Best Cover Songs for Solo Gigs
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- Опубликовано: 28 май 2024
- It took me a LONG time to figure out how to change the key of popular songs and make it work for me and the limitations of my voice. Now my Go-To Method is to look up the song on www.ultimate-guitar.com/ to find the "official version," and then I look up the "vocal" part. Then I hit the transpose button until the high note is in a doable range for my voice.
How do you make covers work for you? What songs are in your top ten when you play covers?
Here's what I've learned, and here is a list of songs that are currently working for me (modified from their original keys, of course!):
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Drift Away - Dobie Gray
Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks
Fortunate Son - CCR
Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band
Have You Ever Seen the Rain - CCR
Shake it Off (haha! Yeah, I know, but sometimes it's funny to be ironic and play T Swift anyway!)
The Cave - Mumford and Sons
Take Me Home Country Roads - John Denver
Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
I've Just Seen a Face - The Beatles
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
Slide - Goo Goo Dolls
Name - Goo Goo Dolls
Hey Ya - Look up the "Obadiah Parker" version
Shut Up and Dance - a good acoustic cover on apple music
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
Wake Me Up - Avicii
Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Dixieland Delight - Alabama
Home - Phillip Phillips
Amie - Pure Prairie League
In My Life - The Beatles
Don't Stop Believing - Journey
Why Georgia - John Mayer
For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield
Two - Ryan Adams
Jack and Diane - John Mellencamp
#coversongs #sologigs #busydadguitar #intermediateguitar #intermediateguitarist #levelupguitar #music101 #guitar101
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I agree with you 100% and I’ve been criticized mostly by
Musicians for changing the original key and that’s why I’m a solo artist at this point. I recently tried to make a go with another guitarist who insisted on us playing the original key and insisted I sing it of course I could not! He wasn’t willing to transpose his leads down to my key so that project was over quickly! Now I use a looper and issue resolved
People who won't change the key can't be real musicians.
Your advice on changing song keys to fit your voice is spot on. And when I was younger, I too strove to play what the audience wanted to hear. But I recently turned 60 and have been a gigging musician for over 43 years. There is almost NO "music" on TV or radio or in the record charts that I can stand to listen to much less cover.
Oh, there is definitely good music being played and there are great songs being written. But you won't hear them from mainstream sources. And the average listener knows nothing of them.
Therefore, at this time in my musical life, I perform covers that I like. If the audience and club owners like my show and want to hire me, that's great. If not, I'm fine with that to. But I have NO desire to chase after a constantly changing list of cookie cutter, shallow, pointless songs with no memorable melody whatsoever and meaningless lyrics.
You mentioned changing the key from Dobie Gray's version of Drift Away so I wondered what key the original version by Mike Berry was in and I was astounded to find that they are both in the same key. Pro singers always song in whatever key is best for them so I expected them to be different.
I wish I could consistently hit that high G#…but most of the time, nobody would want to hear me try. 🥴 Sometimes in the car though…🎸🤪
What really made a huge difference in approaching my own voice were two things I heard from absolutely amazing vocalists:
First one was somebody with the greatest dark, resonating, smooth but raspy bass, telling me that he spent many years beating himself up over not being able to sing his favorite hair metal high and higher tenor stuff. So it was a man with a beautiful voice, basically complaining about not having another style of great voice. You don't want the things you have, you want the things you want. Get over it.
And second one was a vocal teacher who told me, that you shouldn't try to sing like somebody else. Find your own voice, because that't something absolutely unique. Nobody could ever sound like you. Because the other person just doesn't have your voice. It's yours and only yours so make something awesome with it that nobody else can make.
Solid wisdom! 👍🙌
As soon as I hear sweet Caroline I'm closing my tab and leaving the pub
😂😜🥴
@@justinbishopmusicI'm buying a round of shots for my table and sending one to you too
I have to agree. I can't take that song. I guess it's one of those songs that you either hate or love. No hate here for people who love it. It's all subjective but, not for me. I just can't stand that song.
When I hear Sweet Caroline in a bar. I hook up with beautiful women and sing along with them.
….hands…touching hands….
You may be missing many beautiful moments throughout your life to close your tab and leave the bar. 😂
@xbman1 if divorced 50yo women are your thing then do you
Dude - you packed this full of great advice for anyone wanting to sing in front of anyone. I have been preaching key changing for 20 years lol. No body cares if you sing it well but they will hate it if you have to squeal to hit notes that are too high. My wife and I do an all-request show. No set list. We ask the closest person who their fav group, band or artist is and 99% of the time they will be surprised and give you a softball like The Eagles or Beatles and then you knock that out of the park and that gets other people thinking and you will have suggestions for the rest of the night. Loved this video man!
