsch USA Custom, Ludwig Classic Maple (classic rock), Pearl Reference
Standard pieces: Kick drum, snare (14"x5.5" most common), hi-hat, crash + ride cymbal, 1-2 rack toms, floor tom
Cymbals: Zildjian A Custom (bright), Sabian HHX (warm), Meinl Byzance (dark/complex)

Rock Jazz Pop Metal

Where used: Almost every genre. Kick = heartbeat, snare = backbeat (2 and 4 in most pop/rock), hi-hat = pulse. Jazz kits are smaller + lighter; rock kits bigger + louder.

🎵 Listen for it in

"When the Levee Breaks" — Led Zeppelin (Bonham, legendary room sound)
"Tom Sawyer" — Rush (Neil Peart, most complex kit)

suno: "live acoustic drums, room sound, rock" suno: "jazz drum kit, brush snare, ride cymbal"

🥁

Roland TR-808 Drum Machine

Electronic Rhythm Machine (Analog)

Original: Roland TR-808 (1980) — discontinued, now worth $4,000+
Modern clones: Roland TR-8S, Behringer RD-808, Arturia DrumBrute Impact
Sound generation: Pure analog synthesis — no samples. Each drum is made from oscillators + noise.

Hip-Hop Trap R&B Electronic

Where used: Foundation of hip-hop (since "Planet Rock" 1982). Every trap beat. The 808 bass/kick is as culturally important as any bass guitar. Reggaeton, modern pop.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Planet Rock" — Afrika Bambaataa (first 808 smash)
"Gold Digger" — Kanye West (808 kick dominant)
"Antidote" — Travis Scott (heavy 808 trap sub)

suno: "TR-808 kick drum, trap beat, sub bass" suno: "Roland 808 drums, hip-hop boom bap groove"

🪘

Congas & Bongos

Hand Drums · Afro-Cuban Percussion

Congas: LP Aspire Series, Meinl Headliner — tall barrel drums, 11" + 12.5" pair common
Bongos: LP Matador, Toca Freestyle — small paired drums (7" + 8.5"), held between knees
Techniques: Open tone (ring), slap (bright snap), bass tone (deep thud), palm muffled

Latin Afrobeat World Jazz

Where used: Latin jazz, salsa, Afrobeat, tropical pop. Add warmth, groove, and ethnic texture to any percussion section. Can replace or layer with drum kits.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Oye Como Va" — Santana (congas throughout)
"La Bamba" — Ritchie Valens (bongo-style percussion)

suno: "conga drums, Afro-Cuban groove, tropical" suno: "bongo and conga, Latin jazz percussion"

🪇

Tambourine & Shaker

Auxiliary Percussion · Timekeeping Texture

Tambourine: Frame with jingles, often hit on backbeats or shaken for bright shimmer
Shaker: Filled handheld percussion creating even subdivision texture
Character: Crisp, bright, driving, often subtle but very effective in choruses and grooves

Pop Gospel Latin Indie

Where used: To lift choruses, tighten groove, and add sparkle without taking over the kit. Small percussion that often makes a track feel more finished.

🎵 Listen for it in

Classic Motown and gospel records with tambourine on 2 and 4
Modern indie-pop choruses with shaker texture

suno: "tambourine on 2 and 4, uplifting chorus" suno: "tight shaker groove, subtle pop percussion"

🎛️

Pad Synth (Atmospheric Layer)

Software Synthesizer · Texture

Tools: Omnisphere 2 (Spectrasonics) — most used in film/TV; Pigments (Arturia); Alchemy (built into Apple Logic)
What it does: Slow-attack, long-sustain harmonic textures. The "background wash" — what you hear when you can't identify what's playing.
Techniques: Layered wavetables, slow LFO filter modulation, massive reverb

Ambient Cinematic New Age Pop Bridge

Where used: Behind everything in modern music. Creates "air" and "space." Ambient albums, film scores, pop bridges, EDM builds.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Music for Airports" — Brian Eno (pure pads)
"Pyramid Song" — Radiohead (piano + evolving pad)

suno: "lush Omnisphere pads, atmospheric texture" suno: "slow evolving ambient pads, cinematic soundscape"

🎹

Sampler (MPC / SP-404)

Digital Sampler · Beat Machine

Models: Akai MPC X (professional), Roland SP-404 MKII (lofi/portable), NI Maschine+
What it does: Records any real sound (vinyl records, voice, instruments), chops into pads, plays pitched
Famous for: "Swing" quantization — makes patterns feel slightly human, not perfectly on the grid

