As a budding songwriter, I’ve always been fascinated by the magic of turning emotions and experiences into lyrics and melodies. But let’s face it, staring at a blank page can be downright intimidating. That’s why I decided to dive into the world of songwriting courses to boost my skills and confidence. 

After scouring the internet and gathering recommendations from fellow aspiring musicians, I’ve compiled a list of the 11 best songwriting courses that cater to beginners like me, as well as more experienced wordsmiths looking to refine their craft.

These courses cover everything from the basics of lyric writing to the intricacies of melody composition, taught by industry professionals and acclaimed songwriters.

1. The Fine Art of Songwriting – Steve Leslie

This comprehensive 5-week online course is taught by Grammy-winning songwriter Steve Leslie. It covers the fundamental principles of songwriting across all genres, with daily video lessons on topics like crafting effective choruses, melody writing, and song structure. Leslie draws on his 25+ year career writing hits for artists like Kenny Rogers and George Strait to provide professional insights. The course aims to help both beginners and experienced songwriters take their skills to the next level.

2. Lyrics Writing Course by Jacob Carter

Jacob Carter’s Lyrics Writing Course offers a comprehensive and engaging approach to mastering the art of lyric writing. Designed for both beginners and experienced songwriters, this online program provides a deep dive into the creative process of crafting compelling lyrics. The course is structured around six modules that cover essential aspects of songwriting, from finding inspiration to understanding genre-specific techniques.

At the heart of the course is Jacob Carter himself, a seasoned lyricist with over a decade of experience in the music industry. His passion for songwriting shines through in the course content, which includes HD video lessons, practical exercises, and industry insider tips. Students can expect to learn various creative writing methods, explore different lyrical structures and styles, and develop their unique voice as songwriters. You can also read how Jacob Carter analyzes the lyrics meaning of hundreds of songs.

One of the standout features of this course is its focus on developing depth in songwriting. Carter emphasizes the importance of literary tools such as imagery, metaphor, and characterization to create memorable and impactful lyrics. The course also covers the art of collaboration, preparing students for real-world songwriting scenarios where co-writing is often essential.

3. How to Write Your First Song – The University of Sheffield

This free 6-week online course offered through FutureLearn is perfect for complete beginners. It covers the basics of songwriting including setting words to music, working with melody, chord progressions, and song forms. Students follow along each week to build their own song, with guidance from professional musician Martin Simpson. The course requires 3-4 hours per week and includes input from music experts on what makes a successful song.

4. Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies – Berklee Online

Taught by renowned lyricist Pat Pattison, this 12-week online course from Berklee focuses specifically on lyric writing techniques. Students learn how to generate better ideas, find the right words, and organize compelling verses and choruses. The course covers important concepts like rhyme, rhythm, and prosody. It’s suitable for songwriters of all levels looking to improve their lyrical skills. As a Berklee course, it offers college credits and access to their online learning platform.

5. Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics (Berklee College of Music)

This 4-week online course is taught by Pat Pattison, a renowned lyricist and Berklee professor. It focuses specifically on lyric writing techniques, covering topics like point of view, song form, rhyme, and phrasing. Students learn to identify stable and unstable lyrics, utilize various rhyming techniques, and clarify their ideas through effective phrasing. The course is beginner-friendly and takes approximately 26 hours to complete. It can be taken for free, with the option to pay for a certificate and graded assignments.

6. The Singer-Songwriter Specialization (Berklee College of Music)

This comprehensive specialization consists of four courses covering different aspects of songwriting. Taught by Berklee faculty, it provides a holistic approach to songwriting, including lyric writing, melody creation, arranging, and music production. Students learn to generate lyrics, create supporting melodies and accompaniment, develop balanced arrangements, and produce song demos using digital audio workstations. The specialization is designed for both aspiring and established songwriters looking to refine their skills across all elements of songwriting.

7. Songwriting: Create Lyric Writing Approaches (Academy of Music and Sound Online)

This free 4-week online course is designed for songwriters of all levels seeking to invigorate their lyrical output. Each week focuses on different aspects of lyric writing, including journaling, sensory writing, collecting inspiration, storytelling, and prosody. The course features interviews, podcasts, and practical activities to help students develop their songwriting skills. While there are no formal assessments, students are encouraged to participate in group forums to share work and receive feedback. The course requires about 3-4 hours of study per week and emphasizes regular practice of automatic writing.

8. Songwriting Simplified: Music Theory, Melody & Creativity (Udemy)

This comprehensive course, taught by Steve Glazer on Udemy, covers the entire songwriting process from start to finish. It’s designed for beginners and doesn’t require prior music theory knowledge or ability to read music. The course covers fundamentals of music theory, chord progressions, melody writing, and lyric writing. By the end, students will have written a complete song with chords, melodies, and lyrics. It includes over 20 downloadable PDFs and charts, providing practical tips for writing catchy melodies, transposing songs, and using popular chord progressions.

9. Songwriting: Lyric Writing (Elevate with ICMP)

This focused course from Elevate with ICMP is dedicated entirely to the art of lyric writing. Priced at £20, it aims to provide students with a deep understanding of lyrics and lyric writing techniques. The course covers various strategies like free writing and storyboarding, emphasizing the importance of compelling narratives. Students will have multiple opportunities to write to brief, enhancing their ability to write from different perspectives. It offers flexible, self-paced learning with lifetime access to all course materials.

10. Songwriting Hit Mastery: Lyric Writing, Music Theory (Udemy)

This Udemy course, taught by Melissa Peirce, focuses on professional songwriting techniques for creating great song ideas, understanding song structure, and crafting elevated lyrics and melodies. It includes over 70 video lessons, PDF exercises for each section, and insider resources for networking in the music industry. The course covers songwriting fundamentals, industry tips, and ways to make money as a songwriter. It’s designed for both beginners and experienced songwriters looking to refine their craft.

11. The Art of Songwriting (Belmont University)

Belmont University’s 12-hour asynchronous, self-paced course is taught by accomplished songwriters and industry professionals. Priced at $2,499, it covers various aspects of songwriting, including finding inspiration, applying technical aspects of songwriting, storytelling through song, and effective collaboration. The course features input from Hall of Fame songwriters and Grammy-winning artists. It’s designed for songwriters at various levels, from beginners to experienced writers seeking to refine their skills. The program aims to help students develop their unique voice and build a sustainable career in songwriting.