How to Write Your First Song

The University of Sheffield via FutureLearn

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Details

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Provider

FutureLearn
Pricing

Free Online Course (Audit)
Languages

English
Certificate

$69.00 Certificate Available
Duration & workload

6 weeks long, 3 hours a week
Sessions

A Best Course of All Time

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Overview

Ever wanted to write a song, but not known how?

This course will introduce you to the tools and techniques you need to write your first song. You’ll look at some of the fundamentals of songwriting, building your knowledge as you progress.

By the time you’re done, you’ll have gone through the process of writing your own song, working with pitch, melody, chord progressions and more.

Learn how to write a song

The art of songwriting is one that just about anyone can learn. Whether or not you’ve tried your hand at music composition in the past, this course gives you the opportunity to get creative.

As you work your way through, you’ll learn how to make a song, exploring the main steps involved in the process.

Explore the principles of songwriting

Writing songs is an enjoyable and creative way to express yourself. With this course, you’ll discover the underlying principles of song composition.

As well as looking at how to set words to a rhythm, you’ll examine what an effective melody looks like, and how to structure your piece. These techniques can help you write future songs on your own.

Create a song of your own

If you’re struggling with how to write song lyrics or what to write a song about, we’ve got you covered. Each week, using specially-commissioned lyrics, we’ll build up a song and encourage you to do the same.

World-renowned musician, Martin Simpson, will use the same words and techniques and we’ll check in with him each week for inspiration and guidance on the songwriting process.

We’ll also talk to experts in music and psychology as well as established musicians and songwriters to find out what makes a song successful.

Whether you’re a complete novice who has never written a song in their life, a budding amateur looking to develop further skills or an accomplished professional brushing up on the basics, this course will deliver comprehensive practical and theoretical knowledge to help set you on your path.

While it will be useful to have access to a musical instrument this is not a requirement, you can participate in the course just using your voice or with freely available music software.

Syllabus

What's involved in songwriting?

Welcome to the course
Getting started
Writing your song
The songwriting challenge

Words, music and time

Welcome to Week 2
The five musical elements
Setting words to music
Time and pitch
The songwriting challenge

Working with melody

Welcome to Week 3
The ingredients of melody
What makes an effective melody?
The songwriting challenge

Chords and chord progressions

Welcome to Week 4
Major and minor chords
Chord types and chord progressions
The songwriting challenge

Song forms

Welcome to Week 5
Chorus, verse, refrain
The songwriting challenge

Putting the elements together

Welcome to Week 6
Arranging your song
Final course assessment
The songwriting challenge

Taught by

Adam White

Charts

#2 in Subjects / Art & Design / Music
#1 in Subjects / Music / Songwriting

Reviews

4.8 rating, based on 165 Class Central reviews

4.7 rating at FutureLearn based on 182 ratings

Start your review of How to Write Your First Song

Anonymous

Anonymous completed this course.

I am sorry to leave a rather negative review. I stayed through the course and I am trying to put some of the advice into practice, but in the end, I didn’t find the course particularly engaging or effective. The course is heavily based on music theory,...

I am sorry to leave a rather negative review. I stayed through the course and I am trying to put some of the advice into practice, but in the end, I didn’t find the course particularly engaging or effective.

The course is heavily based on music theory, much of which is skimmed over too quickly if you are new to it. It is also based around a set of lyrics or a poem which is not tailor made for a simple introduction to song writing. Many of the contributions from song writers are rather anecdotal. Perhaps this is why there were rather few musical contributions from course participants - the dropout rate might have been quite high or perhaps people simply stopped adding comments. This lack of interaction certainly didn’t encourage me to contribute my own efforts.

I have picked up a few tips but nothing very much that was not already available on the internet. The most useful thing was the list of musical components that make up a song. The least useful thing was treating the list as a sort of recipe for song writing. Nowhere were we introduced to or made to think about the motives for writing, the audiences we might write for or the purpose of songs. In the end, the lack of context might have been the biggest weakness.
Anonymous

This course is very informative and full of practical tips and guidance, with specific step-by-step tasks to undertake, and varied lesson styles to keep the interest up. It's very inclusive, as you don't need any prior knowledge of music to take part,...

