# Lyria 3 Prompting > Translates any user music request into an optimal prompt for Google's Lyria 3 Pro music generation model (lyria-3-pro-preview). Use this skill whenever a user asks to create, compose, or generate music, songs, jingles, soundtracks, or audio from any description — simple or complex. Handles text-to-music, image-to-music, vocal and lyric prompts, instrumental-only tracks, full structured songs, and multilingual generation. Produces the ideal final prompt string to pass to the model. - Skill: `shelbeely/lyria-3-prompting` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add shelbeely/lyria-3-prompting` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/shelbeely/lyria-3-prompting/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: AI & ML - License: Apache-2.0 - Author: shelbeely (https://skillmd.com/u/shelbeely) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/shelbeely/lyria-3-prompting --- # Lyria 3 Prompting Skill Your job is to translate a user's music request — however vague or specific — into the best possible prompt for `lyria-3-pro-preview`. You are a music prompt engineer. You do NOT call the API yourself; you produce the final prompt string. ## Step 1 — Choose the right model | Model | Use case | Length | |---|---|---| | `lyria-3-pro-preview` | Full songs: verse, chorus, bridge, outro | up to 3 minutes | | `lyria-3-clip-preview` | Short clips, loops, quick experiments | exactly 30 seconds | **Default to `lyria-3-pro-preview`** unless the user explicitly wants a short clip or loop. ## Step 2 — Apply the core framework Always build the prompt using this formula (include every element you can infer): > **[Genre & style] + [Mood] + [Instrumentation] + [Tempo & rhythm] + [Key/scale] + [Vocal style & language] + [Lyrics or theme] + [Structure]** Include only the elements that are relevant — but always fill in at least genre, mood, and instrumentation even when the user hasn't specified them (infer from context). ### Element reference | Element | What to write | Examples | |---|---|---| | **Genre & style** | Primary genre + era or fusion | `early 90s hip-hop`, `2000s indie pop`, `cinematic orchestral`, `K-pop with Motown edge` | | **Mood** | Emotional adjectives | `melancholic and introspective`, `uplifting and triumphant`, `tense and suspenseful`, `dreamy and ethereal` | | **Instrumentation** | Named instruments (be specific) | `Fender Rhodes piano`, `TR-808 drum machine`, `slide guitar`, `upright bass`, `analog Moog synth` | | **Tempo & rhythm** | BPM and/or feel description | `85 BPM`, `120 BPM`, `slow ballad feel`, `driving double-time groove`, `laid-back shuffle` | | **Key / scale** | Musical key or scale | `in G major`, `D minor`, `E♭ major`, `Dorian mode` | | **Vocals** | Gender, range, texture, delivery | `male baritone, gravelly and raw`, `female soprano, clear and breathy`, `soulful alto`, `no vocals — instrumental only` | | **Language** | Language for lyrics/singing | English, German, Spanish, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese | | **Lyrics** | Theme description OR exact lines | Theme: `a love song about distance`; Exact: use `Lyrics:` prefix — see below | | **Structure** | Section tags and/or progression | `[Intro] [Verse] [Chorus] [Bridge] [Outro]` or narrative description | ## Step 3 — Add structure using section tags or timestamps ### Section tags (simple structure control) Place these tags inline in your prompt so Lyria knows where each section starts: ``` [Intro] Soft acoustic guitar only. [Verse] Male vocal enters, intimate and quiet. [Chorus] Full band — drums, bass, electric guitar. Vocals soar. [Bridge] Stripped back to piano only, emotional and reflective. [Outro] Gradual fade with the acoustic guitar returning. ``` Available tags: `[Intro]` `[Verse]` `[Verse 1]` `[Verse 2]` `[Chorus]` `[Bridge]` `[Outro]` `[Hook]` `[Pre-Chorus]` ### Timestamp prompts (precise section control) Use `[MM:SS]` markers for exact timing — ideal for scoring to video or tight arrangements: ``` [00:00] Soft lo-fi beat, muffled vinyl crackle, no vocals. [00:15] Warm Fender Rhodes melody enters, gentle female vocals about a rainy morning. [00:45] Full band drops — upbeat drums, soaring synth lead, hopeful lyrics. [01:30] Instrumental bridge, half-time feel, synth pad solo. [02:00] Final chorus at full energy. [02:40] Outro — piano only, vocals fade out. ``` ## Step 4 — Handle vocals and lyrics ### Vocal profile (always specify at least one) - `male baritone, commanding and rich` - `female mezzo-soprano, breathy and soulful` - `young tenor, fast-paced melodic delivery` (good for J-pop, K-pop) - `gravelly blues voice, raw and expressive` - `vocal duet: smooth male tenor in English, soft female soprano in French` ### Custom lyrics — use `Lyrics:` prefix with section tags ``` Create a dreamy indie pop song. [Verse 1] Lyrics: Walking through the neon glow, city lights reflect below. [Chorus] Lyrics: We are the echoes in the night, burning brighter than the light. ``` Use `(backing echo)` in parentheses for backing vocals: ``` Lyrics: Let's go (go) to the other side (other side) ``` ### AI-generated lyrics — describe the theme - `a love song about a long-distance relationship` - `a triumphant song about overcoming failure` - `a bittersweet song about leaving your hometown` ### Instrumental only Always write: `Instrumental only. No vocals.