Great idea…just ask for a group, and you get to pick the song?
Excellent advice!
I thought I was a baritone for most of my life until I worked with a voice person. I teach so I worked with a choir teacher twice and learned so much. I have covers grouped by decade of release to help with finding songs people might relate to.
Nice approach!
So you're bass then? Or low tenor
@@koontzman123 mid tenor, still working on extending my range
@@KyleWalzbaritenor
@@koontzman123Baritenor
Amie and Drift Away... oh yes. I'm adding them to my repertoire.
Your humility and honesty is refreshing.
I've been covering Amie for Years! Love it!
I grew up playing music with my family. We would always play and sing Amie when we would have a family jam session and it was always a fun tune. I like your list.
Amazingly helpful video. You definitely earned my sub. And I will be watching your page consistently. I am an old school solo acoustic artist and I still deal with a book with sheet music in front of me. Time to get hit with The Times Thank you again, very informative video.
Great advice!
Great advice ! 😃
Thank you so much for this video. I've had UG Pro for a few months and hadn't played around with the features beyond making a a couple of play lists. I had no idea it will transpose for you - wow!
30 seconds in and you have hit the nail on the head, ACDC sums it up. I'm a Baritone and I tune down to D or Even C #on some songs as the majority I find are are written for Tenors, but that doesn't mean the will sound worse if in a lower key. Thanks for this video 👍🏻
that's wild, thunderstruck was the first song I learned too! I was 12 or 13 and this older kid at school told me about tablature. thunderstruck was in the first guitar magazine I ever bought. so I had to figure out tablature and then the song.
Thanks for the tips-keep struming!
Great info bud !
Great video
Excellent! I use Ultimate Guitar and have the PRO version...but, never used it. It looked complicated to use for this old guy. Well, after watching you, it doesn't look complicated at all. I'll be giving it a try. And instead of making all the PDF's myself, gonna try getting a program what will use Guitar Ulitmates format and works seamlessly with it. I already do most of the songs you do (there's a reason they are popular, eh?) Tho, I've got hundreds of songs I'll have to re-do, pffffftttt...;)
Really enjoyed your video. That teaching gig seems to have translated well to this format. Great job :)
Great Vid!! You Rock!!
This is a really valuable video! I’ll incorporate (steal) much of it and play out even more…now that I’ve hit 80!!! You might appreciate hearing my Travis picking arrangements of Staying Alive and Africa (Toto). The real crowd pleaser though is What’s Up (Four Non-Blondes and Can’t Help Falling In Love with You. Thank you for a great video!
New subscriber! Thanks Justin!
I've just stumbled upon your channel, Justin, really like what you're doing here, thanks.
Could you please do a 'how to play' video for Sweet Caroline, including the intro that you play here from 4:30, thanks.
Great honest advice. I aim to play songs that others don’t cover and basically disregard requests because I am there to bring differences. I tune down to D and Eb on my guitars to help with pitch and tone. So many ways to play every song; this is another one of those unique differences we can share.
I tune my acoustic down to C# to hit some Adele and other powerful pieces and it’s been life changing even for my songwriting!
Im just getting into playing solo gigs and your suggestions are on point as well as some of the commented suggestions. When Im putting together a playlist, I try to keep in mind what type of venue it is and what type of crowd might be expected. I also play the oldies/classics - not only because I grew up with that genre of music but most of the audience is in that age group as well (I'm 61). And, lets be honest, they are usually the ones that have the tip $! UG has opened up a whole new world for me and playing!!! I also like to throw those "one hit wonders" in along the way. Keeping the "slow" songs to a minimum I think helps keeps your audience engaged. I try to stay away from the tunes that always get played a lot (Sweet Caroline/Brown Eyed Girl/Margaritaville, etc.) but if I feel in the mood, will play those. And being female gives me the advantage to do those female songs that dont usually get covered by the males (Brand New Key/Landslide/When Will I be Loved/Jolene, etc)
I DO think trying to have 60 songs for a 3 hr gig is wayyyy too much tho... I target for 30-35
Hi...Thanks for the info..been playing since I was 13 now 69 in a band. I play because I love it. But do not play for others, sorta play for myself. I finger pick, slide, solo and am probally a pretty accomplisher player. People say play me a song, since I play in a band, playing singles has not been my things, but could do it.. I probally know a 200 songs. but will freeze and do not know any songs when asked to play.... This info you provided will help me when forced to entertain a group. Thanks
I am also a cover song musician, and I use OnSong on my iPad for my song library. I change keys a lot because I don't know all of the chords. I will often keep the original key but capo to the chords I do know. I am a tenor so the high notes aren't usually an issue, but trying to sing Johny Cash without changing the key is out of the question for me. I currently have about 600 songs that I can play and sing solo, and most of the songs you've shown in this video are among those I have. Thanks for the video, and for the reminders to play to your strengths and read your audience. Great job!
