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This list is for anyone who wants to play, sing or make music: complete beginners on piano or guitar, people who want to understand theory, singers, and bedroom producers and DJs. Our music category lists 549 courses and our guitar category 200 more. These ten are the ones we would pick for each instrument and each goal. They have more than 181,000 student reviews between them and are rated 4.4 to 4.9; nine were updated in 2025 or 2026, and Read Music FAST! was last updated in May 2022.
Every rating, review count, length and last-update date on this page comes from our catalogue and is refreshed with it. The pros and cons are written by CourseDuck’s editors from the course syllabus and a sample of the written student reviews, and checked against both; no course pays to be on this list. Udemy prices move with its sales, so treat the price on each card as the current one, not a fixed one. You need your own instrument or software for most of these: a keyboard or piano, a guitar, or a copy of Logic Pro, Ableton Live or FL Studio, and DJ gear for the DJ course.
How to pick
- You want to play piano: Pianoforall, and Read Music FAST! if you want to read sheet music quickly.
- You are new to guitar: Ultimate Beginner Guitar Masterclass for a gentle start, or Complete Guitar Lessons System for the long road to advanced.
- You want to understand music theory: Music Theory Comprehensive Complete!
- You want to sing better: SINGING SIMPLIFIED #1.
- You produce on a Mac: Music Production in Logic Pro.
- You produce in Ableton or FL Studio: the Ableton Live 11 course or the FL Studio Complete Course.
- You want to DJ: The Complete DJ Course For Beginners.
Piano and reading music
1. Pianoforall - Incredible New Way To Learn Piano & Keyboard
Robin Hall’s Pianoforall is the most-reviewed music course in our catalogue: about 53,100 reviews at 4.7 and more than 426,000 students. It teaches chords and rhythm first, so you play something that sounds like a song in the first section, then adds blues, ballads, jazz, improvisation and reading music, in about 38.3 hours over 426 lectures with a PDF for every video and an ebook for each of the ten sections. It was updated in February 2026. Reviewers like the colour-coded keys. Reading music is woven in rather than taught as its own track, and some non-native English speakers lose the thread.
Pros
- Chords and rhythm come first, so students play something that sounds like a song within the first section
- Every video has a matching PDF to print, plus a full ebook at the end of each of the 10 sections
- Reviewers call the teaching clear and concise, with colour coded keys that make hand movements easy to copy
- Still updated in February 2026, with 24 caption languages and a 4.7 rating from about 53,000 reviews
Cons
- Non-native English speakers say they lose the thread in some videos and want more subtitle languages
- Reading music is taught alongside play by ear rather than as its own track; one reviewer has theory reservations
- 38 hours and 426 lectures is a lot to get through for a method that promises weeks, not years
What students say
Lucas Rodriguez Capponiit starts off strong, then really deflates, by the end its extremely generic and boring. Learning scales through songs would be mor fun. Its a begginers course meant for you to get to a medium level- its extremely fun and motivating tho
Gurmaan SinghI am complete beginner and i dont know a single thing about music. I just watch couple of videos in some i understand and other i dont know whats going on. Maybe my english is not good to understand what he is saying but still its good.
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
2. Read Music FAST!
Benedict Westenra, a London piano coach, replaces the old mnemonics with a visual method for naming and playing any note on a piano score, in about 1.4 hours over 32 lectures, with practice tests on an on-screen keyboard, so you do not need a piano to start. It is rated 4.9 from about 8,000 reviews, the highest rating in this guide. Reviewers say they were reading notes within a day. It covers note names only, not rhythm or key signatures, and it was last updated in May 2022.
Pros
- Visual method has students naming and playing notes in about a day, per reviewers
- No piano required, the practice tests run on an on-screen keyboard
- Instructor’s clear teaching style gets praised repeatedly in reviews
- 4.9 average across 8,020 reviews with a Bestseller badge
Cons
- Only 1.4 hours long and limited to note names, not rhythm or key signatures
- Not built for players who already sight read and want to advance further
- Course content has not been refreshed since 2022
What students say
Luis ChardonI wish someone had explained the relations between the notes and the keys when I started reading music. Definitely easier to "see" the correlation with this method. I learned to read music sheet a long time ago and haven't done so in years and this was a good refresher and different approach that I will definitely put to use.
