How to Write Songs on Guitar: Simple Music Theory from Udemy

Unlock Your Songwriting Potential: Master Chord Progressions & Music Theory

Want to write songs that sound as good as your fav Artists?

You’ve probably heard incredible riffs and chord progressions and wondered: How do they do it? Well, the secret is simpler than you think. Understanding the basics of music theory can take your songwriting to the next level — and I’m here to help you unlock that creativity.

What You'll Learn in This Course

In this course, you’ll get clear, step-by-step lessons on how to craft dynamic and professional-sounding chord progressions. Whether you're starting with the basics or looking to refine your skills, I’ll teach you how to:

Create memorable chord progressions using major and minor scales
Write songs in any key, picking chords with ease
Master classic progressions like 1-4-5, 2-5-1, 1-5-6-4 etc
Explore exciting minor progressions to expand your musical vocabulary
Learn all the theory to create chord scales from scratch and use the interval system
Decipher scales and modes

Plus, you’ll get jam tracks et speeds, so you can practice and progress at your own pace.

Why This Course Works for You

HD, Twin Camera Angles: Get close-up shots for easy following along, so you’ll never miss a detail.
On-Screen Graphics & Visual Aids: Theory explained in a relatable, step-by-step manner with visual support.
Jam Tracks at multiple Speeds: Practice at the pace that works best for you, with tracks in 2 different keys and 3 speeds.
Open Position & Barre Chords: Learn both, regardless of where you’re starting from.
Printable PDFs & Resources: Download resources for additional learning and practice.

These lessons are designed by a real, time-served guitar teacher who’s passionate about helping you succeed. And trust me, I’ve been where you are — feeling stuck, unsure, and wanting to break through. This course is the key to unlocking your true songwriting potential.

Ready to Take Your Songwriting to the Next Level?

If you’re ready to start writing songs that stand out, click the link below to join the course. Let’s get started on mastering the chord progressions and music theory that will transform your songwriting journey.

Start your course today.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learning to find all the chords in a given key on guitar
Understanding how to apply those chords to songwriting

Applying chords progressions to real music and backing tracks
Creating your own music and songs

Learning to find all the chords in a given key on guitar
Understanding how to apply those chords to songwriting
Applying chords progressions to real music and backing tracks
Creating your own music and songs

Syllabus

Introduction

Introduction to the course

Here we learn all our notes along the fretboard, the interval system and how it applies to chords and scales. We extract the Major Scale and learn to make Major and Minor Triads.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches how to craft chord progressions, which is a core skill for songwriting and composing music, and helps learners create original songs and compositions

Explores major and minor scales, which are fundamental concepts in music theory and are essential for understanding harmony and creating melodies

Examines classic progressions like 1-4-5, 2-5-1, and 1-5-6-4, which are widely used in popular music and provide a solid foundation for creating catchy and familiar-sounding songs

Includes jam tracks at multiple speeds, which allows learners to practice and internalize the concepts at their own pace, reinforcing their understanding and improving their playing skills

Requires learners to know notes along the fretboard, the interval system, and how it applies to chords and scales, which may require additional study for complete beginners

Focuses on barre chords, which may be challenging for beginners who are not yet comfortable with basic open chords and may require additional practice and finger strength

Reviews summary

Simple music theory for guitar songwriting

According to learners, this course provides a straightforward introduction to music theory specifically for guitarists wanting to write songs. The curriculum covers essential concepts like scales, chords, and progressions in a way that aims to be clear and accessible for beginners in theory. Students appreciate the focus on practical application to creating music and the inclusion of jam tracks and printable resources that aid practice. While effective for learning the fundamentals needed for basic songwriting, it focuses strictly on simple theory and may not cover advanced topics for more experienced musicians.

Excellent basics, but limited to fundamental concepts.

"This course is perfect if you want to learn the basic theory needed for simple songwriting."

"It covers the essentials really well, but don't expect coverage of advanced theory topics."

"It gives a solid foundation, but I might need another course for more complex musical ideas."

Supplemental materials aid understanding and practice.

"The jam tracks provided at different speeds are great for practicing the progressions taught."

"Having the PDFs to download and review is really useful for reinforcing the concepts."

"The multiple camera angles in the videos make it easy to follow along on the guitar."

Explains fundamental theory concepts simply.

"This course broke down music theory in a way I could finally understand on guitar for songwriting."

"The explanations of how scales relate to chords and triads made perfect sense to me as a beginner."

"It seems designed to make complex music theory ideas simple for guitar players starting out."