Hey Man, I too am a solo performer and I use onsong. Im still trying to figure out the best way to scroll my lyrics. I use a flic device. Maybe I can pick your brain, to see how you use your onsong. I have backing tracks that play when I click the flic device. AS it plays, I try to use scrolling but, just want to get others ideas on best way to do that. :)
@@MontyDeane I don’t use backing tracks, so I don’t know if those change the auto scroll on OnSong. Otherwise, when you’re finished writing the song down in OnSong, tap the arrow on the bottom right hand corner. A box will show up, and you use your finger to swipe (slowly) and select the amount of time for the song, such as 2 minutes and 56 seconds for A Horse With No Name. Then tap elsewhere on the screen to exit. Then, with that same arrow now highlighted (which means a time has been set) press that arrow to start autos roll. Tap it again to pause and also resume. If the time is too long or too short, go to the headphones icon on the top left (Song Playback) and the drop down menu appears. Sliding your finger slowly in the Duration box will let you add or subtract time. Tap anywhere to close the box.
What’s impressive is doing everything you said without a cheat sheet (iPad). 3-4 hour shows, read the room, switch up, take requests, no iPad. That’s an entertainer.
I love it especially when pianists can do this, like on a cruise ship or in a piano bar. Maybe one day I’ll have enough experience to pull it off. I’ve done several 3-hour guitar gigs with no cheat sheets, but there’s usually a set list. I can remember progressions, but lyrics so far have been a challenge!
read the room, that's what determines the set list. I'm an entertainer, it's not my job to read to the crowd, it's my job to entertain them. Songs are more than words on a page, they're start, stops, inflections, etc... That can only come from listening to each song multiple times. Trust me, listen to the song 50 times, you'll remember the words.
Basically doing your homework. @@justinbishopmusic
Bruh
Yeah, both are impressive.
@justinbishopmusic absolutely nothing wrong w using an iPad (or whatever for lyrics and or chord progressions.) Especially for cover songs. I sing a lot of Dylan which cam have 15 or 20 long story telling versus multiple songs. No wonder Dylan changed lyrics and keys live who can remember all plus his voice at different stages different keys. Anyway, I'm impressed you can do 3 hours without charts or lyrics. I'm 66 I couldn't do that now no way. Not 3 hours
Nice video. Thanks! Say, what is that beautiful guitar you’re playing here?
I understand what you are saying. I struggled for years trying to play House of the Rising Sun. I learned it in 1969 in Am. I was just learning to play and when a buddy showed me those chords and I got them down I thought I was on my way. Couldn't hit the high notes though. And then, like an epiphany(just a few years ago) play it in Em. Voila..I could play it solo
This is great. I've seen a couple solo artists do Oops I Did It Again, and it works if you wanna try it.
Good advice
Great advise!! Also a Capo can be your best friend.
For sure!👍
you definitely don';t want to end up singing 75% of your songs in one key though. It's like that guy who is trying to sell his piano tutorials on RUclips by saying he can teach anyone to play the piano and play tens of thousands of songs in only a few days by learning only four chords. He just transposes everything into C (or G) and thinks that's it. The thing is that there is more to a key (or pitch) than just a letter. For example , a song in B is different from a song in A in many subtle ways that will be lost when transposing to A (most notably in the actual melody whether it is sung or played). I understand this makes it easier or possible to expand a repertoire of songs one can perform. I would encourage people to try to play songs in their original key, as long as it won't hurt your voice
(and I think this is what this guying is talking about here). It's just good to learn to play those songs that are in A flat , in A flat. It makes your a much for proficient player and performer. Because even if the audience doesn't consciously recognize the difference, their minds will notice the changes in tension and subtle tonic shift.
Love this video and just subbed! I am also a baritone who used to sing the lower register with a guy who sang higher when we harmonized, but I struggled on a lot of stuff in the original key. I am now starting to learn some songs on my own to be a solo performer. My question is do you drop all of these songs down to fit your range?
