Music professionals in all genres use Ableton to streamline the production process and create stellar tracks. If you’re an aspiring musician, producer or DJ, mastering Ableton will help you chart the course for success in your career.
Consider an online Ableton class to provide you with foundational knowledge. If you already use the digital audio workspace, there are advanced options to help enhance your skills and garner more exposure for your music.
The Top 9 Online Ableton Live Classes Available
- Ableton Live I: The First Steps of Digital Music Production by Brian Jackson
- Learn Ableton Live in a Day – Complete Beginners Ableton Live Course by Martin Svensson
- Introduction to Ableton Live by the Berklee College of Music
- Ableton Live II: MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) by Brian Jackson
- Ableton Live: Producing Electronic Music by LinkedIn Learning
- More Expressive Music Theory for Ableton and Electronic Music by Udemy
- Ableton Live II: Shape Your Own Audio and Beats by Brian Jackson
- How to Produce a Professional Radio Show with Ableton Live by Udemy
- How to Make a Mixtape – Make a Seamless DJ Mix in Ableton by Udemy
What Makes an Ableton Class Great?
1. Includes assignments
Does the class include tasks that allow you to showcase your skills in a mock setting? Hands-on activities are also an effective way to work out any kinks before producing professional-grade tracks.
2. Affordable
The best Ableton classes are priced competitively and won’t break the bank. Some online platforms feature free offerings that are also worth considering.
3. Self-Paced
It’s a must that you let your creative juices flow to produce impactful music. So you want a class that is self-paced and allows you to work through the activities when you feel inspired.
Our Top Picks
We’ve scoured the web to compile our list of top picks from leading online learning providers, like Coursera, Skillshare, LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy. You will also find a description and enrollment fee for each course to help you find the best fit.
Here are the classes categorized by skill level – beginner, intermediate and advanced.
Ableton Class for Beginners
If you have little to no experience with Ableton, start with these introductory courses.
1. Ableton Live I: The First Steps of Digital Music Production by Brian Jackson
- Who it’s for: Beginners
- Price: Free With Trial
Harness the power of Ableton Live to create musical masterpieces using the guidance provided in this introductory course. It is the first component of the 4-part series from Certified Ableton Trainer, music producer and audio engineer, Brian Jackson.
In a little over an hour, you will learn how to navigate Ableton so you can get up and running right away. There’s also a primer on warping and techniques that can be used to match tempos of various audio tracks.
The class is best for musicians, producers and sound designers. No prior experience with Ableton is required.
2. Learn Ableton Live in a Day – Complete Beginners Ableton Live Course by Martin Svensson
- Who it’s for: Beginners
- Price: Free With Trial
Looking to get started with Ableton live but crunched for time? This free course teaches the basics in a little over 2 hours and will acclimate you with the software in just 1 day.
Led by music producer and professional musician, Martin Svennson, it is divided into 25 lessons. As you work through the course, you will discover which controls are most important and how to use them. You will also learn how to create presets and produce a full track from scratch using the software.
Enrollment is free, and there are no prerequisites.
3. Introduction to Ableton Live by the Berklee College of Music
- Who it’s for: Beginners
- Price: Free
Introduction to Ableton Live is the second course in the Electronic Music Production
Specialization from the Berklee College of Music. It is facilitated by Erin Barra, an Associate Professor in Songwriting.
The class begins with an overview of Ableton Live, followed by lessons on how to set up the software and polish the sound of your tracks. You will also learn about mixing, file management, and file troubleshooting.
Course material is delivered through video lectures, readings, and quizzes.
Intermediate Ableton Classes
Do you have a good grasp of the basics of Ableton? Acquire more advanced knowledge with these intermediate courses.
4. Ableton Live II: MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) by Brian Jackson
- Who it’s for: Intermediate students
- Price: Free With Trial
The second installment in the Ableton series from Brian Jackson focuses on the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), which is a tool that’s used to connect musical instruments, devices, and computers.
