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Reference
R&B style reference
Classic soul, quiet storm, new jack swing, neo-soul, alternative R&B and modern trap-soul.
How to use this list
Each row pairs a style term with a cue line written in the same grammar: what the music is, what plays it, roughly how fast, and how it feels. Copy the cue, then change one thing at a time so you can tell which token moved the result.
R&B entries pin the chord vocabulary and the vocal treatment, which is where most generic prompts lose the genre.
Combining entries
Say whether you want stacked background harmonies; they are a defining feature of several eras and rarely appear unless requested.
If a take drifts away from what you wanted, remove tokens rather than adding more. Long prompts dilute; short, specific ones steer.
| Classic soul | classic soul, horn section punches, gospel-tinged lead vocal, tambourine backbeat, Wurlitzer, 100 BPM, passionate and warm |
| Motown | motown soul, driving tambourine, melodic bass, string sweeteners, group harmony hook, 126 BPM, bright and irresistible |
| Southern soul | southern soul, greasy organ, laid-back drums behind the beat, punchy horns, raspy vocal, 88 BPM, sweaty and raw |
| Neo-soul | neo soul, jazzy extended chords on Rhodes, loose swung drums, round bass, conversational vocal, 84 BPM, organic and introspective |
| Quiet storm | quiet storm, silky electric piano, fretless bass, soft brush drums, whispered intimate vocal, 72 BPM, sensual and late-night |
| 90s contemporary R&B | 90s R&B, swung hip-hop drum loop, warm bass, thick harmony stacks, melismatic lead vocal, 92 BPM, smooth and romantic |
| New jack swing | new jack swing, hard swung drum machine, funky synth bass, brass hits, rap-sung hook, 110 BPM, punchy and danceable |
| Alternative R&B | alternative R&B, sparse atmospheric production, detuned synth pads, deep sub bass, airy falsetto, 78 BPM, moody and spacious |
| PBR&B / indie R&B | indie R&B, reverbed guitar loops, minimal drum programming, hushed layered vocals, 82 BPM, hazy and vulnerable |
| Trap soul | trap soul, rolling hi-hats, melodic 808 bass, glassy synth keys, autotuned emotive vocal, 68 BPM half-time, dark and intimate |
| R&B ballad | R&B ballad, grand piano, swelling strings, restrained verse into belted chorus, soft drums, 64 BPM, heartbreaking and lush |
| Funk R&B | funk R&B, slap bass groove, clipped rhythm guitar, horn stabs, falsetto hook, 112 BPM, energetic and physical |
| Gospel-infused R&B | gospel R&B, choir backing vocals, Hammond organ, live drum groove, testifying lead vocal, 86 BPM, uplifting and soulful |
| Doo-wop R&B | doo wop R&B, triplet piano, close vocal harmonies, upright bass, brushed snare, 68 BPM, tender and vintage |
| Slow jam | slow jam, sultry Rhodes chords, deep bass, finger snaps, sensual duet vocals, 66 BPM, seductive and smooth |
| Bedroom R&B | bedroom R&B, lo-fi tape-saturated keys, soft drum machine, close-mic breathy vocal, 80 BPM, intimate and imperfect |
| R&B pop crossover | R&B pop, crisp modern drums, bright synth hook, catchy topline with ad-libs, 104 BPM, glossy and confident |
| UK R&B / garage-soul | uk R&B, skippy 2-step drums, warm sub bass, chopped vocal samples, soulful lead, 132 BPM, bouncy and cool |
| Afro-R&B | afro R&B, log drum and shaker groove, mellow guitar lines, smooth layered vocals, 104 BPM, breezy and sensual |
| Disco-soul | disco soul, four-on-floor kick, string ostinato, octave bass, joyful group chorus, 118 BPM, euphoric and shiny |
| Psychedelic soul | psychedelic soul, wah guitar, phased drums, dense percussion, socially conscious vocal, 98 BPM, hypnotic and expansive |
| Blue-eyed soul | blue eyed soul, warm electric piano, tasteful horns, smooth pop-leaning vocal, tight groove, 102 BPM, sunny and polished |
| Hip-hop soul | hip hop soul, hard sampled breakbeat, gritty bassline, powerful street-edged vocal, 94 BPM, tough and emotive |
| Sophisti-soul / adult contemporary R&B | adult contemporary R&B, jazz-chord piano, saxophone fills, brushed drums, mature vocal, 88 BPM, elegant and reflective |
| R&B duet | R&B duet, alternating male and female leads, layered harmony chorus, lush keys, mid-tempo drums, 90 BPM, romantic and dynamic |
| Experimental R&B | experimental R&B, glitch-edited vocals, distorted sub bass, irregular drum patterns, ambient noise beds, 76 BPM, unsettling and futuristic |
Raw data: /guide/reference/lists/rnb-list.json · 26 entries
FAQ
How do I get neo-soul chords?
Ask for extended 7th and 9th chords on Rhodes with a loose, behind-the-beat drum feel.
Do I have to use the whole r&b cue line?
No. The lines are built from independent tokens, so you can keep the two or three that matter and drop the rest without breaking the grammar.
Can I mix this list with another one?
Yes — keep one rhythm description, one lead instrument, one production word and a single tempo. Competing rhythm descriptions are the usual cause of muddled results.