This course is very informative and full of practical tips and guidance, with specific step-by-step tasks to undertake, and varied lesson styles to keep the interest up. It's very inclusive, as you don't need any prior knowledge of music to take part, but there are some sections where you can potentially get a bit more from it if you do know a bit of theory.
There are playlists each week that cover very varied genres, so there's something to please every taste, while at the same time underlining that music is music, and that you can use the same ideas and techniques whether you are a folkie, a rocker, a classical music fan or into your world music. Tutor, Adam White, has also co-opted lots of collaborators, contributors, presenters and performers from different areas of music, who have all generously shared their tips and perspectives, and students have also supportively shared their thoughts, their difficulties and their musical creations on-line. It has felt like a proper community. I would highy recommend this course.
Anonymous

Anonymous completed this course.

Great course covering lots of ground. You don't need to be able to write or read music, though if you play an instrument it helps! The vdeos were good, not only the tutor's videos, but those from songwriters - how they go about the process of writing...

Great course covering lots of ground. You don't need to be able to write or read music, though if you play an instrument it helps! The vdeos were good, not only the tutor's videos, but those from songwriters - how they go about the process of writing songs. There are playlists each week to emphasise points covered that week. There was one week I struggled, but mostly I was okay. One thing I did find overwhelming was the technology. Most people used music software to record their song. Although I used Audacity, it was at a very basic level. I didn't have the time to get to grips with better ones. However, now I have completed the course I can look into these at my leisure. The course discusses the structure of songwriting, scansion, chord progression, writing the catchy chorus. I felt the course progressed steadily and, apart from that one week, I didn't find there was too much to deal with each week. If you've ever wanted to have a go, this is the course. If you've written before, then this will help you write a better song.
Anonymous

Anonymous completed this course.

A very high quality & enjoyable course. The tutors, presenters and guest musicians are all excellent - well-informed & engaging personalities. We were exposed to a broad range of musical styles and influences, from the weekly playlists for listening &...

A very high quality & enjoyable course. The tutors, presenters and guest musicians are all excellent - well-informed & engaging personalities. We were exposed to a broad range of musical styles and influences, from the weekly playlists for listening & discussion, and the guests musicians talking about their creative processes. There is a great deal of complex material to be taken on board (even people with some previous music experience will probably still learn a lot), but many complex musical ideas are all presented in a friendly & relaxed manner. At the same time, several of the presenters discussed their craft and sources of inspiration in a very low-key, non-technical manner (which made for a interesting contrast). I should also say that for those who wish to get deeply immersed in the course and attempt to craft their own song versions - the course can involve quite a lot of time & effort. But the commitment & effort will, I suppose, vary considerably between individual students, depending on what they wish to get out of the course.
David Parkin

David Parkin completed this course.

The course starts slowly and builds at just the right pace, the amount of work you put in is up to you but if you work on the song around the weeks topic it is probably easier, I didn’t do that and am now backtracking, revising little bits to refresh...

The course starts slowly and builds at just the right pace, the amount of work you put in is up to you but if you work on the song around the weeks topic it is probably easier, I didn’t do that and am now backtracking, revising little bits to refresh my memory.
I haven’t used the lyrics provided but worked on the theme of My Town in my own way. Perhaps a less focused poem would be better. Adam is a great communicator and the interviews with musicians were very helpful. I would have liked a bit more detail, chords etc and more weekly visits from Martin Simpson. I didn’t fully understand or find the link to hear other students songs on I cloud, perhaps this could be highlighted more.
I am still working on my song and need to look back on a couple of the weeks. I will also have a go using the poem as well in the coming weeks. Thank you for a really well structured, entertaining and inspirational course.
Pam Gould

Pam Gould completed this course.

Fabulous course. The emphasis is on music rather than lyrics. The 'lyrics' are provided by poet Matt Black, to use as you see fit. The song writing process is broken down into its basic elements with wonderful interviews with performers and video demonstrations. There are also excellent interviews with songwriters and producers, And Martin Simpson, folk singer/songwriter and stunning guitarist, writes his song along with you, laying bare his process. You'll listen to wide variety of music, and you can share your own music with fellow students.
Anonymous

Anonymous completed this course.

A really interesting course on many levels. I enjoyed the weekly selection of tracks to illustrate the focus of each week's learning, which has really enriched both my learning and how I listen to music. Having the opportunity to hear professional musicians...

