<\/p>\n Bob Dylan is responsible for writing some of popular music\u2019s most influential songs, but he doesn\u2019t always get the credit he\u2019s due even though he\u2019s the most famous living songwriter. His song \u201cKnocking On Heaven\u2019s Door\u201d was released in 1973 and has been covered by Guns N\u2019 Roses, Eric Clapton, Warren Zevon, Avril Lavigne, and many other artists. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The late great Leonard Cohen wrote a song called \u201cHallelujah\u201d in 1984, and though it wasn\u2019t at all famous when it was released, the song has become a mainstay in popular culture. An impressive roster of artists from many genres have covered this song including Jeff Buckley, John Cale, Rufus Wainwright, K.D. Lang, Pentatonix, and many others. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In 2002, Johnny Cash famously covered a song written by Nine Inch Nails called \u201cHurt.\u201d In an interview, Nine Inch Nails singer Trent Reznor famously said that he felt like \u201cHurt\u201d wasn\u2019t his song anymore after Cash covered it because the song took on a new character and meaning. A song can take on a completely new identity depending on the person singing it.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Covering songs like these sort of make pieces of music seem like living documents that can grow and adapt over time. We\u2019ve highlighted some famous artists who\u2019ve covered songs, but learning how to cover a song isn\u2019t just good for established artists. Taking the time to learn how to cover songs can be an incredibly powerful practice for a musician. In fact, it\u2019s an essential exercise for anyone who wants to learn how to sing and play their instrument, write music, or master basic music fundamentals. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If we don\u2019t take the time to learn how to cover songs, we run the risk of becoming isolated when we sit down to practice with our instruments. Learning how to play chords, scales, and exercises can build important skills in our playing, but all that work has to be directed somewhere. Covering songs gives us the chance to put the basic skills we\u2019ve mastered on our instrument to the test. When we cover a song, we have to master things like chord transitions, playing in rhythm, and singing on pitch. Playing a song should be the culmination of all the hard work you\u2019ve put into learning how to play your instrument. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The first thing to consider when attempting to cover a song is how well you know and like the music you\u2019re trying to cover. You\u2019re about to do something that will most likely take a lot of time and effort, so the song you choose should be one that you really enjoy listening to. Knowing a song\u2019s melody and lyrics will also save you a lot of time during this process. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re covering a song that features a singer over simple guitar chords or a well-produced track that includes an orchestra, your cover will have to be condensed down to a simple version of basic chords and vocals\u2014for now, anyway. You\u2019ll need to play something like the guitar, keyboard, or any other instrument that allows you to play chords easily. It\u2019s not really possible to cover a song if you only play trumpet, unless you get super ambitious and record dozens of takes to build layers of chords. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you have songwriting software you can pre-record chord progressions to sing over. There\u2019s nothing wrong with this technique, but it won\u2019t do much in the way of helping you to get better at performing and playing an instrument. When we sit down with our instrument and learn to sing and play at the same time, we develop important skills that we can\u2019t get any other way. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"covering](\"https:\/\/www.musikalessons.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Untitled-design-5.jpg\")
Photo credit: doddis77 \/ Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nHow Covering Songs Can Help You Get Better At Your Instrument<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nHow To Cover a Song<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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