As a singer, I’ve always been captivated by the power of a well-crafted song. There’s something magical about how lyrics and melody come together to create an emotional experience that resonates with listeners. While I’ve spent years honing my vocal skills, I’ve often found myself yearning to express my own thoughts and feelings through songwriting. However, the process of creating a song from scratch can seem daunting, especially for someone who’s never done it before.
That’s why I decided to explore the world of songwriting courses. I wanted to find programs that could guide me through the intricacies of lyric writing, melody composition, and song structure.
After extensive research and personal exploration, I’ve compiled a list of what I believe to be the 10 best songwriting courses available today. These courses cater to various skill levels and cover different aspects of songwriting, from the basics of lyric writing to advanced techniques in commercial songwriting.
1. Songwriting Simplified: Music Theory, Melody & Creativity – Udemy
This comprehensive Udemy course offers a practical approach to songwriting for beginners and intermediate musicians. Designed for those with basic piano or guitar skills, it covers essential aspects of songwriting, including music theory, chord progressions, melody writing, and lyric composition. The course promises to guide students through writing a complete song by the end of the program, following five simple steps. It also includes valuable resources such as chord and scale charts for both piano and guitar, as well as examples of hit chord progressions in various genres. With over 20 downloadable PDFs and no requirement to read music notation, this course provides an accessible entry point for aspiring songwriters.
2. Lyrics Writing Course by Jacob Carter
Jacob Carter’s Lyrics Writing Course offers a comprehensive and accessible approach to mastering the art of lyric writing. This online program is designed to cater to a wide range of aspiring songwriters, from complete beginners to those looking to refine their skills. The course is structured into six modules that cover essential aspects of lyric writing, including finding inspiration, understanding lyrical structure and style, and developing songwriting depth.
One of the key strengths of this course is its focus on practical application. Students are encouraged to engage in hands-on exercises and real-life applications, allowing them to immediately put their newfound knowledge into practice. You can read how Jacob Carter analyzes the lyrics meaning of hundreds of songs. The course also emphasizes the importance of developing a unique writing style, guiding students through various creative writing methods to help them find their own voice.
Carter, who brings over 10 years of experience as a lyricist to the table, provides valuable industry insights throughout the course. His background in English Literature from the University of Oxford, coupled with his experience in an indie band, gives him a unique perspective on both the academic and practical aspects of songwriting3. This blend of theoretical knowledge and real-world experience is evident in the course content, which covers everything from literary tools like imagery and metaphor to genre-specific knowledge and collaboration skills.
The course is delivered through HD video lessons, complemented by printable resources and a course pack. Students benefit from lifetime access to the materials, allowing them to learn at their own pace and revisit lessons as needed. Upon completion, students receive a certificate, and there’s an option for one-on-one mentoring for those seeking additional guidance.
3. Songwriting and Composing Melodies (Lauren Buchter)
Lauren Buchter’s Skillshare course offers a concise yet comprehensive introduction to songwriting and melody composition. This 30-minute course, consisting of 8 video lessons, is particularly valuable for beginners and those looking to refine their melodic composition skills. Buchter, a film composer, brings her professional experience to the course, covering essential aspects such as chord progressions, melody creation, and lyric writing. The program is designed to be practical, culminating in a final project that allows students to apply their newly acquired knowledge. While some prior musical knowledge is helpful, the course remains accessible to those new to songwriting, making it an excellent choice for aspiring composers and songwriters.
4. MasterClass: Songwriting with Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys, a 15-time Grammy Award winner, shares her unique approach to songwriting and producing in this MasterClass course. The program consists of 19 lessons totaling 3 hours and 22 minutes, covering various aspects of Keys’ creative process. Students gain insight into finding inspiration, developing melodies and lyrics, and producing songs. Keys emphasizes the importance of emotion-led songwriting and provides examples from her own work to illustrate her methods. While the course is somewhat subjective and focused on Keys’ personal process, it offers valuable inspiration and industry insights. This MasterClass is particularly suitable for fans of Alicia Keys and aspiring songwriters looking to understand the creative process of a successful artist.
