You can make Suno play the harmony you want. The trick: write chords in square brackets inside the lyrics and set the key in the Style box. Here is the method, its limits, and a free builder.
How it works
In the Lyrics box, put a chord in square brackets before a line — Suno reads it as a harmony instruction, not words. Brackets are required: without them the model sings "A minor, F, G" out loud. In the Style box, add the key — it keeps the harmony in the right scale.
Ready example (copy)
An Am–F–C–G progression in A minor — Suno holds it stably.
📋 Lyrics
[Verse 1]
[Am] City sleeps and [F] I am wide awake
[C] Streetlights at the [G] window tremble soft
[Chorus]
[Am] Call me up now, [F] call me back
[C] Through the years and [G] through the days
🎛️ Style
melancholic indie-pop, acoustic guitar, 90 BPM, warm male vocals, A minor key
When it works and when it doesn't
✅ Simple triads (Am, F, C, G, Dm, Em) and common progressions within one key.
✅ Bracketed chords + key in Style — the combo sharply improves the hit rate.
❌ Complex jazz chords, extended chords — unreliable.
❌ Mid-song key changes and specific voicings/inversions.
⚠️ The trick is probabilistic — best shot, not 100%.
Don't want to place chords by hand? Our free Chord Builder picks the key and progression and places [chords] across your lines + prepares the Style line.
Yes. Write the chord in square brackets right before a lyric line — [Am] line. Suno reads it as a harmony instruction, not words to sing. For stability, set the key in the Style box (e.g. "A minor key").
Why does Suno sing the chord names out loud?
Because the chord is written without brackets. "Am F G" in the lyrics gets sung. Always wrap chords in square brackets: [Am] [F] [G] — then they act as harmony.
Which chords work reliably?
Simple triads (Am, F, C, G, Dm, Em) and common progressions within one key. Complex jazz chords, mid-song key changes and specific voicings are unreliable.
Why specify the key in the Style box?
Without a key, Suno drifts harmonically and often ignores some chords. A line like "A minor key" in the Style box keeps the model in the right scale and sharply improves the hit rate.
Does this guarantee exact harmony?
No. Suno is probabilistic: bracketed chords + a key give the best shot, not a 100% guarantee. Sometimes it takes a few tries.