A really interesting course on many levels. I enjoyed the weekly selection of tracks to illustrate the focus of each week's learning, which has really enriched both my learning and how I listen to music. Having the opportunity to hear professional musicians discuss their work was a great opportunity too, and added extra interest and motivation to get writing.

The core of the course was interesting, thought provoking, and provided a good balance between theory and practice, with discussion points from other learners often providing interesting further links to follow up.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the course and learned a great deal in relation to my main aim of developing my early song writing, I also find myself motivated to improve my playing, and am looking to learn more about music theory.
Anonymous

This course was very excellent. It really helped me out. I think it would helpful for me in the future. I always wanted to take a course and get better at it. Was born to be musical, music, and, etc. Have been playing an instrument since the age of 7. I am very talented and gifted by the Lord.
Anonymous

Anonymous completed this course.

This course has definitely de-mystified songwriting for me. It is a brilliant course, and I would recommend it to all musicians who have never written a song, as well as those those who have taken tentative steps into writing but are unsure what to make...

This course has definitely de-mystified songwriting for me. It is a brilliant course, and I would recommend it to all musicians who have never written a song, as well as those those who have taken tentative steps into writing but are unsure what to make of it all. It is clearly structured, with achievable learning outcomes and all the necessary information to start writing your own song.

Adam highlights the most important things about songwriting again and again. In addition to form, melody, rhythm, scansion and all the other musical considerations, Adam reminds us that the most important thing in music is to experiment, have fun, and keep writing. It can be so easy to forget it when thinking of all the different components that make up a song. Thank-you Adam for reminding me of this.
Anonymous

Anonymous completed this course.

It is a very well-made and generous course for those who are trying to communicate their ideas by writing songs and song lyrics. However, I found that this course is specifically made for people who don't know a lot about songwriting in general, not for...

It is a very well-made and generous course for those who are trying to communicate their ideas by writing songs and song lyrics.
However, I found that this course is specifically made for people who don't know a lot about songwriting in general, not for those searching for the right way to produce their song (an example would be those who are looking forward to learning how electronic softwares work, learning about wave shapes or reverb, etc).
But it is still an opportunity not to be missed to learn or even re-learn the basic ingredients of the songs, and the layering of different aspects of it.

I finally want to thank everybody who was involved in this course, and a huge thank you to The University of Sheffield for making this course. I will definitely be looking forward to seeing other powerful courses on FutureLearn like this one.
Anonymous

Anonymous completed this course.

This course was really well presented . It covered all the principal elements of music in a way that was clearly understandable. The staging and course layout was highly commendable. The demonstrations and activities, interviews to accompany the educational...

This course was really well presented . It covered all the principal elements of music in a way that was clearly understandable. The staging and course layout was highly commendable.

The demonstrations and activities, interviews to accompany the educational instruction really brought everything to life.
The insights into the songwriting process; how to use texts; scansion; melodic phrases; rhythmic units; scales; modes; keys; to understand the techniques used so as to find your own voice and express what you want to say were all excellent.
One thing, however, that could have been given more attention was tempo. It was mentioned but there was no clear outline or attempt to represent tempo or , I might add, expressive markings in music. This was quite a serious omission!

Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Anonymous

It's very interesting and intriguing I'd like to get more advice and I would like to start a music career because I'm passionate about music and I'm eager to start a music career because it's my passion...
Anonymous

Anonymous completed this course.

I am very greatful to Adam and the team. I have just started playing an instrument (in my retirement) and could not understand music theory.
This course has clarified the mystery of how music works. I cannot believe how much difference it has made in just six weeks.
I now understand what I am seeing and hearing when I learn or (unbelievably) compose/construct a piece. I am only allowed, by my children and grandchildren, nephews nieces, friends and neighbours to sing in private. Despite this I enjoy putting words to the chords and notes I string together, they now sound like music, whereas before they sounded like my singing.
I am so happy.
Thankyou
RK
Anonymous

This was a great course for someone who has been writing songs but without any musical background. It has enhanced my skills and given more meaning to what I am doing and would be doing in the future. Hope to get more courses that will continue to make me grow. Thank you very much!
Anonymous

Anonymous completed this course.

I found the six weeks course very enjoyable and instructive. I had already written and recorded several songs, but I had never had any instruction before. The course has provided me with a better understanding of the process of producing a good song.
I now feel more confident about writing my next song with a number of extra techniques for improving the quality of a song.
The structure of the course and the quality the presentations were of a high standard.
When I started the course I had no intention of upgrading it, but I did so.
Anonymous

this was a great course for both new learners and those who need a review . i learned a lot and found the material great
Kathleen Littlejohn

Kathleen Littlejohn completed this course.

