The intersection of artificial intelligence and music has revolutionized how we create and produce sound. If you’ve wondered whether ChatGPT can write music, the answer depends on what you mean by “music.” Here’s the truth: ChatGPT doesn’t generate actual audio files, but it’s an invaluable creative partner. And critically, different AI tools serve different purposes some create background music and soundtracks (like Mubert), while others create complete songs with vocals (like Suno).

Understanding What ChatGPT Actually Does

ChatGPT functions as your creative collaborator, not an audio generator. Think of it as a songwriter’s assistant, music theory teacher, and production advisor rolled into one.

What ChatGPT Can Do

1. Song Lyrics and Poetry Generate original lyrics across any genre with specified themes, rhyme schemes, and emotional tones.

2. Chord Progressions and Music Theory Suggest harmonic structures, explain why chords work together, and provide music theory insights.

3. Melody and Beat Descriptions Describe melodic patterns, note sequences, and rhythmic structures in words.

4. Song Structure and Arrangement Outline structures (verse-chorus-bridge), suggest instrumentation, and provide arrangement advice.

5. Production Guidance Guide mixing, mastering, plugin recommendations, and audio engineering concepts.

What ChatGPT Cannot Do

  • ❌ Generate actual audio files
  • ❌ Create instrumental tracks you can hear
  • ❌ Produce beats or melodies as sound
  • ❌ Sing or perform vocals
  • ❌ Mix or master audio files

For these tasks, you need specialized AI music generators—and choosing the right one is crucial.

The Critical Distinction: Soundtracks vs. Songs

This is the most important concept to understand:

Background Music / Soundtracks

Purpose: Audio that supports other content

  • Instrumental only (no vocals/singing)
  • Designed for videos, games, podcasts, presentations
  • Not the “main event”
  • Loops, ambient sounds, background beats 
  • Examples: YouTube background music, meditation app audio, game soundtracks

Actual Songs

Purpose: Music people listen to as primary content

  • Usually includes vocals and singing
  • Has performed lyrics with singing voices
  • Complete production meant to be listened to actively
  • Verse-chorus-bridge with vocals 
  • Examples: Pop songs, rock tracks, hip-hop with rap vocals

Different AI tools serve these different purposes.

AI Music Tools: What Each One Actually Does

Mubert: Background Music & Soundtrack Generator

What Mubert IS: A professional platform for generating instrumental background music and soundtracks only. Founded in 2017, it has generated over 100 million tracks.

What Mubert Creates:

  • ✅ Instrumental tracks for videos
  • ✅ Background music for podcasts
  • ✅ Ambient soundscapes
  • ✅ Electronic beats and loops
  • ✅ Game soundtracks
  • ✅ Workout/study background tracks

What Mubert Does NOT Create:

  • ❌ Songs with vocals or singing
  • ❌ Performed lyrics
  • ❌ Pop/rock songs with sung verses
  • ❌ Rap vocals or hip-hop performances
  • ❌ Radio-ready tracks with singing

Best Used For:

  • Content creators (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram)
  • Podcasters needing intro/outro music
  • App developers (meditation, fitness apps)
  • Game developers
  • Filmmakers needing background scores

How Mubert Works:

  1. Enter text prompts describing your desired sound
  2. Customize genre, mood, duration, BPM, instruments
  3. AI creates unique, royalty-free instrumental tracks instantly
  4. Download and use in your projects

Mubert Products:

  • Mubert Render: For content creators generating tracks
  • Mubert API: For developers integrating into apps/games
  • Mubert Studio: For artists contributing samples to earn revenue

Suno AI: Actual Song Generator (WITH Vocals)

What Suno IS: An AI platform that creates complete songs with vocals and singing—the kind you’d listen to on Spotify.

What Suno Creates:

  • ✅ Complete songs with AI-generated singing
  • ✅ Performed lyrics (not just text)
  • ✅ Full production with instruments + vocals
  • ✅ Pop, rock, hip-hop, country with vocals
  • ✅ Verse-chorus structures with singing

Best Used For:

  • Creating actual songs to listen to
  • Songwriting demos with vocals
  • Experimenting with song ideas
  • Music as primary content

Complete Workflows: ChatGPT + AI Music Tools

Workflow 1: Creating Background Music for Content (ChatGPT + Mubert)

Goal: Instrumental background music for a YouTube video, podcast, or presentation.

