Essential Keywords for AI Audio Generation: A Quick Reference

Writing prompts for AI audio tools can feel overwhelming at first. The secret to getting the results you want often comes down to choosing the right words. Keywords act like switches — they guide the AI toward specific instruments, moods, or effects. Here’s a handy reference to help you build better prompts.

Instruments & Sounds

Mentioning instruments helps the AI decide which timbres to use.

• Piano

• Guitar (acoustic, electric, distorted)

• Drums (kick, snare, hi-hats)

• Strings (violin, cello)

• Brass (trumpet, trombone)

• Synths (analog, digital, bass synth, arpeggiated)

• Percussion (congas, bongos, shakers)

• Ambient textures (pads, drones, noise)

Moods & Emotions

Adding a mood word sets the emotional direction of the track.

• Calm, Relaxed, Dreamy

• Energetic, Upbeat, Happy

• Dark, Moody, Dramatic

• Melancholic, Sad, Emotional

• Epic, Heroic, Triumphant

• Mysterious, Ethereal, Surreal

Tempo & Energy

If you want a certain pace, use tempo-related keywords.

• Slow, Gentle, Flowing

• Medium, Balanced, Steady

• Fast, Energetic, Driving

• Intense, Aggressive, High-BPM

Style & Texture

These words tell the AI how complex or simple to make the sound.

• Minimal, Sparse

• Rich, Layered

• Atmospheric, Spacey

• Raw, Rough

• Polished, Clean

Effects & Atmosphere

Think of these as finishing touches that shape the feel of the track.

• Reverb (large hall, small room, cathedral)

• Echo, Delay

• Distortion, Overdrive

• Vinyl crackle

• Nature sounds (rain, thunder, ocean waves)

• Sci-fi FX (laser, glitch, robotic)

Putting It Together

By combining keywords, you can build detailed prompts:

• “Calm piano melody with ambient pads and vinyl crackle.”

• “Epic orchestral strings with triumphant brass and driving percussion.”

• “Fast techno rhythm with distorted synth bass and heavy reverb.”

Final Thoughts

Think of keywords as building blocks. The clearer and more descriptive your language, the closer the AI will come to matching your vision. Keep experimenting, mix categories, and don’t be afraid to try unusual combinations — sometimes the best results come from the most unexpected prompts.