Audio PromptMonster

How to write prompts for Lyria 3.5

Last checked 4 October 2026Not affiliated with Google

Lyria 3.5 is Google's music model, in the Gemini app and the Gemini API. Start with the genre, then name the instruments, the tempo as a BPM number, the key, the mood and the structure. Give sections as timestamps such as [0:00 - 0:10] Intro, put your words under a Lyrics: header, and expect songs of up to about 3 minutes.

What does Lyria 3.5 read?

Lyria 3.5 reads one prompt: a description of the music, the structure, and, if the song has words, the lyrics. Google says both short phrases and detailed descriptions work. Songs have vocals unless the prompt says otherwise. It also takes up to 10 images as inspiration.

Google blocks prompts that ask for a specific artist's voice or for copyrighted lyrics, and every song carries a SynthID watermark.

WhatValueSource
Modellyria-3.5, generally available since September 2026; lyria-3-clip-preview makes 30-second clipsGoogle, Lyria 3.5 model, 4 October 2026
Song lengthA couple of minutes, set by the prompt or timestamps; Google DeepMind says up to 3 minutesGoogle, music generation, 4 October 2026
PromptUp to 131,072 tokens on the API; no character limit statedGoogle, Lyria 3.5 model, 4 October 2026
StructureSection tags in order, or timestamps such as [0:00 - 0:10] IntroGoogle, Lyria prompt guide, 4 October 2026
LyricsUnder a Lyrics: header, with section tags; backing vocals in parenthesesGoogle, Lyria prompt guide, 4 October 2026
No vocalsSay so in the prompt: Instrumental only, no vocals.Google, music generation, 4 October 2026
Things to avoidNo negative prompt documented for 3.5; Google Cloud says Lyria 3 does not support oneGoogle Cloud, Lyria 3, 4 October 2026
Output44.1 kHz stereo, MP3 by default, WAV on request (API)Google, music generation, 4 October 2026
APMonster's promptOne compact line, under 1,200 charactersAPMonster's own practice

What does Google say a Lyria prompt should contain?

Google's prompt guide says to start with the main genre, and to name the instruments, the tempo as a BPM number, the key and the mood, then the structure. Name instruments specifically rather than in general terms, and keep the lyrics separate from the musical direction.

How does APMonster write a Lyria prompt?

APMonster writes Lyria's prompt as one compact, comma-separated line: the genre, the instruments by name, the tempo as "N BPM", the key (such as "A minor"), a mood word, then the structure as timestamped segments. Things to avoid are written as what you want instead, since Lyria has no negative prompt. The prompt stays under 1,200 characters, APMonster's own working length: Google states a limit in tokens, not characters.

How do you tell Lyria what to avoid?

Google documents no negative prompt for Lyria 3.5, and its Google Cloud page for Lyria 3 says negative prompting is not supported. The documented way is to say what you want: "Instrumental only, no vocals." for no singing, or "a clean, warm mix" rather than naming the distortion you do not want.

APMonster does the same: it rewrites each thing you want to avoid as what you want instead, inside the prompt. A brief that avoids heavy distortion asks for a clean electric guitar and a clean, warm mix.

How does Lyria take song structure and lyrics?

Lyria reads structure from section tags in order, such as [Intro] -> [Verse 1] -> [Chorus], or from timestamps that give each section its start and end. Lyrics go under a Lyrics: header, tagged by section, with backing vocals and ad-libs in parentheses; they come out in the prompt's language.

APMonster writes timestamped segments worked out from the song's bars and tempo. Each carries an intensity out of 10, a mark Google's Lyria 3 guide on Google Cloud shows; the Lyria 3.5 pages show the timestamps. Lyria makes about 3 minutes, so APMonster warns when an arrangement runs longer.

The example song's structure, as APMonster writes it for Lyria 3.5 
[0:00 - 0:10] Intro: instrumental. Intensity: 3/10 (Low)
[0:10 - 0:52] Verse 1. Intensity: 5/10 (Medium)
[0:52 - 1:13] Chorus. Intensity: 8/10 (High)
[1:13 - 1:34] Verse 2. Intensity: 5/10 (Medium)
[1:34 - 1:55] Chorus. Intensity: 8/10 (High)
[1:55 - 2:16] Bridge. Intensity: 4/10 (Low)
[2:16 - 2:37] Chorus. Intensity: 9/10 (Very high)
[2:37 - 2:47] Outro: instrumental. Intensity: 2/10 (Very low)

These segments are part of the prompt, after the line of styles. LyrAssist writes Lyria lyrics with plain section tags, for the Lyrics: part.

One brief, written for Lyria 3.5

Every guide on this site writes the same song for its platform. This is the shape APMonster asks for on Lyria; the wording of a generated prompt varies from one generation to the next.

Prompt
dream pop, chorus-soaked clean electric guitar, warm analog synth pads, soft steady drum machine, round bass, breathy female vocals, 92 BPM, A minor, wistful, clean warm mix
Timed segments (the rest of the prompt)
[0:00 - 0:10] Intro: instrumental. Intensity: 3/10 (Low)
[0:10 - 0:52] Verse 1. Intensity: 5/10 (Medium)
[0:52 - 1:13] Chorus. Intensity: 8/10 (High)
[1:13 - 1:34] Verse 2. Intensity: 5/10 (Medium)
[1:34 - 1:55] Chorus. Intensity: 8/10 (High)
[1:55 - 2:16] Bridge. Intensity: 4/10 (Low)
[2:16 - 2:37] Chorus. Intensity: 9/10 (Very high)
[2:37 - 2:47] Outro: instrumental. Intensity: 2/10 (Very low)

What changed for Lyria 3.5, and why

  • The brief became one compact line, genre first, with the instruments named, then the tempo, the key and a mood.
  • Things to avoid were said positively, as Google advises: a clean electric guitar and a clean, warm mix in place of heavy distortion, and a soft, steady drum machine in place of trap hi-hats.
  • The structure became timed segments from 0:00 to 2:47, within Lyria's about 3 minutes; the intro and outro are marked instrumental.

Frequently asked questions

How long can a Lyria 3.5 song be?

A couple of minutes, according to Google, set by the prompt or by timestamps; Google DeepMind says up to 3 minutes. The lyria-3-clip-preview model makes 30-second clips.

Does Lyria 3.5 support negative prompts?

Google documents none for Lyria 3.5, and says Lyria 3 does not support negative prompting. Describe what you want instead, such as "Instrumental only, no vocals." APMonster writes things to avoid that way.

How do I add lyrics to a Lyria prompt?

Put them under a Lyrics: header, tagged by section ([Verse], [Chorus], [Bridge]), with backing vocals in parentheses. Keep them apart from the musical direction.

Can I make an instrumental with Lyria?

Yes. Songs have vocals by default, so add "Instrumental only, no vocals." to the prompt.

What is Lyria's prompt limit?

Google gives 131,072 input tokens for Lyria 3.5 and no character limit. APMonster keeps its Lyria prompts under 1,200 characters.

Sources