Your First Song with AI

Imagine this: You sit in a recording studio, an orchestra waiting for your instruction. You describe an idea, and 30 seconds later, you have a complete song — with vocals, drums, guitar, everything. This is what AI music tools can do today. And the best part: you don't need an instrument, you don't need music theory, just your imagination and a few words.

Why You Should Try This

Music creation has been transformed. Tools like Suno, Udio, and Stable Audio allow you to create original compositions from text descriptions alone. You're not editing pre-existing loops or remixing — you're instructing AI to generate an original song that matches your vision. This is the same creative leap that photography faced when it emerged, or that digital design faced in the 1990s. Not everyone needs to become a musician, but everyone benefits from understanding what this technology can and cannot do.

Your Toolkit

Three tools dominate this space, each with different strengths:

Suno (suno.com) — Start here if you're undecided. The interface is intuitive, generation is fast, and results consistently include vocals and full arrangements. You get 5 free generations per day. The sound is modern, often pop-leaning, with recognizable musical structure.

Udio (udio.com) — Similar to Suno but with a different sonic character. Udio tends toward more experimental or niche genres. Good for comparing results: feed both tools the same prompt and hear how differently they interpret it.

Stable Audio (stableaudio.com) — Better for instrumental music, ambient soundscapes, and sound design. Less suitable for vocal-based songs, but excellent for background music and sonic textures.

If you're just starting, choose Suno. It's the most intuitive.

The Task

Write a short description of a song you want to hear. 2–3 sentences is plenty. Press create. Listen to what emerges.

Here are two example prompts to show the range:

Detailed prompt: A melancholic indie-folk song about the last day of summer. Acoustic guitar and soft female vocals, like saying goodbye to a dear friend. Tempo: slow, contemplative.

Simple prompt: Upbeat pop song about a dog playing in the park.

Both work. The detailed prompt gives AI more guidance. The simple prompt lets AI fill in more creatively. Neither is "correct" — they're different experiments.

What to Notice

After the song generates, listen at least twice. Then ask yourself three questions:

The Surprise: What didn't you expect? Maybe the result exceeded your hopes. Maybe a section sounds strange or wrong. Maybe the vocalist's tone surprised you. Even "I didn't expect that!" is valuable observation.

The Fit: Did the AI understand your intent? Listen for: Does the mood match? Is the tempo right? Does the genre feel authentic or contrived? Where does the result diverge from what you imagined — and why?

The Feeling: Does the song move you, even slightly? Or does it feel technically competent but somehow empty? This isn't about musical taste — it's about noticing your own response. That observation matters.

There Is No Right or Wrong Answer

This is not an exam. You're experiencing something new. You might find AI music fascinating. You might find it disturbing, or hollow, or brilliant in unexpected ways. You might feel all of these at once. Every reaction is valid data about both the technology and yourself.

Your job today: try it, listen closely, and notice what you notice. Next lesson, we'll reflect on what you heard together.