5. How to Write Lyrics – The Song Foundry
This comprehensive online course offers aspiring songwriters a deep dive into the art of lyric writing. Spanning seven modules with over five hours of HD video lessons, the course covers essential topics such as using rhyme, structuring lyrics, writing singable lyrics, and prosody. Students receive a 32-page course booklet to complement the video content. The program is designed for beginners to intermediate-level songwriters and focuses on developing and refining lyric ideas into catchy, well-structured lyrics across various musical styles. With its practical approach and real-life applications, this course aims to equip students with invaluable techniques and strategies to write polished, effective lyrics in any genre.
6. Commercial Songwriting Techniques – Berklee Online
Berklee Online’s Commercial Songwriting Techniques course, authored by industry veteran Andrea Stolpe, offers a perfect blend of theory and practical skill-building. The course focuses on creating patterns of content that lead to memorable melodies and emotionally resonant lyrics – key elements of hit songwriting. Students learn a ten-step process for reproducing traits of successful songs while maintaining their unique voice. The curriculum covers techniques like “toggling” between detailed and broad perspectives, and “destination writing” using all senses as creative springboards. By the end of the course, participants will have completed three full songs and developed ideas for many more, all organized in a commercially accessible manner.
7. The Art of Songwriting (Belmont University)
Belmont University’s The Art of Songwriting course offers students the opportunity to learn from a roster of accomplished songwriters, including Hall of Fame and Grammy-winning artists. This program is designed to help songwriters at various levels develop essential skills for fueling creativity and building a sustainable career. The course covers a wide range of topics, from finding inspiration and overcoming writer’s block to applying technical aspects of songwriting and collaborating effectively. Students also gain insights into maintaining integrity in the music industry and building a long-lasting career. With contributions from esteemed guests like Shane McAnally, Allen Shamblin, and Pat Alger, this course provides a unique blend of practical skills and industry wisdom.
8. Writing Song Lyrics: Create and Combine with Melody – City Lit
City Lit’s “Writing Song Lyrics: Create and Combine with Melody” is a six-week online course designed for songwriters and instrumentalists looking to enhance their lyric writing skills. Led by experienced musician Polly Hewett, this course focuses on generating original ideas, structuring melodies, and employing advanced techniques in lyrics and meter. The program emphasizes practical work and collaboration, encouraging students to analyze songs from various genres and work towards recording their own compositions by the end of the course. Participants will learn to create original lyrics based on personal experiences, develop melodic lines, and structure their ideas effectively. This interactive and engaging learning experience is ideal for those who find melody creation easier than lyric writing and want to improve their overall songwriting abilities.
9. Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics (Berklee College of Music)
Offered by Berklee College of Music through Coursera, “Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics” is a comprehensive course led by renowned lyricist and professor Pat Pattison. This program delves deep into the intricacies of lyric writing, focusing on techniques to enhance the emotional impact of songs. Students learn to define and identify key elements of songwriting, such as point of view, form, and the “who, what, where, when, and how” of a song. The curriculum covers advanced topics like using various rhyming techniques to evoke specific emotions and understanding the difference between assonance and consonance rhyme. With its expert instruction and comprehensive content, this course is suitable for both beginners and experienced songwriters looking to refine their lyrical skills and find their unique voice in music.
10. The Basics of Pro Songwriting (Tom Worth)
This course, available on Careervira, is taught by Tom Worth, an industry professional with over 10 years of experience. The program focuses on both basic and advanced songwriting techniques used by professional songwriters. Worth shares the exact methods used to write commercial songs that have topped the charts, giving students insider knowledge of the industry. The course also addresses common mistakes made by songwriters that can hinder their success, helping students avoid these pitfalls. With over 6 hours of video content, this self-paced course is suitable for beginners and covers everything from commercial songwriting fundamentals to the craft of songwriting, including a practical demonstration of the instructor writing a song.
