A method of manufacturing a nitride semiconductor light emitting element includes: growing an n-side nitride semiconductor layer; growing an active layer on the n-side nitride semiconductor layer; and growing a p-side nitride semiconductor layer on the active layer, which includes: growing a first p-side nitride semiconductor layer, growing a second p-side nitride semiconductor layer, growing a third p-side nitride semiconductor layer, and growing a fourth p-side nitride semiconductor layer, while varying flow rates of an Al source gas, a Ga source gas, an N source gas, and a Mg source gas.