Nathi TappanThis was incredible! Looked to simple and I dare say silly in the beginning, but if you stick to it it will be so worth it! His method improves on the landmark system and the exercises are the cherry on top of this course. Being able to practice like that, and even connect my piano to it to make real muscle memory? Amazing. Totally recommeded.
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
Guitar
3. Ultimate Beginner Guitar Masterclass
Henry Olsen’s course is the friendly zero-to-strumming option: choosing and tuning a guitar, open chords, strumming, a beginner blues section and nearly five hours of song tutorials, in about 15 hours over 135 lectures, with a 42-page picture chord book. It has about 8,100 reviews at 4.7 and was updated in April 2026. Reviewers call him clear and relaxed about mistakes. Some strumming handouts do not match the videos, a few parts look repurposed from YouTube, and barre chords get a single lecture.
Pros
- A 42 page picture chord book and PDF handouts come with the course; one reviewer printed the book and calls it great
- Nearly five hours of song tutorials, so the chords get used on real songs early on
- Reviewers call Olsen clear and relaxed about mistakes; one has watched the course three times and keeps coming back
- Refreshed in April 2026 and still collecting recent five star reviews
Cons
- Some strumming handouts reportedly don’t match the video, and a few lessons are talk over practice
- Bits look repurposed from YouTube, with subscribe prompts and a gig vlog that add little
- Barre chords get a single 12 minute lecture, so the path past open chords is thin
What students say
Andrea MenziesHenry Olsen is a great teacher. I have had bad guitar teachers in the past tell me females have hands too small to play guitar. They made learning stressful and overwhelming. Olsen is very open and not overwhelming with clear and good information. I have downloaded and printed the free book and it is great. Also he has links to a YouTube class online, and students can continue the online classes...
Bridget PollockSome of section 11 was really difficult and for the most part there weren't any TABS to look at. I guess you can get them if you purchase Henry's full course on his website. I don't think playing like Jimi Hendrix was meant to be in a beginner course. It was quite interesting though. BUT this course actually taught me a lot and helped catapult my guitar playing pass just basic beginner. Henry's...
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
4. Complete Guitar Lessons System - Beginner to Advanced
Erich Andreas, who has taught guitar for more than 40 years, runs the long version: first chords through theory, fingerpicking, slide, blues and modes, in about 40.1 hours over 340 lectures with PDFs on the lectures. It has about 46,700 reviews at 4.5 and more than 329,000 students, and was updated in July 2025. Beginners and returning players say the slow, careful explanations build a real foundation. Low-star reviewers say the videos are talk-heavy, and some advanced modules are short.
Pros
- Nearly 47,000 reviews at 4.5 stars, with five-star ratings making up nearly 60 percent of the total
- Covers far more ground than typical beginner courses: theory, fingerpicking, slide, blues and modes
- Slow, careful explanations that beginners and returning intermediates say build a real foundation
- Updated in July 2025, with PDF attachments on the lectures
Cons
- Videos are talk-heavy; low-star reviews say a 20-second point can become a 10-minute lecture
- Structure feels like a loose reference in places, and some advanced modules run under ten minutes
- Wide camera angle makes the fingerpicking lessons hard to follow, according to one reviewer
What students say
Jawahar KaushalSo far, so good and I can see I did not make any mistake while buying the course. Erich teaches every aspect in a slow, meaningful and very descriptive way.
Ahmed Abdullah Wasl Al-arwaiI bought my electric guitar yestarday and i search for this course, from the content that course has i am sure i'll understand everything about the guiter and become easy learner.
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
Music theory and singing
5. Music Theory Comprehensive Complete! (Parts 1, 2, & 3)
J. Anthony Allen, a composer and teacher with a doctorate, packs three levels of a college theory curriculum into about 12.3 hours over 156 lectures, from the notes on the staff to Roman numeral analysis of Bach and Pachelbel, with 28 downloadable worksheets and answers. It has about 23,800 reviews at 4.7 and was updated in December 2025. Reviewers find him clear and not boring. Some find his style scattered, the videos show an older version of MuseScore, and there are no quizzes, so practice is up to you.
