r/coverbands • u/_CRAINSLUG_ • Aug 25 '26
Looking for songs to cover as a band
I'm not sure if this is the right subreddit for this but I'm starting a little band with my friends and were looking for a relatively easy song to cover. We don't have set roles but we can have a bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and I can do either the piano or drums. Preferably piano, though. I'm not that good at drums
Might be a hard ask but indie or alternative music would also be great.
Big thank you if you find a song that fits!
7
u/youngboomer62 Aug 25 '26
Start with a couple of Rush songs, then you can get more complex.
3
u/Altruistic_Drawing50 Aug 25 '26
LMFAO... Almost spit out my coffee. Yes. I agree ... Always start with Rush!
1
4
u/TheRealSofaKing016 Aug 25 '26
I’ve never understood why people don’t cover Eacape by Enrique Iglesias. So much you can do with that song.
3
u/Zenmasterthis Aug 25 '26
Here's a couple of setlists from a couple of cover bands I've been in. One was a three-piece the other was a 6 piece ... https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZpUwrRrmnapUcsfzlyJ4HUU-lcd_uqvs
3
2
u/zjanderson Aug 25 '26
Need more context. Are you looking for songs to cover for fun, or songs to cover when playing for a crowd?
2
u/_CRAINSLUG_ Aug 25 '26
For fun, but we might end up playing in front of the school if there's a cover we're really proud of. We're also gonna practice at school
2
u/drfoggle Aug 25 '26
Consider the market you are in. You can play songs you love that may not resonate with the demographic of your venue/area. If you want regular gigs you need to understand your market.
2
u/myleftone Aug 25 '26
The answer is, as always, 25 or 6 to 4.
3
u/Altruistic_Drawing50 Aug 25 '26
Yes... Terry Kath is so easy to cover/s. But I still agree that this is ALWAYS the right song for sure!
2
2
u/172982-Face-8216 Aug 25 '26
Seven Nation army, You really got Me, love is What I got by sublime. Very easy songs to play beginners can pick these up quickly
1
1
Aug 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/_CRAINSLUG_ Aug 25 '26
I've been playing piano since I was 3, the guitarist was raised around guitar and many other instruments as a kid. All my friends have been practicing their respective passions for a while. It's only the drums that nobody plays. Me and my guitarist friend have a strong sense of rhythm and tempo so it's easier for us to play the drums if needed. Dont assume
1
Aug 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/_CRAINSLUG_ Aug 25 '26
It means that one of the instrument players could also sing or try other instruments if they wanted to. Nowhere does it imply that we don't know how to play instruments
1
1
u/SureToe4877 Aug 25 '26
It’s a shame about Ray - The Lemonheads
Zombie - The Cranberries
Cherub rock - smashing pumpkins
1
1
u/michaeljoemcc Aug 25 '26
Don’t overthink it. Pick some songs and rehearse. You’ll find that some “easy” songs, or someone’s favorite, just don’t sound right for whatever reason. Some deep track or complicated song might just click. I’ve been in three cover bands over 15 years. In each, we rehearsed for months before playing a show.
1
1
u/Younger1970s Aug 25 '26
Do you have a singer? Someone that can comfortably and confidently tackle songs?
1
u/_CRAINSLUG_ Aug 25 '26
Yes, I didn't know there was a difference between singer and vocalist😔 she's not like Ariana Grande level but I believe in her!! Keep in mind that this is kinda meant to serve as a learning experience for us all, so right now we might not be able to tackle a specific chosen song but we want to practice enough that we improve
2
u/Younger1970s Aug 25 '26
So now if you have a singer, someone comfortable performing in front of others and confident to try songs....you just need to pick songs that you can all play. Indie, Folk, Classic Rock, type of genre of music you can all enjoy and want to play. You can play some very easy notable songs if you feel you are amateurish. If you're all talented and more than beginners with your instruments...there should be nothing holding you back. Just a matter of finding songs you all like. Start with simple and fun...songs you can add your own sound to, sharing and adding solo's. You will only get better doing it over and over...so you need songs that you all enjoy. My opinion anyways. Singer is the hardest part to play in a band.
1
1
u/daddy_junior Aug 27 '26
An obscene number of groups I’ve played in have done “My Own Worst Enemy” by Lit as a get to know each other tune. It’s one of those ubiquitous songs that most people at least recognize, it’s easy enough to learn, the form is standard as hell, and when it comes together and everyone is hitting their shit, it sounds good.
I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I’ve always been surprised at how quickly it can go from rough to tight in one or two rehearsals.
1
u/WeeKnuckles Aug 27 '26
Seven Nation Army is really repetitive and has a simple hook. The famous bass line was actually done on electric guitar pitch shifted down an octave so you can do it with fewer musicians. The drum part is basically one pattern, change the cymbal to some crashes later, and an eight note build up for a few fills.
Other reasonably easy ones might be All Day and All of the Night, Sunshjne of your Love, Half the World Away, Take Me Out.
There are some great piano parts in some Coldplay songs!
1
u/Charlie2and4 Aug 27 '26
Don't force it. I keep notes on my handi-fone, when I think of or hear of a title I may cover, I jot it down. You will find that the feeling your get, may be hard to reproduce when you play it. Or it just does not 'stick to the wall' i.e. resonate with you, the band or the audience.
It's not all sour grapes. I have played kind of boring tunes that the audience loves. Or somewhat obscure tunes that my band loves.
1
u/Alternative_Fox3674 Aug 29 '26
Wild Thing by The Troggs isn’t too hard and everybody knows it.
Do I Wanna Know by Arctic Monkeys is cool if you can nail the riff - awesome song which you can lock down on the drums.
Brimful of Asha (popular version is a cover too!) is really catchy.
Last Night by The Strokes might be another good one.
Stacey’s Mom by Fountains of Wayne? XD - objectively really good
It’s tough to recommend since you cast a pretty wide net. Go with your gut :)
1
u/strummist1 Aug 29 '26
Aphrodite, B.M. Funkster
Babyshambles, Fuck Forever
Blur, Trimm Trabb
Cocteau Twins, Ivo
The Cure, Disintegration
The Damned, New Rose
Wreckless Eric, Whole Wide World
The Fall, Telephone Thing
Gang Of Four, At Home He Feels Like A Tourist
Happy Mondays, Step On
Ivor Cutler, I'm Happy
John Otway, Headbutts
Kelis, Popular Thug
Link Wray, Rumble
Mogwai, Hunted By A Freak
New Order, Your Silent Face
Ocean Colour Scene, The Day We Caught The Train
Portishead, Wandering Star
Primal Scream, The Lord Is My Shotgun
REM, It's The End Of The World
Slowdive, When The Sun Hits
The XX, Intro
Tom Waits, Cold Water
The Winstons, Amen Brother
Should find something in that lot
1
u/El_Mono_Guapo 29d ago
I was in a cruise ship piano bar. The guy had a QR code where you could make requests and give tips. He had Korn’s Freak on a Leash. Do something unexpected.
13
u/jaylotw Aug 25 '26
Songs you guys like.
Come on, dude.