Hip-Hop Lo-Fi Boom Bap Neo-Soul

Where used: Beat-making. J Dilla, Kanye West, Pete Rock, Madlib built entire careers on MPC sampling. SP-404 is the "lofi" machine of choice.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Donuts" — J Dilla (MPC sampling masterpiece)
"N.Y. State of Mind" — Nas (Pete Rock production)

suno: "MPC sampler beat, chopped soul samples, boom bap" suno: "SP-404 lofi, dusty vinyl chops, warm"

💠

FM Synth / DX7 Electric Keys

Digital FM Synthesizer

Classic model: Yamaha DX7 (1983), one of the most-used synths ever made
Mechanism: FM synthesis creates bell-like, glassy, metallic harmonics
Character: Crisp digital keys, plucky electric pianos, icy basses, unmistakably 80s and late-80s pop/R&B

80s Pop R&B City Pop Synth Pop

Where used: 80s ballads, glossy pop productions, glassy digital chords, clean electric-bell leads. Useful when analog synth sounds too soft and you want digital shine.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Take On Me" — A-ha (80s digital synth colours)
Late-80s pop and Japanese city pop productions

suno: "DX7 electric piano, glossy 80s pop" suno: "digital FM synth bells, bright and clean"

🎤

Soprano Voice

Human Voice · Highest Female Register

Range: C4 to C6 (classical); pop sopranos often push to E6–G6
Character: Bright, clear, piercing. Can sound angelic, ethereal, or triumphant.
Subtypes: Lyric soprano (gentle, flowing), Dramatic soprano (powerful, operatic), Coloratura (extremely fast runs + high notes)

Opera Classical Choral Pop-Crossover

Where used: Opera leads, gospel high harmonies, choral tops. Pop crossover singers like Celine Dion and Whitney Houston push into soprano range on their high notes.

🎵 Listen for it in

"O mio babbino caro" — Puccini (lyric soprano aria)
"My Heart Will Go On" — Celine Dion (pop soprano)
"The Queen of the Night" — Mozart (coloratura soprano)

suno: "soprano vocals, operatic, dramatic vibrato" suno: "coloratura soprano, bright, ethereal high notes"

🎤

Alto / Mezzo-Soprano Voice

Human Voice · Mid Female Register

Range: Roughly A3 to A5 for alto/mezzo territory depending on style
Character: Richer, smokier, less piercing than soprano, often warmer and more conversational
Why it matters: Many pop and soul female voices sit here, not in true operatic soprano territory

Pop Soul R&B Indie

Where used: Most warm female pop leads, soul vocals, lower harmonies, intimate singer-songwriter material. Useful when "soprano" feels too bright or theatrical.

🎵 Listen for it in

Adele, Lana Del Rey, Sade, and many modern female pop/soul leads
Choral alto harmony lines

suno: "warm alto female vocals, intimate and smoky" suno: "mezzo-soprano lead, soulful pop ballad"

🎤

Tenor Voice

Human Voice · High Male Register

Range: C3 to C5 (classical), with head voice up to G5
Character: Bright, powerful, passionate. The "leading man" voice in opera. Most pop male leads are tenors.
Subtypes: Lyric tenor (sweet, flexible), Dramatic tenor (powerful, Pavarotti), Heldentenor (hero — Wagner operas)

Opera Pop Rock Musical Theater

Where used: Most pop/rock male leads (Freddie Mercury, Muse's Matt Bellamy, Michael Jackson in falsetto-tenor blend). Opera heroes, musical theater leads.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Nessun Dorma" — Puccini (Pavarotti, most famous tenor aria)
"Bohemian Rhapsody" — Queen (Freddie Mercury, tenor-range)

suno: "dramatic tenor vocals, operatic, passionate" suno: "lyric tenor male voice, pop rock anthem"

🎤

Baritone / Bass-Baritone

Human Voice · Lower Male Register

Baritone range: G2 to G4. Bass-baritone goes lower: E2 to E4.
Character: Warm, smooth, authoritative. Most common male voice. Not as high as tenor, deeper and richer.
In pop: Nick Cave, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Josh Turner, Barry White (bass)

Jazz Pop Ballad Country Blues

Where used: Most pop/rock male singers land in baritone. Warm for ballads, authoritative for rock, silky for jazz standards, dark for blues.

