Poll: Fellow musicians. Do you prefer to cover songs, or to write your own?

[necromanzer52]

This has been bugging me for quite a while. I rarely meet another musician who just likes to play songs, by bands they like, and has little interest in composing their own music.

I basically work on the logic: All these brilliant songs, have already been written, and they're far superior to anything I could ever churn out, so why bother?

I have written a few of songs, but they're mostly terrible, and, truth be told, the only reason I even attempt it is, as my band mate puts it; "You can't get famous, doing covers".

So, I must ask my fellow musicians:

Are you content to just play other people's music, or do you write your own songs?
And if you do, are you any good at it?

 

[No_Remainders]

I mostly do covers, though I've written a few.

As for whether I'm any good, that's down to personal opinion.

I don't think I'm that good, but people have told me I am.

 

[Swifty714]

Being a drummer, it is quite hard to write a song for instruments I have no understanding of, and don't include hitting things for noise.

My vote is with covers.

 

[lobster1077]

I'm completely tabs based. So writing music is a pretty monumental task. Anyway there's no lack of songs for guitar or ukulele so I'm not really inclined to write my own.

 

[lolelemental]

Doing covers is a great way to cut your teeth and learn the craft, but there comes a point where you don't learn anything new from playing covers with a band or by yourself, you've just gotta take the plunge and write what flows from your hands. Songwriting cane teach you a lot about yourself and how you relate to other people, as well as furthering your knowledge of music theory, even if you don't realise it.

 

[necromanzer52]

Doing covers is a great way to cut your teeth and learn the craft, but there comes a point where you don't learn anything new from playing covers with a band or by yourself, you've just gotta take the plunge and write what flows from your hands. Songwriting cane teach you a lot about yourself and how you relate to other people, as well as furthering your knowledge of music theory, even if you don't realise it.

Well, it's certainly taught me that I'm very bad at writing songs.

 

[zehydra]

I mostly write music, though people often like to hear you perform covers because they're songs they recognize. The unfortunate irony of being a musician, is that you have to perform for non-musicians, lol.

 

[Arctarus'sCookie]

Does making one song count as being a musician? If so, then I like doing covers and originals about equally.

 

[DanielBrown]

I wouldn't consider myself to be a musician, but I have written tons of songs. Out of those only one is a cover(The Game by Motörhead!), and I'm passively working on Bite it You Scum by GG Allin.
Would probably do more covers if I was a better guitarist however. The main thing that holds me back is the inability to play the songs I'd like to cover.

 

[Fishyash]

I prefer playing covers, but yeah I've written a couple of songs which is pretty cool.

Covers are a lot easer imo. I learn by ear really quickly so it's all good.

But I am focusing on composing now (although not for performances) so I got less time for covers. To say myself I think I am pretty good at it. And that is VERY important, to be satisfied with your work. The process of writing a song is a lot of fun to me.

I basically work on the logic: All these brilliant songs, have already been written, and they're far superior to anything I could ever churn out, so why bother?

I have written a few of songs, but they're mostly terrible, and, truth be told, the only reason I even attempt it is, as my band mate puts it; "You can't get famous, doing covers".

Judging music is a matter of opinion. Hell, even if you aren't satisfied with your own song, someone is going to like it. I think it's a good idea to write your own music, even if you don't play it, the process itself is good. I would only advise against doing it if you really hate acctually writing the song rather than how it turns out (and trust me, you can even make a song you find out to be a load of crap sound pretty damn good with competent playing).

 

[Metaphysic]

I'm an electronic musician, and for me at least, doing covers/remixes is a fun challenge. I played trumpet for 8 years, so I know the basics... but the more complex things involving mood, harmony, melody, countermelody, key, etc, I'm learning bit by bit. Covering songs helps me to understand all of those things a bit more... and it's also bloody hard (and fun) to rewrite entire songs by ear.

That said, my favourite tracks are my original ones, but sometimes I have more fun doing covers than original songs... there's no getting stuck on the flow or idea of the song, all the pieces are already there for me to play with once I've constructed them.

 

[everythingbeeps]

I dabbled with the guitar in college, and I really had zero interest in writing songs. I just liked playing songs I liked, it was more fun that way. I could just play and not deal with writing. Because I never had any illusions about being a real musician.

 

[necromanzer52]

I would only advise against doing it if you really hate acctually writing the song rather than how it turns out (and trust me, you can even make a song you find out to be a load of crap sound pretty damn good with competent playing).

It's not that I don't like writing songs, I'm just not that interested in it.

 

[Jesus Phish]

I mostly play covers because I'm not good at writing songs. I'm alright at little melodies, but not full songs.

 

[Vonnis]

I don't play in a live environment, but I do write and record my own songs. If you've written a song yourself, it's a lot more personal, and a lot more awesome in my opinion. As to whether I'm any good, well, no idea. I make music for myself, not for others; I like what I've made so far (I wouldn't have made it if I didn't) but it's very well possible that nobody else does.

 

[Evil Top Hat]

For me it's an even split between covers and originals.

 

[TheFunPolice]

I mostly play covers seeing as it's really good practice. I can't write lyrics and I don't play guitar very well, although I can write basslines quite well, so if somebody comes up with a song, I'll be able to write a bassline no problem, I aspire to be in a band but I live on an isolated hill in the middle of nowhere, so playing with other people isn't too easy to do.. one day, one day soon..

 

[Aircross]

I compose my own music, but they're mainly orchestral or piano solos.

The music I play are violin pieces, symphonies, orchestral music, and chamber music, so I guess they're "covers."

 

[DustyDrB]

It's about 50/50.
I have periods where I'm just not creative, and just play covers or old songs of mine. And I have these super creative spurts where I'll write a dozen songs in a month.

Then I have the times where I'm in a rut. I'll be stuck playing a certain kind of music and can't seem to get out of it. I tend to get in a blues rut from time to time. When that happens, I'll switch instruments or just stop making music altogether for a while. Or I'll screw around with the tuning on my instrument until it's completely alien to me. I got this idea after reading a quote by Tom Waits:

Your hands are like dogs, going to the same places they?ve been. You have to be careful when playing is no longer in the mind but in the fingers, going to happy places. You have to break them of their habits or you don?t explore; you only play what is confident and pleasing. I?m learning to break those habits by playing instruments I know absolutely nothing about, like a bassoon or a waterphone.

 

[Whateveralot]

I mostly write and produce original music, but sometimes, out of the blue, I receive this massive urge to remix someone elses music. Remixes always limit me in ways that make me more productive in other ways. It's a fine balance, but like I said, I prefer my self-written stuff. Gives me a bigger grin. =)

If anyone's interested:
Here's a remix [http://www.soundcloud.com/lifeworks/industry] and Here's an original production [http://www.soundcloud.com/lifeworks/lifeworks-zabuton].

Please, do listen. It's free to download as well if you like it.