+1
Writing/arranging originals is rewarding, but it's also fun putting your own spin on a song someone else recorded. Unless there are outside forces preventing you from playing one or the other, why not do both?
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The Official Covers vs Originals Thread
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+1
Writing/arranging originals is rewarding, but it's also fun putting your own spin on a song someone else recorded. Unless there are outside forces preventing you from playing one or the other, why not do both?
There is a time in one's life to play originals, and a time to play covers. As one ages, and has a life away from music, time-management and ROI become more important, and are thus rationalizations for playing covers, not to mention the fact that the pop music machine does not care for original material emanating from someone much beyond the age of 30.
We are an original band but work in about 4 covers during our set, sometimes more. It helps break up the monotony for the audience having music they've never heard before shoved down their throat. It really seems like the crowd digs our originals more after hearing us play a good cover.
My band mixes both cover/org's, but my #1 take-way for making an original tune:
Creating something from nothing and seeing people dig it to the Nth degree. Better than any chemical high that I've ever experienced.
Creating something from nothing and seeing people dig it to the Nth degree. Better than any chemical high that I've ever experienced.
backup said:
True,
I'm 59 and in an active blues rock cover band.
And your right, when I was in my 20s I was all about creativity and art. Those things no longer concern me.
However, I was recently given 4 new covers to learn. My approach;
Ok, how do I want to play this song, well I'm not going to use all those open strings, I'm going to tighten it up in closed note positions. Oh and I can take that riff in the chorus and make it a lot hipper.
Blue
√ Originals.
√ Covers.
√ Originals band that does some covers.
√ Covers band that does some originals.
√ Band that plays covers in one incarnation, originals in another.
√ Band that plays wildly different genres of covers in different incarnations.
√ Band that plays wildly different genres of originals in different incarnations.
√ Band that plays very creative re-arrangements of covers.
√ Originals band in which one member is the sole songwriter/arranger, and everyone else plays the parts as written
√ Band that plays fairly generic "originals."
As long as the players are all good, it's all good.
√ Covers.
√ Originals band that does some covers.
√ Covers band that does some originals.
√ Band that plays covers in one incarnation, originals in another.
√ Band that plays wildly different genres of covers in different incarnations.
√ Band that plays wildly different genres of originals in different incarnations.
√ Band that plays very creative re-arrangements of covers.
√ Originals band in which one member is the sole songwriter/arranger, and everyone else plays the parts as written
√ Band that plays fairly generic "originals."
As long as the players are all good, it's all good.
MatticusMania said:
There's a reason you want to perform original music. "Because I want to" to me is not not the reason you want to make original music .
No judgement here Matt, but it would be of value why you want to make original music.
There must be some reason you want to play originals, it might be the creativity, the writing involved or simply that you don't enjoy playing covers and enjoy playing originals. Even pure enjoyment is a reason.
Me, if you ask me why I play covers, I have an articulate response;
"Because playing in a cover band allows me to gig consistently and receive financial compensation for my work and efforts."
Funny thing, when I was playing in originals bands I really didn't know why. I think it was because at the time they were the only bands that would take me.
Blue
I just joined an originals band where an upper 50's guy wrote most of the music. I dont think age has anything to do with it, at least not as a hard fast rule. I know lots of older people who increased in creativity as they got older.
I dont think I will quit being creative as I get older.
I think if you're in a cover band then there isn't much room for originals. People don't want you to play 10 songs they know and then play one mediocre song they don't care about.
If you're in an original band then I think there's always room for covers: ie. Original renditions of covers are the key here. Or do the covers the way they were written if that's the sound you're group is going for.
To sum up:
Cover bands should stick to covers; unless someone just REALLY wants to throw in a new original every now and then.
Original bands should always have a few covers in the arsenal to grab the attention of the listener. Covers for original bands are almsot necessary unless you're already established (and then it's even cooler when big bands lay down cool covers) or artistically you just DON'T do other peoples music (which is kind of silly to me because wasn't it other people's music that got you involved with playing in the first place)
If you're in an original band then I think there's always room for covers: ie. Original renditions of covers are the key here. Or do the covers the way they were written if that's the sound you're group is going for.
To sum up:
Cover bands should stick to covers; unless someone just REALLY wants to throw in a new original every now and then.
Original bands should always have a few covers in the arsenal to grab the attention of the listener. Covers for original bands are almsot necessary unless you're already established (and then it's even cooler when big bands lay down cool covers) or artistically you just DON'T do other peoples music (which is kind of silly to me because wasn't it other people's music that got you involved with playing in the first place)
I couple days ago I started a thread (Peak of Creativity) in this forum that attempted to discuss influences on our musical creativity. Old age did not seem to be one of the main concerns according to the responses I got. Then again, it was a very small sample set of responses from which to assess how creative aspirations may be affected by such influences.
I've always been this way about it:
(This is in cover/original bands)
If we have covers to work on, then fine, but if someone has an idea for an original song, that's what gets worked on. You can learn a cover anytime, but if inspiration strikes you shouldn't ignore it.
(This is in cover/original bands)
If we have covers to work on, then fine, but if someone has an idea for an original song, that's what gets worked on. You can learn a cover anytime, but if inspiration strikes you shouldn't ignore it.
1. creative outlet
2. the joy of building something from nothing
3. the joy of making music that is your own, not a performance of someone elses compositions
4. because I like it
I am fortunate. My current band just got named as one of the top country bands in Seattle for 2012 by the Seattle Weekly. We have no shortage of good gigs. We're getting some recognition. While I don't get paid I also don't have to put in any money for recording or promotion. All it costs me at this point is time. I get to write my own bass lines. I like my bandmates, I like the other bands in our musical community, and I like the venues we play.
2. the joy of building something from nothing
3. the joy of making music that is your own, not a performance of someone elses compositions
4. because I like it
I am fortunate. My current band just got named as one of the top country bands in Seattle for 2012 by the Seattle Weekly. We have no shortage of good gigs. We're getting some recognition. While I don't get paid I also don't have to put in any money for recording or promotion. All it costs me at this point is time. I get to write my own bass lines. I like my bandmates, I like the other bands in our musical community, and I like the venues we play.
"I want to be in an original band because I want to play original music."
Its really no different than "Because I want to".
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Some people have no interest in ever playing in an original band. Others have no interest in playing in a cover band. I've done both and usually do not get bored playing anything. The only exception was one original band that I was in. We did a lot of touring and the BL always wanted to play the same songs, never wrote anything new. When we did a cover it was usually something boring for a bass player such as Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Riviera Paradise" or "Lenny". I never saw anyone in the audience enjoy these songs either. He just wanted to play them because there is some great guitar work in them.
I am at the point where I enjoy the creative process of original music but also enjoy playing covers as long as its not the same old songs that every other cover band plays. Even in my original band we still throw in a couple of covers.
Play whatever you like regardless of what anyone else does or thinks.
I am at the point where I enjoy the creative process of original music but also enjoy playing covers as long as its not the same old songs that every other cover band plays. Even in my original band we still throw in a couple of covers.
Play whatever you like regardless of what anyone else does or thinks.
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