11 Best Songwriting Courses

Songwriting is an art form that allows musicians and lyricists to express their deepest emotions, tell captivating stories, and create melodies that resonate with audiences worldwide. Whether you’re an aspiring singer-songwriter looking to pen your first hit or an experienced artist seeking to refine your craft, taking a songwriting course can provide invaluable training and feedback to elevate your skills.

From free online programs to comprehensive university-level offerings, there is a wide array of courses available to suit any budget, schedule, and experience level. Some focus solely on lyric writing techniques like developing vivid imagery and mastering rhyme schemes, while others cover the full creative process – from generating melodic hooks to arranging and producing a polished studio recording.

The best songwriting courses are taught by industry professionals and hit songwriters who have experienced real success. They provide practical strategies for overcoming writer’s block, understanding the mechanics of song structure, and crafting lyrics that seamlessly combine with a memorable melody. Many also include opportunities for feedback and collaboration with peers.

In this article, we’ll explore 10 of the top-rated songwriting courses.

1. Lyrics Writing Course by Jacob Carter

The Lyrics Writing Course is a comprehensive online program taught by lyricist Jacob Carter to help people improve their songwriting abilities. Through six modules of HD video lessons, printable resources, and hands-on exercises, students will gain valuable skills in areas like:

  • Finding inspiration and developing your unique lyrical voice
  • Understanding song structure, rhyme schemes, and melody-lyric connection
  • Crafting vivid lyrics using literary devices like imagery and metaphor
  • Analyzing different musical genres and their lyrical conventions
  • Collaborating effectively with co-writers

The course is designed for beginner to intermediate songwriters looking to elevate their lyric writing talents. It covers the full creative process from generating initial ideas to polishing final drafts that connect with audiences.

The modules provide in-depth training on topics like creative writing methods, traditional and modern song structures, developing lyrical depth through storytelling techniques, and understanding genre styles and themes.

Whether you’re a total beginner or experienced songwriter, the Lyrics Writing Course aims to give you the tools to consistently write compelling, emotionally resonant lyrics that take your songs to new heights.

You can check out his free guide on lyrics writing before joining his course. 

2. The Art of Songwriting – The Open University (FutureLearn)

This free 6-week online course from FutureLearn and The Open University provides a practical introduction to the mechanics of songwriting. You’ll explore the fundamental elements like melody, rhythm, harmony, and the relationship between lyrics and music. The course features insights from established songwriters and musicians such as Martin Simpson, Tom Ravenscroft, and members of bands like Cradle of Filth and Reverend and the Makers. A unique aspect is that you’ll use specially commissioned lyrics to build a full song over the 6 weeks, learning how to set words to rhythm, write melodies, add chords, and structure your ideas. 

3. Writing Song Lyrics: Create and Combine with Melody – City Lit

This 6-week evening course from City Lit in London is ideal for songwriters and instrumentalists looking to improve their lyric writing skills. You’ll learn techniques for generating original lyrics and imagery, understanding song structure and form, using rhyme schemes effectively, and combining your lyrics with a melodic line. The course emphasizes practical work, collaboration, and getting feedback on your songwriting assignments each week. By the end, you’ll have completed at least one full song. 

4. Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics – Berklee Online (Coursera)

Offered by Berklee College of Music through Coursera, this beginner-friendly course teaches an efficient process for writing lyrics that express your ideas and emotions. Instructor Pat Pattison covers essential concepts like prosody, rhyme schemes, melody and lyric rhythm, and storytelling through lyrics. The course activities have you posting work for peer feedback each week, culminating in a complete written song by the end. With its practical approach and focus on the lyrics-melody connection, this is a great option for aspiring songwriters. 

5. Songwriting: Lyric Writing – Elevate with ICMP

This online course from the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) is fully dedicated to lyric writing techniques. Over 15 lessons, you’ll analyze influential lyrics, learn to use rhyme schemes and literary devices effectively, and develop skills in areas like storytelling and writing to brief. The course is led by industry experts and allows you to learn at your own pace, with lifetime access to the materials. It complements ICMP’s other songwriting courses on topics like the basics and the creative process. 

6. Commercial Songwriting Techniques – Berklee Online

Taught by hit songwriter Andrea Stolpe, this 12-week course from Berklee Online focuses on writing commercial songs that connect with audiences. You’ll learn Stolpe’s 10-step process for creating memorable melodies and lyrics with time-tested traits of successful songs. Techniques covered include “toggling” between detail and broader perspective, “destination writing” using the senses, and streamlining your writing process. By the end, you’ll have three fully written and arranged songs ready for the studio. 

7. How to Write Lyrics – The Song Foundry

This comprehensive online course from The Song Foundry covers all the essential skills for writing great song lyrics in any genre. Over 5.5 hours of video modules and a 32-page course pack, you’ll learn key topics like using rhyme schemes effectively, creating a lyrical hook, structuring your lyrics, writing singable melodies, and mastering prosody (fitting lyrics seamlessly to a melody). Real song examples illustrate the techniques, and you get practical strategies for developing ideas, rewriting drafts, and avoiding writer’s block. The course is ideal for beginners but also valuable for more experienced writers looking to refine their skills.

8. Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies – Berklee Online

Taught by renowned Berklee professor Pat Pattison, this 12-week online course helps you generate better lyrical ideas and structure compelling verses, choruses and bridges. You’ll learn Pattison’s methods for finding vivid words, creating rhythms with language, crafting interesting rhymes, and building effective contrast between sections. The course covers key concepts like prosody, rhyme schemes, and storytelling through lyrics. With its practical approach emphasizing the writing process, this is a great option for aspiring songwriters of all levels to improve their lyric writing abilities.

9. The Singer Songwriter – Berklee Online (Coursera)

This 4-course Specialization from Berklee Online covers the full process of writing, performing and recording your own original songs. You’ll start by learning guitar basics to accompany yourself, then study vocal techniques for your preferred style. The “Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics” course teaches an efficient process for expressing ideas and emotions lyrically. Finally, you’ll use Ableton Live to produce studio-quality recordings, editing MIDI and audio. With expert video instruction and hands-on projects, this comprehensive program equips you with a complete singer-songwriter skillset.

10. Songwriting Simplified: Music Theory, Melody & Creativity – Udemy

This beginner-friendly Udemy course takes you step-by-step through the full songwriting process, from music theory fundamentals to writing melodies, lyrics, and chord progressions. You’ll learn the same techniques used by hit songwriters across genres like pop, rock and country. The course covers choosing the right chords for your story, generating catchy melodic hooks, structuring your song effectively, and producing basic recordings. With over 20 downloadable resources and practical exercises, it’s a great way for novices to start writing their own complete songs.

11. The Lyric Writer’s Workroom – Songcraft

The Lyric Writer’s Workroom is a self-paced online course from Songcraft that focuses solely on lyric writing skills. Through video lessons, writing prompts and case studies, you’ll learn techniques for generating ideas, developing metaphors and imagery, structuring lyrics effectively, and revising drafts. The course covers key concepts like prosody, rhyme schemes, point of view, and storytelling. You also get personalized feedback from an instructor on your lyric assignments. It’s a valuable resource for digging deeper into the lyric writing craft.

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