MT Style Prompt Handbook: 20+ Genres with Ready-to-Use Templates

In front of MT’s Style box, many people get stuck—they know the feeling they want, but don’t know which English words to use to describe it.

This is a style prompt handbook. It organizes 20+ common genres, each with a ready-to-paste prompt template and a short description of its characteristics. At the end, you’ll find a BPM reference table and guidance on using era tags.

Find the style you want, copy the template, paste it into the Style box, and generate.

Pop

Pop Upbeat pop, catchy melody, synth pop, 120 BPM, Key of C major, radio-friendly, modern production, harmonic chorus Catchy, strong chorus hooks, clean production. A go-to style for mainstream, replayable singles.

Indie Pop Indie pop, dreamy synths, jangly guitar, soft vocals, 105 BPM, intimate production, bittersweet, warm Fresh and artsy, between pop and indie rock. Emotionally more nuanced than standard pop.

K-Pop K-pop, girl group, electronic, auto-tune vocals, dance beat, bright synth, 130 BPM, Korean lyrics Strong electronic elements, choreography-friendly, distinctive vocal processing.

J-Pop J-pop, anime style, upbeat, piano-driven, cheerful, Japanese lyrics, catchy chorus Melodic, bright, emotionally rich. Ideal for anime-style music.

Synth Pop Synth pop, 80s inspired, analog synths, drum machine, bright melody, 118 BPM, retro-futuristic, polished 80s texture, synth-driven, nostalgic yet modern.

Bedroom Pop Bedroom pop, lo-fi production, soft vocals, guitar and synth, 100 BPM, hazy, personal, intimate recording Lo-fi, intimate, home-recording feel.

R&B / Soul

R&B Smooth R&B, slow groove, 85 BPM, Key of E minor, soulful vocals, piano, warm bass, bedroom vibes Smooth, sensual, focused on vocal expression.

Neo-Soul Neo-soul, laid-back, jazzy chords, 90 BPM, Key of G major, organic instrumentation, soulful, vintage feel Fusion of retro and modern, complex harmonies, more jazz-influenced than R&B.

Contemporary R&B Contemporary R&B, atmospheric, 808 bass, ambient pads, falsetto vocals, 78 BPM, moody, dark production Dark atmosphere with electronic elements, modern R&B style.

Rock

Classic Rock Classic rock, electric guitar, driving drums, 120 BPM, Key of A major, raw energy, anthemic chorus

Indie Rock Indie rock, jangly guitar, earnest vocals, 110 BPM, dreamy, reverb-heavy, alternative

Metal Heavy metal, distorted guitars, double bass drums, aggressive, 180 BPM, dark, Key of D minor

Punk Rock Punk rock, fast tempo, distorted guitar, raw vocals, 160 BPM, rebellious, stripped-down production, energetic

Grunge Grunge, heavy distorted guitar, angsty vocals, 110 BPM, 90s Seattle sound, raw, dynamic soft-loud contrast

Post-Rock Post-rock, atmospheric guitar layers, crescendo builds, no vocals, instrumental, reverb-heavy, cinematic, 90 BPM Instrumental, layered builds, dynamic crescendos. Ideal for emotional video soundtracks.

Shoegaze Shoegaze, wall of distorted guitar, dreamy buried vocals, heavy reverb, ethereal, 95 BPM, hazy, layered textures Vocals submerged in reverb-heavy guitar walls, dreamy and hazy.

Electronic

Lo-fi Lo-fi hip hop, chill beats, vinyl crackle, 80 BPM, dusty samples, piano, relaxed Lazy, nostalgic, ideal for studying or relaxing.

EDM / House EDM, big room house, drop, festival anthem, four-on-the-floor beat, 128 BPM, euphoric, build-up

Deep House Deep house, groovy bassline, warm pads, 122 BPM, late-night atmosphere, smooth, subtle vocals, hypnotic More restrained than EDM, hypnotic rhythm, late-night vibe.

