Songwriting is both an art and a craft, requiring creativity, technical skill, and a deep understanding of music. Whether you’re a beginner looking to pen your first tune or an experienced songwriter aiming to refine your skills, taking a songwriting course can be an excellent way to elevate your craft. With the rise of online education, there are now more options than ever for aspiring songwriters to learn from industry professionals and acclaimed artists.
In this article, we’ll explore the 10 best songwriting courses available today. These courses cover a wide range of topics, from lyric writing and melody creation to music theory and industry insights.
1. Lyrics Writing Course by Jacob Carter
The Lyrics Writing Course, created by lyricist Jacob Carter, is a comprehensive online program designed to help aspiring songwriters improve their lyric writing skills. The course consists of six modules covering various aspects of lyric writing, from finding inspiration to understanding genre conventions and co-writing.
Key features of the course include:
- Six in-depth modules covering topics like finding inspiration, lyrical structure and style, developing songwriting depth, and understanding genre.
- HD video lessons taught by Jacob Carter, an experienced lyricist with over 10 years in the industry.
- Practical exercises and suggested tasks to help students apply what they’ve learned.
- Lifetime access to all course materials, allowing students to learn at their own pace.
- Analysis of famous song lyrics to understand effective techniques. You can read how Jacob Carter analyzes the lyrics meaning of hundreds of songs.
- Industry insider tips and knowledge shared throughout the course.
- Optional one-on-one mentoring available for an additional fee.
- A certificate upon completion of the course.
The course is priced at $997 and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s designed for beginners as well as more experienced songwriters looking to refine their skills. Students praise the course for its comprehensive content, practical approach, and the confidence it instills in their lyric writing abilities.
2. The Art of Songwriting – The Open University (FutureLearn)
This free 6-week online course offers a comprehensive introduction to songwriting fundamentals. Led by professional musicians and academics from The Open University, it covers key elements like rhythm, melody, chords, and song structure.
Students get to write their own song by the end, with guidance from renowned folk musician Martin Simpson. The course features interviews with established songwriters and industry experts, providing valuable insights into the craft.
3. Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies – Berklee Online
Taught by Grammy-winning songwriter Pat Pattison, this 12-week course dives deep into lyric writing techniques. Students learn to generate better ideas, find the right words, and organize lyrics into compelling verses, choruses and bridges.
The course emphasizes practical exercises to improve lyric writing skills. It’s ideal for both beginners and experienced writers looking to sharpen their craft.
4. Writing Song Lyrics: Create and Combine with Melody – City Lit
This 6-week online course focuses on combining lyrics with melody effectively. Students learn to generate original ideas, create hooks, work with rhyme schemes, and analyze songs across various genres.
The course emphasizes practical work and collaboration, with students presenting their work for constructive feedback. It’s suitable for beginners as well as more experienced songwriters.
5. Commercial Songwriting Techniques – Berklee Online
Authored by professional songwriter Andrea Stolpe, this 12-week course teaches techniques for writing commercially successful songs. It covers a 10-step process for reproducing traits of hit songs while maintaining a unique voice.
Students learn destination writing, toggling between detail and broader themes, and how to create memorable melodies and lyrics. By the end, participants have three completed songs and ideas for many more.
6. Songwriting Simplified: Music Theory, Melody & Creativity – Udemy
This course breaks down songwriting into easy-to-follow steps, covering music theory, chord progressions, melody writing, and lyric writing. It’s designed for those with basic guitar or piano skills and doesn’t require the ability to read music.
The course includes practical exercises, downloadable resources, and insider tips on writing catchy melodies. It’s particularly useful for singers wanting to write their own material.
7. How to Write Lyrics – The Song Foundry
This course, created by Ed Bell, offers a thorough exploration of lyric writing through seven modules and over five hours of HD video lessons. It covers essential topics such as using rhyme, structuring lyrics, writing singable lyrics, and prosody—the art of fitting lyrics seamlessly to a melody.
The course includes a 32-page course booklet and lifetime access to all materials, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and intermediate songwriters. Students will gain a deeper understanding of how lyrics work and develop effective strategies for writing polished, impactful lyrics.
8. The Lyric Writer’s Workroom – Songcraft
The Lyric Writer’s Workroom, founded by Nick, is a comprehensive resource for aspiring lyricists. This platform offers a wealth of articles and tips on songwriting, focusing on the technical and creative aspects of lyric writing.
It emphasizes the importance of practice and continuous improvement, providing insights into various poetic techniques and music theory.
The site also encourages songwriters to explore different types of songs and rhyme schemes, making it a valuable tool for developing a versatile songwriting skill set.
9. Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics – Berklee Online (Coursera)
Taught by Grammy-winning songwriter Pat Pattison, this course is part of Berklee’s extensive online offerings. It covers the fundamentals of lyric writing, including point of view, form, and the use of rhyme to evoke emotions. The course also delves into the stability of lyrics through line lengths, syllable stress, and melody.
With practical exercises and peer reviews, students can refine their lyric writing skills and gain confidence in their creative abilities. This course is ideal for beginners and those looking to enhance their songwriting techniques.
10. The Singer Songwriter – Berklee Online (Coursera)
This specialization consists of four courses designed to help aspiring singer-songwriters write, perform, and record their original music. It covers basic guitar playing, vocal techniques, songwriting tools, and music production using MIDI and audio.
The course aims to transform ideas and emotions into unique songs, providing a comprehensive education in both the creative and technical aspects of songwriting.
With expert instruction and practical assignments, students will develop a well-rounded skill set to succeed as singer-songwriters.