Yes I go on Ultimate Guitar (the paid version) and see what the highest melody note is. Then I adjust from there. I can transpose to where there’s nothing higher than an E or F#. If it changes the guitar part too much, I sometimes go an entire 5th lower in order to have open chords. Check out Money_Musician on Instagram. He has a list of good songs in easier keys and posts lots of good gigging ideas.
I'm the same, Key songs to suit your range. It's worth noting these days recording studios have the ability to auto tune vocals, maybe not so much in the old days but if your trying to sing as good as a recorded song that might have taken weeks to record there is nothing wrong with reworking a song to suit you.
Don’t just change the key. Rearrange the song to fit your style, your voice, your skill level on your instrument, everything. I tend to use a cubist approach. Reduce the song to the most basic chord progression and build it from there. If someone doesn’t like it, let them do it.
Justin, Your acoustic guitar sounds very good on this video and sounds like it has great action as well. What is it if I may ask?
Just found and subbed your channel btw. :)
Thank you! It’s a Crossroads acoustic from China…around $350, and I had an LR Baggs anthem pickup installed. To me, it feels and sounds like a Taylor. There are usually some to be had on Reverb.
Brown eyed girl has drawn boos when my old cover band played it so we dropped it. Some songs people are sick of & i would probably put Sweet Caroline in the same bracket
Yes knowing the crowd makes a big difference. Definitely some areas where those are overplayed. People still seem to request them though. 🤷♂️
Are you using a desktop version of UG in this video? Can I use backing tracks on the iPhone app? Thanks!
Yes, they work on the phone app too
My most comfortable highest singing note coincides with an open top E string, so I play the melody in different keys, until I find the one that matches my range. I _can_ hit higher notes, but not every song. The song choices in this list are great, and absolutely, if you receive a request, try to play it. One of my rules is that I don't learn new songs: they need to have already matured into classics, so the audience will be familiar with them. Most importantly, "be entertaining"! I've seen so many people who can play and sing, but who don't realise that you have to sell the songs, and connect with the audience. To sell songs, I try to get into the zone like a method actor, and "become" the person narrating the song. My aim is to have the audience believe that I _really did_ shoot a man in Reno.
“Hello, I’m Johnny Cash!” Great strategy!
Thanks; here's another consideration: Sometimes the "original key" really isn't - the published guitar tab was transcribed to the key that sounds but not as played. What I mean is that a song written out as being in F# was quite likely played using E and capoed up two frets. Knowing this makes it a lot easier to find fills and leads. Sometime the original key really is necessary because of the way the melody falls out of thos chords but that's only sometimes. Also, the original artist may well have performed it in several keys depending on how their voice was responding that night. Bill Monroe was know for changing to a higher key to get that "high lonesome sound".
I recently learned some artists recorded in a low key then had the record sped up, which also raised the pitch! I I heard about Led Zeppelin doing this at least once, and also Brent Mason on “Hot Wired.”
What app do you use. I’ve used Onsong in the past but have read bad reviews about Onsong 2022
forScore for PDFs. Easy to make lists on pc, ipad, or iPhone
Curious how you play Why Georgia. Mary Spender did a video on how it took her years to learn to play the song even passably and she had help from Paul Davids!
I play Jazz chords based on the Willie Nelson key.
Here’s the intro I use: ruclips.net/user/shortsrt42vL-zlik?si=a1i-fMAkSF0hbMQU
I'm very blessed. I started guitar 3.5 years ago. My guitar skills took off!
But my VOCAL skills were better! Much better! I'm a BariTenor. I've always had a kinda decent voice...but once I started getting good at guitar, I pushed my vocals from chest to head voice and discovered that I can SING! Like 2 octaves + !! On Key, in tune...And then I tried Bee Gees just to see...and I'm at the top of my range with Andy Gibb!! I'm not cracking, and I'm hitting the notes...while playing. My comfort level is Gordon Lightfoot/John Denver/Bob Seger. All songs, no issues. Now my repotoire is 890 songs. I play for hours...Like I said, I'm SO blessed!
My guitar skills need polishing, but I've got about 60 chords down now.
Good stuff. Good advice. I change key and feel on most of what I do now. New sub here. Aded you to my cover artists playlist. 🎸🎸
How could you change to music notation view? I'm only able to see the tab view :/
I think there’s 3 dots that’s let you change settings
Audience: "Do you know Sweet Child of Mine "?
Me: "Yes"
Audience: "Play it!"
Me "No"
😂😂😂 Same! Though I might give them a riff.
What key did you transpose Jack & Diane to?
I think for that one, I put heavier strings on a guitar and tuned down a full step.