Techno Techno, driving beat, dark atmosphere, 130 BPM, industrial, hypnotic loops, minimal, underground club

Ambient Ambient electronic, atmospheric, spacious, 60 BPM, synth pads, slowly evolving, meditative

Drum & Bass Drum and bass, fast breakbeats, heavy sub-bass, 174 BPM, energetic, rolling drums, dark atmosphere

Synthwave / Retrowave Synthwave, 80s retro electronic, neon atmosphere, pulsing bass, arpeggiated synths, 110 BPM, cinematic Cyberpunk aesthetics, retro sci-fi feel.

Chillwave Chillwave, hazy synths, lo-fi texture, dreamy vocals, nostalgic, sun-drenched, 95 BPM, washed out

Jazz

Smooth Jazz Smooth jazz, mellow saxophone, electric piano, soft drums, easy listening, warm, relaxed, wine bar atmosphere

Bebop Bebop jazz, fast tempo, complex chord changes, saxophone lead, walking bass, ride cymbal, 1940s style, virtuosic

Bossa Nova Bossa nova, nylon guitar, soft percussion, gentle vocals, Brazilian jazz, 120 BPM, warm, romantic, laid-back Brazilian flavor, soft and suitable for cafés or afternoon settings.

Jazz Fusion Jazz fusion, electric instruments, rock energy, complex arrangements, 70s sophistication, funky, syncopated, 130 BPM

Classical / Light Classical

Piano Solo Piano solo, classical influence, romantic era, adagio tempo, emotional, expressive, Key of F minor

Chamber Music Chamber ensemble, string quartet, elegant, Baroque style, delicate, intricate harmonies

Cinematic / Film Score Cinematic orchestral, epic strings, brass fanfare, timpani, heroic, sweeping melody, film soundtrack, grand Ideal for video background music, strong epic feel.

Neoclassical Neoclassical, modern classical, piano and strings, minimal, emotional, contemplative, spacious

World Music

Chinese Traditional Chinese traditional, guzheng, bamboo flute (dizi), peaceful, nature sounds, classical Chinese mood

Chinese Orchestral Chinese orchestral, erhu melody, pipa arpeggios, guzheng, pentatonic scale, grand, emotional, traditional Chinese instruments with orchestral strings Fusion of traditional Chinese instruments and orchestra, grand and powerful.

Chinese Pop / C-Pop C-pop ballad, emotional piano, string section, Mandarin lyrics, tender vocals, 75 BPM, heartfelt, romantic

Gufeng Gufeng, ancient Chinese style, guzheng, bamboo flute, pipa, pentatonic melody, poetic, ethereal female vocals, traditional Chinese aesthetic Poetic, classical Chinese atmosphere.

Afrobeat Afrobeat, driving percussion, funky bass, horn section, groove, 120 BPM, West African rhythms, energetic

Latin / Salsa Salsa, Latin percussion, brass, 100 BPM, energetic, danceable, traditional Cuban style

Reggaeton Reggaeton, dembow rhythm, 808 bass, Latin beat, 95 BPM, danceable, modern production, catchy hook

Celtic / Irish Celtic folk, fiddle, tin whistle, bodhran drum, lively jig, 130 BPM, Irish traditional, acoustic

Middle Eastern Middle Eastern, oud, darbuka percussion, quarter-tone melody, modal, 90 BPM, mystical, desert atmosphere

Indian Classical Fusion Indian classical fusion, sitar, tabla, tanpura drone, raga-based melody, meditative, 80 BPM, spiritual

Hip-Hop

Trap Trap, 808 drums, hi-hats, heavy bass, dark mood, 140 BPM, auto-tune vocals, hard-hitting

Boom Bap Boom bap, classic hip-hop, sample-based, 90 BPM, raw, punchy drums, old school

Conscious Hip-Hop Conscious hip-hop, lyrical, jazz samples, live drums, 90 BPM, thoughtful, warm bass, spoken word influence

