Should brand new garage bands start out with covers or writing their own music?

Question

I have read many places on line that suggest new bands start out with practicing covers. I thought it would be a great way for our band to learn things like chord progressions, etc. My friend,who is our singer, seems to have a different idea. He decided that covers were a waste of time, and that we should just start out writing our own music. I have tried time and time again to convince him that we should start out with covers but he refuses to listen and is convinced that all bands that are currently popular didn't waste their time with covers. Now our band is on the verge of breaking up. Can someone please tell me how I would be able to convince him somehow that we should start out with covers rather than create our own songs based on no knowledge of songwriting?

Answer 1

i think a good combination of both is good.

also, if your lead singer is the band just because he wants to get famous, i would get out of that band...

Answer 2

i think you should have a mix of songs. chances are the covers are better than your music (hey your just starting out) so it could show people your ability to play. then you show off your own work and it shows the ability as a writer

Answer 3

Start with covers, it helps better your understanding of music theory, keys, chord progression, etc.

And most bands start out learning covers.

Answer 4

If you are a band starting out, I would pratice with covers but put the effort on writing your own songs. When you do a gig play your own songs with one or two covers. When my band started out we would do 6 of our own songs with 3 or 4 covers thrown in till we started getting a crowd and a fan base then we would do more originals.  

Answer 5

Writing your own music is sometimes better. I would rather hear a new song than someone totally killing my favorite song.

Maybe you should just take a song, as an example, and make it your own, instead of trying to sing it as is.

Answer 6

All of these are good responses. Each has its own place. It depends really what you want to do. If you were to decide on accounting, law, or business, you would learn from others, read books, and practice what is necessary to be successful. Music is no exception.

You can learn about music and how it works without doing covers. However, if you were to go to school for music you would learn to write your own material BUT you would study and learn the material of others to understand how music works. If you were to take lessons, it would be the same. It isn't about covering but learning. Your friend mentioned wasting time, but you also waist lots of time making mistakes that others have made and you can learn from. Don't let "pride" and being young and naive hold you back. You always want to surround yourself with others greater than yourself to learn. Throw your pride out... it will eventually bring you down.  Humility brings wisdom and brings it a lot faster than pride. Think about American Idol and other shows, they are judged by how well the understand and perform the material of others.

That all being said, if you decide you want to make it big, originality sells, not the covers. I've had the privilege of knowing famous song writers and performers personally and professionally because I'm a professional musician and instructor myself. Your originality and your "following" will sell you to the label. "No one decides to ride the train until it begins to roll." Labels are the same way. I had a cousin lose a recording contract in a contest because her music wasn't original. Her covers were necessary early in the competition and defined her qualities and capabilities but an original for a final song would have sold her marketability and her understanding of music.

This is my suggestion. People like originality but while you are out performing live they also want to hear more than 4 hours of your material. If you are good you will begin to develop support and a following and you can transition more to originals. Now this is performing live. However, when it comes to the Internet and promoting yourself to the market, use originals. Begin to develop a following on your original stuff that way too.

All in all, if you do not understand how to use the tools of your trade (e.g. progressions, theory, modulations, etc) you will fail. It really requires both to be well rounded. One of my good friends is a professional studio musician and instructor. He teaches professional musicians that you and I both know about how to use and perform music because these individuals realize that unless they really know what they are doing, they will regulated to th e "one-hit wonder" status or will be dropped by a label if they don't crank out the hits. How do you think they learn about those tools? Studying the material of others.

It is possible to make on originals only, but your colleague is wrong. Nearly all bands who have carved out, shaped, and influenced music to what is today have spent years, hours, and sometimes sacrificed family and finances to make their dreams come true, which included performing covers. Personally, I can't stand professional artist covering other performers' material. I think it is poor taste and lacks originality. I perceive it as a cop-out to make easy money. However, when you are starting out, it is often necessary to cut your teeth in music writing, validating your diversity and ability, and creating your style and resourcefulness.

Good Luck!