I will never play Sweet Caroline, ugh. All the others are great choices.
Can you Make an instrumental list for those of us who cant sing and only play guitar?
Do you play lead electric guitar? There are some realistic backing tracks on the paid version of Ultimate Guitar, and the tabs are there for learning.
Here are some I like to play. www.ultimate-guitar.com/playlist/shared/vegz0j50jvzk
@@justinbishopmusic Thanks, i do fingerstyle with no looper or backing tracks, im not savvy with that extra stuff while playing. My latest is Margaritaville which is fun and easy to do
Why would you have to re-tune your guitar for Little Lion Man? Standard tuning works fine
I was in open D (DADF#AD) to play two other Mumford songs, and to play Little Lion Man like the original, Tuning would be (low to high): CACGCE. The point is I knew the sing and should have found a way to play it because they wanted it. 🥴😫
@@justinbishopmusica second guitar is always helpful...
I’ve been playing acoustic solo gigs for 30 years…the money has to be double, and at a private gig, for me to play a lot of those top songs from your list. No offense meant at all….I just can’t stomach hearing the crowd on Sweet Caroline….haha. And with a repertoire of 700 tunes (songbooks), I don’t need to play Eagles, John Mellencamp, etc. but everyone has a different approach and use of genres…. Great overview video of our lives as solo performers tho!!
I hear you! If you do it all the time, I can see how some songs might lose their appeal. Glad you have a much bigger pool of songs to choose from!
@@justinbishopmusic I definitely appreciated your post. I try to explain to my musician friends that perform solo about finding songs that fit their voice and style. Changing keys, use of a capo, etc….and don’t be so fixated on playing the tunes exactly as the original. Four notes into Fire and Rain and everyone turns their heads…..but the rest is fingerpicked in my own style
Very interesting. Where is the list for a bass voice? I don’t think there are any! I can play! I just can’t sing any of that!!!! Unless you want to go for opera🤔
Change the key...!
This is so the issue I’m having as a baritone
If you are doing covers - you sing what you are best suited for, not what you like. That is kind of the difference between and ameteur and a pro, The pro knows what they are good at and then applies it. And no don't play a popular song if you can't sing it. The people that want to hear it, don't appreciate you butchering it. Resist doing stuff that people like but you are unable to sing.
So hard to learn to be real with yourself, but it makes a big difference!
Ok what if you don'e know the song the person is requesting? You can't stop the show and study the song they want and learn it, practice it and then sing it. I tell people I can play it if it is in my repetoir
Better to ask them for groups/bands they like. Then you get to pick the song.
Don’t forget to 2 15 minute breaks
I had Dio and Def Leppard at my wedding LOL.
I remember when Spicoli had Van Halen at his Birthday party but two great 80's bands at your wedding is huge!
If anyone shouts out a tune to play, you should absolutely not play it at all.. we are not jukeboxes, even if it’s your best song, refuse it make them suffer
I almost did the Ultimate Guitar PRO per you suggestion, but it is WAY more pricey than you suggested. Your quote was for 1 month! Hundreds of dollars and so many tabs have mistakes, not just missing chords. Oh well. Hey how about some more current song suggestions? I appreciate this, (and you) but your ancient songs are very discouraging.
The price for pro has gone up since last I checked before this video, but I just looked, and it’s still $39.99 per year or $9.99 per month. I welcome suggestions of more modern songs, but in an age of Spotify and Apple Music, my experience is that it’s harder to find a common body of songs that a large audience recognizes. Hence here I’m recommending the older tunes from the “radio” era. That being said, Chris Stapleton seems to be pretty popular.
If they send offers decline them and it gets even cheaper by the year. They will counter. Least thats how mine worked. They want everyones money so they will come off the price. Did the same thing with satelite radio back in the day.
Those classic will always out perform the new stuff. It depends on audience/venue too. Playing at a bar where people want to sing along to songs they know. The new stuff isn't going to take well. Those venues that like new stuff are few and far between. New stuff comes and goes so be prepared to have to drop the song after it loses its interest. what I do is have strong base of reliable songs and mix the new stuff in here and there but it's not the meat potatoes that going to keep the crowd engaged.
Depends on your crowd, I have teenage daughters, and they would love most of what he is suggesting, they are very eclectic
Hi, Rose. Natalia here 😊 Always looking forward to connecting with other female acoustic musicians. Do you perform in live settings?
Songs sung by tenors typically are beta male songs and so sound weird when sung in a low manly voice.
Sometimes.
Too many Beatles