Drill Drill, dark 808s, sliding bass, aggressive hi-hats, 140 BPM, minor key, ominous, menacing atmosphere

Folk & Country

Folk Folk, acoustic guitar, harmonica, warm vocals, fingerpicking, storytelling, 100 BPM, earthy, intimate

Indie Folk Indie folk, acoustic guitar, banjo, soft harmonies, warm, campfire vibes, 95 BPM, gentle, introspective

Country Country, twangy electric guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, storytelling vocals, 110 BPM, Nashville sound, heartfelt

Bluegrass Bluegrass, fast banjo picking, fiddle, mandolin, upright bass, 140 BPM, energetic

Funk / Disco / Gospel

Funk Funk, slap bass, wah guitar, tight drums, horn stabs, 100 BPM, groovy, syncopated, dancefloor energy

Disco Disco, four-on-the-floor kick, string section, funky bass, 120 BPM, 70s glamour, euphoric, dance anthem

Gospel Gospel, choir harmonies, organ, clapping, soulful lead vocal, uplifting, spiritual, call-and-response, powerful

Reggae / Ska

Reggae Reggae, offbeat guitar skanks, deep bass, one drop rhythm, 75 BPM, laid-back, warm, roots feel

Ska Ska, fast offbeat guitar, brass section, upbeat, 150 BPM, energetic, punchy, dance-friendly

Dub Dub, heavy bass, echo and reverb effects, spacious, 70 BPM, psychedelic, reggae-influenced, atmospheric

Chinese Artist Prompt References

MT does not support directly entering artist names in the Style box. The following templates translate each artist’s style into usable descriptors.

Jay Chou C-pop, piano-driven, complex arrangement, Chinese orchestral elements, pentatonic melody, R&B groove, cinematic production

JJ Lin Mandopop ballad, emotional piano, lush string arrangement, soulful male vocals, polished production, 80 BPM, heartfelt

G.E.M. Pop rock, powerful female vocals, emotional, electric guitar, modern electronic production, dynamic contrast, anthemic chorus

Li Ronghao Retro pop, vintage R&B, warm male vocals, analog production, funk-influenced groove, nostalgic, 1970s feel

Eason Chan Cantopop ballad, soulful male vocals, emotional storytelling, layered arrangement, warm and melancholic, cinematic strings, 75 BPM

Faye Wong Dreamy pop, ethereal female vocals, trip-hop influence, alternative, reverb-heavy, atmospheric, introspective, 90s aesthetic

BPM Reference

If you’re unsure what BPM to use, refer to this table. You can also skip numbers and describe the feel—MT often responds more accurately to mood words than exact BPM values.

50–70 BPM — Meditative, floating, extremely slow Ambient · Dub · Slow classical

70–85 BPM — Ballads, emotional, relaxed Ballad · R&B · Lo-fi · Reggae

85–100 BPM — Mid-slow, rhythmic but not urgent Soul · Neo-soul · Folk · Funk

100–120 BPM — Moderate, comfortable walking pace Pop · Rock · Afrobeat · Country

120–130 BPM — Mid-fast, danceable Dance · House · K-Pop · Disco

130–150 BPM — Fast, tense, energetic Techno · Trap · Punk

150–180 BPM — Very fast, intense, dense Metal · Drum & Bass · Bluegrass

Era Tags: Same Style, Different Texture

Adding era tags in your Style prompt significantly changes the production feel. The same Synth Pop with “80s” versus “modern” will sound completely different.

1960s Vintage rock, Motown, early soul production

1970s Disco, funk, progressive rock

1980s / 80s Synth pop, new wave, gated reverb drums

1990s / 90s Grunge, trip-hop, early electronic

2000s Emo, early auto-tune era production

2010s EDM peak era, trap, bedroom pop

modern / contemporary Current mainstream production styles

Era tags can be combined with any genre to create cross-era textures:

70s funk + modern production 90s grunge + lo-fi aesthetic 80s city pop + contemporary R&B