Applies theory directly to writing songs.

"I like how the course immediately applies theory concepts to creating chord progressions."

"Using the jam tracks helped me practice writing songs with the new theory knowledge."

"This isn't just abstract theory; it's focused on using theory as a tool to make music."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to Write Songs on Guitar: Simple Music Theory with these activities:

Review Basic Music Theory

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of fundamental music theory concepts like scales, intervals, and chord construction, which are essential for grasping the course material.

Browse courses on Music Theory

Show steps

Review definitions of scales, intervals, and chords.
Practice identifying intervals on the guitar fretboard.
Construct major and minor scales in different keys.

Read 'Guitar Theory For Dummies'

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of music theory as it applies specifically to the guitar, enhancing your ability to write songs on the instrument.

View Guitar Theory For Dummies with Online Practice... on Amazon

Show steps

Read chapters on scales, chords, and modes on the guitar.
Practice the exercises provided in the book.

Read 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory, 2nd Edition'

Show steps

Supplement your understanding of music theory with a comprehensive guide that covers essential concepts in a clear and accessible way.

View The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory, 2nd... on Amazon

Show steps

Read chapters on scales, chords, and key signatures.
Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Chord Progression Exercises

Show steps

Solidify your ability to recognize and play common chord progressions in different keys, improving your songwriting skills.

Show steps

Practice playing 1-4-5 progressions in C, G, and D major.
Experiment with minor chord progressions like i-vi-III-VII.
Transcribe chord progressions from your favorite songs.

Create a Chord Progression Cheat Sheet

Show steps

Compile a cheat sheet of common chord progressions in different keys to serve as a quick reference guide during songwriting sessions.

Show steps

List common chord progressions in major and minor keys.
Include Roman numeral analysis for each progression.
Organize the cheat sheet for easy reference.

Write a Song Using Course Concepts

Show steps

Apply the music theory and chord progression knowledge gained in the course to create an original song, solidifying your understanding and fostering creativity.

Show steps

Choose a key and create a chord progression.
Write lyrics that complement the chord progression.
Record a demo of your song.

Explore Advanced Chord Voicings

Show steps

Expand your chord vocabulary by learning advanced voicings and inversions, adding depth and complexity to your songwriting.

Show steps

Search for tutorials on advanced chord voicings.
Practice playing different inversions of common chords.
Incorporate new voicings into your songwriting.

Career center

Learners who complete How to Write Songs on Guitar: Simple Music Theory will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Songwriter

The role of a songwriter involves composing original songs, including lyrics and melodies. A strong grasp of music theory and chord progressions is invaluable for a songwriter. This course focuses on mastering chord progressions and music theory, which serves as the backbone of effective songwriting. It teaches you to create memorable chord progressions using major and minor scales. A songwriter needs to learn all the theory to create chord scales from scratch and use the interval system. The course further helps develop creative ideas and translate them into compelling musical pieces. This course directly helps songwriters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Songwriter

Composer

A composer creates original musical works, often for film, television, or video games. A composer benefits immensely from a strong foundation in music theory and chord progressions. This course provides the theory to create chord scales from scratch and use the interval system. It teaches how to create memorable chord progressions using major and minor scales, which form the basis of compositions. Understanding how to apply those chords to songwriting is a crucial skill for a composer. This course equips composeres with the knowledge and tools to craft intricate and compelling musical scores.

See salaries and explore the career path for Composer

Music Teacher

A music teacher instructs students in music theory, instrumental skills, and musical performance. For a music teacher, a deep understanding of music theory and chord progressions is crucial for effective instruction and curriculum development. This course provides clear, step-by-step lessons on how to craft dynamic and professional-sounding chord progressions. It emphasizes understanding how to apply those chords to songwriting. The course enhances the ability to articulate musical concepts and guide students in their musical journey. This course is invaluable for a music teacher.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Teacher

Music Producer

A music producer oversees and manages the recording and production of a song or album. Music producers benefit from a thorough understanding of music theory and chord progressions. This course helps you master chord progressions and music theory that will transform your songwriting journey. This course helps music producers learn to decipher scales and modes. This course helps build a foundational knowledge of scales and chord structures. A music producer will benefit from the skills from this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Producer

Guitarist

A guitarist crafts musical pieces, often performing live or in studio settings. For a guitarist, understanding the fundamentals of music theory and chord progressions is essential to becoming a highly proficient player. This course helps build a strong foundation in these areas, specifically showing learners how to apply chords progressions to real music and backing tracks. It teaches how to create chord progressions using major and minor scales. A guitarist needs to easily write songs in any key, picking chords with ease. This course may be useful to explore minor progressions to expand one's musical vocabulary. The course further enhances one's appreciation for the instrument and opens opportunities for musical expression. This course would enhance a guitarist's understanding.

