Pika Music: Music Generation Guide and Prompts

What is Pika Music?

“Create the perfect track, up to 6 minutes long. The Pika Music model accepts four input modalities: text, lyrics, voice references, and music references—individually or in combination. Which means you get exactly what you want to hear.”

Source: Pika’s Pika Music page. Icon: Pika.

Pika Music sits alongside Pika’s other audio tools. Pika’s Speech page points singers here: “melody, lyrics and a sung performance come from Pika Music.” For spoken narration, use Pika Speech; for sound effects, use Pika SFX.

The four inputs

Pika says the inputs work “individually or in combination.” How much a reference shapes the result, and any length or file limits for references, are shown in the app.

Combining inputs

Suggested combinations are our own.

How to make a track, step by step

1. Open Pika Music and sign in through Pika’s login page.
2. Decide the job: background bed, full song, intro sting, or loop.
3. Write the text prompt using the six-part builder below.
4. Add lyrics for vocals, and any voice or music references you have rights to use.
5. Choose the length the app offers, up to 6 minutes.
6. Check the credit cost, then generate.
7. Listen through on headphones and a phone speaker.
8. Change one thing (tempo, mood or an instrument) and generate again.

Pika’s page doesn’t list prices; the app shows them. See Pika pricing.

Writing the text prompt

Example: Calm lo-fi hip-hop, nostalgic and cosy, around 80 BPM. Dusty drums, mellow electric piano, soft bass and gentle vinyl crackle. Instrumental. Steady throughout with a soft fade at the end.

• Two or three mood words are clearer than a long list.
• Name three to five instruments, not ten.
• Give a tempo in BPM or plain words.
• Describe the shape so the track fits your video or playlist.
• Don’t name real artists; describe the sound instead.

Writing lyrics

Labelling each part of the song, such as [Verse], [Chorus] and [Outro], is a common way to guide song structure. Check how Pika Music’s lyrics box handles labels.

Example lyrics:
[Verse]
Streetlights hum on an empty road,
I’m carrying home a lighter load,

[Chorus]
And it feels like summer, even in the rain,
feels like summer, calling out my name.

[Outro]
Even in the rain.

• Short, rhythmic lines are easier to sing.
• Repeat the chorus to give the song a hook.
• Write original words; don’t paste lyrics from existing songs.

Example lyrics are our own.

Prompt library

Copy a prompt and adjust the details. These are our own.

Pika Music or MiniMax Music 3.0?

Full guide: MiniMax Music 3.0 in Pika. All audio models: Pika audio models.

Music for your Pika videos

• Match mood words between the video prompt and the music prompt.
• Match the shape: ask for a build where the video reveals something.
• Choose instrumental under narration from Pika Speech.
• Add effects on top with Pika SFX.
• For everything at once, use Pika Soundtrack, which “gives any footage native music, voiceover, and motion-aware sound effects.”

Project guides: product ads, short films, travel videos and Reels.

Rights and consent

• Voice references: only your own voice, or one whose owner has agreed.
• Music references: only tracks you have the rights to use.
• No imitation of real artists’ names or voices in ways that could mislead.
• Commercial use: Pika’s pricing page lists a commercial license on the Creator and Fancy plans.
• Platform rules: check disclosure and monetisation rules for AI music before publishing.

Common problems and fixes

Pika Music FAQs