Step 1: Plan with ChatGPT

You: “I need upbeat background music for an 8-minute productivity video. Help me plan this.”

ChatGPT: “Here’s your background music plan:

– Duration: 8 minutes

– Style: Upbeat corporate/indie electronic

– Tempo: 120-128 BPM

– Mood: Positive, inspiring, clean

– Energy: Medium-high (motivating without overwhelming)

– Instruments: Light synths, acoustic guitar, subtle beats

Mubert Prompt: ‘Upbeat corporate motivation music, clean 

electronic with acoustic guitar, 125 BPM, positive energy'”

Step 2: Generate in Mubert

  1. Go to mubert.com/render
  2. Enter prompt: “Upbeat corporate motivation music, clean electronic with acoustic guitar, positive energy”
  3. Set duration: 8 minutes
  4. Select mood: Motivational, Upbeat
  5. Generate and download instrumental track

Step 3: Use the Music

  • Import into video editor
  • Adjust volume to background level (-15 to -20 dB)
  • Perfect instrumental background for your content

This is Mubert’s strength: instrumental background tracks.

Workflow 2: Creating an Actual Song with Vocals (ChatGPT + Suno)

Goal: Create a complete pop song with singing.

Step 1: Write Lyrics with ChatGPT

You: “Write lyrics for an upbeat pop song about summer adventures. 

Include verse, pre-chorus, chorus, verse 2, bridge, final chorus.”

ChatGPT: “[Generates complete lyrics]

Verse 1:

Driving down the coast with the windows down

Radio’s blasting our favorite sound

Sunset painting stories in the sky

These are the moments that make us feel alive

Pre-Chorus:

We don’t need a map, we don’t need a plan…

Chorus:

We’re making memories under the sun

Dancing till the night has just begun…”

Step 2: Plan Musical Structure

You: “What chord progression and tempo would work?”

ChatGPT: “Musical Style: Upbeat pop

Key: G Major

Tempo: 128 BPM

Chord Progressions:

– Verse: G – Em – C – D

– Chorus: G – D – Em – C

Vocal Style: Bright, enthusiastic

Instrumentation: Acoustic guitar, synth pads, electronic drums”

Step 3: Generate in Suno

  1. Go to Suno AI
  2. Input your lyrics
  3. Add style: “Upbeat indie pop, 128 BPM, bright vocals, summer vibes”
  4. Generate song
  5. Suno creates complete track WITH VOCALS singing your lyrics
  6. Download actual sung song

This is Suno’s strength: complete songs with singing.

Workflow 3: Professional Production (ChatGPT + Mubert + Your Vocals)

Goal: Professional song with your own voice.

Steps:

  1. ChatGPT: Plan lyrics, chords, arrangement
  2. Mubert: Generate instrumental backing track
  3. Record your vocals over the instrumental
  4. Mix in DAW with ChatGPT’s guidance
  5. Result: Professional song with real vocals over AI backing

Step-by-Step: Using ChatGPT for Music Creation

Phase 1: Conceptualization

Define Your Vision Clearly:

For Background Music:

“I need 5 minutes of calm, focused music for a productivity app. 

Lo-fi style with soft piano and subtle beats, 80 BPM, no vocals.”

For Actual Songs:

“I want an emotional indie ballad about moving to a new city. 

70 BPM, intimate vocals, acoustic guitar with strings.”

Generate Lyrics (For Songs Only):

You: “Write lyrics for my indie ballad about moving to a new city. 

Themes: leaving the past, nervous excitement, finding yourself.”

ChatGPT: “[Generates complete lyrics with structure]”

Plan Musical Elements:

You: “What chord progression and arrangement would work best?”

ChatGPT: “[Provides detailed musical blueprint with chords, 

tempo, instrumentation, and production notes]”

Phase 2: Audio Generation

For Background Music → Use Mubert

  1. Take ChatGPT’s suggestions
  2. Create Mubert prompt
  3. Generate instrumental track
  4. Download and use in project

For Songs with Vocals → Use Suno

  1. Take ChatGPT’s lyrics
  2. Input into Suno with style description
  3. Generate complete song with vocals
  4. Download and refine

Phase 3: Refinement

Using ChatGPT for Production Guidance:

You: “The Mubert track feels too flat. How do I add variation?”

