Cover suggestions for a trio

[DudeistMonk]

So my recently formed band is looking looking for a keyboardist/lead vocalist. In the mean time our guitarist (who is excellent and plays a sort of cross between rhythm and lead) can sing passably...and me and the drummer are going to start working on trying to sing.

So we are going to try and get some covers together in addition to an original or two and gig at open mikes or whatever in order to get familiar with the scene and look for our missing member(s).

So any suggestions as to what we can cover? We sort of have a classic rock vibe going, with some roots/r&b thrown in there.

Me and the drummer brainstormed today and came up with, Jimi, Creedence, RHCP, The Police, and Zep...as I'm typing this Pearl Jam and STP just crossed my mind (although they might be a little hard compared to our original stuff).

So any bands you guys can think of would be a great help, the more ideas we have the better, as I have a feeling we are going to be limited greatly by what our guitarist can pull off vocally.

[bad_andy]

IIRC, Cream, Greenday, SRV, The Talking Heads, The Violent Femmes, and James Gang are all trios. It looks like you've already keyed in on some groups that featured three instruments, plus a singer which works well for trio gigs. Johnny Cash, Jane's Addiction, Steve Miller, BB King, Tom Petty have all worked for me in trio gigs.

[Stumbo]

1000 hits from the 60's: http://www.raduga.net/60slib.htm
1000 hits from the 70's: http://www.raduga.net/70slib.htm

[duff beer]

ZZ Top.

[Lazylion]

You don't need to stick to tunes originally from trios. When people see you and your trio onstage, they won't be expecting 4 guitars, a keyboard part, horns, backup singers, etc. You just need tunes that your band can do a good version of, regardless of how the original was arranged. Just be tight & maybe play a few more notes during guitar leads, to fill it up. But don't limit yourself.

[DudeistMonk]

Thanks guys...Talking heads for sure, me and the drummer both dig em. I love Steve Miller too, I'll run that by the guys.

Thanks a ton, just trying to keep the band busy and get us gigging so we don't stagnate while waiting for keys.

You don't need to stick to tunes originally from trios. When people see you and your trio onstage, they won't be expecting 4 guitars, a keyboard part, horns, backup singers, etc. You just need tunes that your band can do a good version of, regardless of how the original was arranged. Just be tight & maybe play a few more notes during guitar leads, to fill it up. But don't limit yourself.

Yeah I thought of this as well, as long as the essence is captured people will enjoy it, there are few Beatles songs I'm sure we can pull off, ext.

Thanks again, and if there are any more suggestions keep em coming!

[bad_andy]

Originally Posted by Lazylion

You don't need to stick to tunes originally from trios. When people see you and your trio onstage, they won't be expecting 4 guitars, a keyboard part, horns, backup singers, etc. You just need tunes that your band can do a good version of, regardless of how the original was arranged. Just be tight & maybe play a few more notes during guitar leads, to fill it up. But don't limit yourself.

+1 You don't need to stick to trio music at all. Re-arranging tunes to fit the sound of your group is, for me at least, one of the most rewarding parts about being a musician. Genre bending is one of the best ways to do that. I've covered "Because I Got High" as a one drop reggae tune with a trio and the crowd just eats it up. Blues songs make great rockabilly or uptempo rock tunes. R&B and Pop translate well to funk. Reggae tunes make good ska covers. Etc.

Having said that, covering tunes recorded by trios can have some advantages for a group that's just starting out and trying to fill a set list. The arrangement work is already done. I'll usually go through them first, get some gigs lined up and then refocus rehearsals on writing originals or re-arranging more fun material once the group is working.

Oh and as far as suggestions: Nirvana, Everclear, (+1) Beatles (Back in the USSR and Let It Be are both easy to learn), The Stray Cats, Cheap Trick, Grand Funk Railroad, Van Morrison, The Black Crowes, The Clash, Foghat, Jet, Queen, Santana and .38 Special all come to mind.

[scottbass]

I've always found Stones music incredibly easy to cover. +1 to ZZ Top, and very many 12-bar songs regarless of who did them originally.

[DudeistMonk]

Thanks again guys...

As a note the songs don't need to be easy as long as the vocals are. We are all good musicians, just not vocalists.

[MakiSupaStar]

You have so many options. One of the cool things about being in a trio is figuring out how you handle parts that are covered by additional members in the band your covering. This is where the cover becomes YOUR song, and you move beyond just another band covering another song.

[Medford Bassman]

I think all the above suggestions are great ones. I used to play in a trio (now four piece) We added a guy who can sing, play guitar and trumpet.

The one thing I disagree with is the comment that when people see your trio they won't expect a 4 or more piece band with keys or horns. Some customers just don't get it.

for example, my trio was playing a wedding once. After about two hours of playing good, solid music for dancing, the best man comes up to me as we were taking a break and asks, "Can you guys play some Miami Sound Machine". Without missing a beat I replied, "Sure, as soon as our horn and percussion sections come off of break." The groom was standing next to him at the time and gently took him away and gave me the look of "sorry buddy"

The drummer and guitarist were spitting their drinks laughing....

