Covering a song doesn't mean you have to be an impersonator.

Covering a song is a great way to share your love of music with others. It can also be a challenge, especially if you want to put your own unique spin on the song. But, it doesn't have to be difficult.

In this blog post, I’ll give you some tips on how to choose and learn a cover song that won't make you feel like an impersonator. We'll also discuss the importance of making the song your own, and how to trust your own musical instincts.

So whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, read on for some helpful advice on how to approach cover songs.

Choose a song you love.

This is perhaps the most important tip. If you don't love the song, you're not going to be motivated to learn it. So find a song that speaks to you, that you can connect with on a personal level. Whether it's a lyric, guitar riff, the song's message, or perhaps a personal connection to a person or time in your life, it's beneficial to find something in the song that makes it stand apart from all of the other countless choices. Personal preferences or personal nostalgia are fully legitimate reasons for your choices here.

Choose a song you can play/sing with reasonable effort.

Don't choose something that is beyond your skill level. If the song can't be simplified to fit your skill level while maintaining the integrity of the song, it's best to move on to another choice. I'm not saying that you shouldn't challenge yourself, but keep in mind that huge leaps above your current skill level may require an inordinate amount of time dedicated to just a part of the song. This will keep you from perfecting other parts of the song, lead to frustration, and perhaps keep you from devoting time to other songs in your set.

Helpful examples:

• If you are singing, change keys until it fits YOUR voice perfectly. Don't hold on to the idea of only performing the song in the key it was recorded. You are creating something new. Be comfortable. Most of your audience does not have perfect pitch.  And if they do, believe they don’t want to hear anyone shoot for the high note and miss. Not many can match Steve Perry or Adele note for note. 
• Use a capo to keep the song in a chord family that you are comfortable with.
• In Livingston Taylor’s book - Stage Performance, - Livingston offers several examples of working with very talented Berklee College of Music students that were struggling with their performances.  Often all it took was a small simplification of what the student was playing on their accompanying instrument to allow the performance to truly blossom.

Choose a song that lends itself to your instrumentation.

Do you need to completely re-imagine the song to make it work? If you are a singer/guitarist, then an old Kris Kristofferson or Bob Dylan song might be an obvious choice. Billy Joel's "Prelude/Angry Man"?? - not so much... Pick your battles. 

Play to your strengths.

In my instance, I am a very strong singer. I know what styles work for my voice and which styles don't.  I also know that my guitar skills lag well behind my singing talent. However, they are serviceable as long as I “don't get out over my skis.” In other words, I am not going to amaze anyone with my ability to solo/shred on the guitar, or create a loop.  But I might be able to lay down a nice little groove and then build a very cool vocal ostinato or clever backing harmony that will get some ears to perk up.

Make it your own.

Covering does not mean imitation necessarily. So make the song your own. Put your own twist on the song, change the tempo or style.

The first thing I would suggest here is to start by memorizing the song. Once you get free of remembering the chords, melody, and lyrics, then you can truly start to find YOUR interpretation of the song. Your individual creativity can truly blossom. Experimenting after you really know the song is much more enjoyable and beneficial.

Trust yourself.  Go For It!

Your audience will respond to the music that you perform from a place of conviction. Watching and listening to a performer that believes 110% in what they are doing is one of the most exciting things in the world. When you take the time to make the song your own, you will provide exactly that which your audience is craving, even if they are meeting you for the first time. It is what made the original version popular in the first place. A new voice, a new perspective, a new attitude... This approach is much different than someone simply replicating songs the way they were heard on the radio.

So trust your musical sensibility. If you are committed and prepared, there will be an audience for it. If it pleases you, it will please your audience.  So, has a reggae version of "I've Got You Under My Skin" been percolating inside you? Were you wondering if anyone else will like it? The answer is yes!  

Be fearless, be creative, and most of all- have fun!  Follow the steps above and let me know how it goes for you. Leave a message in the comments below and share your thoughts.

Sing on! - Crafty