As a fellow songwriter, I know firsthand how transformative a great songwriting course can be. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your craft, the right guidance can unlock new levels of creativity and help you find your unique voice.
I’ve spent countless hours researching and comparing songwriting courses to bring you this curated list of the 11 best options available.
1. The Fine Art of Songwriting – Steve Leslie
This comprehensive course is taught by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Steve Leslie. It covers a wide range of topics including song structure, lyric writing, melody composition, and guitar techniques for songwriters. Leslie draws on his 30+ years of professional experience writing for artists like George Strait and Kenny Rogers to provide practical insights into the craft of songwriting.
2. Lyrics Writing Course by Jacob Carter
Jacob Carter’s Lyrics Writing Course offers a comprehensive and practical approach to mastering the art of lyric writing. Designed for both beginners and experienced songwriters, this online course provides a structured pathway to enhance creativity and develop essential skills in crafting compelling lyrics.
The course is divided into six modules, covering crucial aspects of lyric writing such as finding inspiration, understanding lyrical structure and style, developing songwriting depth, and exploring genre-specific techniques. Carter, a seasoned lyricist with over a decade of experience, guides students through each module with HD video lessons, printable resources, and hands-on exercises. This approach allows participants to learn at their own pace while gaining practical insights into the songwriting process.
One of the course’s strengths is its focus on analyzing hit songs by renowned artists like The Beatles, Ed Sheeran, and Joni Mitchell. This analytical approach helps students understand the mechanics behind successful lyrics and apply these insights to their own work. You can also read how Jacob Carter analyzes the lyrics meaning of hundreds of songs.
Additionally, the course offers opportunities for students to receive feedback on their finished songs, providing valuable input for improvement.
The curriculum is designed to be both comprehensive and accessible. It covers a wide range of topics, from basic song structure to advanced literary techniques like imagery and metaphor. This breadth ensures that students of all levels can benefit from the course, whether they’re writing their first song or looking to refine their existing skills.
3. The New Songwriter’s Workshop – Oli Rockberger
Offered through Soundfly, this course is ideal for beginner songwriters looking to take their skills to the next level. Taught by accomplished musician Oli Rockberger, it covers melody, harmony, and lyric strategies. The course is part of Soundfly’s subscription model, which offers access to a personal mentor for additional guidance4.
4. The Basics of Pro Songwriting – Tom Worth
This Udemy course provides a step-by-step guide to improving songwriting skills, covering both basics and advanced techniques used by professionals. Worth, with over 10 years of industry experience, shares methods for writing commercial songs that have topped charts. The course also addresses common mistakes made by songwriters.
5. Songwriting: Lyric Writing – Elevate with ICMP
This online course focuses specifically on lyric writing. It covers analyzing and understanding the art of lyrics, developing creative skills, finding inspiration, and creating lyrical structure and style. The course is designed to be flexible, allowing students to learn at their own pace, and includes 15 unique lessons across 3 modules.
6. Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics – Berklee College of Music
Offered through Coursera, this course is taught by Pat Pattison from the prestigious Berklee College of Music. It covers fundamental tools and techniques of lyric writing, including prosody, rhythm, rhymes, literary devices, and emotional expression in lyrics. The course is available for free audit and has received praise from established musicians like John Mayer.
7. Songwriting: Writing, Arranging, and Producing Music – Berklee College of Music
This specialization, offered by Berklee College of Music through Coursera, is a comprehensive 4-course series designed to help both aspiring and established songwriters. The courses cover essential skills such as generating lyrics, creating melodies, arranging music, and producing song demos using digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Ableton Live. Taught by Erin Barra and other award-winning Berklee faculty, the specialization includes practical projects that allow students to refine their musical ideas into polished song demos.
8. MasterClass: Songwriting with Alicia Keys
In this MasterClass, Grammy Award-winning artist Alicia Keys shares her unique approach to songwriting and producing. The course covers her creative process, from writing lyrics and melodies to recording and producing tracks. Alicia Keys provides insights into how she channels emotions into her music and offers practical advice on finding inspiration and developing a personal style. This course is ideal for songwriters looking to learn from one of the industry’s most successful and soulful artists.
9. The Singer-Songwriter Specialization – Berklee College of Music
Also offered by Berklee College of Music through Coursera, this specialization focuses on the skills needed to become a successful singer-songwriter. It includes courses on lyric writing, music composition, and arranging, as well as practical aspects of performing and recording songs. The curriculum is designed to help students develop a cohesive and professional sound, with guidance from experienced Berklee instructors. This specialization is perfect for those looking to refine their craft and gain a deeper understanding of the singer-songwriter genre.
10. How to Write Your First Song – The University of Sheffield
This free online course from the University of Sheffield provides a practical introduction to songwriting. It covers the basics of melody, harmony, and lyric writing, and includes insights from established songwriters. The course is designed for beginners and offers a step-by-step guide to writing and composing a song. Students will learn about song structure, chord progressions, and how to develop their musical ideas into complete songs. This course is ideal for those who are new to songwriting and want to get started with their first composition.
11. Songwriting and Composing Melodies – Lauren Buchter
Offered through Skillshare, this course by Lauren Buchter focuses on creating memorable melodies and songs that tell stories. It covers techniques for composing melodies that evoke specific emotions and how to integrate these melodies into cohesive songs. The course includes a project where students create a custom piece of music, similar to how professional composers work for film, TV, and advertising. This course is suitable for aspiring songwriters and composers who want to enhance their melodic writing skills and learn practical tips from a professional in the industry.
