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Should Covers be performed note-for-note, just like the album?
Yes 10%  10%  [ 3 ]
No 47%  47%  [ 14 ]
Yes, if the band is a tribute band. 43%  43%  [ 13 ]
Total votes : 30
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Post subject: Re: Covering over people's music
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 7:07 am
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dunedindragon wrote:
I think many people underestimate the value of playing in a cover band. It's not just about the money. It's also about your proficiency both as a player and a songwriter. Playing covers exposes you to a wide array of playing styles and techniques. Even if you don't play it note for note, you're still forced to come up with something that fits the techniques, mood and themes of the song. The greater the variety of cover songs, the wider your exposure and proficiency becomes. These are elements that can be applied to your own efforts. You have to remember that many, if not most, of the great musicians such as the Beatles, the Eagles, Billy Joel, etc. all started out paying their dues playing covers for many years before broadening out into their own music. I attribute the sorry state of musicianship I now see among many younger players doing their own music is an artifact of the drive to avoid playing covers.



Absolutely. Being in a cover band makes one a great instrumentalist. Also, many cover musicians are solid performers and showmen. At least the better ones. Especially if it's a cover band that covers a diverse array of tunes. Don't mistake my talk of never wanting to be in a note for note band as me knocking people who do it, or the experience for others. Everyone should do what makes them happy. As an original musician I still "cover music". However, I adapt the music to fit the sound of the project I'm working on. However, more often than not I learn the original and possibly other cover versions of a song to get a feel for how others handled them. Then take what I learned there and apply creative energy into making it work for the project. Even outside of bands I'm in I often learn music that I like that I will likely never play out, or even do an original project in that style. Simply because it makes me a better bassist. In one of the bands I'm currently in you can hear me play shades of reggae, country, blues, and simple straight forward pop and rock lines. What ties that all together is that we work predominantly in minors, and we have dark lyrics. I would never know how to work all those styles of music into what I do as a songwriter and bassist had I never sat down and learned the works of other bassists. Covering music is a great way to learn the practical application of techniques and styles that sometimes can get lost in instruction or simply reading about it. Especially in music with very distinct feels. Sometimes the only way to "get it" is to play it.

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