🎵 Listen for it in

"Fly Me to the Moon" — Frank Sinatra (lyric baritone)
"Ring of Fire" — Johnny Cash (country baritone)
"Can't Get Enough of Your Love" — Barry White (deep bass)

suno: "warm baritone male vocals, jazz crooner" suno: "deep bass-baritone, soulful, slow ballad"

Tempo	🎹 Piano	🎸 Guitar	🎻 Violin	🎷 Sax	🥁 Drums
Adagio ~70 BPM	Deep, meditative Notes ring out and fade. Feels like a prayer. Left hand holds slow bass, right hand sings. 🎵 "Moonlight Sonata" — Beethoven adagio solo piano	Fingerpicked whisper Each plucked note breathes. Feels like a diary entry. Unhurried fingerstyle. 🎵 "Blackbird" — Beatles adagio fingerpicked guitar	Long bow, crying tone Bow moves slowly, creating a sustained vocal-like tone. Rich vibrato. Mournful. 🎵 "Schindler's List" — Williams adagio violin, legato bowing	Breathy sigh ballad Long soulful phrases with space between. The sax is telling a story, slowly. 🎵 "Nearness of You" slow ballad adagio tenor sax, slow ballad	Barely a heartbeat Soft brush strokes on snare. Ride cymbal shimmer. Kick drum hits 1 second apart. 🎵 Jazz trio ballad drums adagio brushed drums, minimal
Andante ~90 BPM	Balanced, comfortable Pop piano feels natural here. Chord changes flow easily. Billy Joel territory. 🎵 "Piano Man" — Billy Joel andante piano, singer-songwriter	Campfire strumming Strum pattern feels conversational. Folk, country, soft rock. Everything fits. 🎵 "Fast Car" — Tracy Chapman andante acoustic strumming, folk	Smooth and lyrical Violin sings and moves between notes with grace. A story on a walk through a park. 🎵 Vivaldi Spring 2nd movement andante violin, lyrical melody	Easy groover, conversational Jazz musicians love this tempo. Room to improvise and breathe. Not rushed. 🎵 "Georgia on My Mind" — Ray Charles andante sax, medium jazz swing	Steady, natural groove Most pop/rock hits. Drummer plays full groove without rushing. Hi-hat feels relaxed. 🎵 Adele, Taylor Swift albums andante pop drum groove
Allegro ~140 BPM	Running fingers, energetic Notes cascade quickly. In classical: serious technique required. In pop: dance-piano territory. 🎵 "Turkish March" — Mozart allegro piano, energetic, bright	Driving rock rhythm Power chords land with punch. Strumming feels urgent. Rock anthems and punk live here. 🎵 "Mr. Brightside" — The Killers allegro electric guitar, driving rock	Dancing and sparkling Short bow strokes, bright and articulated. Violin flies through arpeggios. Irish jigs live here. 🎵 "Spring" 1st mvt — Vivaldi allegro violin, staccato, joyful	Bebop, swinging fast Fast jazz solos, bebop lines, chord changes fly by. Latin jazz at this tempo: irresistible. 🎵 "Donna Lee" — Charlie Parker allegro alto sax, bebop swing	Powerful, driving Rock drummer territory. Kick and snare feel punchy and physical. 16th hi-hats feel exciting. 🎵 "Smells Like Teen Spirit" — Nirvana allegro rock drumming, powerful
Presto 180+ BPM	Olympic-level technique Notes blur into cascades. Classical showpieces. Electronic: fast arpeggiated synth piano sounds machine-like. 🎵 "Flight of the Bumblebee" presto piano runs, virtuosic	Thrash / punk urgency Downpicking becomes a blur. Power chords hit like machine gun fire. Metal and hardcore live here. 🎵 "Ace of Spades" — Motörhead presto metal guitar, thrash riff	Pure virtuosity Bow dances in a blur (spiccato technique). In folk fiddle: pure blur of joy and heat. 🎵 "Devil Went Down to Georgia" fiddle presto fiddle, bluegrass, frantic	Frantic, electrifying Nearly impossible bebop. Or a screaming overblown noise solo. In EDM: synth sax runs feel robotic. 🎵 "Giant Steps" — Coltrane presto sax, fast bebop lines	Machine-gun intensity Double-kick in metal. EDM drops at 180 BPM. Hi-hats become a mechanical constant pulse. 🎵 "Master of Puppets" — Metallica presto double kick drums, metal

Instrument Encyclopedia

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How Does Tempo Sound on Each Instrument?

🌊 Special: Rubato — How it feels on each instrument