See salaries and explore the career path for Guitarist

Studio Musician

Studio musicians are session players for recording sessions and live performances, requiring versatility across genres. Studio musician roles benefit from understanding music theory and chord progressions. This course may be useful in learning how to apply chords progressions to real music and backing tracks. A well versed studio musician may wish to explore exciting minor progressions to expand their musical vocabulary. The course is well suited for studio musicians.

See salaries and explore the career path for Studio Musician

Arranger

An arranger adapts existing musical pieces for different instruments or ensembles. A solid understanding of music theory and chord progressions is vital for an arranger. This course focuses on learning to find all the chords in a given key on guitar. The course may also be useful to learn to decipher scales and modes. Arrangers need to understand the underlying harmonic structure of a song and how to effectively translate it for various instrumentations. This course helps arrangers refine their skills in harmonic analysis and creative adaptation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Arranger

Music Director

A music director oversees the musical aspects of a theatrical production or musical organization. Music directors typically require a deep understanding of music theory and chord progressions. This course emphasizes understanding how to apply those chords to songwriting. A music director may also wish to learn how to create memorable chord progressions using major and minor scales. The course will be an asset for those in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Director

Band Leader

A band leader manages and directs a musical ensemble, coordinating performances and rehearsals. For a band leader, a strong grasp of music theory and chord progressions is helpful for arranging music and guiding the band. This course teaches learners how to craft dynamic and professional-sounding chord progressions. This course explores exciting minor progressions to expand musical vocabulary. The course equips band leaders with musical knowledge and creative insight.

See salaries and explore the career path for Band Leader

Music Critic

A music critic reviews and analyzes musical performances and recordings for publication. Music critics benefit from some amount of music theory and history knowledge. This course helps by applying chords progressions to real music and backing tracks. Additionally, it teaches about the interval system. This course is informative for music critics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Critic

A disc jockey selects and plays music for an audience, often blending and mixing tracks together. While not always necessary, a DJ may benefit from understanding music theory and chord progressions. Using the guitar to learn music theory can help a DJ expand their technical knowledge. This course may be useful to learn how to apply chords progressions to real music and backing tracks. The course could be a source of insight for DJs.

See salaries and explore the career path for DJ

Audio Engineer

An audio engineer works with the technical aspects of sound, including recording, mixing, and mastering. While sound engineers don't always need to know music theory, it is beneficial to do so. This course teaches learners how to craft dynamic and professional-sounding chord progressions. This course may provide insight into the musical process. This course is beneficial.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Engineer

Acoustic Consultant

An acoustic consultant advises on sound and noise control in buildings and environments. Although not strictly necessary, knowledge of music theory may be helpful for an acoustic consultant. This course may be useful to learn how to apply chords progressions to real music and backing tracks. The course may inform this consultant's perspective.

See salaries and explore the career path for Acoustic Consultant

Music Instrument Repair Technician

A music instrument repair technician fixes and maintains musical instruments, requiring knowledge of instrument construction and function. This role does not require knowledge of music theory. However, this course may be useful to learn how to apply chords progressions to real music and backing tracks. The course may inform this technician's perspective.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Instrument Repair Technician

Arts Administrator

An arts administrator manages the business and operational aspects of arts organizations. This role does not require knowledge of music theory. However, this course may be useful to learn how to apply chords progressions to real music and backing tracks. The course may inform one's perspective of the music industry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Arts Administrator

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How to Write Songs on Guitar: Simple Music Theory.

Guitar Theory For Dummies with Online Practice

Save

Is specifically tailored for guitarists and covers music theory concepts relevant to the instrument. It explains how to apply theory to the guitar fretboard and provides practical exercises. It is particularly useful for students who want to understand how music theory relates to their instrument. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.

Guitar Theory For Dummies with Online Practice (For...

Paperback

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of music theory concepts, making it a valuable resource for beginners. It covers topics such as scales, chords, and harmony in an accessible manner. It is particularly helpful for students who need a more detailed explanation of the fundamentals. This book can be used as a reference text throughout the course.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory, 2nd...

Paperback

The Complete Idiot's Mini Guide to Music Theory...

Kindle Edition

How to Write Songs on Guitar

Simple Music Theory

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Simple music theory for guitar songwriting

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses