What's with Covers and Chasing After Other Musician's Tones?

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

Don't mean this as a slight, but I don't personally get it. It takes so much time to learn an instrument, so why bother with anything other than original music once you get to that point? I kind of understand the tone thing to some extent, but not the need to be 100% on point with something someone else crafted. I understand learning others music and using those to guide you through your own creativity, but just doing covers? This to me is a bigger downfall of music issue than AI, tbh.

 

[Nitrobattery]

I know a lot of great players who are surprisingly uninspired writers. I also know a several fantastic writers who play covers professionally to pay the bills. Everyone's on a different path.

 

[braintheory]

We all have different skill sets. Some are just great at playing, some just great at composing, some are good at both (don't know any true 10/10 masters at both). I was never good at writing music myself, which is part of why I also switched in my late teens to mainly classical guitar where we're expected to just play other's music

For electric guitar I never intended to copy 100% how others played their music. It was more of a starting point to make it my own and in some ways hopefully even better if I could. I never tried to copy other's tones. With crafting my own tones I had more creativity there than with actually writing music lol. No desire for other's tones

Even within the art of playing there are different skillsets (at least in classical). Some are skilled more in technique (like being very clean, accurate, fluid or fast, just overall very coordinated), while others are more skilled in having more feeling and interpretation to the music. Some have both, but I again haven't heard anyone yet that's truly 10/10 at both. There seems to be trade offs with all these skillsets. I think it's just that we're all human

 

[degenaro]

We all have different skill sets. Some are just great at playing, some just great at composing, some are good at both (don't know any true 10/10 masters at both). I was never good at writing music myself, which is part of why I also switched in my late teens to mainly classical guitar where we're expected to just play other's music

For electric guitar I never intended to copy 100% how others played their music. It was more of a starting point to make it my own and in some ways hopefully even better if I could. I never tried to copy other's tones. With crafting my own tones I had more creativity there than with actually writing music lol. No desire for other's tones

Even within the art of playing there are different skillsets (at least in classical). Some are skilled more in technique (like being very clean, accurate, fluid or fast, just overall very coordinated), while others are more skilled in having more feeling and interpretation to the music. Some have both, but I again haven't heard anyone yet that's truly 10/10 at both. There seems to be trade offs with all these skillsets. I think it's just that we're all human

Always thought of Steve Morse as being the picture book guy of both.

 

[braintheory]

Always thought of Steve Morse as being the picture book guy of both.

Musically at least what I remember of him in lead work was kind of predictable/formulaic/lacking spontaneity (not that interesting) and in terms of pure technique there are countless players far better (especially some of the recent ones). Not that I'm at all trying to be overly critical, but this is just my perspective as primarily a classical guitarist. To me someones 10/10 at both would be a player that can craft guitar solos of the emotional quality of say Marty Friedman or Randy Rhoads's best moments with technique/coordination of some of the recent guys like maybe Max Ostro or Rick Graham with the feeling of whoever is exceptional there (a bit too tired to come up with names right now outside my main field of classical guitar, maybe Gary Moore). Point is, in my honest opinion Morse is nowhere near to me top notch in either category, but that doesn't mean he can't be considered still great as overall package since it's not just a 1+1=2 sorta thing with something artistic. For me it's more about the emotional content anyway over technique, but great technique/coordination is a very beautiful thing too when someone really has it (it's rare). Sorry for the long rant lol

I would just rest my case my case here in that we're all just human. I have huge respect for anyone that can do just one thing close to 10/10 quality even if really specific

 

[braintheory]

I know a lot of great players who are surprisingly uninspired writers. I also know a several fantastic writers who play covers professionally to pay the bills. Everyone's on a different path.

This 110%. I always say, coming from my background as a classical guitarist, if we had more players focused on just playing and composers focused on composing rather than all these guys trying to do both maybe we can raise the standard of both areas to be closer to that of great classical musicians. I'm a huge gearhead and the love of these great guitar sounds is what's kept me going, but the quality of music and playing itself always for me left so much to be desired of what could be, not that I'm a great player myself (and horrible composer lol), but just my fantasies of the level that could be there ideally with how much potential there is with such amazing sounds our instrument can achieve vs others. The quality of music itself should catch up to it

 

[Techdeth]

I hate playing covers in a band . But I’ll study music I love to dissect it . That’s just me but some people just like covers . We all are different . I need to write to live .
I do teach a lot of covers and do have fun with that too

 

[degenaro]

Musically at least what I remember of him in lead work was kind of predictable/formulaic/lacking spontaneity (not that interesting) and in terms of pure technique there are countless players far better (especially some of the recent ones). Not that I'm at all trying to be overly critical, but this is just my perspective as primarily a classical guitarist. To me someones 10/10 at both would be a player that can craft guitar solos of the emotional quality of say Marty Friedman or Randy Rhoads's best moments with technique/coordination of some of the recent guys like maybe Max Ostro or Rick Graham with the feeling of whoever is exceptional there (a bit too tired to come up with names right now outside my main field of classical guitar, maybe Gary Moore). Point is, in my honest opinion Morse is nowhere near to me top notch in either category, but that doesn't mean he can't be considered still great as overall package since it's not just a 1+1=2 sorta thing with something artistic. For me it's more about the emotional content anyway over technique, but great technique/coordination is a very beautiful thing too when someone really has it (it's rare). Sorry for the long rant lol

I would just rest my case my case here in that we're all just human. I have huge respect for anyone that can do just one thing close to 10/10 quality even if really specific

Interesting take, but I certainly didn’t talk about crafting solos. IMO those should be improvised.
I was referring to composition, and early Morse stuff like Twiggs Approved, Introduction, etc…Spring to mind.