In this 15-lesson course, you will create melodies, record MIDI sounds and use the quantizing technique to produce a professional music sequence. Expect to spend a little over an hour viewing the video lectures.
You should complete Ableton Live I: The First Steps of Digital Music Production before you enroll.
5. Ableton Live: Producing Electronic Music by LinkedIn Learning (Formerly Lynda.com)
- Who it’s for: Intermediate students
- Price: Included with the monthly membership – Free Month Trial
Interested in learning how to produce electronic music using Ableton Live? Consider this intermediate course from LinkedIn Learning that teaches techniques used by professionals to deliver high-quality EDM tracks.
Producer and music technologist, Nate Mars, draws from his experience in the field to share best practices when working with audio and MIDI clips. He also covers drum programming, wobble basslines, wavetable synthesis, and creative sampling.
A seat in this course is free with a $29.99 monthly LinkedIn membership. Or you can test drive the course by signing up for a 1-month trial.
6. More Expressive Music Theory for Ableton and Electronic Music by Udemy
- Who it’s for: Intermediate students
- Price: $59.99
This intermediate course sheds light on proven strategies you can use to unleash your inner creativity and produce music that’s heartfelt and resonates with listeners from all backgrounds.
Taught by music instructor William Edwards, More Expressive Music Theory for Ableton & Electronic Music is comprised of 4 modules:
- Harmonic Concepts on Keyboard and Push 2
- Intermediate Rhythmic Principles
- Principles of Better Compositions
- Expressive Tracks and FX
Enrollment includes full lifetime access to 41 lectures condensed into 1.5 hours of video and 12 downloadable resources.
Have access to Ableton Live before you enroll. It’s also a good idea to understand basic triads, dominant chords, scale basics, and 16th note rhythms.
Advanced Ableton Classes
Ready to soar your Ableton skills to the next level? You may find these advanced courses useful.
7. Ableton Live II: Shape Your Own Audio and Beats by Brian Jackson
- Who it’s for: Advanced students
- Price: Free With Trial
If you’re ready to start working with audio samples, consider this free course. It is the third component of the Ableton Live series from Brian Jackson and takes a hands-on approach to learning by requiring you to create a 30-second song.
The class includes lessons on recording and importing sounds, using samples, making beats and warping full tracks. You will also learn how to use MIDI sounds and Ableton Live’s sample instruments to produce a record with the sound you want.
It’s a good idea to complete Ableton Live I: The First Steps of Digital Music Production and Ableton Live II: MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) before you sign up.
8. How to Produce a Professional Radio Show with Ableton Live by Udemy
- Who it’s for: Advanced students
- Price: $139.99
Do you dream of producing a professional radio show someday? You can make that dream a reality without spending a fortune or getting frustrated.
This advanced course from Udemy teaches a step-by-step process to produce your own radio show, get noticed by stations and secure a spot on the air. It is ideal for both aspiring and experienced DJs and producers who want to establish their name or hone their skills.
Have access to Ableton Live when you enroll.
9. How to Make a Mixtape – Make a Seamless DJ Mix in Ableton by Udemy
- Who it’s for: Advanced students
- Price: $149.99
Whether you want to create a mixtape that rocks the crowd or garners thousands of plays on the air, this course is for you. It includes 44 lectures with invaluable information to help you master the art of the mixtape using Ableton FX and racks.
The course is led by Ross Palmer, a professional DJ with over 12 years of experience in the music industry.
You should have access to a computer, Ableton Live and Mixed In Key software when you register for the course.
Choose the Best Ableton Course for You
Get started with Ableton by enrolling in one of our recommended courses. If you already have experience with the software, consider an intermediate or advanced class to sharpen your skills.
The options we’ve presented are self-paced and accessible 24/7 from your computer or smartphone. So, you can spend as much time as you need working through the lessons when it’s convenient for you.