Pros
- Starts from the dots on the staff and builds to Roman numeral analysis of Bach and Pachelbel
- 28 downloadable worksheets with answers; a music teacher reviewing the course singles them out
- Reviewers say Allen is pleasant to listen to, clear, and gives examples that make sense
- Updated December 2025, with 156 lectures split into 31 sections
Cons
- A few reviewers find his style scattered, with filler words and tangents
- Videos show MuseScore 3, which is out of date; a student on version 4 says it caused some confusion
- No quizzes or graded assignments, so practice depends on doing the worksheets yourself
What students say
Keith OlenickI've fount it well paced and well organized. The clear titles and progression of topics will make it easy to skip to the point you want to if you are familiar with the earlier topics, or to skip to any that you need to brush up on.
Sarah PolitteClear explanations and easy to understand! This course teaches music theory quickly and comprehensively! The only thing is that I wish there were a few more practice/worksheets, but that's just how I learn, otherwise, I'm very excited to learn more in the second half!
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
6. SINGING SIMPLIFIED #1: The Fast-Track to Singing Like a Pro
Steve Glazer’s course is an eight-week daily routine for pop, rock and country singers: short lessons from breathing and tone up to higher notes and control, with downloadable exercises, a 26-page workbook and a vocal assessment, in about 3.1 hours over 57 lectures. It has about 6,100 reviews at 4.7 and was updated in September 2026. Reviewers call him encouraging, and one got detailed feedback on a submitted exercise. It is mostly warm-ups and scales rather than singing songs, and it is not for classical or opera singers.
Pros
- Short daily lessons build from breathing and tone to higher notes and vocal control
- Downloadable exercises, a 26 page workbook and a vocal assessment come with it
- Glazer is described as friendly and encouraging, with detailed feedback on a submitted exercise
- Reviewers say each lesson builds on the last at a pace that is not overwhelming
Cons
- Mostly warm-ups, scales and breathing; one reviewer found no real singing practice
- No guidance on singing actual songs, which one student specifically wished for
- Only about 3 hours of video, and not meant for classical or opera singers
What students say
Shivansh YadavOne of the MOST well-organised and properly explained courses in here. Anyone new to singing should start here and strictly follow the order and exercises in the course. Worth it.
Immanuel ShoikutiI love it, Steve is amazing and responded to my singing exercise with a very detailed analysis and coaching. I am very grateful Steve, I am improving in ways I didn't know before.
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
Music production and DJing
7. Music Production in Logic Pro - The Complete Course!
Tomas George’s Logic Pro course is the full reference: recording, editing, the stock synths and samplers, mixing, mastering and the newer Session Players, ChromaGlow and Mastering Assistant, in about 53.1 hours over 495 lectures. It has about 15,000 reviews at 4.7 and was updated in August 2026. Reviewers call the lessons clear, each building on the last. Some older sections still show an earlier Logic, the early pace and MIDI keyboard advice catch some beginners out, and Logic Pro runs only on a Mac.
Pros
- Updated August 2026, with sections on Session Players, Chord Track, ChromaGlow and the Mastering Assistant
- Reviewers repeatedly call the lessons clear and easy to follow, with each one building on the last
- Deep coverage of the stock synths: Alchemy, Sculpture, Retro Synth, ES2, Sampler and Quick Sampler
- A section on free third-party plugins and one on podcast mixing
Cons
- Some older sections still show an earlier version of Logic, and one reviewer says the video quality drops there
- The early pace and the MIDI keyboard recommendation catch some beginners, especially guitarists, off guard
- Mac only, and at 53 hours it is a reference to work through slowly rather than a quick start
What students say
Burnell Yow!I appreciate that the videos are short so that If I start to feel overwhelmed I can come back after a break and continue the learning process at my own pace. The lecturer’s voice is also quite easy to listen to.
GuyI have learned a lot, thanx! it would be great if you gave some panning advises and ideas for placing the different instruments and vocal in the mix (middle, left, right and so on..) a whole full lesson about it would be great.
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
8. Ableton Live 11 - Music Production in Ableton Live
Tomas George also teaches the Ableton Live 11 course: recording, editing, mixing, the built-in instruments such as Drift, Simpler, Tension and Collision, music theory and songwriting inside Ableton and a section on Max for Live, in about 21.6 hours over 210 lectures. It has about 6,300 reviews at 4.7 and was updated in August 2026. Reviewers say the slow pace suits beginners. There are no PDFs or notes, one reviewer found the order jumpy, and some features and sections need the Suite edition.