As for “better” technicians, all the guys you mention (leaving Moore out are Rock or Fusion guys) and they certainly don’t have the range like Morse.

I mean when everything is said and done no one touches Benson or Django in their prime in terms of playing.
Even if 12 year old girls can do it now.
Doing it and coming up with it….ill take the guys that thought of it first.

Or in general when it comes to technique there’s Yamashita and then DeLucia and then the conversation is pretty much done. But doesn’t have jack to do with composition.

 

[anomaly]

I played in a cover band that did a couple originals, pretty boring music for the most part. I've also been in a band that plays mostly original material with a couple covers thrown in, and that is the way to go IMO.

about half of what I play is covers though, the rest is me basically improvising, trying to come up with cool riffs.

 

[SpiderWars]

Music is for personal enjoyment so whatever gives you that enjoyment, as a player or a listener, is probably what you’ll be drawn to.

I basically never write songs but I frequently pick up a guitar and just starting noodling until I find something. Build that into something, maybe loop it maybe not, then double-tap and it’s gone forever. I’m just not a writer, I’ve always copied. It’s what gives me that joy.

EDIT: I should add that I’ve tried writing songs but every damn time I can hear an existing song that is too similar and it gets shit-canned. I mean, every damn time.

 

[DanTravis62]

Lisa is correct in that it's obnoxious, because it's almost like there should be two separate gear industries.

I really have nothing in common with the hobby guy that's trying to get a meshuggah or shidd pant brown toan

 

[PDC]

For me, songwriting was always the biggest struggle. If I was in a band or project with a really good song writer, I could collaborate and make the guitar parts shine - but bringing complete 'songs' to rehearsal was never my strong suit. But think of the many top 1- percent classical musicians who have devoted their entire life to their instrument and play in world renowned orchestras - mostly playing other people's music.

 

[SoooRad]

Even though people might accuse me of my sound being like some players, it's only because I like the sounds and use them as a reference of sorts of how I would like my sound to be. I have no desire to copy anyone's playing note-for-note, even when playing covers. I think of it more as "oh, that guy's rig is a Marshall, boost and a delay, maybe I should use something similar to get the sound I want."

I like the sonics of someone like EVH, or Warren Demartini, but my original music is more akin to Moving Pictures era Rush, or The Outfield. Then I get really wonky by my soloing being closest to probably Leslie West or Billy Gibbons.

 

[legend71]

Playing originals is pretty free for the player - you have no standard to live up to. Quality wise, melody wise, anything. I have heard so many bad original bands in my life. And most of them are knockoffs of some other band that they liked. Too many. I do not view original music as some noble calling.....

 

[rsm]

Always thought of Steve Morse as being the picture book guy of both.

Always thought of JS Bach as being the epitome of both composer and virtuoso (organ) player...and he was also known as a great improvisor. Same goes for Mozart: composing, virtuoso keyboardist, violinist, and improvisor

Never heard them live though; too bad we don't have recordings of them.

 

[SpiderWars]

...and he was also known as a great improvisor.

This is almost a whole nuther category in addition to writer or player (I like the lifelong classical ‘player’ analogy). EVH was a great writer and a great player (VH did some great covers) but tbh he wasn’t a great improvisor.

OTH Guthrie Govan is a killer improvisor and player but his songwriting isn’t as strong.

 

[VonBonfire]

If you play guitar but can't sing you will forever be at the mercy of those who can if you want employment. See: Cherone era VH.

 

[DanTravis62]

Playing originals is pretty free for the player - you have no standard to live up to. Quality wise, melody wise, anything. I have heard so many bad original bands in my life. And most of them are knockoffs of some other band that they liked. Too many. I do not view original music as some noble calling.....

I don't see it as noble or ignoble, just different

And what you value in gear, as very, very different between the two

 

[rottingcorpse]

Because playing covers is fun. It takes no effort or thought. Just plug in and play songs you love.
And tho I can find a tone that I can work with outta most rigs, I certainly have a blast when I play my Dimebag setup.
Or my Kerry King head. Or my Gary Holt amp. Truth be told, I'll play Gary Holt riffs on any amp with any tone.
Our boy from Dunkys and Demos plays in an ACDC cover band and has a blast bashing on a Malcolm Young Gretch.
I wrote tons of stuff in the 80s and 90s. I no longer have the time nor the technical abilities needed to write and record with this new technology.
If I could, I'd be doing what errrrl does. His vids are the dogs balls.

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

Playing originals is pretty free for the player - you have no standard to live up to. Quality wise, melody wise, anything. I have heard so many bad original bands in my life. And most of them are knockoffs of some other band that they liked. Too many. I do not view original music as some noble calling.....

It's not that I'm trying to say that covers are bad or that originals are noble, I just see everything having moved over to covers from Youtube to a large majority of local gig musicians. When I was gigging, you had 99%+ original bands (who may also do a cover or two. Totally guilty, but still our own take) and some cover bands that were more of a novelty for weddings and tourism. Now, it feels opposite and everyone seems to be covering or chasing someone else. That may not even be true, it's just my personal experience.

I am also mostly deaf and without huge advancements in augmentations will be fully deaf within a few years at most. So, I probably seek out original music to enjoy instead of hitting the replay button more often than perhaps the average person. Maybe because of that I can appreciate it a bit more, good or bad. I'm not trying to talk it down, it's just that I can play it in my head, so I prefer those new emotional changes, even if predictable. It's also a bit sad to me that creativity seems to be taking the back burner. Sorry for the rant.