Originally Posted by fastball
I understand your point completely, but I do encourage people to play whatever makes them happy. I couldn't write a song if my life depended on it, but I get a huge boost out of playing old Beatles and Stones. Then one day my friends (band I guess, but not a serious one) and I decided to try some Who and really let loose...... I turned my Crate up as loud and distorted as I could get it for Won't Get Fooled Again and I was in another world playing it. Then my ears were ringing for three days after I came down from the high, but my point is unless you're doing it to make money, there's no bad reason to cover (unless you interpret a classic song into garbage, then I have no respect for you).
Rock on and keep it real :rockon:
there's nothing wrong with learning other people's songs, but if that's the only thing you ever learn how to do, it's pretty much meaningless. anybody can learn how to play someone else's song. you really should learn the musical structure behind the songs - the theory and the technique. not only is it more valuable, but it'll make covering songs a lot easier, you'll really understand what's going on in each song you play, and you'll be able to come up with something of your own - even if it's just a variation on a cover. much more fun that way.