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by Medford Bassman

The one thing I disagree with is the comment that when people see your trio they won't expect a 4 or more piece band with keys or horns. Some customers just don't get it.

for example, my trio was playing a wedding once. After about two hours of playing good, solid music for dancing, the best man comes up to me as we were taking a break and asks, "Can you guys play some Miami Sound Machine". Without missing a beat I replied, "Sure, as soon as our horn and percussion sections come off of break." The groom was standing next to him at the time and gently took him away and gave me the look of "sorry buddy".

The drummer and guitarist were spitting their drinks laughing....

Granted, there may be an idiot or two in the crowd...

They are usually kind enough to identify themselves by hollering for Freebird, or making other such requests.

[ac11367]

Off the top of my head, these can be done by trios:

"Anyway You Want It" - Journey
"Burnin' For You" - Blue Oyster Cult
"Godzilla" - Blue Oyster Cult
"Don't Let me be Misunderstood" - The Animals
"There's Only One Way to Rock" - Sammy Hagar
"Dead or Alive" - Van Halen (bass player or drummer sings)
"Rough Boy" - ZZ Top

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by Medford Bassman

I think all the above suggestions are great ones. I used to play in a trio (now four piece) We added a guy who can sing, play guitar and trumpet.

The one thing I disagree with is the comment that when people see your trio they won't expect a 4 or more piece band with keys or horns. Some customers just don't get it.

for example, my trio was playing a wedding once. After about two hours of playing good, solid music for dancing, the best man comes up to me as we were taking a break and asks, "Can you guys play some Miami Sound Machine". Without missing a beat I replied, "Sure, as soon as our horn and percussion sections come off of break." The groom was standing next to him at the time and gently took him away and gave me the look of "sorry buddy"

The drummer and guitarist were spitting their drinks laughing....

LMAO. What kind of chode would ask for Miami Sound Machine at their wedding?

[Thor]

I am supporting two guys tonight on a acoustic thing.
Here is the list the guy sent me. I actually played with him
two weeks ago and knew most of the stuff anyway.

He annotated it so its convenient.


Daydream (C A7 F G x2 F D7 C A7 x3 F G)
Happy Together (Em D C B7 x2 E Bm E G x2)
How Sweet It Is (Am C G x2 G Em D7 C7 x2 G C G Dm C Cm G C G)
Love Potion #9 (Em C Em C G Em Am B7 Am F# Am B7)
It’s A Sin/Goodie Goodie (A swing – I don’t know how to write this one out)
Nobody Knows You (C E7 A7 Dm A7 F ? C A7 F G)
Help From My Friends (E B F#m B7 E D A E D A E A D C#m F# E D A end C D E)
I’ve Just Seen A Face (G Em C Am D G D C G C G)
Sugar Magnolia (G)
Uncle John’s Band (G)
Mr. Spaceman (G A D G D C Am D G)
Oh Boy (A D A E A E A D E)


I Need You (A D A F#m C#m F#m D A)
You Can’t Do That (E7 A7 E7 B7 A7 E7 G# C#m F#m G# C#m G# C#m F#m A B7)
Watchtower/Long Time Gone (Am)
Melissa (E F#m G#m F#m E F#m A Bm C#m D E F#m G#m A C B E E D A B C#m D B)
Summer of 69 (A E A E F#m E A D F#m E A D F#m E A C F G F C F G A)
Peaceful Easy Feeling (G)
Feelin’ Alright (A7 D7)
C’est La Vie (C G C)
Friend of the Devil (G)/Know You Rider (D) Truckin’ (E)
Please Please Me (E A E G A B E A F#m C#m A E A B E A B E A B E A B E)
*little guitar lead (E D# C# B C# B G#) Smoke Smoke Smoke (A)


Summertime (Am E7 Am E7 Am E7 Am Dm E7 F7 E7 C Dm E7 Am)
Take It Easy (G)
Back In The USSR (A D C D A D C A C D D7 A D7 B7 E7 D7 A D7-E7)
I Saw Her Standing There (C F C G C C7 F G# C G C F G F )
Brown Eyed Women (G)
Cumberland Blues (G)
Crazy Love (G Bm C G G Em C D G Em C G)
Moondance (Am)
American Girl (D E G A D E G A D G Em A G A D Bm G A D G A D G A D G A D G A)
Before You Accuse Me (E7 A7 E7 A7 E7 B7 A7 E7) Not Fade Away (E) I’m A Believer (E)

Other possibilities

I’ll Cry Instead/All Over Now (G C G C G C G C G C G C D7 C7 G D G) Give It Up (E – just like Before You Accuse, a little faster)
Ob La Di (G D G G7 C G D G G Bm Em G D G C G C G D)
She Loves You (Em A7 C G G Em Bm D G Em Bm D G Em Cm D Em A7 Cm D G)
Let It Be (G D Em C G D C G Em G C G D C G C walk down G F Em D C G)
You Really Got A Hold On Me (G Em G C Am D G G C G D)
Takin’ Care Of Business (A G D)
Don’t Think Twice (G D Em C G D G G7 C A7 G D Em C G D G)
Angel From Montgomery (A7 D7 A7 D7 A7 D7 E7 A G D A A G D A A G D A A D7 E7 A)
That’ll Be The Day (D A D A E D A D A D A B7 E)
Six Days On The Road (A E A E D E A D A E A)

[DudeistMonk]

Thor if I was a woman I would have your babies