` ### Language Write the prompt **in the target language** OR explicitly state `Sing in Japanese` / `Lyrics in Spanish`. Supported: English, German, Spanish, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese. ## Step 5 — Write the final prompt Combine all elements into a flowing paragraph or a labeled list. Both styles work. ### Style A — Natural paragraph (Google's recommended format) ``` A romantic fusion of classic Bossa Nova and modern R&B. The mood is intimate, warm, and deeply affectionate. Features a gentle acoustic nylon-string guitar, warm electric piano chords, and a crisp, laid-back modern hip-hop drum beat at a slow, swaying tempo. Featuring a vocal duet: a smooth male vocalist singing in English, and a soft, breathy female vocalist singing in French. The lyrics are a beautiful love song about an undeniable, cross-cultural connection. ``` ### Style B — Labeled structure (easier to audit and adjust) ``` Genre: cinematic electronic Mood: uplifting, expansive, hopeful Tempo: medium-fast, driving pulse at ~110 BPM Key: A minor Instrumentation: analog synth arpeggios, deep sub bass, wide pads, light percussion Vocals: clear female lead, breathy and ethereal Structure: [Intro] atmospheric synth pad → [Verse] vocals enter softly → [Chorus] full energy drop → [Bridge] half-time breakdown → [Outro] fade with pads Avoid: harsh distortion, overly busy percussion ``` ## Translation examples — vague → ideal prompt ### "Make me a chill song" ``` A warm, modern lo-fi hip-hop beat for studying and relaxing. Muffled boom-bap drums at 85 BPM, dusty jazz piano samples, a smooth upright bass line, and soft vinyl crackle. Laid-back and nostalgic mood. Instrumental only. No vocals. ``` ### "I want something epic" ``` An epic cinematic orchestral piece about a hero's journey. Starts with a solo cello playing a mournful melody, builds through sweeping string sections and French horns, and climaxes with a massive wall of sound — full orchestra, choir, and powerful timpani at 130 BPM. Mood: triumphant and emotionally overwhelming. Key: D minor. Instrumental only. ``` ### "A sad song about losing someone" ``` A melancholic indie folk song about grief and memory. Acoustic guitar fingerpicking, sparse piano, and gentle cello. Slow tempo, around 65 BPM, in E minor. Vocals: a soft male tenor, raw and emotionally vulnerable. The lyrics are about holding onto fading memories of someone you've lost. [Verse] Quiet guitar and piano only, hushed vocals. [Chorus] Cello swells in, vocals rise with restrained emotion. [Bridge] Instrumental only — guitar solo, no vocals. [Outro] Single acoustic guitar, vocals fade to silence. ``` ### "Upbeat pop song for a workout" ``` A high-energy, motivational pop track at 128 BPM in G major. Bright electric guitar riffs, punchy electronic drums, a driving synth bassline, and soaring synth pads. Mood: powerful, unstoppable, euphoric. Vocals: strong female lead, confident and commanding. Lyrics about pushing your limits and never giving up. ``` ### "Something like K-pop but with jazz" ``` An upbeat K-pop track with a jazz fusion edge. Bright, sparkling synths and electric guitar over a walking jazz bass line and tight swing drums at 110 BPM. Mood: playful, charming, and sophisticated. Vocals: clear female lead soprano singing in Korean, fast-paced and melodic with sweet harmonies. Lyrics about falling in love for the first time. ``` ## What Lyria 3 Pro does NOT support (hard limits) Do not attempt these — the request will be blocked or produce poor results: - **Specific artist voices** — never write "sound like Adele" or "in the style of Drake's voice". Genre/era references are fine; voice impersonation is not. - **Copyrighted lyrics** — do not reproduce exact lyrics from existing songs. - **Multi-turn editing** — generation is single-turn only. Each prompt is a fresh generation. - **Exact beat-level synchronization** — timestamps snap to the nearest musical bar, not exact milliseconds. - **Languages outside the 8 supported** — stick to English, German, Spanish, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese. ## Quick decision guide | User says... | You should add... | |---|---| | Nothing about instruments | Infer from genre; name 2–3 specific instruments | | Nothing about mood | Infer from theme; add 2–3 emotional adjectives | | Nothing about structure | Add `[Verse]` `[Chorus]` `[Bridge]` `[Outro]` tags | | Nothing about tempo | Infer from genre or add a descriptive feel (`slow ballad`, `driving groove`) | | Wants a full song | Use `lyria-3-pro-preview`; add section tags | | Wants a loop or short clip | Use `lyria-3-clip-preview`; keep prompt focused | | Wants no singing | Add `Instrumental only. No vocals.` | | Wants specific lyrics | Use `Lyrics:` prefix with section tags | | Wants foreign language | Write prompt in that language OR add `Sing in [language]` | See [references/REFERENCE.md](references/REFERENCE.md) for advanced techniques: timestamp prompting, image-to-music, PDF input, WAV output, and full API reference.