This course has taught me a lot about writing music to go with lyrics, and it's enabled me to have fun composing melodies using free online software and sharing them online. A few people were disappointed because the title doesn't make it clear that...

This course has taught me a lot about writing music to go with lyrics, and it's enabled me to have fun composing melodies using free online software and sharing them online.

A few people were disappointed because the title doesn't make it clear that this course doesn't teach lyric-writing but, because the course team provided three versions of a poem/lyric, most of us didn't need to learn to write words in order to learn the music part. I tried all three versions, as well as my own, so I've created four melodies and received useful feedback from my fellow learners. I've also learned a few tips on writing lyrics with music in mind.

I didn't find the study group idea very useful but that might be because there were so many friendly and supportive learners writing helpful comments and replies at the bottom of most pages. It was also nice to see occasional contributions from people who'd been in the videos.

The music theory felt like heavy-going to me, because I didn't know many relevant technical words before the course. However, because I've kept full notes. I plan to apply the theory to my practise and improve my knowledge of the terms, alongside my melodies.
Anonymous

Anonymous completed this course.

An excellent course which I've very much enjoyed. Wrote a song though didn't share it as I just can't sing! I've been a sax player for some years and love improvising but have found traditional chordal theory too overwhelming for my brain so do it instinctively....

An excellent course which I've very much enjoyed. Wrote a song though didn't share it as I just can't sing! I've been a sax player for some years and love improvising but have found traditional chordal theory too overwhelming for my brain so do it instinctively. But I must admit the section of this course on chord progressions really helped me. Not only with playing the sax but with enriching the songs that I write. I've always been aware of their simplistic chord progressions but never really known how to correct that. I wrote a song called Their Town right at the beginning of the course and as the weeks have gone on it's become enriched with chord progressions that I'm really proud of. So thanks Adam and everyone. I look forward to developing my skills further. In particular have bought a book called Chord Progressions: Theory and Practice by Dan Fox and Dick Weissman and chord sequences are now really beginning to make sense!
Anonymous

This was such a great course for learning how to song write and to develop my skills and deepen my understanding in music. Learning to clean up my songs and give them proper shape it has helped my songwriting considerably. I highly recommend this course for all levels of study as even the basics can be just as important to study again and giving you a different perspective for your music writing. Thank you for developing such a beneficial course!
Anonymous

Anonymous completed this course.

I highly and heartily recommend How To Write Your First Song from the University of Sheffield on FutureLearn, whatever your musical ability. Your skills are sure to grow over the 6 weeks that encompass this course. A creative activity does wonders to...

I highly and heartily recommend How To Write Your First Song from the University of Sheffield on FutureLearn, whatever your musical ability. Your skills are sure to grow over the 6 weeks that encompass this course.

A creative activity does wonders to your health and mental wellbeing. This is felt almost immediately upon starting the course.

The atmosphere is relaxed and encouraging.

You will always find things to learn. The quality and diversity of musical aspects that are discussed both at a basic level and in depth are immense . There's always something to pick and explore.

On a personal level, I massively improved my piano playing and finally unlocked the mystery of chords and harmonisation - an essential if you're interested in composing. There's plenty of other things that are covered in this course.

By trying, listening to others, finding what it is that you like to do, this course will help you find your voice and I can't think of anything more life-affirming than that.

In the end, some of us even considered travelling to Sheffield to follow more music courses there! It is that inspiring. A big thanks to Adam White who designed and presented this course, and to all the team that contributed and made it possible.

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How to Write Your First Song

Overview

Ever wanted to write a song, but not known how?

Learn how to write a song

Explore the principles of songwriting

Create a song of your own

Syllabus

Taught by

Charts

Tags

Reviews

Online Learning Deals: Coursera, edX, Codecademy, and more!

Ever wanted to write a song, but not known how?

Learn how to write a song

Explore the principles of songwriting

Create a song of your own

Taught by

Charts

Tags

Songwriting Basics

Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics

How to write Chord Progressions & Melodies

Songwriting: Writing the Music

Developing Your Musicianship

Music Theory for Electronic Musicians 2: Minor Keys and More

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