ChatGPT: “Here are ways to add dynamic variation:

Simple (Video Editor):

1. Volume automation – fade every 30-60 seconds

2. Layer two tracks with different intensities

3. Add transitional sound effects

Advanced (DAW):

1. Sidechain compression for pumping effect

2. Automate high-pass filter for builds

3. Apply different reverb in sections

4. Use volume envelopes to shape energy”

Practical Tips for Professional Results

1. Be Hyper-Specific with Prompts

Vague vs. Specific:

❌ “Make sad music” ✅ “Melancholic ambient piano with subtle strings, 70 BPM, atmospheric pads, rain sounds, 6 minutes”

❌ “Write a love song” ✅ “Acoustic indie folk love song, intimate female vocals, fingerpicked guitar, 85 BPM, long-distance relationship theme”

2. Use the Right Tool for the Job

Use Mubert when you need:

  • Background music for videos/podcasts
  • Ambient soundscapes
  • Workout/study playlists
  • Game soundtracks
  • Any instrumental background audio

Use Suno when you need:

  • Complete songs to listen to
  • Vocal performances
  • Song demos with singing
  • Music as primary content (not background)

Use ChatGPT when you need:

  • Creative planning and ideation
  • Lyrics writing
  • Music theory help
  • Arrangement advice
  • Production guidance

3. Iterate Multiple Times

Generate 5-10 variations and pick the best elements. Don’t settle for the first result.

4. Learn Basic Music Theory

Use ChatGPT as your teacher:

You: “Why does C-Am-F-G work so well in pop music?”

ChatGPT: “This progression works because:

1. Stays in C major (all natural notes)

2. Smooth voice leading between chords

3. Includes tonic, subdominant, dominant functions

4. Am adds emotional depth as relative minor

5. Used in countless hits like ‘Let It Be,’ ‘No Woman No Cry'”

5. Respect Licensing

Mubert:

  • Free tier: Personal use only
  • Paid plans: Commercial licensing included
  • Always check terms for your use case

Suno:

  • Check current licensing terms
  • Understand commercial restrictions
  • May require attribution

Best Practices:

  • Use paid plans for monetized content
  • Keep license documentation
  • Credit AI tools appropriately

Free vs. Professional Tools

Free Options

ChatGPT (Free tier)

  • Unlimited creative assistance
  • Lyric generation, theory education
  • Production advice

Mubert Render (Free tier)

  • Limited monthly generations
  • Personal use only
  • Standard quality
  • Good for testing and personal projects

Suno (Free tier)

  • Limited daily credits
  • Shorter tracks
  • May include watermarks
  • Good for experimentation

Professional Options

ChatGPT Plus

  • Priority access, GPT-4, faster responses
  • Worth it for frequent music projects

Mubert Premium (Check current pricing)

  • Unlimited generations
  • Commercial licensing
  • Extended durations (up to 25 minutes)
  • Premium quality
  • Worth it for content creators

Suno Pro (Check current pricing)

  • More credits, longer songs
  • Commercial use rights
  • Worth it for frequent song creation

Conclusion: The Real Answer

ChatGPT is an essential creative partner but doesn’t generate audio. It writes lyrics, explains theory, plans structure, and guides production.

For actual audio:

  • Mubert → Instrumental background music/soundtracks (no vocals)
  • Suno → Complete songs with vocals (with singing)

The Magic Formula:

ChatGPT (Planning & Guidance)

+

Right AI Tool (Audio Generation)

+

Your Creative Vision

=

Professional Music Creation

The Democratic Revolution

You don’t need:

  • ❌ Years of training
  • ❌ Expensive instruments
  • ❌ Professional studio
  • ❌ Music degree

You DO need:

  • ✅ Clear vision
  • ✅ Ability to describe ideas
  • ✅ Willingness to experiment
  • ✅ Understanding which tools do what
  • ✅ Basic production knowledge (ChatGPT teaches)

Start Today

The barriers have never been lower. Whether you need background music for a video (ChatGPT + Mubert) or want to create a complete song (ChatGPT + Suno), the tools exist.

The future isn’t human vs. AI, it’s human + AI collaboration. By learning to use these tools effectively, you become a conductor of digital orchestras, directing algorithmic creativity to bring any musical vision to life.

AI music creation democratizes music making. Understanding what each tool does and using the right tool for each job is the key to success. Start experimenting today, and add your unique human creativity to make something truly special.