Complete List of Instruments to Use for Suno AI

Level up your AI music with these diverse sound prompts

AI music is transforming the music production space.

And one of the unique (yet not entirely new) aspects is the ability to access hundreds of instruments digitally to add to your music. Whether you’re trying to make a new pop song or doing EDM, knowing how to describe instruments and their styles can take your AI music to the next level.

👉 Check out the full Suno AI Instrument Guide.

Here’s a breakdown of different instruments across seven categories, with 10–12 examples in each.

🎻 STRINGS

• Violin: for a classical or emotional lead line
• Viola: warm, mellow mid-range string texture
• Cello: this gives a deep, cinematic or melancholic tone
• Double Bass: foundational jazz and orchestral bass
• Acoustic Guitar: fingerpicked or strummed for a warm folk tone
• Electric Guitar: this gives great riffs or bold rock solos
• Bass Guitar: groove foundation in funk or rock
• Fiddle: for a folk or country string energy
• Banjo: this gives a twangy, upbeat feel for bluegrass
• Mandolin: for a high-pitched texture and fast melodic picking

🎷 HORNS & WIND

• Trumpet: bright, brassy leads for jazz, funk, or Latin styles
• Trombone: for bold swells or sliding jazz solos
• French Horn: this gives a cinematic, noble tone
• Saxophone: warm, expressive sound for jazz, soul, or rock
• Clarinet: woody, reedy tone for classical or klezmer styles
• Flute: light, airy melodies for orchestral or folk vibes
• Oboe: this is a nasally, emotional classical woodwind
• Bassoon: deep, rich texture for orchestral drama
• Harmonica: for blues, folk, or western storytelling
• Shofar: this is a traditional ram’s horn used in ceremonial settings

🎹 KEYS & ORGANS

• Grand Piano: for dynamic classical or cinematic performances
• Upright Piano: warm, vintage sound for cozy settings
• Honky Tonk Piano: this gives a saloon-style vibe
• Rhodes Electric Piano: smooth tone for jazz or soul
• Wurlitzer: for a biting midrange and vintage rock flavor
• Clavinet: percussive, funky texture like Stevie Wonder
• Synth Pads: this gives dreamy, atmospheric background layers
• Harpsichord: bright, baroque pluck for classical vibes
• Organ: sustained gospel or cathedral-style tone
• Pipe Organ: deep, haunting mood for dramatic builds
• Toy Piano: this is a quirky or nostalgic sound
• Prepared Piano: altered tones for experimental or percussive play

🥁 DRUMS & PERCUSSION

• Rock Drums: for classic anthemic drum kit energy
• Jazz Brushes: this gives a soft, swishy swing rhythm
• Electronic Kick: deep thump for EDM and house foundations
• Snare Drum: tight, punchy tone for hip hop and rock
• Cymbals & Hi-Hats: for shimmer and syncopated groove
• Toms: this is tribal percussion for dramatic fills
• Cajón: box drum perfect for acoustic or Latin settings
• Djembe: dynamic African drum with tonal range
• Tabla: fast, rhythmic Indian percussion
• Congas: for Latin dance grooves and vibrant rhythm
• Taiko Drums: this gives massive, cinematic drum presence
• Tambourine & Shaker: adds light percussive sparkle and groove

🎛️ SYNTH & ELECTRONIC

• Sub Bass: deep low-end rumble for trap or techno
• Saw Lead Synth: this gives sharp, aggressive melodic edges
• Pluck Synth: short, bright tone for modern pop or EDM
• Arpeggiator: for looping patterns in trance or synthwave
• Ambient Pad: this is soft background texture for chillout music
• 8 bit: retro video game sounds
• 808 Drums: essential for trap, hip hop, and club music
• FM Synth: digital tones, like the Yamaha DX7
• Vocal Chop: rhythmic vocal cuts for electronic hooks
• White Noise: this gives transition energy for builds
• Synth Brass: bold leads for pop, funk, or disco
• Riser FX: rising tension sound used for drops and climaxes

🌍 GLOBAL SOUNDS

• Didgeridoo: deep drone from Australian Aboriginal music
• Kalimba: melodic thumb piano from Africa
• Bagpipes: for a traditional Scottish or Celtic sound
• Steel Drums: this gives Caribbean island melodies and warmth
• Bansuri: Indian bamboo flute with breathy tone
• Balalaika: Russian folk string instrument
• Oud: foundational sound of Middle Eastern melodies
• Shamisen: this is a Japanese three-string instrument for folk
• Pan Flute: floating tone used in South American music

🌀 WACKY SOUNDS

• Spoken Word: this adds narration or poetic phrasing over music
• Whispered Vocals: for eerie, intimate, or unsettling tones
• Boing Sound Effect: cartoon-style spring noise for comic bounce
• Garbage Can: gritty metallic thumps for street-level rhythm
• Robot Voice: mechanical tone for sci-fi or EDM vibes
• Vinyl Crackle: warm, nostalgic texture like old records
• Crowd Murmurs: adds a public or live background feel
• Reverse Cymbals: swooshing build-up for surreal transitions
• Gibberish Vocals: playful nonsense for experimental fun
• Kazoo: buzzing novelty instrument for goofy tunes
• Duck Quack: for cartoon humor or weird emphasis

Keep in mind, especially with these wacky sounds, that it will not always work. Suno AI struggles to keep up when you add more than 3–4 prompts or instruments, and may or may not add the effects you want.

Looking for more instruments? Check out the full guide here!

But don’t give up, the more generations you create, the higher the likelihood of success!

And be sure to check out my other articles:

• Suno AI Prompts for International Music
• Complete List of Styles for Suno AI Music