Pros
- Slow, clear pacing that reviewers say is easy to follow as a beginner
- Walks through built-in instruments like Drift, Simpler, Tension and Collision
- Music theory and songwriting sections built right into Ableton
- Updated in August 2026, with 4.7 stars across 6,348 reviews
Cons
- No PDFs or reference notes, so finding something again means rewatching
- One reviewer found the order jumpy, with repeated or conflicting videos
- Many sections need Suite, and the Max for Live part has few resources
What students say
Nick ChestertonThis course has been an amazing help. Everyday life is busy, but I wake up a couple of hours early each morning to watch these videos before launching into the rest of life, and I wind up feeling more refreshed than if I'd just had some extra sleep. Thank you for helping me explore music. It makes a big difference to me. 🙂
Andrew RaineI was really pleased with this course and learned a lot. I've watched a few of Tomas's YouTube videos beforehand, so I already had a little knowledge of Ableton, but this filled a lot of gaps, and having a structured course to follow was really beneficial. Now to put my newly gained knowledge to good use and practice, practice, practice!
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
9. FL Studio Complete Course - Music Production for Mac & PC
Martin Raay’s FL Studio course, for Mac and PC, teaches the Channel Rack, Mixer and Playlist and then builds two full house tracks from start to finish, with nearly nine hours of studio sessions and workflow tips, in about 30.6 hours over 230 lectures. It has about 8,500 reviews at 4.4 and was updated in May 2026. Reviewers say the short lessons made FL Studio click. The headline promises six songs but a reviewer counted two, vocals are not covered, and the examples are all EDM.
Pros
- Short, focused lessons; one reviewer says the Channel Rack, Mixer and Playlist finally made sense
- Workflow tips such as project backups, cleaner sessions, mono tracks and key commands
- Two long start-to-finish house tracks plus nearly nine hours of studio sessions
- Refreshed in May 2026, with bonus sections on the Sylenth synth and music theory
Cons
- Headline promises six songs, but a reviewer says only two tracks are built
- A reviewer says vocals are never covered, and the two example tracks are EDM
- Some reviewers say buttons get skipped and files are hard to find, with little instructor reply
What students say
Brian HPicked up the FL Studio Complete Course to finally stop “clicking around and hoping,” and it delivered. The early lessons on the interface and routing made the whole DAW feel way less chaotic, and I loved how the instructor kept everything practical instead of theory-only.
Ubran SThis is exactly the kind of course I wish I had when I started producing in FL Studio. So many quality-of-life tips I wouldn’t have figured out on my own. From quick navigation to essential key commands, it streamlines the creative process without overcomplicating anything.
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
10. The Complete DJ Course For Beginners
Jak Bradley, a working club DJ, teaches mixing with 30 free downloadable tracks and 40 guided mix tutorials, so you can mix along with the exact songs on screen, in about 17.7 hours over 132 lectures, with newer sections on stems, library organising and track prep. It has about 5,800 reviews at 4.7 and was updated in May 2026. Reviewers call the teaching calm and patient. You need a controller or other DJ gear to practise, Rekordbox gets little time, and much of the length is extras rather than core mixing.
Pros
- Free downloadable tracks let students mix along with the exact songs on screen
- Reviewers describe the teaching as calm, patient and easy to follow at a good pace
- Non-native English speakers say they kept up, some using translated captions
- Newer sections on stems, library organizing and track prep, last updated May 2026
Cons
- Software coverage is thin, with one reviewer saying Rekordbox gets too little time
- No quizzes or assignments, and a controller or other gear is needed to practice
- Much of the 17.7 hours is extras such as stems, track prep and branding, not core mixing
What students say
Damion BrooksJak covers all the areas of beginner djing, tips and tricks in intricate details. He uses clear visuals and step by step guidelines in every video. This course is worth every penny!
Udemy UserIt is very detailed and structured way of learning how to DJ properly. Learning the basics early on allows you to add your own flavor as you develop your skills through constant practice. Good job and thanks for bringing me back to playing music.
Reviews from students, via this course's page on CourseDuck.
Where to go next
Every course above has a full page on CourseDuck with its syllabus, our take and more student reviews; the cards link to them. The rest sit in our music and guitar categories, which rank every course we list by student reviews. Related guides: the best video editing courses to put your music to video, and the best game development courses if you want to write music for games.
